Best Compound Bow Under $500 in 2022

A bow never becomes outdated as a man always needs it. We need a bow for hunting, safety, or other purposes. However, most people think that buying a quality bow is an expensive deal. They must spend thousands of bucks to purchase the best one. So, we came with the list of the Best Compound Bow Under $500.

If you are a regular bow user, you know that a compound bow offers more than a regular one. Once the price is not an issue, everyone wants to purchase the best features. So, we looked for all the economical options available in the market. This list contains all that gives you the best features and cost lower.

Best Compound Bow under $500 in 2021 Reviews & Comparison Table:

RANK	MODEL	Draw length	Draw weight	PRICE
1	Southland Archery Supply SAS 25-55	20-29”	25-55 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
2	PSE RTS, MINI BURNER, L, BK, 25-29	16-26 ½”	29-40 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
3	Diamond Archery Prism	18-30”	5-55 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
4	Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package	13-31”	5-70 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
5	Bear Archery Cruzer Lite Compound Bow	12-27”	4-45 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
6	Diamond Archery 2016 Edge SB-1	15-30”	7-70 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
7	Southland Archery Supply SAS Outrage 70 Lbs. 30”	25-31”	55-70 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
8	Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Adult Compound Bow	12-30”	5-70 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
9	PSE ARCHERY D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow	Up to 30”	29-40 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
10	Bear Archery Royale Youth Compound Bow	12-27”	5-50 lbs.	CHECK PRICE

1. Southland Archery Supply SAS 25-55: – Best Compound Bow under 300:

Let us review the master class compound bow first. Southland Archery Supply has a name when it comes to selling the best bows. This one becomes one of the best compound bow under 500. The features are superb while the quality is outclassed.

Draw Length:

When it comes to draw length, every person has a separate range of best length. For this reason, this compound bow by Southland covers the usual lengths. As a result, you will never have to worry about what length suits you.

Draw Weight:

Another beautiful indicator of your arch use is the draw weight. In usual conditions, an arch with a medium weight is superb. You will get what you need from a good bow that allows you to shoot with accuracy. The lower limit of 25 lbs. means you can draw with very little effort. Thus, shooting is very easy using this bow.

Axle to Axle:

While most people believe that a large ATA is good to hit accurate, we believe that it matters less at shorter distances. As a result, you should focus more on reducing your weight that the accuracy. Southland gives you a 28 inches ATA that is superb in most cases. Moreover, it also ensures that you carry the bow easily.

Best for Beginners:

One of the best parts of this compound bow by Southland is that it is perfect for beginners. There are no complex options to mesmerize you. Settings are very easy to allow you to hit with accuracy but fewer hurdles. In short, it is the best bow for beginners who want to achieve accuracy with limited settings.

Specification:

• Draw length:20-29”
• Draw weight:25-55 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:28”
• Max Speed:235 FPS

2. PSE RTS, MINI BURNER, L, BK, 25-29 – best bow under 500:

With know that PSE Archery Store is one of the best when it comes to giving you compound bows. They have many best hunting bow under 500. As a result, we have multiple bows from their store on our list.

Perfect for Beginners:

Beginners love an arch that comes with a simple to use options. They don’t want to explore complex options and rely on basic options. However, most beginner products come with dummy options that stop them from learning. PSE RTS is a good option for all beginners to learn shooting with good options and easy settings.

Fast Speed:

You can’t polish your skills unless you start hitting with higher speeds. Even if you master the skills of hunting at slower speeds, you can’t call yourself an expert. To allow you to hit with faster speeds and achieve more distance, this bow from PSE Archery Store gives you an efficient FPS of 310.

Adjustments:

There is a long-range of options. Thus, it covers you for a lot of years. The draw length is here to adjust even players of a small age group. You get a large range to allow you to hit with accuracy irrespective of your best draw length. The options allow you to adjust it.

Good Grip:

Having a nice grip makes or breaks your experience of hitting at a distance. If your bow loses grip, you may drop a lot of accuracies. As a result, the grip is one of the key factors to consider. Luckily, PSE RTS gives you a rubber panel grip. So, you can hit with accuracy even if you are sweating and can’t handle the bow better.

Specification:

• Draw length:16-26 ½”
• Draw weight:29-40 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:26”
• Max Speed:310 FPS

3. Diamond Archery Prism:

Diamond Archery is one of the other best brands for bows. The reason it is so famous is because it has a wide range of some of the best bow under 500. As a result, it allows you to select between different bows of your choice. While the price is low for all the bows making it easy to afford for all.

