The Best Compound Bow for Target Shooting: Top 11 Models of 2023

Mike Schloesser (ranked number 1 archer worldwide) once told in an interview that getting the right gear at an early stage significantly impacts the career. So, don't bet on cheap bows if you also dream of adding your name to the archery hall of fame.

To help you find the best compound bow for target shooting, We have listed the top 11 picks trusted by thousands of archers globally. These are from some of the renowned bows and accessories manufacturers, including Bear Archery, Diamond Archery, Pandarus, etc.

Whether you’re buying a bow for the first time or looking forward to upgrading your existing bow kit, this article covers it all to help you find the right gear.

What Are the Best Compound Bows for Target Shooting?

1. Best Overall: Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Compound Bow

"It’s the most reliable bow kit to get started with your archery career. Not only for beginners, but it's also suited for professional bow hunting and target shooting."

2. ‎Runner Up: Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro

"Looking for the maximum value out of your money? This Infinity Edge Pro is a great way to shape your shooting skills."

3. Best Seller: PANDARUS Archery Compound Bow

"For both kids and adults, this compound bow is the perfect match. The bow is designed to match the IBO FPS standard."

4. Best Versatile: XGeek XG001 Compound bow

"The XGeek bow gives you the maximum range of draw weight and length. It’s suitable for all-age hunters and shooters."

5. Best Premium: PSE Brute Nxt Rts Compound Bow

"If the price doesn't bother you, invest in this RTS compound bow with full confidence. The bow provides the maximum let-off rate on the market."

6. Best Cheap: SAS Siege Compound Bow

"Most budget seekers begin their journey with this Siege compound bow. And why won’t they? Despite the low price, it comes with all the premium features."

7. Best ‎All-season: Predator Archery Raptor Compound Bow

"This Predator compound bow is highly recommended to seasoned bow shooters looking for the next upgrade. It’s also suitable for amateurs."

8. Best Compact: Genesis Gen-X Compound Bow

"Longer bows mean you get more stability. And that's where this Gen-X bow is the best deal in its category."

9. Best Mid-Range: SAS Outrage ATA Compound Bow

"Want something better than the Siege with a few more bucks? This SAS’s budget bow surely won’t disappoint you."

10. Best for Training: Genesis Original Multi Use Compound Bow

"Most professional target shooters have their separate bows for training. If you want one, particularly for the purpose, get this now. The set comes with all the essential attachments you'll need in the practice ground."

11. Best Adjustable: AW Pro Compound Right Hand Bow

"A fully adjustable bow allows users to optimize draw length and weight according to different scenes and the user's physical traits. This right-hand bow is a good deal if adjustability is your prime concern."

In-Depth Reviews of 11 Best Target Shooting Compound Bows

To get a more in-depth idea about these compound bows, check out the features breakdown, pros, and cons discussed below.

1. Best Overall: Bear Archery Cruzer G2 Compound Bow

Bear Archery is a well-known title in the bow manufacturing industry. From bows to relevant accessories, the company has a great history of creating high-quality recreational equipment.

If you're looking for an affordable, high-quality bow that you can use for both hunting and target shooting, the Bear Archery Cruzer G2 compound bow is a decent option.

One of the most important features of the Cruzer G2 is its adjustable draw length. This allows you to customize the pulling according to your own body size and shooting style, ranging from 12 to 30-inch.

Because of the easy-to-adapt design, this bow is suitable for any starter. On the other hand, there are some advanced features that make it a good pick for pros too.

For example, where most bows have a 260-270 FPS, this gear can reach up to 315 FPS with maximum draw weight support (up to 70 lbs.) And that's a desirable feature to most wildlife hunters.

The Cruzer G2 also has ergonomic craftsmanship that makes it comfortable to hold and shoot. The grip is covered with soft rubber for easy holding during long shoots.

Additionally, the bow has an integrated safety feature that prevents children from accidental trigger pulling. It's also highly recommended for the lightweight design (3 lbs.).

Without those advanced specs, this compound bow comes with 7 unique color themes, including Moonshine Undertow, Muddy Girl, Wildfire, Realtree Edge, etc.

Why Are We Impressed?

• Adjustable draw length is convenient for both amateurs and pros
• Wide range of draw weight capacity
• High FPS rate for professional hunting
• Lots of lucrative color options to choose from
• Made of aluminum to enhance durability
• Lightweight design for easy carrying

What Could Be Better?

