If you were on a budget and only got one shot at a nice, forgiving, and zippy bow at a mid range price around $500-$600 bucks, what would it be?

I've read everyone's posts for months now and everybody has their favorites, but I see some that continue to be favorites for many guys here. I don't have a whole lot of $$$ to work with, so I can't afford the high dollar custom jobs. Just looking for something that's forgiving, but not so terribly slow that you can reach out and correct the arrow before it gets to the target.
It doesn't have to "Smoke" an arrow either.
Know what I mean?

I like both recurves and longbows, but lean more toward a recurve RH @28" in the 50-55lb range.

Thanks for any tips, info, or suggestions.

Chris:

For the bucks I think I would go with a Bear.  Super K either new or if ya can find a good used one from 69 or so....  They are great bows but you likely already know that....

I would get a Big Jim Buffalo.  But that is a longbow.

SEMO-HUNTER, I think you can't go wrong entering
the ILF arena. 10% poundage adjustments,custom
tiller set-up,easy to switch from longbow to
recurve, and you can get fast speeds for your
$600 bucks.

One of the Howard Hill bows.

God bless,Mudd

Zipper Hunter model.

Another HH bow

Out of well over 100 bows that I have owned the bows I have enjoyed the most are the Great Northern Bushbow or Ghost (recurve). Both sell for 695.00. Stable, smooth, quiet, plenty fast enough, and very forgiving. Elegant, uncluttered, understated bows that will become like a friend.

You will hear a lot of opinions from a lot of guys so get ready to be throughly confused, but trust me, the Bushbow or Ghost is what you are looking for.

I should probably add that I make my own Osage longbows, which are nice and forgiving but slow.
I also have a Bear Grizzly 48# @28" and it's fairly slow, but somewhat forgiving.

With those 2 in mind, I'm looking to "Upgrade" and still stay within my price range.
I also don't mind the older, good/used bows if they are in nice shape. So I'm not above buying used.

That info may help?

After shooting a few at the expo. I'm voting either a Timber Hawk 62" Hunter, or a Predator 62" Hunter model (I think). I'd say the Predator won the speed race, but the Timberhawk was alot smoother.

I will give alot of credit to my current 120.00 mid-70's Kodiak hunter. There's nothing wrong with it.

I'm also on the lookout for either of the aforementioned bows used.


B

ROY HALL APACHE

Actually, for just fifty bucks over your stated price range you can afford a "high dollar custom jobs" or certainly the custom part! Dan Toelke will make you one of his Chinook 1 pc. recurves out of any woods you want, custom fit the grip to your hand from a tracing and get it to you in about 4 weeks, probably sooner. The bow will be beautiful, stable, forgiving, just plain QUIET and very fast. Check out Dan's site at  www.montanabows.com  and contact him, you won't be sorry.

Hybrid or Recurve ... Chad Holm , Sponsor Here, Holm-Made Traditional Bows !!

Used Black Widow early 90's.  In my opinion the clasic design and pointability of the Black Widow is second to none..........

I like the history of the Black Widow Bow Company and I admired Ken Beck's forsight to buy the buisness and his manufacturing can do attitude.

I must confess, I've never owned one, but I've shot a few.....I love em....It's just that I make my own bows.

If I didn't make bows I'd own a Black Widow.

It would have to be used.........I can't afford new...!!!....WOW!!!

I forgot to mention that Dan Toelke is a sponsor here.

In that price range look at a predator recurve.

Zipper

There are so many options for a used bow, and that is the way I would probably go most times.  For a new one in that range with a lean towards a recurve I would say Predator hunter hands down for me if a TD bows is what I wanted.  From my experience that is the most bang for the $ out there in a new TD recurve.  I don't know what the zipper hunter is going for, but it would be worth a look.  

For a one piece recurve base model there are quite a few options.  I would look at a base Hoots if you like short, quiet, and fast.  A Whisperstik is a great bow with a base of mod 5's and you can get a good range of lengths.

Find you a used Robertson Stykbow, recurve or longbow.  They are the best bow I have ever had.

It kinda sounds like a take down with interchangeable limbs would be the best bang for the buck? Instead of buying a whole different bow, a guy could try a different set of limbs and really how often does a riser shoot craps on ya?

I keep hearing about the Predator bows over and over again.

Short would be a factor for blind hunting, but I also love the looks of some of the R/D longbows. I guess that's why some of you all have so many bows?

All great info and suggestions guys, thanks and keep em coming.