Southwest Archery Scorpion 68" Longbow

Is the Southwest Archery Scorpion a good first longbow for someone coming from recurves?

It's a solid first longbow coming from recurves — owners report getting on target quickly, finding it stable, and being genuinely happy for the money, and the 25-60 lb range with both-hand options fits most newcomers. The main adjustment is handshock (more on that below) and that it's a stepping-stone, not an endgame bow. If you want an affordable, enjoyable way into longbows, the Scorpion does the job; just plan to upgrade eventually if you get hooked.

Has anyone actually shot the Scorpion longbow, or is it too new/obscure to have real feedback?

Yes, people have shot it and the feedback is real, if not abundant — owners describe a stable, surprisingly quiet shooter that's strong value, and the well-known review footage impressed early buyers with how quiet the release is. It's a budget import without a huge review footprint, so don't expect the depth of coverage a flagship gets. The owner reports that exist are consistently positive for the price.

Is the Scorpion just a rebrand of another factory bow (Samick/Deerseeker)?

The community generally treats it as a rebranded overseas factory bow — citing resemblance to Samick designs and a claim it's a rebadged Deerseeker Zebra. Opinions split on whether that matters: some shrug (lots of budget trad bows share factories), others prefer to know. Functionally it's a competent multi-wood-riser import; if rebrand origins bother you on principle, that's worth knowing, but it doesn't make the bow shoot worse.

How much hand shock should I expect from the Scorpion, and how do I tame it?

Expect noticeable handshock — it's the Scorpion's main downside, and it's worse at low draw weights (one 25 lb owner found it shook more than his pricier Omega longbows). The consensus fix is heavier arrows and a relaxed, open grip hand position. Shoot a heavier arrow than you might on a recurve, loosen your grip, and the shock settles down. Some is inherent to a budget longbow; arrow weight is your biggest lever.

Where do you buy the Scorpion and does it ever go on sale?

Buy it from Southwest Archery direct or the marketplace listings (Amazon, Walmart) — though note all 16 variants were sold out on Southwest's own site at our June 2026 check, so availability is the real hurdle. It does go on sale periodically. If it's out of stock everywhere, the Galaxy Black Ridge or OMP Ozark Hunter are comparable budget alternatives in the meantime.

Once you've enjoyed the cheap Scorpion, what's the next step up to a better-quality longbow?

Owners describe the Scorpion as the bow that gets them hooked, then they ask about stepping up — the natural next moves are a higher-quality reflex/deflex hybrid or semi-custom with a bit more poundage. Bows like the Bear Montana (heritage, in stock), Old Mountain Mesa, or a Bodnik Slick/Quick Stick are common upgrades. The Scorpion's job is to confirm you love longbows cheaply; once it has, spend up for smoother, faster, less shocky.

Multiple owners report being happy with the Scorpion: it feels stable, they got on target with it quickly, and they have no real complaints, framing it as strong value for a budget longbow.

An owner returning to the bow after years was struck by how quiet it is for a hunter, saying none of his recurves came close, and early posters were impressed by the quiet release shown in the well-known video review.

Owners flag hand shock as the bow's main downside; one with a 25 lb version found it shook more than his pricier Omega longbows, with the consensus fix being heavier arrows and a relaxed open grip.

Posters single out the slim grip, very light overall weight and good-looking multi-wood riser as the bow's most appealing features for the price.

The community generally treats the Scorpion as an overseas factory bow rebadged for Southwest, citing resemblance to Samick designs and a claim it is a rebranded Deerseeker Zebra; opinions split between this being fine value and a knock against originality.

Owners describe it as a good entry that often gets them hooked on longbows, then ask about upgrading to higher-quality bows with a bit more poundage, positioning the Scorpion as a starter rather than a keeper.