• Peep sights slip off at full length in some units
• Some sellers don’t provide all accessories

2. ‎Runner Up: Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro

This brand is actually a wing of the Pure Archery Group. Alongside their own trademarks, they are also an official distributor of some premium crossbow manufacturers such as Excalibur and Bowtech Archery.

The key reason this Infinity Edge Pro falls behind the Cruzer G2 is its higher pricing. Rather than that, most of the features are cutting-edge and undefeatable.

Because of its amazing performance and intuitive design, this bow is perfect for anyone looking to take their archery skills to the next level.

The compound bow has an axle-to-axle length of 31-inch. It’s not too big nor too small, suitable for all-age hunters. Besides, it also comes with an innovative adjustability feature that allows you to change the draw length as per your preference.

With the longer brace height (7.5-inch) support, you’ll get more accuracy on shots. It’s also a reason why this hunting gear has less speed than the previous one. However, the 310 FPS is still good enough for most shooting scenes.

The bow has an adjustable draw weight feature, from a minimum of 5 lbs. to a maximum of 70 lbs. It gives you a more comfortable draw cycle when shooting at different target locations.

What Makes It Stand Out?

• Adjustable draw length suits most users’ size
• Built-in dampeners to eliminate shock wave
• User-friendly mechanism to adjust the draw cycle
• Longer brace height to provide more accuracy
• Integrated stabilizer to reduce vibration

What Is Not Ideal About It?

• Requires tuning for professional uses
• Arrow rest built quality isn’t up to the mark

3. Best Seller: PANDARUS Archery Compound Bow

Are you looking for the best target compound bow to start your archery journey? Then this Pandarus complete kit is the one you should invest in. All bow attachments you'll need comes in this single package. The price is also affordable for any hobbyist.

The Pandarus Archery set is a top-of-the-line compound bow that offers users a lot of shooting options. With the maximum draw length, this powerful bow can reach a speed of 260 FPS. It meets the standards of IBO (International Bowhunting Organization).

As mentioned early, it's mainly designed for the starter. Hence, it's a bit smaller in diameter. The axle-to-axle measurement is 27.75-inch, making it suitable for teenagers stepping into the shooting field.

Despite an inexpensive compound bow, this one has top-notch built quality. It has an aluminum frame and a carbon fiber bow limb. However, the arrow quiver is made of cheap plastic. You may need to get a replacement after a while.

The Pandarus compound bow has an aluminum riser with black heat-stamped paint, making this model one of the lightest and most durable in its class.

Additionally, the draw weight range for this compound bow is 15 to 29 lbs. and the draw length is 19-28 inches, both of which can be adjusted as needed.

The first bow is always meaningful. Keeping that in mind, Pandarus offers this bow in a wide range of colors and finishes to suit the user's taste.

What Makes It Different?

• Comes with all the components to start with
• Lower bow limbs for faster speed
• Beginner’s friendly design doesn’t cause heavy vibration
• Larger wheel size delivers a smooth pulling experience
• Containment brushes to minimize friction

What Negatives Must You Be Aware Of?

• Low-quality arrow quiver won't last long enough
• Not suitable for intermediary or advanced archer 

4. Best Versatile: XGeek XG001 Compound bow

XGeek is one of a few brands that adhere to creating innovative bowlines for shooting sports enthusiasts. While most of their bow limbs are made in the USA, the pricing seems acceptable to me. This XG001 is one of the flagship compound bow editions by the company.

We recommend this bow to any archer level, whether just starting out or already an expert in the shooting range.

The adjustable draw weight and length feature is something you always miss in a traditional bow. There is a non-replaceable tuning system for the purpose. It makes it suitable for all-size archers also.

One of the most important features of this compound bow is its high let-off rate, which is 80%. So, you can pull at full draw with less effort. The bow can reach 320 FPS with a full draw. It's the maximum compared to other compound bows on the list.

If it comes to durability, no other options can defeat this bow. Where most bows are made of only aluminum, this one has a composite body of aluminum and magnesium. This made the bow stronger and more heat-resistant than others. However, because of that, it’s heftier also.

It features a vibration dumping system to prevent fatigue issues while shooting. The handlebar is also covered with rubber for extra comfort.

