Determining which recurve bow is the fastest can be tricky since you must test each before arriving at a definite answer.
You can say that your recurve bow is among the fastest, when it has fps beyond 330. The Bodnik Bows Redman 30332 is an excellent example, with an fps of 337.
You can determine the fastest recurve bow by its draw weight and speed rating. The higher the draw weight, usually measured in pounds, the faster the arrow will shoot with it. Generally speaking, bows with a draw weight of 40 lbs or more are considered fast bows.
Some manufacturers also assign a “speed rating” to their bows. This rating is based on the speed of the archery bow when shot with a particular draw weight and arrow combination. Knowing this rating can help you determine how fast recurve bows shoot compared to other models from the same manufacturer.
When comparing bows from different manufacturers, it’s important to note that companies use different scales to measure speed ratings. To ensure you get an accurate comparison, always look for the same type of speed rating on each bow before making a final decision.
Finally, remember that even though a recurve bow may have a high draw weight and speed rating, it may not be able to shoot as fast if you have not tuned it for your particular shooting style. Make sure to test out the bow and adjust it accordingly before making a purchasing decision.
Once you’ve determined your chosen recurve bows’ draw weight and speed ratings, you can decide which will be the fastest for your specific needs.
Based on the test conducted by a recurve bow user, the chronograph tool confirmed that the recurve bow model could shoot beyond 330 fps even under enormous strains such as heavy winds.
The following technical details of the recurve bow will help you understand the test performed:
- Draw weight: estimated 150 lbs
- Bow Length: 62 inches
- Bow Weight: 2.25 lbs
- Draw Length: 31.5 inches
- Brace Height: 8 inches
Aside from the recurve bow details above, here are the details of the arrow used during the test:
- Arrow Model: Victory 3DHV
- Arrow Weight: 280 grains
- Arrow Spine: 350
- GPP: 1.86
Bodnik Bows created Bodnik Bows Redman 30332 to accomplish the higher speed design, and it is also famous for being one of the fastest bows in traditional archery.
The manufacturer’s design of the bow model makes the Bodnik Bows Redman 30332 one of the fastest recurve bows. Moreover, they offer a 30-year warranty limited to delaminations, fractures, and cracks, which is excellent!
If you are looking for another model, check the Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown recurve bow. It is also among the fastest bow and ideal for right and left-handed archers.
To precisely determine how fast your chosen recurve bow is, you should see it for yourself and seek the guidance of a professional. Remember that speed is a significant aspect, but it doesn’t conclude everything about your shooting.
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How many fps does a recurve bow shoot?
Average recurve bows generally shoot within an fps range of 106 to 290 if solely based on the draw weight, wherein the recurve bow fps of 106 fps is the slowest, and over 300 fps is the fastest recurve bow fps.
The difference in design and details of bows has a crucial influence on the expected speed. As a result, there are bow types that are faster than the others, and there are bow models that are slower than their counterparts. So, comparing longbow vs. recurve speed would help you determine the one with good shooting speed.
If you plan to shoot a recurve bow, you may ask, “how many fps does a recurve bow shoot?” and whether it will fit your expectations. Generally, an average recurve bow has an fps range of about 106 to 290.
Unfortunately, it is more complicated because a recurve bow’s speed depends on different factors; some can make it faster or slower. If we solely base it on the draw weight, we can arrive at an estimated fps that can be enough to help you narrow down your search and decide which one to buy.
The table below shows the estimated fps (feet per second) based on the draw weight:
| Draw Weight (Recurve Bow) | Approximate Feet Per Second (FPS) |
| 25 lbs | 106 to 119 |
| 30 lbs | 106 to 126 |
| 35 lbs | 135 |
| 40 lbs | 166 |
| 45 lbs | 176 |
| 50 lbs | 175 to 183 |
| 55 lbs | 183 to 190 |
| 60 lbs | 200 |
| 65 lbs | 283 |
| 70 lbs | 290 |
| Over 70 lbs | 300 & more |
Remember that the values above are purely estimates. You can always look for ways to know how fast can a recurve bow shoot so you can increase it accordingly. Where do the recurve bows with more than 300 fps fit in the picture?
As mentioned above, due to progressive technological developments in archery, manufacturers can produce faster recurve bows, but it comes with high prices. Therefore, recurve bows with fps over 300 are the fastest ones with draw weight exceeding 70 lbs.
Additionally, it is essential to remember that you cannot just randomly pick your draw weight. Before selecting how fast you want your recurve bow should be, you must first calculate your draw weight and proceed from there.
After doing so, you can refer to the table above for a more precise expectation of how fast your recurve bow will be, depending on your draw weight.
If unsatisfied, you can also opt for options that answer the question of “how fast does a recurve bow shoot?” and make some adjustments to make them shoot faster.
What makes a recurve bow shoot faster?
You can adjust the following main factors: draw weight, draw length, and arrow weight to make a recurve bow shoot faster. Moreover, a controlled environment, lesser accessories, and an elastic bow string can increase your recurve bow’s speed.