Draw Length:

We already saw that the more adjust features you get, the better it becomes to hit easily. You won’t worry about the length as you can adjust it anytime. If your friend needs one, you can also give them a try. A large range of 12 inches draws length adjustment allows you to use the bow as per your need.

Accurate:

There are some features that you won’t find easily in other bows. A binary cam system is one of them. It allows you to hit with accuracy by helping you set the target. Thus, even if you are a beginner, your shots become perfect.

Axle to Axle:

This bow is especially helpful if you want to use the bow for sports. It has a large ATA to allow you to achieve more accuracy. It may not be the best one for hunting where you prefer lower weight. In sports, you need more accuracy to beat your opponents and a larger ATA will help you achieve it.

Easy to Shoot

You already know how easier it is to shoot with this arch from Diamond Archery. The draw weight starts from the lower limit of just 5 lbs. It allows you to focus more on accuracy than towards force. You can start shooting as soon as you get this ready to use a bow.

Specification:

• Draw length:18-30”
• Draw weight:5-55 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:31”
• Max Speed:295 FPS

4. Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package – Best Affordable Compound Bow:

We already learned that Diamond Archery makes some of the best compound bows. If you are a beginner, you should try their bows. However, this one is a pro bow for people that have already developed some skills. Thus, it is for people who want to excel.

Weight Range:

The draw weight plays a very critical role in your arch. The more range you get, the easier it is to shoot. However, people usually prefer a bow with lower min weight required to shoot. It allows them to shoot with accuracy by applying little force. But this bow comes with a new class. It allows you to exert force between a wide range. Thus, you can aim both for accuracy and speed with the same bow.

Speeds:

The FPS matters a lot when you have a higher draw weight. It will make sure that your bow hits long distances. The max speed that this Pro bow can achieve is 310 FPS. As a result, you can hit at longer distances by applying more force.

Stable Shots:

This bow from Diamond Archery is one of the best as it adjusts the balance in your shots. It will allow you to achieve accuracy and speed both at a time. This Edge Pro comes with an internal stabilizer to balance your shots.

Specification:

• Draw length:13-31”
• Draw weight:5-70 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:31”
• Max Speed:310 FPS

5. Bear Archery Cruzer Lite Compound Bow:

If you are looking for a simple yet efficient bow to allow you to hit great distances at a beginner level, then you must opt for this compound bow that suits the best for beginners. Let us analyze its features to understand what it offers.

One Bow for All:

In most cases, we see that a bow has marks that it is either suitable for children or adults. However, this Lite bow from Bear Archery is different from others. It gives you a large area to adjust to different settings. As a result, a single bow will work fine for both.

Easy to Carry:

We know that when we are hunting, we need more accuracy. The weight of the bow impacts our accuracy in negative terms. Thus, we get this bow from bear archery that weighs just 3.2 pounds. As a result, you can carry it easier and achieve greater accuracy.

Draw Length and Weight:

Bear Archery gives you some of the best options in the market. One of them is a wide range of settings options. This bow comes with 12-27” draw length while 4-45 lbs. draw weight. As a result, you can set this arch for custom shots.

Specification:

• Draw length:12-27”
• Draw weight:4-45 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:27”
• Max Speed:290 FPS

6. Diamond Archery 2016 Edge SB-1 Compound Bow Package – Best Compound Bow under 400:

SB-1 is one of the perfect arches from Diamond Archery. Players who have developed perfect beginner’s skills can promote to this arch. It has all the features that you need from the best compound bows under 500.

Easy to adjust:

We know that Diamond Archery always comes with various options to help us. Either it is drawn length or draw weight, you can adjust with a lot of options. However, the best part is that adjusting the settings is quite easier.

More Speed:

The more speed you get, the far your shot reaches. The top speed for SB-1 is 318 FPS. It is more than several standard arches that give you 310 FPS. As a result, you can shoot with more distances than other arches allow you.

Accurate Shots:

The lower limit of the draw weight is very low. It will allow you to play shots at much accuracy than ever. At lower draw weight, you have more focus on accuracy that weight.

Specification:

• Draw length:15-30”
• Draw weight:7-70 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:31”
• Max Speed:318 FPS

7. Southland Archery Supply SAS Outrage 70 Lbs. 30” – Budget Compound Bow:

Southland Archery Supply is one of the best companies for compound bows. You already knew this when we reviewed their bow on the first spot. SAS Outrage is another best hunting bow under 500 with efficient features.