Up Sides We Found

• 5 Peep sights are equipped with the bow for better visibility
• Wide range of draw lengths for every stage of shooters
• Bowstring guards provide safety for fingers
• Dumping system to diminish trembling of strings
• A high rate of let-offs makes shooting effortless

Down Sides We Found

• A bit heftier frame construction
• Doesn’t come with assembly instructions

5. Best Premium: PSE Brute Nxt Rts Compound Bow

It’s been more than 50 years since a fellow named Pete Shepley founded PSE. From a small side business, the company became the biggest bow and related accessories manufacturer in the USA.

If you don’t have budget issues while chasing your passion for archery, there is nothing better for you than this PSE Brute NXT compound bow. Whether you’re looking for versatility or high-end built quality, investing in this archery gear won’t regret you.

The compound bow is specifically crafted for adults. Therefore, most features aren't beginner-friendly. For example, the maximum draw weight is 70 lbs. You can adjust to as low as 55 lbs. only.

To adjust the draw weight, you need to turn the Allen head screws down. We suggest using a weight scale every time you do adjustments.

But the good part is it features 80% let-off, making it adaptable for teenagers too. If you often adjust the cam to optimize the let-off, this bow isn't for you. The rate is fixed.

Brute gave their most effort to enhance the performance. They kept the brace height at an optimal level (6.5-inch). It can reach up to 328 FPS with a full draw, exceeding the speed of average compound bows.

Regarding design, there are only 3 premium finishes to choose from – Black, True Timber Strata, and Mossy Oak Country.

Overall, it’s a blend of maximum speed, top-notch components quality, and unique hunter-style finishes, making it one of the best compound bows for target shooting.

What Sets It Apart?

• Great suit for professional bow shooting
• Features maximum draw weight to increase energy
• Smaller size can fit easily in narrower space
• Lightweight design ensures convenience while carrying
• Features high FPS and ideal brace height 

What Could Be Better?

• Doesn’t come with many color options
• Only suitable for adult bow shooters 

6. Best Cheap: SAS Siege Compound Bow

If you're just exploring archery sports and trying to figure out whether this is for you or not, don’t buy a premium bow. Instead, try this low-cost compound bow made by SAS.

There are tons of more budget options, but this one is our favorite because while the price is low, you can taste almost all the features that are only present in a pricier option.

SAS followed a compressed ABS design when manufacturing the limbs, making the bow more durable than average. However, because of the thicker body, it feels a bit heavy.

There are some cons also. Unlike other mid-budget picks, it features a max draw weight of only 55 lbs. You can lower it to 40 lbs.

It’s actually the key reason this SAS series features less FPS than other compound bows. It allows you to reach a maximum speed of 206 FPS, which is much lower than regular IBO.

The major downside of this gear is it doesn’t offer adjustability for draw length. It has a fixed length of 29-inch. Due to this, it’s not recommended for kids.

Inside the package, you’ll get a peep sight along with the gear. The instruction manual seems to be easy to understand, even for first-timers.

Good Sides

• Higher let-off diminishes holding weight at full draw
• Longer axle-to-axle makes shooting easier and more accurate
• Suitable draw weight for average or medium-frame males
• Thicker limbs design commits to last longer
• Included peep sight has an adjustable feature

Drawbacks

• Quite heavier than others on the list
• Doesn’t allow adjusting the drawl length

7. Best ‎All-season: Predator Archery Raptor Compound Bow

Predator Archery is a California-based bow manufacturer. When they started in the early 90s, they used to sell only a few bow attachments. But now, the list is expanded to more than 9000.

Raptor compound bow is actually the flagship series introduced by the brand. It’s packed with tons of features, enough to catch the attention of both new and seasoned bow hunters.

Firstly, if talking about the design aspects, We liked its longer limbs, around 30-inches long. It'll feel comfortable to bend while drawing.

Unlike traditional sight, this one comes with 5 lighted sights. Hence, aiming becomes much easier, even for amateurs.

We are also satisfied with the built quality. In terms of durability, it’s one of the most secured investments.

The whole frame is made of aluminum. It makes it a bit lightweight yet stronger than typical compound bows. The cams and modules are made of the same material.

Predator added a split yoke tuning system to deliver maximum flexibility to users. You can make the adjustments precisely.

Keeping the thought of professional bow shooters, the manufacturer upgraded the draw weight range (30-70 lbs.) in the recent edition. The max draw weight allows you to reach common shooting targets. Besides, it supports 70% let-off, which makes the full draw even fun and easier for any shooters.

What Pros Did We Find?

