Post pics and descriptions of your cheap but high performance bows, please.
You didnt specify new or used. Used the sky's the limit, some great deals out there. In a new bow, and a custom at, that my two top choices would be Mad Dog
, Kanati, McBroom, Bamabows, Seven Lakes, or New Wood. Omega is another option. Production bow- wise there's Sky, and also discounted offerings from Martin/Howatt, Bear, Bearpaw/Bodnik and of course Samick.
Sorry no pics to share but you have lots of options. I prefer the term "high value for the money" bows rather than cheap but either way, sounds like you are looking for a good bow at a great price. Check out the Bodnik Slick stick from Kustom king. It's under 300 bucks delivered and has a 30 year warranty that is transferable to the next owner. Other options are the classified section for a good used bow. Some options for a good custom bow are Mad dog archery and Bamabows.
Good Luck!
Steve
I wouldn't call these bows cheap by any means but you do get a lot of bow for your money.
Mad Dog Archey
7 lakes Longbows
Used bows in the classifieds
The best "cheap" bows I have shot are the Samick Sage and Journey. Obviously not tricked-out custom bows, but comfortable grips, take-downs, all the inserts for quiver/bowfishing/etc.
Put a good string on them (I like 18-20 strands of BCY-X) and they are amazingly good shooters. Fast, stable, quiet.
I bought a Journey just to test a string, but it's becoming one of my favorites.
x2 on the Bodnik "Slick Stick" great bow for the money and gotta love that warranty!
If money was my limiting factor, I would be looking for a used late 60s vintage Shakespeare Ocala or Kaibab, Ben Pearson Mustang,Hunter or Marauder, Browning Explorer I or II or Nomad II, a Wing Red Wing Hunter or an American Archery Cheetah. I have seen excellent condition examples of these fantastic bows go day after day on the auction site for under $200, sometimes well under. There are some great Bears, Hoyts and Howatts out there but they command a higher price.
FWIW, the Samick Sage or Journey is $140 brand new (with warranty), and no problem using whatever string you want to on them.
This Howatt was bought new for me back in 1972 by my Dad. If I recall correctly it was around $70. They can still be had for $125-$150 on the used market. I shoot it as well as my bows costing 12x as much.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/myshootinstinks/coronado_zpssgfzvmas.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/myshootinstinks/media/coronado_zpssgfzvmas.jpg.html)
If your looking for a super deal on a custom bow check out the classifieds some very nice bows for some give away prices!!!! :archer2: