Selecting the perfect bow for you can be intimidating because of the numerous options available on the market.
To make things easier, I’ve compiled a list of recommendations for the best beginner compound bows with an entry-level price for those interested in hunting, survival or just looking to get into archery as a hobby.
But what is the best compound bow for beginners? My personal favorite is the Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro. It’s lightweight, greatly adjustable and very accurate.
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Reviews of the Best Beginner Compound Bows
1. Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Compound Bow
Specs & Features:
- Speed (IBO): 31 5 fps (feet per second)
- Weight: 3 lb
- Brace Height: 6.5 “
- Axle-Axle: 3 0″
- Peak Draw Weight: 5 – 70 lb
- Draw Length/Range: 12″-30″
The Bear Archery Cruzer G2 is a compound bow with a unique feature of
It can be adjusted between 5 to 70 pounds worth of draw weight and between 12 to 30 inches of draw range.
It has a string stabilizer and suppressor for a quiet and smooth shooting performance.
Constructed out of durable and lightweight aluminum, it is a compound bow intended to last for years.
This compound bow is designed for novices just getting started with archery and for beginner hunters looking for a shorter bow.
The Bear Archery twin cam system provides accurate shooting with an easy and smooth draw cycle.
Unlike other lighter compound bows, drawing and shooting it won’t alert your prey thanks to the string suppressor and stabilizer.
With its speed only at 31 5 feet per second, this could not be enough for professional archers and big game hunters who are looking for greater shot power.
Pros:
- Great starter bow to
grow into a higher performing one - Lightweight for carrying in the field
- Smooth and quiet shooting
- Can fit anyone due to its adjustable features
Cons:
- Not fast enough for efficient big game hunting
- Compact size impractical for tournament shooting
2. Leader Accessories Compound Bow
Specs & Features:
- For Right Handed Archers Only
- Speed (IBO): 310 fps
- Weight: 4.4 lb
- Brace Height: 7.5″
- Axle-Axle: 35″
- Peak Draw Weight: 50 – 70 lb
- Draw Length: 26″-30″
The Leader Accessories Compound Bow was specifically created for
It has four sight pins to improve your shot’s accuracy in varying distances of 20, 30, and 40 yards.
With its dual cam system, it packs a powerful shot capable of taking-down your target in one hit when in ranges of up to 40 yards.
Drawing it is smooth and reliable in a way that you don’t have to worry about your string jamming on crucial moments.
Although it is meant for hunting, drawing and shooting is noisy enough to alert your quarry. But, with the right string silencer and stabilizer, you can get this down enough to keep it from alerting your prey.
The plastic handle also feels cheap and flimsy and an immediate replacement is recommended before using it.
The right
Pros:
Budget friendly - Good pick for beginner’s hunting
- Durable overall material
Cons:
- Noisy
- Flimsy grip on the handle
- Right handed only
3. SAS Outrage Compound Bow
Specs & Features:
- Speed (IBO): 270 fps
- Weight: 4.4 lb
- Axle-Axle: 35″
- Peak Draw Weight: 55 – 70 lb
- Draw Length: 25″ – 31″
The SAS Outrage Compound Bow is primarily designed as an entry-level bow for novice archers just getting started with archery.
It is constructed out of durable fiberglass that can withstand countless hours of practice in the range.
With its smooth profile of the aluminum cam system, the bow does not demand a strong and developed drawing power from the user.
Total novices in archery would want their first compound bow able to withstand the punishment of several misfires.
But, this durability must also come at a price that is easily accessible for someone who is just testing the waters of the sport. The SAS Rage is able to give all of these looking for their first compound bow.
Pros:
- Great for a total beginner
- Capable of adequate shot power
- Adjustable draw weight
Cons:
- Very nois and vibrates a lot
- Not advisable for hunting
- On the heavy side (4.4 lb)
4. Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow
Specs & Features:
- Speed (IBO): 310 fps
- Weight: 3.2 lb
- Brace Height: 7″
- Axle-Axle: 31″
- Peak Draw Weight: 5 – 70 lb
- Draw Length: 13″ – 31″
The Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro is an excellent bow for archers of any age or level.
