​Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow

Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow – Buyers Guide

Ready to Shoot Package

If you like the look of the Spyder Takedown bow from Southwest Archery, you might be happy to hear they do a ready to shoot package. The problem when you are just getting started and you look to buy your first bow, more often than not it just comes with the bow and no additional accessories such as Arrows.

In this kit you will find;

• ​Spyder or Spyder XL Takedown Bow
• Carbon Arrows
• Bow Stringer
• Arm Guard
• Recurve Bow Case

The Riser

The first thing I noticed about the riser is just how good it looks and feels, I much prefer risers made from wood than metal. The Riser itself is made from two different laminated woods and has a semi-gloss finish.

I have held a good number of bows since I took up archery, but the grip on the Spyder is very nice. The grip is pure polished wood, this gives it good thermal properties. You will, therefore, be able to hold the bow in the winter, without feeling the cold. (Which you would if it was metal).
One of the reasons why I love the grip on the riser is because it is ergonomic, this basically means it’s been designed to specifically fit into the creases of your hand.

You can use the riser as is and shoot from the shelf or you can add an arrow rest, the riser does also have places for you to place additional accessories such as sight and stabilizer.

Summary of The Riser

• Made from 2 types of wood with red stripe
• The grip is ergonomic and comfortable
• Pre-drilled for accessories
• Shoot direct from the shelf or add an arrow rest

The Limbs

The first thing I noticed when looking at the limbs was the Spyder and Southwest Archery logo, the white logo on the black limb looked very sleek. The limbs themselves are made from hard maple which has been laminated and then surrounded with black fiberglass. Each limb features a nice matte finish and is also reinforced with plastic tips, helping to prevent damage when upgrading the strings.

The limbs are suitable for all levels of experience, as you can get draw weights from 20lbs all the way up to 60lbs. You get an Allen key to unscrew the bolts and assemble the limbs, it is very easy to do so perfect for beginners. As the limbs can be easily changed, you can start low on draw weight and increase as you become stronger and more experienced, saving you from having to buy an entire new bow.

Since the Spyder is manufactured in the same design as the Samick Sage, you are also able to interchange the limbs and use those from the Sage or the Journey if you would prefer.

Summary of the Limbs

• Good range of draw weights available
• Easy to assemble and disassemble
• Interchangeable limbs with Samick bows
• Reinforced tips for increased durability

The String

The string is okay quality and will do most beginners, you might, however, want to upgrade this in the future. You could look at going for a high-performance string, as the limbs will cope. The bow on its own doesn’t come with a stringer so you will need to purchase one, the package mentioned above does include one though.

Something to note is that the string doesn’t have a knock, so you may want to add one or get an archery store to add one.

How Does It Shoot?

Now the Sage did shoot really smooth so, to be honest I didn’t think anything could beat that. Southwest Archery has however done a great job with the Spyder recure! The bow itself feels smooth on the draw and when shot there is very little noise or vibration. In fact, the shot is surprisingly quiet, perfect for those that are also looking for a decent hunting bow.

The Look Of The Bow

I personally really like the style of the Spyder, I couldn’t say if I like it more than the Sage as I think they both look excellent. The 2 tone riser with the red stripe gives it a high-quality look and feel.

Spyders black limbs suit really well with the riser. I personally like the Southwest Archery logo, although I can imagine that some people might not like it. Don’t let this put you off though, you could easily cover it up.

Assembling The Spyder Recurve Bow

When you receive your order of the box, it will arrive in a cardboard box (unless you order the package above and then it has a carry case). Inside the box, you will find the riser, string, limbs and then an Allen key.

The great thing about this takedown bow is just how easy it is to assemble and disassemble. One drawback is that you do need to use the Allen key and is not tool-free like the Sage. In the riser you will see the bolts are already in place, using the Allen key unscrew the bolts off the riser.

The limbs slide into the riser and you will find the bolt hole on the limb will go over the top of the hole on the riser. Place the bolt and tighten with the Allen key, you want to fully tighten to keep the limb in place.

As mentioned it is very easy to do and takes very little time. Some might prefer a tool-free bow but I would say this bow is worth the little extra time it takes to assemble.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Can be easily assembled and disassembled
• A wide range of draw weights
• Smooth draw and accurate shot
• Very little vibration on the shot
• Quiet bow
• 1-year warranty

CONS

• ​Requires Allen key to takedown
• ​Little more expensive than Sage
• No pre-installed nock

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s understandable to have a lot of questions about purchasing a new bow, you need to make sure it is right for you. Below are questions that I have received via email if you do have any more please do post them in the comments below and I’ll answer them right away.

I’m new to archery, is this a good bow to start with?

This recurve bow makes an excellent bow for a beginner. There are a wide range of draw weights available and can be easily upgraded. It is also very low priced for such as a high-quality bow, meaning you don’t need to spend so much so soon.

Even though it does make a good bow to start with, it’s actually a great bow for all skill levels.

Spyder Vs Samick Sage, which is better?

Both bows are excellent and to be honest, you cannot go wrong with either of them. The Spyder Takedown bow is, however, lighter and I feel it has slightly less vibration and is also a little quieter.

Can I add accessories?

Yes, you sure can. The riser has pre-drilled holes, allowing you to add an arrow rest, sight and stabilizer.

Am I able to hunt with this bow?

This bow makes for an excellent hunting bow, it has high enough draw weights so you are able to humanely hunt large targets, it is very quiet and also incredibly lightweight.

Where is the best place to buy it from?

There are a number of distributors that you can purchase the bow from, however from my research I have found Amazon to be the best place to get the best price. It is also only sold by Southwest Archery on Amazon, so you know you are buying it directly from the source and therefore getting the genuine bow.

You will also find that you will be able to get a better deal on the complete ready to shoot package as well.

About Southwest Archery

It’s important to get your bow from a decent, reputable company. There are so many smaller companies cropping up that are selling inferior recurve bows, Southwest Archery has been around for over 20 years.

You know they produce high-quality bows as they continue to supply bows to Olympic archers as well as professional hunters.

Conclusion

The Spyder Takedown Recurve bow from Southwest Archery is a very good bow for the price bracket. I honestly think you would be more than happy with this bow if you were to get it. The overall bow looks nice, it’s lightweight and comes in a wide range of draw weights.

I really liked the way it felt in my hand, the grip is smooth yet comfortable and I felt very little vibration when shooting.

Whether you are new to archery and looking for your first bow or experienced and looking for a replacement, I would recommend this one!

Alternatives

Looking to compare different recurve bows? I have written a complete guide, it will help to show you what to look for when buying a recurve bow. It also gives an overview of what I feel on the best recurve bows.

I hope you enjoyed this review of the Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow, if you have any questions please do post them in the comments below.