The recurve bow and compound bow are both amazing for deer hunting and both are powerful. But both have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to buy one, you can learn about the benefits and drawbacks of both recurve bow vs. compound bow. Then, you can choose the one which will work for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Recurve Bow VS Compound Bow
In the USA, compound bows have been famous for deer hunting compared to recurve bows, but many hunters and even beginners like to use recurve bows.
Both bows are really amazing, but like every bow, these bows also have some advantages and disadvantages. We will give you information about the pros and cons of recurve vs compound bow so you can make your decision without any problem.
| Advantages of a Recurve Bow | Advantages of a Compound Bow |
| Portable | Powerful |
| Affordable | Accurate Target |
| Good for Thrill | Good Speed and Range |
| Easy to Maintain | Smooth and Adjustable |
Power and Accuracy
If we talk about the power of the compound bow vs recurve then the compound bow has pulleys, so it stores more energy as compared to recurve bow. The limbs of a compound bow store energy by bending and stretching, but on the other hand, recurve bows only depend on the power of the user. So, we can say compound bows are more powerful.
Size and Weight
If we see the compound vs. recurve bow size and weight, we know that recurve bows are longer and heavier in size than compound bows. A compound bow has a short size and design, making it easy to hold.
Portability and Adjustment
Nowadays, hunters love using takedown recurve bows so people can carry the parts of these bows and can assemble them in the wild without any hassle. On the other hand, it is difficult to break down the parts of a compound bow and assemble them because it has so many parts. So we can say recurve bows are more portable.
In a recurve bow, the adjustment of draw length is not easy because the string is already attached and it has no cams, but because of cams, you can adjust the draw length in the compound bow.
Maintenance and Accessories
If we talk about the recurve bow vs. compound bow maintenance, then we can say that it is easy to maintain even if you can repair them at home without any difficulty. If the string of the bow has broken down, you can easily attach a new one with the help of a stringer. At the same time, you can replace the limbs at home, but on the other hand, it is difficult to repair a compound bow at home. It has so many parts that it is difficult to manage.
There are many accessories that you can use with compound bows. You can use silencers in a compound bow to make it less noisy. You can also use sights for accurate targeting. Sights can also be used in recurve bows, but it works better in compound bows because they are adjustable in a compound bow.
Reliable and Durable
If we talk about the durability of the recurve bow vs compound then both bows are durable. Recurve bows can be made up of wood, PVC pipes, and fiberglass. While compound bows can be made up of wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, and PVC pipes, so all the materials are durable.
Compound bows are more reliable as compared to recurve bows because they are more accurate.
Shape and Built
The shape of a recurve bow is simple, and it is built up of simple materials and has fewer parts, but a compound bow has many parts. Recurve bow gives the image of a primitive bow, and the compound bow looks stylish.
The Ease to Shoot
When it comes to a bow’s ease to shoot, then we can say both bows have some problems. Recurve bow is easy to shoot because it is not so rigid, but because the bow’s riser is large, sometimes it is difficult for young children to handle it. But the recurve bow is made up of simple parts compared to compound bows so because of many pulleys and cables; it is difficult for some people to shoot a compound bow.
Range and Speed
If we talk about the range and speed of a compound bow vs recurve bow, then there is no doubt that a compound bow has more range and speed than a recurve bow. Because a compound bow is more powerful and stores more energy, it has a good range, and if we talk about the speed of a compound bow, it is between 300 to 340 Fps, which is far more than the recurve bow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In which bow can we easily adjust the draw length?
In the compound bow, it is easy to adjust the draw length, which is a great feature and advantage you can get out of it.
Which bow has more speed?
The compound bow has more speed compared to the recurve bow. It has a speed between 300 to 340 Fps.
Which bow can easily repair?
A Recurve bow can easily be repaired at home. You don’t need to go to any repair shop for any damage.
Which bow is good for deer hunting?
A compound bow is more accurate and has good adjustable sights. As well as you can attach silencers with the bow, so a compound bow is a good and wise choice for deer hunting.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, I just want to say that both the bows are good and have advantages and disadvantages. If we talk about the advantages, then the compound bow is more powerful, accurate, and has good speed and range. On the other hand, it is easy to handle a recurve bow and has fewer parts. So, it is a great choice for some hunters. Recurve bow is more affordable than a compound bow. I hope our article will help you to choose a good one.
Cheers.