Best Compound Bow Under 300 In 2023: Top 9 Models Reviewed

It is always not necessary to pay an arm and a leg to get your hands on an ideal compound bow. With the right trick, you can get yourself the best compound bow under 300 bucks.

What's the trick then? Well, it's no rocket science, you just have to make sure the bow comes with the necessary features and avoid looking for fancy bows just because of big names.

When it comes to compound bows, the most important features you need to check include draw weight and length, axle-axle, let-off, construction material, brace height, IBO speed, etc.

And here we have handpicked 9 compound bows that come packed with everything an ideal compound bow should offer under $300 price range.

Take a quick look!

9 Best Compound Bows Under $300 with Brief Overviews

1. Best Overall: Bear Archery Royale Youth Compound Bow

"With more than 7-different color options, the bear archery royale compound bow allows youth to choose their favorite color. It features adjustable draw weight/length, and making the adjustments are pretty easy as well, just what a beginner needs."

2. ‎Best All-Season: Predator Archery Raptor Compound Hunting Bow

"The predator archery raptor can be used for almost everything. Whether it is bow fishing, target shooting, or hunting, you will find this bow filling all your needs. It comes with decent IBO speed and length/weight as well, making it suitable for everyone."

3. Best Youth: Diamond Archery Atomic Compound Bow

"In terms of durability and longevity, this Diamond archery atomic compound bow outshines a lot of bows on the list effortlessly. It is designed to withstand all the abuse a professional hunter might do."

4. Best Premium: PSE ARCHERY Uprising Compound Bow

"From faster firing speed to a decent weight, the PSE archery uprising comes with everything you would expect from a high-end compound bow. With an IBO speed of 310 fps, this bow allows you to do both target shooting and hunting with it."

5. Best for Bowfishing: Cajun Shore Runner Ext Compound Bow

"Searching for an effective bow fishing compound bow that won't miss the target? If you hold the needed skill, then this Cajun shore runner EXT will penetrate every fish you target. It has high IBO speed and comes with most of the necessary components for bow fishing."

6. Best Adjustable: DIAMOND ARCHERY Prism Compound Bow

"This compound bow comes with the most accurate binary cam system that increases your chance of hitting the bull's eye. Plus, adjusting the draw weight and length is super simple in this bow."

7. Best for Beginners: GENESIS Left Handed Red Kit

"The Genesis left-handed compound bow is a suitable unit for adult beginners. It has a very low draw weight and draw length, which is adjustable as well."

8. Best for Kids: PSE Mini Burner Compound Bow

"PSE mini burner compound bow is one of the best compound bows for kids. It is lightweight, has a short axle to axle length, and has light draw weight as well. The bow has great stability, which helps kids learn easily."

9. Best Versatile: Karnage Dynamic 70 LBS Compound Bow

"It's a powerful one, comes with 310 fps IBO speed. The Karnage Dynamic compound bow is pretty versatile, it can be used almost everywhere except bow fishing."

In-Depth Reviews of 9 Best Compound Bows Under 300 USD

1. Best Overall: Bear Archery Royale Youth Compound Bow

Bear Archery is a well-reputed brand serving the market with top-notch compound bows for years now. They always come with innovative ideas which never fail to impress the users. And this Bear Archery royale youth compound bow is something like that.

The most impressive feature this one comes with is the adjustability. It is super easy to adjust, no wonder why it is designed for youth archers. The draw length can be adjusted from 12 - 27," and the weight can be adjusted from 5 - 50 lbs.

This bow comes with a 75% let-off which makes it easier for youth archers. Even though it is designed for youth archers, adults can also use this compound bow if they choose to.

It is a very lightweight compound bow making it suitable for both hunting and target shooting. Talking about hunting, this bow can fire arrows at a 290 feet per second speed, that's quite fast for a bow designed for youth.

You can start using this very bow right out of the box, it comes equipped with all the necessary things which include a trophy ridge mist sight, whisker biscuit, nock loop, a fletcher archery peep sight, and 5 spot quiver.

All thanks to the manufacturer for the heavy-duty premium material construction which makes this bow extremely durable and long-lasting. Lastly, the bear archery royale has a rugged look and is available in 7-different colors.

Good Sides:

• Heavy-duty construction makes it durable and long-lasting
• The length of the bow makes it suitable for youth archers
• Making adjustments is super easy
• The bow offers a 290fps IBO speed
• Suitable for both hunting and target shooting
• Comes with all the necessary accessories
• Adjustable draw weight and length

Downsides:

• Crooked whisker biscuit arrow rest
• Cams are a little toed

2. ‎Best All-Season: Predator Archery Raptor Compound Hunting Bow

Whether you are a bow fisher, hunter, or target shooter, you are going to find this predator archery raptor compound bow extremely helpful. It is completely designed for adult archers. However, youth can still use it if they find it manageable.

It has an axle-to-axle length of 30-inches, and the weight is 3.6 lbs. The length and decent weight make it perfect for adults. 3.6 lbs aren't very heavy or lightweight, it falls in between.

The draw length is 24.5 - 31-inches, and the draw weight is 30-70lbs. You can adjust the weight and length pretty easily. And the adjustments can be made without a bow press.

