Who makes the best recurve for under $500?

[TradPaul]

RER...

[Bonebuster]

Predator Hunter model. $499.00

You want smooth and fast...you got it.

[Jedimaster]

My Orion was a little higher than $500 but I believe the base is pretty close to that.  It is THE bow I would buy again if I had that much to spend and wanted a new one.  

There are lots of great bows mentioned (I love the RERs too) and the right used bow is hard to beat.  I hate to say "best" because I can't decide for myself let alone someone else.  

[Mike Manassa]

Another vote for the Quinn Stallion...Mike..

[LJOHNS]

How about a Hoyt Dorado or Gamemaster?  Under $500 and folks seem to really like them.

[Cherokee Scout]

Take a look at the BlackCreek Banshees, $375-$475, new with warranty.

[tarponnut]

A Bear Grizzly. They are priced around $300.

[Pinecone]

amar911...don't want to hijack this thread, so suffic it to say that all of my current bows suitable for elk hunting (poundage-wise)are more than $500 new. As a result, they do not meet the stated selection criteria.
But if some of them were a couple hundred dollars cheaper, I'd have quite a list of additional suggestions!

Claudia

[bd2cool]

Rose Oak TomCat!!

[Hamish]

Predator Hunter then Chek-Mate Hunter2.

[pete p]

for under 500 or over 500 whisperstik either way. shoot one and find out for yourself.

[bear1336]

RER Arroyo gets my vote.

[dan ferguson]

I don,t shoot recurves, but yesterday I was at a 3D shoot and the fellow that sponsors the shoot had a couple Bob Lees there and insisted I try one, It was the takedown model, It was a good shooting bow and if I was in the recurve market would have to consider it, the bow, new fancy bolt on arrow quiver, one of them leather hooded ones, bow sock extra string etc, 499.00

[koger]

Anothe vote for the Quinns, have a 60" #47@ 28, as smooth and quiet as my BW, you could buy a stallion for around $300, have $200 left to buy a extra set of limbs, or arrows, or deer tags.Sam.

[Big_Al]

Lancaster Archery showed up at ATAR with a pair of Samick Stingrays, RH & LH.  Both made quite an impression.  I personally got to shoot the LH model and was VERY impressed.  For 219 bucks it's gonna be really hard to beat.

[swampbuck]

Check out the classifed's there are a lot of used bows that will fit your budget and performance needs.

Bow fishing can be hrad on bows I like your camo dip idea but thats the main thing that caught my eye and made me think buy used

Good luck

[DesertDude]

Another vote for RER.  I also Like My GameMaster.

[LJOHNS]

I picked up an old Bear Grizzly for $100 earlier this year.  Neat little bow for the money!  You can find them all day under $200.

[JCJ]

Used/as new custom recurves show up in the classified section all the time for less than $500. Often these are bows that new sold for $700 or more. That's were I'd go looking for the best value in a recurve.

[HATCHCHASER]

Whisperstick, Kohannah Kurve both start under 500.  Dryad Orion starts at 500.