Knowing the physics of archery will equip you to make better decisions as you try to find out how to improve, whether by utilizing the equipment or your skills. If you need to shoot faster than before, you might consider buying a new recurve bow.
However, before spending another great deal of money, you must first consider researching if there is any way you can increase your recurve bow’s fps more than the fastest traditional bow.
Fortunately, you can look for other options without spending too much, and that is by adjusting the draw weight, draw length, and arrow weight. Aside from these three, shooting in a controlled environment, installing lesser accessories, and using an elastic bow string can contribute to your recurve bow’s fps.
To give you a better explanation, let’s take a look and dive deeper into these factors affecting how fast can a recurve bow shoot.
- Draw weight
- Draw length
- Arrow weight
- Controlled environment
- Accessories
- Bowstring
Draw weight pertains to the force necessary to pull a bow and increases when drawn using a recurve bow. Every person has their unique draw weight; thus, some have lesser draw weight than others, while some can draw higher.
Therefore, if you shoot at your maximum draw weight, you can shoot at a higher speed. On the contrary, if you shoot at your minimum draw weight, your fps won’t likely change or even increase.
Always remember that a change in your draw weight contributes to the speed of the fastest shooting recurve bow.
Since more energy gets transferred at peak draw weight, it results in faster recurve bow arrow speed, which means a smoother trajectory, higher arrow velocity, deeper penetration, and increased chance of successfully penetrating your target.
For instance, increasing your draw weight by ten pounds increases speed by about 15 to 20 fps. As a rule of thumb, your draw weight and fps correlate.
As a result, for every ten lbs of draw weight extracted, you will lose around 15 to 20 fps.
Let’s say you have a 60 pounds draw weight with an estimated 200 fps. If we are to reduce your draw weight to 40 pounds, your fps will drop to 166 fps. Since you extracted 20 pounds of draw weight, your fps decreased twice to 17 fps for every ten pounds.
Therefore, if you want your recurve to shoot faster, you better shoot at your peak draw weight.
Like the draw weight, the draw length varies for each person depending on one’s wingspan. It is because draw length refers to how far you can pull back your bowstring.
As another speed-defining factor, you can adjust your draw length to increase the fastest shooting recurve bow speed. Longer draw lengths result in more rapid acceleration, less resistance, and longer power strokes.
Remember that since draw length and arrow speed correlate, as a general rule, every one-inch increase in your draw length results in an eight to 12 fps increase in your arrow speed.
How fast do recurve bows shoot? As a general rule in archery based on the fundamental principles of physics, lighter arrows are faster than heavier ones because the archery arrow with a lighter mass receives more velocity. Thus, shooting your recurve bow with a lighter arrow weight will increase your fps.
For example, shoot a lighter and heavier arrow with the same recurve bow. You will notice the difference in speed, wherein heavier ones gain less speed.
Note that your arrow weight is pivotal in determining the fastest shooting recurve bow’s speed. Therefore, your arrow’s speed will decrease by 1 to 1.5 fps for every 5 grains of mass added to your arrow’s weight.
Not all arrow materials have a similar weight. For instance, aluminum arrows are heavier than carbon arrows. The lightest arrow material for recurve bow shooting is carbon, lighter than graphite, wood, and aluminum.
Hence, carbon arrows make for the fastest FPS because they are very lightweight, providing much aerodynamics and aiding in maintaining trajectory.
You should do it sparingly when reducing arrow weight because there is an inherent danger of removing more than six grains of arrow weight for every pound of draw force.
Moreover, heavier arrows are more reliable since they can hold the energy transferred more efficiently than lighter arrows.
Besides the three main factors elaborated above, shooting in a controlled environment will lessen the likeliness of your shooting speed getting slower.
An excellent example of a controlled environment is shooting indoors, where there won’t be any possible wind that could redirect and decrease your arrow’s trajectory.
If you are shooting outside, a sunny and wind-free environment makes a big difference compared to a windy one. The air restricts the arrow’s speed; thus, your bow’s arrow loses momentum as the distance widens.
As a result, your fps will decrease if you shoot in a windy environment compared to a precisely regulated one.
Many archers equip their recurve bow with silencers, dampeners, arrow rests, and peep sights because they increase shooting accuracy or even quiet down fast recurve bows.
Even though this is a great thing, the more accessories you install, the more it decreases the fastest recurve bow fps. Since accessories add weight to the arrow and bow, it results in a reduction in velocity.
Hence, you should reconsider and minimize which accessories you allow to equip your recurve bow if you prefer to maintain its fps.
Aside from accessories, you must also be picky about which bowstring material to use, especially if speed matters greatly. Note that the energy delivered to the arrows may differ depending on your bowstring type.
Therefore, bowstrings made of elastic material are preferable because they better transmit the energy to the arrow, leading to increased speed.
With the options listed above, you have a lot of ways to try on to make your recurve bows shoot faster without wasting money.
