Black Widow or Stalker Vortex?

[Okie Dokie]

I will be ordering my first custom recurve soon. I have decided to go with either a BW or Stalker Vortex. I understand that this question has probably been asked before. However, this may be the only custom bow I ever purchase due to cost. Any advice/experience would be greatly appreciated.

[Car54]

Try before you buy!  I think both companys have the try before you buy deal.  Good luck.

[Deertaker]

I have to say, I shoot a Widow and love it. But I would be really interested to hear how someone that has shot both compares them! I bet South also builds an amazing bow!

[beemann]

Cant tell you anything about the stalker, would love to try one.  But I will say you cant go wrong with a widow.  Do a search for Black Widow Bow test.  Toby made a video where he tries to destroy a bow and it is pretty impressive.  From dry firing repeatedly to throwing it across the lawn.  He than  restrings it and shoots it .  Its impressive.  Good luck with whatever you try.  Full confession Im a widow guy.

[ron w]

I have owned both, great bows, good fit and finish, customer service from Black Widow is outstanding!! Just sold a Stalker,  bought another Widow !! Stalker are pretty but......

[Wudstix]

Sorry, no help most of bows I own or shoot are no longer in production.  BW has a loyal following as do almost all reputable custom bow makers.  If this was to be my only bow, I'd do allot of research, call and talk to bowyers, try to shoot al bows that I was considering close to the poundage I was thinking about.  I'm sure there are many great bows out there, so I would take my time.
 

[Burly]

Can't help you on the Stalker bows but  I love Widow recurves. The Older MA models and newer PMA models being my favorites.

[blacktailbob]

Can't help with either one as I'm a Blacktail man.

[Etter]

Ive owned a bunch of widows. I bought one stalker coyote. Loved it for a very brief moment. Im willing to sell it to anyone.  I think south is a great guy but I dont really understand why his bows can fetch much money.


Im waiting on a custom timberghost. Until it arrives my opinion is that no bows beat a widow.

[Bowwild]

Just looked at Vortex.  Widow all the way and I don't even own a Widow at present. The riser/limb junction is so much more pleasing to my eye.

Having owned and shot dozens of different brand recurves, I've found a significant performance difference, at my 26" draw length in only one brand and it was dramatically less. That brand was not one you are looking at and I expect I had a "flier" as the fellow who makes that low performer has a very good reputation.

[MnFn]

Beemann brings up a good point about the nearly indestructible qualities of a Black Widow.  It is very well designed and built.

I’ve had nearly twenty custom bows and the BW is tops in that category. Plus it is a very stable shooting bow.  It is a heavier bow than most , I think.

I have a MA that I bought used from Beemann and I have a hard time choosing between it and a Tall Tines amoung recurves.

[Bow man]

Black Widow

[Alexander Traditional]

I had a guy out from San Antonio,and he had a Stalker static. It wasn't a vortex,but a nice bow. I saw the vortex is also available in longbow configuration. I'm having my first widow built should be ready in August. I held one this last February on a hunt. It was all I needed to order one with all the good stuff I've heard.

[GlennKY]

I have been fortunate to have been able to buy and trade many quality bows. But if UPS does their part, tomorrow I will take delivery on my third Black Widow, a PTFX.  My go to hunting bow is a PSAV, with two sets of limbs and also have a PLV to scratch the itch for a longbow.  I have let others own all my other bows, all that said, bows can be fickle.

[Wheels2]

I don't own either but strongly recommend that you try to find someone near you that has one and will let you shoot it.  I have spent far too much on bows that I didnt shoot first only to move on to something else.

[Dave Lay]

 Cant help on the stalker but have owned a bunch of widows over a lot of years. The reason I’ve owned so many ? I  Keep chasing a prettier, supposedly faster, smoother, fill in the blank bow, I’m a poor Kracker and need to sell one to buy one and am always disappointed and wind up going back to a widow, usually PSA or my current a SAV recurve. Widows can be as beautiful as about any bow, they aren’t the fastest out there but they are pretty dang bomb proof , can be made very quiet, and preform well with a hunting weight arrow. It one of the biggest pluses is their customer service is absolutely second to none, there are stories and I have a couple myself where they have done things for customers that are unbelievable in today’s world.  I have had a few of their longbows as well and currently have a PL2 I really like. Widows turn around time is usually at least 1/2 of that of a lot of other bow builders. I think widow just excels in producing a top notch hunting recurve. I quit buying other brands 10 years ago.
     But as others have said try other brands, heck the stalker or another bow may be the perfect bow for you

[Yooper-traveler]

Clint take advantage of the BW "tryout" program.  A warning- you may not let the bow go   Another thought to bring up is resale.  A widow will hold its value very well (I know YOU will never sell it but...).  Also if you are a accessory guy BW has it all from quivers to arrow wraps. South makes a beautiful bow.  I've only shot one but it was very nice.  I have/had 4-5 BW.

[Mike Malvaini]

Black Widow.

[Sam Spade]

What he said ^^^^^

[the rifleman]

Ive shot both and own one---a Widow Pchx.  As others have said, you can't go wrong with a widow.