That being said, 30-70lbs draw weight could be much for beginner archers. Even though it has a let-off of 75%, still we don't recommend this bow for beginners.

The manufacturer has used machined aluminum for cams and modules construction. This bow doesn't contain any plastic at all, hence it can take heavy abuse and lasts longer.

With the bow, you also get a 5 pin fiber optic sight along with a light, a level truglo EZ brush rest, pre-installed peep sight, D-loop, 4 arrow quiver, and a stabilizer.

Good Sides:

• This bow is suitable for all purposes
• Easy to adjust draw length and weight
• It comes at a decent weight and won't be hard to manage
• High-end aluminum constructed bow
• The bow can withstand heavy abuse and lasts long
• 75% let-off makes it easy to hit the target
• It comes packed with all the needed items

Downsides:

• The cable guard might slip out occasionally
• Bow sight lacks a shim
• Not appropriate for youth archers

3. Best Youth: Diamond Archery Atomic Compound Bow

If you want to shift to a more durable compound bow, don't miss out on this Diamond archery atomic bow. The way it is designed, it can be used by both youth and adult archers. Plus, the let-off and draw weight makes it a perfect unit for beginners as well.

It comes with a 12-24-inch draw length and 6-29 lbs draw weight, what else do beginners need to start learning archery? Plus, the overall bow length is 25-inches enabling youth archers to use it conveniently. The IBO speed of this bow is pretty low, only 191 fps, and that's what makes it best for youth and beginners.

Even though the draw weight and length are light, they can be customized too. And you don't need a bow press to adjust them.

The manufacturer has used high-quality components for ensuring long-lasting service, which includes aluminum riser, precision cams, and carbon glass limbs. Overall, construction is pretty top-notch as well.

Good Sides:

• Heavy-duty aluminum construction makes it durable
• Soft draw weight and length makes it suitable for everyone
• Easy to adjust the draw weight and length without bow press
• It is a lightweight compound bow
• The bow comes with long-lasting components
• Available in 5 different colours option

Downsides:

• The 2-point rest can be difficult to use
• Low-quality quiver

4. Best Premium: PSE ARCHERY Uprising Compound Bow

The PSE archery uprising compound bow will be a little heavy on the wallet, but it delivers the expected value. It is a powerful compound bow that can be used in both target shooting and hunting. A lot of people prefer using it for hunting due to its 310 fps IBO speed.

It is a bow designed for professionals and comes with a 15-70lb draw weight and a 14-30-inch draw length. Both the weight and length can be adjustable easily without using a bow press. Plus, it has a 70% let-off which makes full draw a little easy on the hand, increasing your chance to hit the bullseye.

For optimum durability, the manufacturer has used top-notch aluminum material in the construction. It can withstand heavy abuse and will last longer than the expectations.

The package includes a 3-pin sight, 5-arrow quiver, stabilizer, and an arrow rest.

Good Sides:

• Heavy-duty aluminum construction for durability
• It can be adjusted easily without a bow press
• It offers 310 fps IBO speed, which makes it suitable for hunting
• This bow is ready to use right out of the box
• The bow comes equipped with all necessary accessories
• 3 different colours available

Downsides:

• The arrow rest and bow sight aren’t the best in quality
• Feels less stable in hands due to the minimalistic grip

5. Best for Bowfishing: Cajun Shore Runner Ext Compound Bow

Looking for a compound bow that will give you an incredible bow fishing experience? We have the Cajune shore runner XT compound bow for you. To be very honest, there are very few compound bows that actually deliver a good bow fishing experience, and this Cajune shore runner is one of those few.

The package comes with a brush fire arrow rest, blister bluster finger pads, 1 fiberglass piranha arrow, and winch pro bottle bow fishing reel. Not to forget, it features a constant draw cam as well. The bow comes with most of the components needed for bow fishing.

It comes with 45 lbs draw weight and a 27-inches draw length. Both the weight and length are fixed and can't be adjusted. Plus, it has an IBO speed of 290 fps. So if you're a beginner, you better avoid this one since it is better suited to professionals.

Good Sides:

• The bow offers the needed speed for bow fishing
• It comes with a decent weight
• Designed for professional archers
• Includes most of the accessories needed for bow fishing
• It comes with blister buster finger pads to prevent finger blisters

Downsides:

• Draw length and weight aren't adjustable
• Relatively heavier

6. Best Adjustable: DIAMOND ARCHERY Prism Compound Bow

This Diamond archery prism compound bow comes with a synchronized binary cam system. In case you don't know, this is the most accurate and popular cam you will find in the market right now.

Binary cam systems are a blend of two symmetrical cams that builds out a perfect synchronization.

It offers a draw weight of 5-55 lbs and a draw length of 18-30". Adjusting the weight and length is effortless in this bow. No need for a bow press, just simple turns of the limb bolt will do it for you.

This bow has a let-off of 80%, which tells using this bow even on the peak weight would be easy. The IBO speed of this one is 295 fps, making it a suitable bow for hunting and target shooting.

