Help out the Newbies: Best bows for under $500

[NDTerminator]

Been a couple of threads lately asking for bow recommendations and opining on bow prices, so let's cut to the chase for the new guys.

Very few newbies sink a grand into their first bow, so give your opinion on the best available for under $500. I'm talking new here, no copping out and recommending a used one from the Classifieds!

I'm a TD recurve guy, so my vote goes without hesitation to the Chek Mate Hunter 2, currently costing $465.  Considering how beautiful & smooth the H2 is, I'm still amazed that Cujo can sell them at this price.

My Honorable Mention is the Bob Lee TD Hunter, going for a bit under $500 with a Durawood riser and brown or black glassed limbs right now. Beautiful lines but not what you would call pretty, the Lee Hunter handles like a dream and is fast.  Mine has accounted for several deer since I got it a few years back...

[lpcjon2]

I would have to say save them money for arrows to and go with Mike @ Maddog.  

[30coupe]

JK Traditions Kanati RD longbows - $495. Even if they were well over $500, they would still be a great buy and a great bow. They are smooth, quiet, stack free, shock free, and deadly accurate, not to mention great looking bows.

Check them out at jkbows.com. Scroll to the bottom to see a couple of rough looking customers with Kanati-killed Iowa bucks.

[sweeney3]

Bear Montana.  Saves them enough for a couple dozen arrows on the side.  Or a dozen arrows and a glove and a decent arm guard.  Or six arrows, two gloves (cause they'll shoot out one so quickly), a decent arm guard and some string silencers.  Or six arrows and..........

 

Montana is a great bow for the money though.

[vermonster13]

Maddog, Holm Made, Quinn, etc etc.

[Jesse Minish]

Lots of good ones on the classifieds.

[Jwilliam]

Treadway!!!    


Bill

[Bowhunter4life]

Thunderstick, Jim makes a fantastic longbow.  I'd save the extra $15 and get the MOAB, but that's just me...  Well the MOAB I have on order came in closer to $700... But you don't need all the bells and whistles to get the fine shooting aspects of a great bow!

[painthorse]

Chek Mate Falcon,Bear Montana or Quinn Stallion.You get a lot for your money and pretty good performance  from all of them.

[mickeys4]

Check these links!

http://www.siegeworkcreations.com/longbows.htm

http://www.maddogarchery.com/

[sdpeb1]

That's a great price for a nice looking takedown. I'd say the checkmate has my vote- Steve

[Mudd]

I think Howard Hill bows fit into the mix.
God bless,Mudd

[stik&string]

Lost Creek

[LPN]

You don't need to buy new to get a good shooter, there are plenty of real nice bows in the classifeds and also on the auction site

[fido dog]

Originally posted by Mudd:
I think Howard Hill bows fit into the mix.
God bless,Mudd

I was JUST looking at HH's today for the first time. I was very surprised at the reasonable prices for a new bow.

Samick would be good for the person on a really tight ($200-$300) budget.

[Predator Man]

Under 600 is easy but under 500 really narrows it down.  If i could only own one bow, it had to be brand new, and had to cost under 500 I would struggle between a Martin Dreamcatcher, Predator hunter model, and JK Traditons Kanati. Im thinkin the kanati just because it would be the only custom bow in the bunch where you could pick and choose length and wood choice.

[raideranch]

Recurve - Martin Mamba
Longbow - Martin Savannah

You could get ether one of them new or used off auction sites fairly cheap.

[NDTerminator]

Some folks didn't read that part about no copping out by saying buy a used one from the Classifieds. That doesn't help a newbie with zero to limited knowledge...    

We're talking new and a specific make & model, and even why you feel it's one of the best for under $500 here...

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by NDTerminator:
Some folks didn't read that part about no copping out by saying buy a used one from the Classifieds. That doesn't help a newbie with zero to limited knowledge...        
...

which is exactly why newbies need to get educated BEFORE buying the wrong stick bow.  WAY more important than hitting them with bow brands and models, imo.

TRAD ARCHERY NEWBIES

....

[LongStick64]

Double that for the Howard Hill Bows 575.00 for a new Osage Big Five, should arrive today or tommorow, great bow for the price. Heck that's cheaper than buying a pair of Bob Morrison limbs.