Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Takedown Recurve Bows

Are you planning to shoot some game anytime soon? One of the main concerns of both beginner and pro hunters is what bow to bring in their hunting trip. I have found that the takedown recurve bow is a good choice if you prioritize speed and convenience over other things.

Not convinced? With this ultimate guide, I’ll prove that the recurve bow has many advantages over other bows. After that, I’ll help you pick the best takedown recurve bow for your trip.

Table of Best Takedown Recurve Bow

What is a Recurve Bow?

The recurve bow is a traditional bow that has attracted the attention not just of hunting enthusiasts but professional Olympic athletes as well. But before it became the standard equipment for archery competitions, the recurve bow has already been used in battles and hunting expeditions for thousands of years.

Archery expert Chris Palmer gives a brief history of the recurve bow in this informative video by History.com:

The recurve bow is different from the traditional longbow in that its limbs are curved outward, or “recurved,” away from the archer. This makes the bow smaller and more compact, but it still holds the same firing power that a longbow has.

To shoot a recurve bow, you need to learn about instinctive shooting, or what Chris likes to call “snap shooting.” To do this, you have to let go of the string instinctively as soon as you reach the full draw.

While you have to rely heavily on your instincts when using a recurve bow, you still need to practice a lot so that you can be a good shot.

Advantages of a Recurve Bow

Via blackwidowbows.com

The recurve bow’s shape and features make it a good choice for hunting expeditions. Here are just some of its advantages over a traditional longbow and the modern compound bow:

• Shoots arrows more rapidly. Because the recurve bow’s limbs curve away from the archer, there is more tension against the bow when the user draws the string toward him. The limbs’ ends act as a springboard and propel the arrow faster once the draw is released. This extra force adds momentum to the arrow, so you can hit your targets more quickly.
• Easier to carry and store. Unlike traditional longbows, a recurve bow (or at least, a takedown one) can easily be dismantled and pieced back together. This makes it easier to bring during hunting trips. You can simply take it down, store it away in its bag, and reassemble it when you reach your camp.
• ​Less expensive. Because recurve bows have fewer parts than compound bows, they are generally priced lower. Should you need to replace any item or make an upgrade, most suppliers will sell a recurve bow’s spare parts at a lesser cost compared to the more complex mechanical parts of a compound bow.
• Gives a more authentic archery experience. Let’s be honest here. One of the reasons why you’d join a hunting trip is because you want to get closer to nature. And it’s easier to do that if your equipment has a more traditional feel to it. It’s harder to appreciate the beauty of nature when you’re lugging a modern weapon while chasing your game.
• More challenging. Speaking of authenticity, a recurve bow offers more challenge than a compound bow. With the latter, you are provided with so many gadgets to help you catch your game. With a recurve bow, you need to have patience, accuracy, and technique, so you’ll get the most out of your hunting experience.

How to Choose the Right Takedown Recurve Bow for You

Via pinterest.com

When you say “takedown recurve,” it simply means a type of recurve bow that can be disassembled and reassembled quickly. I highly recommend choosing this type of bow when going on a hunting trip, for reasons I’ve already mentioned above.

Picking the right takedown recurve bow isn’t hard, as long as you watch out for these features:

1. Portability

In theory, a takedown recurve bow is easy to take apart and put back together. However, you will find that some brands are harder to assemble than others, and may require additional tools. Make sure you study the parts and features of a model before you buy it.

It will also help if you can take a peek at the instruction manual, just to see if you can assemble the bow properly on your own.

2. Draw Weight

Draw weight is an important factor when choosing any type of bow. The draw weight determines how much effort you need to draw and shoot your arrow, so it’s vital that you choose a weight that you’re comfortable with.

NuSensei lists down important factors to consider when choosing the right draw weight in this short video:

He differentiates the draw weight from the bow’s weight in very simple terms: Draw weight is the strength of your bow in pounds, while bow weight is the mass of the actual bow.

In practice, the draw weight is measured at a 28-inch full draw or the distance between your draw hand and the bow when you pull the bowstring toward you. This means that a 25-pound bow measures exactly 25 pounds at a 28-inch draw.

When choosing your draw weight, you need to check your fitness level. Ideally, the stronger you are, the more competent you become in handling a heavier bow. If you’re only starting with archery, choose a lighter bow weight, and then work your way up as you develop better form.

3. Experience Level

Again, consider your level of experience before buying a recurve bow. If you have little to no experience on recreational archery, it is best that you buy a bow with a low draw weight that you can use to practice with. As you improve on your technique, you can start investing on bows that match your skill level.

4. Price

While recurve bows are cheaper than compound bows, the prices differ from brand to brand. Consider your budget and how invested you are in archery before making a purchase. Go for slightly expensive options that promise high-quality materials, rather than cheap ones that you have to repair or replace after several uses.

Top 5 Takedown Recurve Bows

1. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow Review

 

 

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The Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is a favorite among pro hunters because of its design and bow strength. This was my practice bow when I was just starting with archery, and I still use it for hunting trips until now.

PROS

• The bow’s riser is made of hard maple, olive dymonwood, and oak, which is a great combination to ensure durability. It is also laminated with fiberglass to make it even more resilient.
• I find that this bow is very easy to take down and reassemble, even if I don’t have additional tools with me. This makes it a convenient piece of equipment during hunting expeditions since I don’t have to bring an extra Allen wrench or screwdriver.
• The limbs of the Samick Sage are tough and they fit so well with the riser, so I never have to worry about them coming loose while I’m using the bow.
• This is a good practice bow for beginner archers because it is light, durable, and less expensive than other brands.