Good Sides:

• It features the most accurate binary cam system
• Heavily constructed for optimum durability and performance
• 80% let-off enables the user to use the bow at peak draw weight with ease
• Effortless to adjust the draw weight and length
• Delivers 295 fps firing speed which is perfect for hunting

Downsides:

• The grip is flimsy
• Arrow biscuit might come loose after some time

7. Best for Beginners: GENESIS Left Handed Red Kit

This genesis compound is the first unit on the list that comes with a 0% let-off. Genesis has designed this bow for adult beginners who have never held a bow before. And the reason they eliminated the let-off totally is that the draw weight is already very low.

It has a draw weight of 10-20lbs which can be adjusted by a 3/16-inch hex wrench. Don't worry, you won't have to purchase that separately, the package includes the wrench.

The manufacturer has used machined 6061 T6 aluminum cam, riser, and idler wheel for top-notch performance. And the overall construction is pretty good as well, it seems very promising.

It is the official bow of the national archery in the school's program. The package comes with all the needed accessories, including a belt tube quiver, 5 aluminum arrows, a hex wrench for adjustments, and a manual that has everything written in plain and simple words.

Good Sides:

• It comes with a very low draw weight that's easy for beginners
• Both the draw length and weight are adjustable
• Machined 6061 T6 aluminum cam, idler, and riser add durability
• The package includes all the needed accessories, including the wrench
• The IBO speed is suitable for both hunting and target shooting

Downsides:

• This bow is very heavy 
• No let-off
• Only suitable for left handed archer, so right handlers should avoid this one

8. Best for Kids: PSE Mini Burner Compound Bow

The PSE mini burner compound bow is a suitable unit for kids. It has a low axle-to-axle length which will be easier for kids to handle. It has a draw weight of 29 to 40 lbs which can be adjusted by turning the limb bolt. It has a draw length of 16-26 ½ -inches which are also adjustable.

Thanks to the manufacturer for their heavy construction, it can withstand all the wear and tear a kid might put on it. The bow weighs only 2.7 lbs, just what a kid needs to start learning archery comfortably.

This compound bow comes with a lightweight riser, a PSE FC cam system, a comfortable rubber panel grip, and mini-split limbs. And the package includes 3-pin sight, arrow quiver and rest, 3 carbon arrows, and a stabilizer.

It is a pretty stable bow, a perfect unit for beginners. And it comes ready to be fired right out of the box.

Good Sides:

• The short axle-to-axle length makes it perfect for kids
• Adjustable draw length and weight are easy to adjust with the bolt
• Heavy-duty construction for durability
• A stabilizer makes the bow pretty stable to shoot
• The package packs all the needed items

Downsides:

• Not the best arrows
• The let-off factor is relatively low

9. Best Versatile: Karnage Dynamic 70 LBS Compound Bow

And here comes the last compound bow on the list, the Karnage Dynamic Compound bow. This versatile compound bow is ready to deliver everything you would expect from a top-class compound bow.

Whether you need a bow for backyard shooting or professional archery, this very bow fits in both nicely. It is designed for adult archers, not for youth at all because it weighs around 4.5 lb which will be hard for youth.

The draw weight of this bow is 40-70 lb and has a 70% let-off. And the draw length is 20-30-inches which is super easy to adjust without a bow press. With this compound bow, you get an IBO speed of 310 FPS, that's quite fast.

The 31-inches length surely hurts a bit in terms of portability, but if you want good performance, that much you will have to deal with.

Good Sides:

• This is a powerful compound bow offering 310 fps firing speed
• Heavy 70 lb peak draw weight and 20-30-inch draw length
• Adjusting the draw weight and length doesn't require a bow press
• The IBO speed makes the bow suitable for both hunting and target shooting
• With the bow, you get most of the necessary items as well

Downsides:

• Low-quality construction material
• Not portable at all

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a decent compound bow cost?

A decent compound bow will generally cost around $100-$300. While this may seem like a lot of money, it is actually a very good investment when you consider how much use you can get out of a compound bow.

What's better, recurve or compound bow?

There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on personal preferences and what you are looking for in a bow.

Some people prefer the recurve bow because recurve bows are simpler and have fewer moving parts, while others prefer the compound bow because it is more powerful. Ultimately, it comes down to what feels best in your hands. To get in-depth guide on recurve vs compound bow, You can also read this article: archerycare.com/recurve-bow-vs-compound-bow/.

How far can a compound bow shoot?

Different bows come with different power. But a compound bow can shoot up to 70 yards. And on average, bows can shoot anywhere between 30-and 60 yards. You can also read this guide to learn in-depth about compound bow shooting range. 

How big of a compound bow do I need?

A compound bow needs to be big enough to fit your draw length. Your draw length is the distance between your navel and your fingertips when you are holding a bow and pulling back on the string. You can find your draw length by measuring the distance and dividing it by 2.5.

For example, if you measure the distance from your navel to your fingertips and it is 28 inches, your draw length would be 11 inches.

Final Verdict

So here are the 9 best compound bow under 300 we have found so far. All of these models we have reviewed are favored by people who have actually used them. And all of these units have minor flaws, which we have mentioned as well. Hope it will be enough to help you pick the best compound bow under $300.

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