The adjustable draw length and draw weight make it fit for hunting, bowfishing or target shooting.
It has its Infinity setting, which can have different people shooting it with minimal set-up time.
Furthermore, drawing it is very smooth and consistent, which makes it an excellent beginner compound bow to practice one’s form.
What we’ve noticed when shooting it is that it’s very silent and there’s barely any hint of vibration or recoil, which is good for any bow that you would use for hunting.
With the included accessories (a 3-pin sight, tube peep sight, stabilizer, arrow rest, string loop, wrist sling, and quiver), you’ve got everything you might need in the field or the target range.
Also, the lifetime warranty is an excellent assurance that the bow is expected to last a long time.
Although this bow is limited in hunting capability due to only 310 fps of IBO speed, for its cost, you would be hard-pressed to find a compound bow any better than this.
A great value to get you all you would need from a beginner’s compound bow.
Pros:
- Sturdy and lightweight
- Cam is tuned straight out of the box
- Highly adjustable
- Comes with accessories
Cons:
- Accessories could be of better quality
- Lacks power for hunting big game
5. Raptor Compound Hunting Bow Kit
No products found.
Specs & Features:
- Speed (IBO): 315 fps
- Weight: 3.6 lb
- Axle-Axle: 30″
- Peak Draw Weight: 30 – 70 lb
- Draw Length: 24.5″ – 31″
The Raptor Compound Hunting Bow is suitable for any age and skill level.
With its aluminum bow and cam system, it is meant to take a beating from growing pains a bow would usually take from a novice and a beginner archer.
Its top velocity is among the top for beginner compound bows.
The adjustable draw weight and length make it a good bow to get started and grow up to stronger and better bows. It comes with a 5-pin sight, whisker biscuit-style rest, sound dampeners, and stabilizers.
For its price, the Raptor Compound Bow is one of the best shooting bows out there.
We’ve noticed that drawing is smooth and fast, which is great for the beginner perfecting their form. It can suit the preferences of beginners and most seasoned hobbyists.
Pros:
- Aluminum bow and cams
- Smooth and Fast draw
- Sound dampening and stabilizers included
- Adjustable
Cons:
- Requires frequent tuning
- Inconsistent quality out of the box, but manufacturer replaces defective items
No products found.
How to Choose a Compound Bow – Buyer’s Guide
Before you rush off and add the fanciest compound bow to your cart, you must first know a few important things that will affect your choice.
A compound bow is not something you could simply pick up from the store shelves. What you buy must fit you specifically, or else your experience w ill be one that is frustrating, painful, and more expensive than necessary.
So, before you look at the different compound specs and brands, you must first…
Know Yourself
Although it is an important part of Kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery, we won’t be asking you to incorporate meditation into your every shot.
Choosing a compound bow is a lot like purchasing shoes. But, in this case, there would be a lot more measurements to consider:
Dominant Eye
Like our writing hand, our brain prefers the visual input of one eye over the other. The eye that our brain prefers is called our dominant eye.
In archery, your dominant eye determines your shooting or bow hand. To find out which is the dominant one, you can test yourself in three simple steps:
- Put your hands in front of your face at arm’s length and form a small triangle by pressing your forefingers and thumbs together.
- With both of your eyes open, view and center a distant object with the opening.
- Close one eye and then the other. The eye that has
the distant object centered in the triangle is your dominant eye.
Draw Length
An archery store can measure this for you but, if you’re going to purchase online, you can easily do this with measuring tape and a bit of assistance from a friend.
First, measure your wingspan or arm span. The value you get will then be divided by 2.5.
The result is your estimated draw length. You would want to purchase a compound bow that has the same draw length as you do.