• A higher let-off rate makes shooting effortless
• Long limbs for easier bent
• Lighted sights make aiming more accurate
• Aluminum-made frame tend to last longer than average
• Adequate draw weight for distant shooting 

What Cons We Did Find?

• Required tuning before using for shooting
• Instruction manual isn’t easy to understand for newbies 

8. Best Compact: Genesis Gen-X Compound Bow

Genesis is a renowned brand in the bow manufacturing industry. Their major target market is kids and teenagers. The company is also the initiator of the National Archery Schools Program, NASP®, where 4th-12th grade kids get the chance to improve their skills, including bow shooting.

What makes this gear different from others is its longer axle-to-axle length, which is 35.5-inch. Because of the longer design, this bow gives the utmost stability while pulling the draw to the max.

Since it’s mainly designed for kids or learners, the brace height is a bit longer than usual, 7.88-inch. And because of that, shots are less affected by the user’s error.

The max draw weight limit is 40 lbs. It’s not high enough for distant bow shooting. But if considering the requirements for whitetail hunting, it does pretty well.

Another advantage of this bow is the 65% let-off rate. It may seem less than some bows listed in this article. But you can make shots smoothly as the draw weight is lesser than others.

For stability and comfort, this is the best compound target bow in the segment. And if that matches your concern, invest in this model without worry. The bow comes along with a quiver, rest, and carbon arrows.

Good Sides We Found

• Lightweight design makes carrying easy
• Wide range of draw lengths suits kids and teenagers
• Adjustable draw weight for diverse shooting needs
• Longer brace height reduces shot errors
• Innovative engineering ensures more stability and comfort

Bad Sides We Found

• Only available in black color
• Doesn’t have strings in the bow kit 

9. Best Mid-Range: SAS Outrage ATA Compound Bow

The above-mentioned SAS Siege is a good choice for its pricing. But if you can spend a little more, this Outrage ATA is a better deal.

For these few extra bucks, you're getting a higher draw weight in this kit, ranging from 30 lbs. to 70 lbs. The manufacturer also increased the FPS limit in this bow to 275. Therefore, you’ll witness more speed.

Another notable upgrade is its longer brace height than the predecessor model. The advancement will make your shots flawless; it doesn’t matter whether you’re a newbie or intermediate.

However, the major downside of this bow is the shorter axle-to-axle length. Because of that, amateur hunters will get less stability support. But the good side is it feels more convenient while storing in tight spaces.

SAS also improvised the built quality. Now there is less plastic and more high-end material touch in every part. For instance, the riser is made of aluminum to enhance longevity one step ahead. The limbs are also made of fiberglass. It gives the bow both strength and an appealing look.

And finally, the manufacturer has understood that it's important to keep up with the market trend. Now, you can adjust the draw length from a minimum of 25-inch to a maximum of 31-inch, making it suitable for most users.

Positive Sides We Found

• Upgraded design allows drawing length adjustability
• High let-off rate reduces holding weight
• Wide-range of draw weight for all shooting needs
• Delivers higher speed shooting experience
• Each component is built with high-quality materials

Negative Sides We Found

• Only suitable for starter archers
• Grip design isn’t comfortable to hold

10. Best for Training: Genesis Original Multi Use Compound Bow

Many experts prefer using zero let-off bow when grooming their bow shooting skills in the training ground. This helps them grow the adaptability of the muscle memories. Later, when they switch to bows with let-off or cam feature, it becomes easy to hold or get a full draw.

If you’re aiming for a career in archery sports, you should also do so. And therefore, this Genesis compound bow is a good bet.

The manufacturer built this bow with all-age trainees’ requirements in mind. It has a wider range of draw lengths than most typical bows in the segment. The range starts from 15-inch, which is quite suitable for kids. And you can raise it to 30-inch according to your age or body size.

If talking about the shooting performance, the draw weight is limited between 10 to 20 lbs. Therefore, it’s quite easy to pull the string for young shooters, and in a sense, it also eliminates the need for let-off. 

And lastly, Genesis kept the bow limbs distance quite lengthier than usual. The axle-to-axle length is 35.5-inch, which makes the pulling even easier. And it also gives you additional stability that you’ll miss in shorter bows.

Genesis packed this training kit with all essentials, including an arm guard, tube quiver, and 5 arrows. The price is affordable also.