Let-off settings:

We will discuss it in detail in our buying guide. For now, you must understand that a greater number is generally better. However, there are some exceptions that you can learn in detail. For now, enjoy a 70% let-off from your SAS Outrage.

ATA:

Most people believe that a greater ATA gives them more accuracy. There are some points that we already discussed in our buying guide. However, if you are still looking for a greater ATA, then your search it at the end. The reason is that you will get a 35” ATA here.

Draw Weight:

The draw weight is the indicator of how much force do you need to release the shot. This bow has got a higher draw weight limit. It means that you need to apply more force to shoot this bow. As a result, it will cover more distance.

Specification:

• Draw length:25-31”
• Draw weight:55-70 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:35”
• Max Speed:270 FPS

8. Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Adult Compound Bow:

Bear Archery gives some of the best options when it comes to a compound bow. G2 is their special edition that is best for adults. It has a larger ATA to allow you to handle with ease. Light in weight means that you can carry it with ease.

Easy to Adjust:

With so many options to adjust, you will find it one of the best bow under 500. You can adjust the draw weight or length and make the best version. Thus, you can improve your game by hitting distances.

More Speed:

The max speed of a bow impacts how far you can hit the bow. With the max speed of 315 FPS, G2 gives you the freedom to hit even far away targets. As a result, you have more reach and can hit your target with safety. More freedom to select the best draw weight allows you to hit with ease irrespective of force.

Specification:

• Draw length:12-30”
• Draw weight:5-70 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:32”
• Max Speed:315 FPS

9. PSE ARCHERY D3 Bowfishing Compound Bow: – Best Compound Bow on the Market:

This bow is our third pick from PSE Archery Store. We know that they provide the best quality of compound bows. D3 is a fast bow, ideal for fishing, with faster speeds. Let us explore what other features D3 has to offer you.

Very Accurate:

Accuracy becomes your priority when you are hunting or fishing. If you mishit, your target will run away from the spot. D3 gives you a 50 lbs. locked cam module that allows you to do the snap shooting. Thus, you can achieve more accuracy with this bow.

One Bow for All:

The draw length and weight give you more freedom to adjust between different options. You are free to select the options of your choice. You can select the best speeds as per your need. So, this one bow is perfect for users of all skill levels. Beginners, mediums, and experts will use it with some fun.

Specification:

• Draw length:Up to 30”
• Draw weight:29-40 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:30”
• Max Speed:Not available

10. Bear Archery Royale Youth Compound Bow 5-50 lbs:

Last but not least is our pick from Bear Archery. Though its price higher from others, still it is one of the best compound bow under $500. Your child will love using this compound bows because of the diverse options that it offers.

Easy to Adjust:

This bow is for youth, so it has very easy settings. The best part is that it is versatile, and your child can adjust it for current needs. It has options that will allow your child to adjust the bow as per their growing age.

Ready to Hunt:

This Youth Compound Bow gives you a large range of draw length and weight. As a result, your child will feel pleasure to use it. Unlike other bows that have a complex setup process, this one is very easy. It comes with a Trophy Ridge and a lot of other accessories to allow you to play your best game.

Specification:

• Draw length:12-27”
• Draw weight:5-50 lbs.
• Axle to Axle:27”
• Max Speed:290 FBS

Key Considerations for Choosing the Compound Bow (Buying Guide):

We saw all the top products of our list of the best compound bow under 500. You must have selected one that suits the best for your needs. However, there are still many people who love to see the buying guide to know in detail about the product. Thus, we will discuss in detail the factors that matter.

Shooting Style:

The first thing to consider in your bow is your shooting style. You can also look for the purpose of your purchase. The reason is that each type of bow is specialized in performing different functions. So, your bow must match the reason of your purchase.

Let us explain it with an example if you need a hunter bow. When you are a hunter, you must move rapidly with less margin of delay. Here you need a bow that is lighter to support your movements. Moreover, it should be shorter to allow you to move it easily.

On the other hand, some people will need a bow for sport’s needs. In this case, you need a complex bow with special features to help you in locking the accurate target. For sports purposes, one may feel good with a large and heavy bow. So, your needs will describe the type of bow that suits you.

Draw Weight:

The feature of draw weight is very crucial even if you are buying a higher-end bow. If you end up buying a wrong draw weight, it will affect your accuracy level. So, give some time to research about the best draw weight for you. Here we will discuss it in detail.