Draw Weight
Usually expressed in pounds, this is the force one must exert to fully draw a compound bow.
Compound bows have different draw weights and you will have to specifically choose the one that suits your strength and intended use for the bow.
A greater draw weight translates to a faster and more powerful shot, and a capability of a bow to shoot heavier arrows and arrow points.
If you’re a total novice or a beginner, you would have to start with a low-poundage compound bow. As you get more experience, you could eventually move up to heavier draw weights.
Also, if you’re hunting, a bigger game would require bows with a greater draw weight.
As a general rule of thumb, the suitable draw weight for you is always the one that you can smoothly and slowly draw.
Axle-to-Axle Measurement
This is the length between axles which is found at the end of each limb of the bow.
A longer length between two axles make the bow more stable, which improves shot accuracy.
On the other hand, a shorter length makes the bow more maneuverable in tight areas, which is an important consideration if you’re buying a bow for hunting.
You would want a compound that has an axle-to-axle length of around 30 to 33 inches. This is the so-called axle-to-axle length “sweet spot” that would suit anyone getting into archery.
For this reason, most manufacturers design their compound bows within this range. You should only consider a shorter or longer one for special and specific purposes and when you’re already an experienced compound bow user.
Brace Height
The brace height is the distance between a bow’s string (at rest) to the deepest part of the bow’s grip.
Although a shorter brace height leads to better shot velocity, it takes greater effort to fully draw the string.
Ideally, beginners should start with compound bows with seven inches of brace height.
Cam Grind
Also known as cam profile, it is the shape of the cams found in the compound bow.
Explaining this would be very technical but, to make this simple, all you need to know is the smoothness or roughness of the compound bow’s cam profile or grind.
A smoother cam grind translates to a more comfortable draw and a shorter period to hold the peak draw weight. On the other hand, a harder or rougher cam grind translates to a more powerful shot but a substantially less comfortable draw.
For beginners, we recommend a compound bow with a medium cam profile. Compound bows in this range have a more natural draw and would provide a better shooting experience – both of which are important for those just starting out.
As you get better and more experienced, you might want to try out compound bows with harder cam for its greater shooting power.
Overall Bow Weight
This is simply the weight of the bow.
A lighter compound bow would mean an easier time for you carrying it around. This makes it a good option for hunting. But, this lighter weight translates to more vibration during a shot, which makes more noise when shooting.
On the other hand, a heavier bow could tire you out faster carrying it. But, these bows are quieter for its greater ability to withstand shot vibration.
It’s just a matter of personal preference. You might not have a problem with weight provided you don’t alert your target during hunting. Or, possibly, you might prefer a more comfortable hunt and could handle the risk of more noise.
Compound Bows accessories
Bow Stabilizer
A proper bow stabilizer is a great investment to improve your archery performance. It greatly reduces the vibration of the bow after a shot, providing more balance and better accuracy.
It also makes a shot more quiet, which is essential when you’re hunting.
Bow Sight
Similar to the sights on weapons, a bow sight helps you aim with more precision.
You’ll find two different types of sights for a compound bow: fixed pin sights and sigle pin sights.
Beginner compound bows usually come with a fixed pin sight included.
My Choice for the Best Compound Bow for Beginners
Overall, the Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro is my top pick among the best compound bows for beginners that you can find on the market right now.
A combination of value for money and dependability makes it a very good starter bow.
The range of its adjustments for the bow’s draw length and weight make it easy for a complete beginner to build non-existent draw strength into one that can operate higher-end compound bows.
Its weight won’t tire you out holding the bow when you’re practicing. It also won’t hinder you from trekking the field when you eventually get started hunting with it.
More importantly, it won’t frustrate a beginner with frequent tuning and maintenance.
For more experienced archers, it is dependable and of quality make that it makes a very good addition in a hobbyist’s arsenal of bows.
Top Rated Compound Bows
Last update on 2023-05-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