Good Sides We Did Find

• Compact design makes it easy to carry and store
• Aluminum-made frame with premium color-coating
• Comes with all required attachments
• Innovative design suits any age shooters
• No tuning is required
• Designed to optimize vibration for more accuracy

Negative Sides We Did Find

• Only purple color is available
• Not suitable for advanced bow hunting 

11. Best Adjustable: AW Pro Compound Right Hand Bow

It’s time to wrap up the review. And like always, the last one is our favorite gig on the list. And it’s because of the adjustability and most advanced built quality.

Unlike other target shooting compound bows, this AW Pro edition has the most flexible draw length, starting from 17-inch to a maximum of 29-inch. So, whether it's a kid, teenager, or adult, the bow is a perfect match.

When it comes to the draw weight, We are also satisfied with the measures. You can reach 20 lbs. to up to 70 lbs. energy with this bow, making it the most versatile hunting gear for both indoor and wildlife shooting.

To ensure long-lasting performance, the company built the frame with stainless steel. The riser is made of alloy aluminum. Also, you'll witness fiberglass-made limbs in this archer. The whole approach enables it to resist high-stress flexing.

Like other premium compound bows, this one is equipped with modern peep sights and rheostat lights. These help you to get a better vision of the target in both low and sunlight.

We always suggest using a release aid to archers to save their fingers from vibration or other accidents. You don't have to buy that separately as it comes with one; you can use it with D-loop.

What We Liked

• Fully adjustable draw length and weight
• Stainless-steel body will last longer than any alternative
• High tensile riser can tackle heavy flexing
• Lighted peep sights for better accuracy
• Comes with a release aid for fingers’ safety

What We Didn’t Like

• Included arrows aren’t suitable for hunting
• A bit complex instruction manual

Considerations While Buying Target Shooting Compound Bow

To find the best compound bow for target shooting, you need to check on its core features such as draw weight and length, axle-to-axle distance, and let-off percentage in some cases. There are some other measures too before buying one. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Choose Draw Length According to Your Body Size

Finding the right draw length in your bow is necessary to take a shot comfortably. An adequate draw length allows you to pull the string at the full draw. As a result, your shots achieve more strength.

Draw length can differ from person to person. To find the right draw length, measure your arm-to-arm distance first. Then substract 15 from it and divide it by 2.

For example;

• Arm-to-arm distance = 75-inch
• Draw length = (75 – 15) ÷ 2 = 30-inch

The good part is nowadays, most premium shooting compound bows come with adjustability to match all-age archers.

Draw Weight Is the Power

More draw weight allows you to reach more distance while shooting with your bow. Everyone has their own draw weight capacity depending on their strength and age. For a general guide, follow the chart below to find your suitable draw weight.

To Measure Your Actual Draw Weight, Read This Article: archerycare.com/how-to-measure-compound-bow-draw-weight/

Let-off Makes Shooting a Breeze

In the case of compound bows, there is a string and cam set that allows you to store force/energy. These also help you to reduce the holding weight. How much weight is reduced at full draw is determined by the let-off. The more let-off ratio is, the more effortlessly you can take the shot.

As in, if your bow has a maximum draw weight of 50 lbs. and a 70% let-off, meaning you’ll be pulling only 15 lbs. at full draw.

Axle-to-Axle Is Important

Your bow height or axle-to-axle length impacts seriously on the performance and your ease. Most professional shooters prefer using longer bows. The longer bows give you more stability during your shoots.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What bows are used for target shooting?

In most targeting sports, compound bows are widely used. This is because they are easier to use than crossbows or recurve bows.

2. What’s a good draw weight for target shooting?

The best draw weight for target shooting depends on your physical ability mainly. For kids, it can be as low as 10 lbs. and for adults, it can be up to 60 lbs.

3. What is the difference between a target bow and a hunting bow?

Bows used for target shooting are more user-friendly than ones used for hunting as they come with lots of fancy specs and adjustability support. The most common difference is the axle-to-axle distance.

Target or the compound bows for target archery are longer than hunting bows. Therefore, these allow you to make steady shots.

4. What is the best compound bow for target shooting?

For target shooting, we recommend the Bear Archery Cruzer G2 compound bow.

Wrapping Up

That’s it! Hopefully, this short-list review has helped you to find the right bow. In our opinion, the Cruzer G2 by Bear Archery is the best compound bow for target shooting in its class.

If you can spend a little more, the Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro is also a good option.

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