First, let us see what is draw weight. Draw weight is the amount of force that you need to pull back the bowstring. In compound bows, you will find it between a range of weights. If you apply a lower weight, the bow might not come back fully. On the contrary, a higher weight than the upper limit may even break your bow.

No one can tell you what is the best weight for your bow. You will decide it as per your need. There is a general rule that males should prefer a draw weight between 45 to 75 lbs. while the best draw weight range for females should be between 25 to 55 lbs.

There are other factors too that impact on your draw weight decision. Factors that have a greater influence on it include your weight, height, strength, and type of use. Some areas will require a more draw weight than others.

If you go hunting a deer, you must know that it is a fast runner. You need more velocity to hit accurately. As a result, you may need a draw weight b/w 40 to 60 lbs. to hit a deer.

In other areas, your need might be lower than this. Some people end up buying heavier bows than their needs. They may find it difficult to move the bow or may even injure themselves.

Draw Length:

We discussed draw weight in detail and found that buying the ideal weight is a must. The same is the case withdraw length as it differs for every person. However, you should buy the best one for your need. Draw length refers to how far you should pull your bowstring before you are ready to fire it.

Since it differs for every person, you must measure your preferred draw length. Have another person help you with this task. Stand straight and make a “T” shape of your arms. Measure the whole distance from one hand’s fingertip to others. Divide this number by 2.5 to find the perfect draw length for your body.

Let-off settings:

The let-off settings is a technical term and if you could understand it once you develop good skills. Compound bows have a general rule that at the end of the stroke, they have lower draw weight. When you pull back the bowstring, a lower draw weight allows you to aim in a better way.

So, let-off differs the pressures at the end of the stroke. A higher one will give you lower pressure while the lower one will leave you with high pressure.

So, most players prefer to go with a lower let-off setting. The reason is that it allows you to achieve a better FPS. The difference in FPS is, however, minor and won’t affect your game much. However, higher let-off settings bow might seem loose for expert players.

Feet per Second (FPS):

Most people were looking for FPS in this buying guide and obvious reasons. The FPS matters a lot in the bow as it decides how much speed your bow can achieve per second. However, things are not that simple when it comes to bow.

Let us start explaining how FPS impacts your game. FPS means feet that your bow covers within a second when you throw it. So, if you hit two bows that travel for the same time, FPS will impact how far both went. A bow with 300 FPS will cover 3000 feet before falling while a bow with 200 FPS will only go 2000 feet far.

With this discussion, you might think that the more FPS is better. But you must know that to achieve more FPS, you need a greater draw weight. So, opt for a higher FPS only when you need it. We will advise you to settle for an average FPS in most cases.

Bow’s Length and Weight:

We already discussed it a bit in shooting style. The length and weight of your bow depend directly on your type of use. For shooting, you may need a bow with low weight and lower length.

On the other hand, for sports, you need a complex bow with a large length and weight for accuracy. They are more stable and create less vibration to allow you better support.

Budget:

The amount you can afford to spend on a bow also makes a lot of sense. You may find some elite bows worth thousands on bucks while there are some good ones in just some hundred bucks. However, it is crucial to find the best quality at a good price. So, the aim should be to purchase the best while saving the most.

FAQ’s:

1. What is a compound bow?

Ans: Unlike a recurve bow, a compound one is not simple. It uses several items like a leverage system, cables, and other mechanics. As a result, you can achieve more speeds by hitting with less power.

2. What is the power of my compound bow?

Ans: To know the power of your bow is very crucial. The exact power will allow you to know how much force you must exert to draw the bow. Mostly, you will find this figure on the site of the manufacturer. However, you can try on yourself and check for the min force you need to draw the bow.

3. What are the uses of a compound bow?

Ans: A bow has a primary use to target other things. However, when it comes to a compound bow, the uses are more refined than before. Modern hunters use them to hunt fast animals. You may also see their use in sports where you need high accuracy.

4. How much a good compound bow costs?

Ans: The prices of a compound bow are variable. You may find a good one around some hundred bucks, while you may also spend thousands of bucks to purchase one. However, there are many great options where you can buy the best bow package under 500.

Conclusion:

So, here was our list of the best bow for under 500. Most people ask about what is the best compound bow for them. So, we reviewed some of the best bows in this article. You will get a clear idea about the features in top compound bows.

We have a detailed buying guide to allow you to further decide what features suit you. Features like draw weight, draw length, and FPS matter a lot. In the end, were quick FAQ’s to help you learn more about the Best Compound Bow Under $500. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.

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• Best Compound Bow Under $400
• Best Compound Bow For Target Shooting