CONS

• One issue I have with Samick is its poor quality control. It seemed that some subpar quality parts were shipped with my riser and limbs, so I had to contact the manufacturer and ask that the parts be replaced.
• The bow can be a bit loud so it can scare away your game if you’re in a very quiet part of the hunting trail.

2. Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow Review

 

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While the Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow is often recognized as a spinoff of the much older Sage model, it certainly has its own unique features. These include an attractive design and enhancements on the parts, making the Spyder a contender for the best takedown recurve bow spot.

PROS

• The bow is made of durable red hardwood laminated in fiberglass that makes it stronger and more durable.
• The improved design features a riser with rounded edges, improved limb bolts, and reinforced limb tips. This makes the bow more compact, less heavy, and more convenient to use.
• The bow has a very accurate aim, so you can hit your targets with great ease.
• This handcrafted bow is a marvel to look at. Because the riser is beautiful, you can display it proudly in your home and show it off to your friends during the off-hunting season.
• The product comes with a Dacron bowstring, an arrow rest, and a free Allen wrench you can use when assembling and disassembling your bow.
• This recurve bow is easy to assemble. All you need are the right tools, and you can finish putting it together in thirty minutes’ tops.

CONS

• The arrow rest is cheap and flimsy, so you may need to replace it with a better one.
• It’s harder to screw the upper limb than the lower limb, which may be a result of a misaligned threading.
• The limbs have weird little bubbles in them. While they haven’t really affected the quality of the bow, they do give an impression that the limbs are weak, or that the bow might suddenly snap off during a hunting trip.

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3. SAS Spirit 62″ Take Down Recurve Bow Review

 

 

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If you don’t want to spend a lot of money for a recurve bow, then the SAS Spirit Takedown Recurve Bow may be a good option for you. While it is cheaper than other brands, it is still durable and can survive many uses, as long as you take good care of it.

PROS

• The riser is made of three durable woods-beech, chuglam, and gmelina arborea. The combination of the three kinds of woods forms a unique design that adds to the appeal of the bow.
• Aside from the beautiful riser, that bow also comes with white limbs, which I think makes the bow more pleasant to look at.
• The bow is light and a good practice bow for beginners. And because it isn’t expensive, you won’t feel bad about wearing it down while you perfect your form.
• The bow comes with an instruction manual that is easy to follow.
• This is one of the cheaper models out in the market today.

CONS

• The package does not include an arrow rest and a bow stringer, so you have to make a separate purchase for them.
• I couldn’t find any replacement limbs for this model, and SAS doesn’t seem to be selling spare parts either.
• The bowstring is a bit short for the bow, so you may need to have it replaced.

4. PSE Razorback Recurve Bow Review

 

 

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At only 2.2 pounds, the PSE Razorback is one of the lightest recurve bows available on the market. Because it is also very cheap, many beginner archers can use this as their practice bow. Another plus is that it is very easy to put together, so even newbies can do it without the help of tools.

PROS

• I find that this beginner bow is unpretentious, and delivers what it promises. Its design is incredibly simple, which is a good thing if you give more importance to the quality of materials rather than the bow’s appearance.
• The PSE Razorback is very easy to assemble. You don’t need an Allen wrench or other tools to attach the limbs to the riser. You can easily put the parts together with your hands.
• The price of this bow is appealing, especially to beginner archers who want to practice a bit first before investing on something more expensive.

CONS

• The bowstring may fray a bit at the ends after multiple uses.
• This bow has a limited range, so you can’t really use it to hunt targets from long distances.
• The bow makes more sound than other bows, which may scare off your game.
• The product does not come with an arrow rest and arrow stringer, so you need to buy them separately.
• The bow is only available for right-handed archers.

5. Martin Jaguar Elite Takedown Bow Review

 

 

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If you’re a more serious hunter, you may want to invest on a Martin Jaguar Elite Takedown Bow. It has a very comfortable grip, which is important if you plan to spend hours hunting your game. Because of its design, it is easy to camouflage so you don’t frighten your game away.

PROS

• This bow has a thermal grip, which is not only comfortable to hold but also keeps your draw hand warm. This relaxes the hand muscles, so you can stay outdoors for longer periods and hunt more game.
• It is very easy to shoot arrows with this recurve bow. Even beginner archers can aim it easily at a target and shoot an arrow with great ease.
• The Martin Jaguar Elite is very easy to take apart. You just need to remove two screws and you’re done.
• Its camouflage design makes it easy to hide from your game.

CONS

• The arrow rest is made of cheap plastic so it can easily get broken. The bow stringer could be better, too.
• The instruction manual is very vague, and it doesn’t even come with text. If you’re new to assembling recurve bows, you may have to check out tutorial videos because the manual wouldn’t be much help.
• The bow can be a bit noisy so you may need to buy additional sound dampeners.

Conclusion

The Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow gets my vote for durability and ease of assembly. Unlike the Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow, you don’t need an Allen wrench or screwdriver to take down or assemble the parts. It can also stand wear and tear, which makes it a good companion on hunting trips.

You can also use the Samick Sage to practice your form if you’re still new to archery. And because it’s not as expensive as other brands, like the Martin Jaguar Elite Takedown Recurve Bow, you won’t feel bad for wearing it down during practice.

In terms of design, I prefer the Martin Jaguar Elite. While the Spyder’s design is a thing of beauty, I prefer the camouflage design of Martin Jaguar Elite for hunting expeditions.