What is the difference between recurve and compound crossbows

Recurves are the only bows used for competitive archery and the Olympics, and properly test your abilities as an archer. Crossbows have a trigger, just like a gun. Compound bows are relatively safe to use. They are the most-used during hunting, and as a result, technically contribute to most archery-related injuries every single year.

During competitive archery or target practice, these are as safe as a recurve bow, even at close range. Recurves fully requires you to be a part of the equation. Compound bows have high let-offs and crossbows are cocked just like a pistol, but recurves are all about your strength. Recurves can be dirt cheap, but then again, you get what you pay for.

Crossbows are absolutely built to last you. There are more mechanical elements at play, but manufacturers account for that when they build these things. Quality materials also help. Recurves are set to last for a very long time as well, so long as you care for them.

Recurves are now made out of carbon and aluminum, and often have takedown limbs for better storage capabilities. Crossbows do not have the highest injury rating, but the injuries sustained from them tend to be far more dangerous and emergency room-worthy. Crossbows should be treated like firearms with a similar ruleset to avoid accidental injuries to yourself or others. You would often see statements like:. These are not quite true in So despite all that has been written on the matter, these two crossbow styles deserve a fresh comparison.

One that also reflects what is available in today's market. Recurve and compound crossbows are getting closer and closer if you look at their main characteristics - power, size, ease of loading, and so on. Yes, compound crossbows have an easier time ejecting those arrows at over fps feet per second.

But the gap is melting and there are at least a couple of battle-tested fps recurve crossbows on the market. Here is the time to add a small clarification: there aren't that many companies that make recurve crossbows. And if you are looking to buy a recurve crossbow from a reputable manufacturer, you basically have one choice: Excalibur. For instance, they offer the Assassin TD stands for "takedown" model, which can shoot arrows at fps, which is quite impressive for a recurve crossbow.

There aren't even that many compound crossbows that reach that speed. For comparison, look at one of the models of another popular brand, which is specialized in the production of compound crossbows:. As you can see, both products offer high-end performance and come packed with tons of extras like built-in crank devices. The cams on compound crossbows can get out of sync which would lead to one limb pulling with a higher force and your arrows might not land where you'd expect them to.

This issue has no analogy in recurve crossbows as they have no cams and cables - the bowstring is tied directly to the limbs. As such, placement is much more important than speed. Second, although the average recurve crossbow shoots around fps or so which is plenty fast for killing any big game , there are recurve crossbows out there that shoot way faster than this, like the Excalibur Matrix Bulldog Click for Review , which shoots fps.

That being said, I have yet to see a production recurve crossbow shoot faster than fps, and there are definitely compound crossbows on the market that can shoot upwards of fps. It is a bad-ass tactical style crossbow that I absolutely love. It comes is a lightweight sniper-style trigger and is a dream to operate.

However, if you just like the idea of being able to shoot faster bolts or shoot longer distance shots because the faster an arrow travels, the longer it takes for it to slow down and thus the further it travels , then a compound crossbow may be for you.

Another advantage a compound crossbow has over a recurve crossbow is the sheer size of the crossbow itself. You may be asking yourself, why does it matter how compact a crossbow is? Well, if you are looking for a crossbow to shoot in a tree-stand or blind, the more compact your crossbow is, the easier it is to maneuver around and get off shots from awkward positions.

I have met several hunters that use their recurve in a treestand, but it is easier in my eyes to shoot a smaller crossbow in a tree stand, because it allows my body more room to move to either the left or the right. If you practice shooting both left and right handed since crossbows are ambidextrous by design , a compound crossbow will treat its user much better than a recurve crossbow will.

Although there are definitely added advantages of owning a compound crossbow, there are some disadvantages as well. Please consider the following disadvantages and ask yourself whether you can live with these before opting for a compound crossbow.

Compound crossbows tend to weigh more than recurve crossbows on average, which may more may not factor into your buying decision. The average compound crossbow weighs between 7 to 8 pounds while the average recurve crossbow weighs less than 6pounds.

Oh, and that reminds me, if you are going to buy a treestand, make sure to buy a treestand with a rest rail. I generally recommend beginners buy a crossbow that weighs no more than 7 pounds for their first crossbow. Although there certainly are a lot of high quality compound crossbows under 7 pounds, like the Barnett Raptor Pro STR Click for Review , which weighs 6.

Compare that to most of the offerings by Excalibur, who make recurve crossbows where most weight less than 6 pounds. The real advantage a lightweight recurve has over a heavier compact compound is the weight distribution over the lengthier limbs of the recurve, which balance out the bow and make it feel even lighter than it is.

Lightweight crossbows are supremely easy and fun to shoot, so keep the weight of the crossbow in mind before buying one or another one. Compound crossbows are harder to maintain than recurve crossbows. This is so for two reasons. One, the cams and cables offer additional moving parts that a recurve crosbow does not have to deal with, meaning there are more chances of mechanical error going wrong with a compound crossbow.

These additional parts cost more money. You can see where I am going with this. Two, in order to remove the string from a compound crossbow, you will have to take your bow to be serviced at a pro shop.

That is not the case when owning a recurve crossbow. Opposed to a recurve crossbow, there really is no real way to safely de-cock a modern compound crossbow.

If you have a bolt loaded in a compound crossbow and need to de-cock that arrow, you will have to switch your broadhead out for a field tip and fire into the ground. This can be not so advantageous if you are mid-hunt and simply trying to move to a new location, since the sound may actually startle surrounding animals.

So what is better? My blunt opinion is that if you are solely buying a crossbow to hunt with and want a crossbow that will stay reliable while remaining light, go with a recurve crossbow. However, if you are looking for a crossbow for target shooting, fun and enjoyment, with the also ability to use on hunts when needed or if you hunt predominately from treestands or blinds , go with a compound crossbow.

You have to end your hunt by firing one of your arrows into a target. With a recurve crossbow, you need only remove the arrow and uncock the bow.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon. Home Hunting Hiking Kayaking Menu. Facebook-f Twitter Pinterest. Recurve Crossbow vs. Compound Crossbow? Power Compound crossbows are capable of firing arrows at much higher velocities compared to recurve crossbows.

Dependability In bow hunting, accuracy is the name of the game.