Best Recurve Crossbow For The Money (2023)

In this article I'll show you 5 best recurve crossbow reviews that are powerful and simple to use.

If you're finding a budget recurve crossbow to get into crossbow hunting, then Excalibur Matrix 355 might be your choice.

So keep reading:

Best Recurve Crossbow for Hunting:

Best Recurve Crossbow Reviews:

1. Excalibur Matrix 355 - Best Overall:

Tech Specs:

The Matrix 355 is one of the best crossbows on the market, there is no doubt about it.

If you want the perfect balance between quality and price, this is the recurve crossbow to go for!

The compact Recurve technology gives you so much more for a mid-range price.

The improved balance, accuracy, and weight are just a few of the things that make this product such a great buy.

Hunting all day from dawn till dusk could be exhausting if your crossbow is too heavy - which is precisely why the Matrix 355 weighs 5.3 pounds.

The speed of the shot measured at 355 FPS is perfect for hunting all kinds of game - small or big, fast-moving or not.

Do note that the crossbow makes a lot of noise when firing.

The enhanced accuracy of the Matrix 355 crossbow model gives you more success

The draw weight of 240 lbs makes it perfect for even the largest prey.

Some may be discouraged as the draw weight makes the string hard to draw, but the rope cocking device makes it so much easier.

The Tact-Zone five-reticle scope is installed and it sets sight on the target in a matter of seconds. But the accuracy is limited to 50 yards

There are 4 18” carbon arrows included in the package, along with a 4-arrow quiver and string wax.

As for the assembly, it’s rather easy, and you get a care booklet and an instructional DVD to make sure you will assemble the product in no time.

One of the more notable things about this crossbow is the limited lifetime warranty.

Pros:

Cons:

2. Jaguar CR-013 Series Crossbow Kit, 175-Pound - The Runner-Up

Tech Specs:

Jaguar’s CR-013 is surely one of the best recurve crossbows out there.

The performance and the wide spectrum of accessories make this recurve crossbow a perfect buying choice.

The mid-range recurve crossbow offers great accuracy and decent specs, which make this an optimal choice for beginners.

However, even an experienced user will enjoy the Jaguar CR-013.

Power Stroke

The first thing we wanted to discuss is the power stroke, which is one of the principal things regarding the crossbow.

At 12 inches, the power stroke is more than decent, and suitable for the small or big game.

The weight of 9 pounds is not too high, but it could be heavy to carry all day.

The draw weight of 175 pounds makes the CR-013 perfect for the larger prey.

Do keep in mind that this crossbow is hard to cock due to draw weight, so you might need to invest in a rope cocking device.

There is a foot stirrup included helps you cock the bow.

There is an auto-engage safety mechanism included to keep you safe during hunting.

The most interesting accessory is the Versatile, red-dot scope with 7 levels to adjust the brightness.

The shot speed is measured at 245 FPS, which is more than decent.

It will be more than plenty to be able to hunt even some fast-moving prey since the crossbow is silent.

With the crossbow, you get four 16” bolts, a detachable quiver, shoulder sling, and even safety glasses!

Pros:

Cons

3. Barnett Assault Recruit Recurve Crossbow - Best Budget Option

Barnett’s Recruit crossbow is the absolute winner of our ‘Budget-friendly’ category. For the affordable price, this crossbow has a lot to bring to the table.

If you want a crossbow that will do the job just fine, but you’re not looking to break the bank in the process, this is the one! The specs go way over the price range!

What we especially loved is the crank that’s included in the package.

The crank makes the drawing of the string much easier, which is important if you’re petite and 150 pounds of draw weight is too much for you.

With the 245 FPS of shot speed, it’s more than plenty to hunt most prey you want to.

Furthermore, with a weight of 5 pounds, the crossbow is easy to carry even if you’re of a smaller statue.

With the safety anti-dry-fire mechanism, you are perfectly safe on a hunting weekend, even if you’re a beginner.

In the package, you get various useful accessories like a scope, a detachable quiver, a string wax, and a pre-strung bow - ideal for newbies.

This recurve crossbow uses 19” bolts, but there aren’t any included with the recurve crossbow.

The power stroke of 11” is decent, but it could be better to offer the user a better experience.

The crossbow is suitable for all kinds of games, and the red-dot scope enables you to be even more accurate when shooting.

The Recruit crossbow is very easy to assemble, as the instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

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4. CenterPoint Tyro 4X - Easiest To Carry

Tech Specs:

Centerpoint’s Tyro 4X is the winner of our special category ‘easy to carry’.

The Tyro 4X is the easiest to carry of all the crossbows in our list of best recurve crossbows.

For someone petite, a crossbow that is easy to carry is an absolute must.

Otherwise, the complete hunting experience is painful and something nobody wants to go through again.

The most notable feature about this Centerpoint crossbow is the ultra-light adjustable stock.

The crossbow is ultra-lightweight at 4.9 pounds, which is suitable for even the smaller frames.

With the 10.5” length of the power stroke, the crossbow is not very powerful.

The Tyro 4X could surely benefit from a longer power stroke.

The compression-molded fiberglass limb is very durable and sturdy while maintaining a lightweight feel.

Another notable thing is the storage compartment, which can fit small accessories like rail lube.

In the package along with the recurve crossbow, you get 4 16” aluminum arrows, a detachable quiver, a rail lube for lubrication, and a scope.

The scope is 4x32mm, and it gives you more accuracy than ever before.

The scope sets sight on target in a matter of seconds, making sure you never miss on any prey you see.

With a shot speed of 245 FPS, this crossbow is suitable for beginner to mid-level hooters.

However, a professional hunter would benefit from a higher shot speed for fast-moving prey like deer.

The draw weight of 175 pounds could make the crossbow too heavy to cock, but luckily, the Tyro 4X comes with a rope cocker device, which makes it easy.

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5. Excalibur Micro 335 Crossbow with APX Package/Scope - Best Design

Tech Specs:

Aesthetics is not something that seems like a notable feature of a crossbow, but in reality, it’s important.

The first thing we set our sights on is design and appearance.

Excalibur was well aware of this when making the Micro 335 crossbow.

Its design, along with powerful specs, made this crossbow a must-have on our best recurve crossbow list!

The principal feature of the Micro 355 recurve crossbow is the shot speed. At 335 FPS, the speed is great enough for any prey, even varmints.

Overall, the crossbow itself isn’t too big in dimensions, so even someone petite could use it without a problem.

The draw weight is huge, and at 270 pounds, it could be truly difficult to cock for some people.

The rope cocking device is included, but even with it, someone with a smaller frame could experience difficulty.

The power stroke isn’t very powerful at 10.5” in length, which is something this crossbow could benefit from.

The crossbow itself is very sturdy while maintaining lightness at 5 pounds.

The best accessories included are a Dead Zone scope, a 4-arrow quiver with a bracket, and 4 arrows with 150-grain points.

The REDS suppressors are installed to make sure that your crossbow is super-quiet during hunting, which is another point towards hunting fast-moving prey.

The arrows you should be using need to be no longer than 16.5 inches, but you can go shorter if you like.

The scope is amazing and offers you a clear picture every time - so the accuracy is never an issue with this crossbow.

The Micro 335 is very easy to assemble, partially due to a very detailed instructions manual.

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How to Choose the Best Budget Recurve Crossbow:

For newbies, but even some advanced hunters, picking out a new crossbow can be difficult.

Besides the fact that there are far too many crossbows out there, there are various other problems you might face.

To make the whole experience even just a little easier, this buying guide will inform you of all the important things. So, without further ado, let’s start!

Are Crossbows Multi-purpose?

When discussing the purpose of the crossbow, we’re discussing what the crossbow can be used for.

All crossbows are perfectly suitable for the shooting range, but when we’re discussing purpose, we’re mainly talking about the kind of game you can catch with the crossbow.

Not all games can be caught with all kinds of crossbows.

Fast-moving prey is more difficult to catch, as it can be startled by the fire, and escape easily.

If you want to catch deer or rabbits with your crossbow, you will need a very fast crossbow to do it.

As for larger prey, the crossbow has to be strong and to have a good pull to give a killing shot. If it isn’t strong enough, you will just hurt the animal, and it will likely just escape.

What’s The Best Draw Weight?

Draw weight is a principal spec that tells you how powerful your shooting will be, or can the crossbow be strong in the field.

The draw weight is measured in lbs, and it affects the speed of your shot - so the larger the draw weight is, the faster the shot speed is.

A larger draw weight gives your crossbow a wider purpose and gives more strength into the bolt, making every shot a killing shot.

There is something to keep in mind about the draw weight.

If you have a crossbow that has a draw weight of 200 lbs or more, it will be harder to draw the string and to shoot.