Recurve bow speed is one of many factors you should focus on to perform correctly. Archery isn’t black and white, and there are more critical factors you must also pay attention to that influence how accurately and effectively you shoot. There are a few factors that make the fast recurve bows.
Nevertheless, if you think there is no way you can settle with the maximum recurve bow fps can come up with, a few high-performing modern bows are considered the fastest bow on the market that is famous for shooting faster recurve bow speed than 300 fps.
Other Types of Archery Bows and their Speed
Aside from recurve bows, there is a compound, long, and crossbows. These bows are in the market for different purposes, and the type of bow you choose should depend on your needs. Knowing the other archery bows will help you identify the fastest bow on the market.
Compound bows
Compound bows use pulleys and cables to flex the limbs when drawn. It allows for a more efficient energy transfer from the archer to the arrow, resulting in greater accuracy and a more extended range.
Compound bows have grown increasingly popular with hunters and target archers due to their superior performance. You can adjust them for draw weight and length, so it’s easier to find the perfect fit.
They also offer more control over holding a shot and are often quieter than other bows. With the help of modern technology, they are also usually lighter and less bulky than traditional longbows or recurve bows.
When it comes to speed, compound bow arrows can reach speeds of up to 350fps depending on the model. The fastest compound bow brand in the market today is Hoyt Archery, with its model RX Carbon Twin Turbo with an ATA speed rating of 350 fps.
The model’s modern design and unique features make it the fastest compound bow among professional archers. With its exceptional accuracy, speed, and power, there’s no doubt why it became the go-to choice for many archers.
Longbows
Longbows are ancient weapons that many cultures throughout history have used. They are composed of a single piece of wood, usually yew or ash, with a bowstring attached at each end. Archers used them primarily for hunting and warfare in the Middle Ages, but they remain popular today as a recreational sport.
The longbows are suitable for hunters and target shooters as they are very accurate, and due to their design, you can easily keep your draw strength consistent. They also don’t require additional equipment like arrows or sights, making them a much more convenient option than other fastest traditional bows.
The longbow’s speed is greater than that of other bows. Generally, its speed can reach up to 200 FPS. That is why it is considered one of the best weapons for hunting and shooting targets.
Comparing longbow vs. recurve speed, the former tends to be slightly faster. So, when using a longbow, it is essential to remember that its accuracy depends on your skill and experience as an archer. It will take time and constant practice to master this type of bow. But it’s worth the effort.
Crossbow
Crossbows are weapons that have existed for centuries and are still popular today. They consist of a bow-like structure with a string attached to the front, pulled back by hand or foot to cock the crossbow before firing.
The shooter places the quarrel on the track at the front of the bow, and then a trigger mechanism is used to fire it.
Crossbows are highly accurate, powerful weapons used in hunting, warfare, and recreational target shooting. They come in various sizes and styles, from hand-held crossbows to large rifle-style versions. Modern crossbows also come with features such as adjustable stocks, scopes, and arrowheads.
There are also different types of crossbows: recurve and compound crossbows.
- Recurve crossbows have limbs that curve away from the shooter, increasing the bow’s power when fired.
- Compound crossbows are more complex, with pulleys and cams to increase speed, accuracy, and distance.
The fastest recurve crossbow is the Excalibur Bulldog 440. With its unique “Bullpup” design, this crossbow can fire arrows up to 440 feet per second, making it the fastest recurve crossbow on the market.
Crossbows have been used for centuries and are still popular due to their accuracy, power, and ease of use. They are a great way to get into archery, hunting, and recreational target shooting.
Choosing the Right Bow
When choosing a bow, there are several factors to consider. If you’re an archer who wants to hunt, you’ll need a more powerful bow for a larger game animal.
Longbows and recurve bows provide the most power in this case. Compound bows offer less energy but feature adjustable draw weight, making them easier to shoot for extended periods.
A simply designed longbow is often the best option for new archers. These bows will provide ample power and accuracy but won’t be as powerful as others. You should base it on your physical attributes. You will also want to consider its draw length when choosing a bow.
If you prefer speed, the fast bow is usually made from light materials, making them easier to draw back quickly without being too heavy. So, check the model you buy and get a fast bow that fits your specifications.
Determining Arrow Speed
The speed of an arrow is set based on IBO or ATA standards. IBO stands for International Bowhunters Organization, and ATA is Archery Trade Association.
These organizations set the arrow speed standards as follows: For IBO-rated bows, the speed of an arrow should be 300 feet per second (fps) or faster. The arrow’s speed should be 310 fps or more for ATA-rated bows.
You can use a clock to determine your bow’s or recurve bow arrow speed. This device measures the speed of an arrow when it’s shot from a bow. But how to calculate arrow speed without a chronograph?
If you don’t have access to one, it will be a great help to learn how to calculate arrow speed without a chronograph. You must know this because it can give you a good idea of the arrow speed at which your bow is shooting. It may not be accurate, but it will give you an idea of the arrow’s speed.
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