OK.  Pretend that I am new here.  I am but lets play along.  I come onto this site with the express idea that I want to find out what the best bow for my buck would be.  What would it be??  I am selling a rifle for $400 and may be purchasing a recurve.  Just do not know what it would be.  My friend :Northern Fisher" sent me his Martin longbow and it is great.  I just want something that is MINE.  Any ideas?????

Chekmate...

Here's my opinion, I shot this guys bow at a 3D shoot, smooth shooting, no hand shock. If i ever buy a recurve this will be it.A buddy of mine purchsed one and everyone that has shot it loves it.http://doublebbbows.com/

The one that fits your hand the best,is the right poundage at your draw length,and the one you can afford. The prices on custom bows these days give me sticker shock. If you want to keep the price reasonable,check for a used custom bow.I would feel safe to say not one person on this forum would sell a bad bow to anyone.Good luck.  

Best for the money would be a Quinn-metal riser or a CheckMate-wood riser.

My best advice would be get a cheap used bow to shoot a while.It will take you a lot of time and a lot of trying different bows to even know what qualities you want in a bow.Thoes traits that make someone like a particular bow will be as different and varied as the person.

Best bow .........no such thing. Bows I love, others think are junk. The ones I think are not good, others think are best. Then the one you like this week is not what you will like next month.
Best advice is buy nothing without shooting it first.
As R H Clark stated above, buy a cheap used one, shoot it for awhile. It is also fun to trade bows every so often, variety is nice.
Another thing....just because it is more expensive, it does not mean it is a better bow.

SRTA..... 100% correct!

hell yea he's right!!
have u seen the mathews heritage longbow?!?!

all he $$$ it cost....and i know some guys that say it shoots no better than a viper delux!

Go to a trad show or big shoot and shoot as many bows as possible then decide what you like and what fits into your price range.

Chek Mate ! without question

John from SRTA is correct, but I would look at the classifieds and find a nice forward handle recurve, it seems most guys who pick up my forward handle recurves they hit pretty good from the get go. Widow, RER Arroyo and many others. You would be surprised at how nice a bow ya can get for $400. Shawn