If you are of smaller stature, that could be a problem and you should consider installing a rope cocking device that makes shooting easier.

What Is A Power Stroke?

If you’re a newbie, just the words ‘power stroke’ may not mean much to you.

So, the power stroke is the length between the crossbow string in the back, and the resting point, cocked or uncocked.

The power stroke length is equal to the draw length vertical bow-wise.

It is a very important spec because it tells us how fast the arrow will fly.

The longer one, the more energy will be put into the arrow and give you more success.

Price

Talking about the price doesn’t just mean the quality of the crossbow.

Excellent crossbows can be purchased for just a portion of the price for a high-end crossbow.

For beginners, there is truly no need to invest in a rather expensive crossbow.

First, you need to learn your way around the basic accessories and practice accuracy at the range.

However, more money usually means the crossbow is more durable.

Professional hunters or just passionate hobbyists will want a crossbow that lasts a long time.

A best value for money recurve crossbow may last you a couple of seasons, but it won’t last much longer than that.

Safety Measures

Safety mechanisms are a must-have spec for every crossbow out there.

They are installed to make sure you don’t hurt yourself in an accident, and that your crossbow stays intact.

The most popular safety mechanism is anti-dry-fire.

Almost every modern recurve crossbow has anti-dry-fire, and it’s something we deem very important - because a dry fire could cause irreparable damage to your crossbow.

Make sure that the safety is turned off before you pull on the string and start shooting.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to do anything and you might lose sight of your target.

Speed Of The Shot (FPS)

The speed of the shot is measured in feet per second or FPS. Your crossbow has to deliver bolts very fast, or it won’t be able to do much for you hunting-wise.

For shooting at the range or practicing accuracy, the speed of the shot is not something you should worry about, as reaching success doesn’t have much to do with it.

On the other hand, if you want to go out hunting with your new crossbow, you should make sure that the speed of the shot is at least decent.

Warranty

Warranty is something that most people don’t think about much.

It only occurs to most people when there is a problem regarding the product they purchased. By then, it’s often too late.

When you do find a recurve crossbow you like, you should always check out the warranty on it.

The warranty is usually limited, but some companies offer unlimited for a limited amount of time, somewhere between 1 and 5 years.

If a lifetime unlimited warranty is something you seek, a few crossbow manufacturers are offering that.

Keep in mind that the warranty usually applies only to the original owner and that the product has to be registered on the official website. If you do not register the product in time, the warranty may not apply.

FAQ:

What Is A Recurve Crossbow?

A recurve crossbow is a type of crossbow that is typically longer bow-wise, and draw length-wise.

This enables the crossbow to accelerate more when shooting out bolts.

The crossbow has more power and a faster shot speed due to a longer draw length, making it a popular choice among hunters.

Can You Hunt With A Recurve Crossbow?

Yes, like any other crossbow, the recurve crossbow is ideal for hunting.

We recommend that you use your recurve crossbow for hunting fast-moving prey to achieve success every time.

Why A Recurve Crossbow?

The number-one choice why you should pick the recurve crossbow is that it has a rather simple mechanism for decocking.

Moreover, the recurve crossbow is rather easy to maintain because you can do all the work yourself, like changing the string with the destringing aid included in the package.

It is reliable - it has fewer moving parts, so it’s very accurate.

Another good thing about the recurve crossbow is that they are very lightweight, despite being rather big.

How To String A Recurve Crossbow?

How To Unstring A Recurve Crossbow?

How Do The Limbs On A Recurve Crossbow Differ From The Limbs On A Compound Crossbow?

The limbs on the recurve crossbows are longer, and they have a longer barrel which provides a longer power stroke.

That’s exactly where these two types of arrows are different - since the compound crossbow has shorter limbs, which could be used to your advantage because the reload is faster.

What Kind Of Wax Or Oil Do I Need For A Recurve Crossbow?

Whatever you use, make sure that the manufacturer recommends that exact brand or type of wax and oil.

Never use something because it seems fine, as you could cause irreparable damage to your crossbow.

That's why many manufacturers include the wax or oil in the package. Ordering the wax or oil from the manufacturer is your safest bet, always!

What's Next?

There are so many great recurve crossbows on the market today. However, there are only a few that can be the best recurve crossbows.

Editor's Choice: Excalibur Matrix 355

All in all, every recurve crossbow in our list is a great pick, and you won’t make a mistake by choosing any of them!