SAS Tactical Survival Bow Review
A compact, light and tough survival bow from Survival Archery Systems for survivalists and preppers.
The SAS Tactical Survival Bow measures only 21” when folded up and weighs only 2.2 lbs. It easily fits inside most daypacks and bug out bags without crowding out your other gear.
It comes in various draw weights up to a powerful 55 lbs.
Three take-down arrows can be stored inside the hollow rectangular riser. The carry bag converts to a useful quiver.
So, you have everything you need for a survival situation all in one package, that you can take with you anywhere.
A tactical bow that doesn’t have the polished look of a modern recurve bow, but instead, a rugged hunter with excellent performance.
Designed specifically for bug out bags, it’s the smart choice.
Check out the SAS Tactical Survival Bow.
This bow is the most compact takedown bow you can get for your bug out bag.
In our SAS Tactical Survival Bow review you’ll learn how this powerful bow will increase your chances of catching game and create a larger personal security zone, all while maintaining your stealth.
… AND it won’t crowd out your other bug out bag gear.
Let’s dive right in.
Benefits Of The SAS Tactical Survival Bow
Serious prepping is about being ready for as many scenarios as possible. You never know just what situation you might be faced with.
There may be times when your life depends on you staying as quiet and low-key as possible, when using a firearm is just not viable. Your life may depend on a quiet and stealthy option.
The SAS Tactical Survival Bow comes in a compact size and shape that lets you conceal it in your bug out bag.
It is designed so it takes up the minimum amount of space. So, you don’t have to sacrifice any other bug out equipment you carry.
It is light enough that you can easily carry it.
The bow’s rugged build (made in USA) can stand up to real world survival situations.
Its design let’s you carry take-down arrows inside the riser so you can keep everything together and quickly access it.
Product Description And Features
- Draw weights: 45, 50, 55 lbs
- Weight: 2.2 lbs (with string)
- Length: 60 in (strung)
- Folded Size: 21 in
- Brace Height: 7-8 in (recommended)
- Max Draw: 31 in (estimated)
- Riser Material: Aerospace Grade T6 Aluminium, non-reflective coating
- Limb Material: Composite
- Price Range: Medium
- Hand: Can be used both left or right handed
- Warranty: 12 month manufacturer
Riser
The riser material consists of aerospace grade T6 aluminum. This light and strong material oxidizes in its raw form so it tends to be coated to prevent oxidation.
So the riser is anodized and also comes with a non-reflective, black surface treatment. The non-reflective treatment works well for a stealthy bow.
If you want a different color other than the black, you can paint the riser whatever color or pattern you choose.
Grip
While most bows have some sort of contoured grip, this bow does not.
You wrap your hand around the rectangular shaped riser, and that’s it.
Not the most comfortable set up for heavy use.
SAS adds adhesive pads to the sides of the riser to provide more grip. Those pads feel like patches of sandpaper.
But they do help if your hand gets wet or sweaty. They also keep your hand off the metal which helps keep you from freezing your hand off on a cold day. (Nobody enjoys holding metal in their hand on a cold day).
Just keep in mind, this bow won’t settle into the contour of your palm like most modern recurve or compound bows.
Arrow Storage
The main purpose of making the riser from a hollow aluminum tube is to keep weight down.
The extra benefit of a hollow tube is it creates room to store 2-piece takedown arrows. You can store up to 3 arrows (6 pieces) inside the riser.
2 plastic caps fit over the ends of the riser to secure the arrows inside.
When you assemble the bow for use, you lose access to the riser storage. So, you have to remove the arrows beforehand.
Handily, the bow comes with a carry bag that doubles as a quiver. This bag can carry the arrows while you use the bow.
Portability
In its folded position, the SAS Tactical Survival Bow measures 21” long.
That means it fits in most standard sized daypacks. And that’s not a coincidence…
SAS deliberately designed this bow to fit in a bug-out bag and take up the least amount of space.
Limbs
The limbs are made from fiberglass composite material like those used on many other modern bows today.
They typically use layered wood laminate reinforced with fiberglass.
Time and again, they have proven to be reliable and durable.
Hardware
The limbs attach to brackets that act as hinges when connected to the riser.
These brackets are made of anodized T6 aluminum, same as the riser.
The brackets connect to the riser using retaining pins made from marine grade 316 stainless steel. They come with a black surface treatment in order to prevent glare.
The retaining pins are connected using nylon screws.
These nylon screws are not load bearing and are a design improvement over metal screws as they help reduce vibration.
Assembly
The bow comes with a Velcro strap to hold the folded limbs. It also comes with a cap on each end of the riser tube.
Remove the Velcro strap and end caps.
Flip open the 2 limbs. One end of the riser tube has 2 connection holes. On that end, remove the nylon screw and retaining pin. Reverse the hinge and limb assembly so it’s on the same side of the riser tube as the other limb.
Then you re-attach the hinge by re-installing the retaining pin and nylon screw in the other hole.
This might seem like extra work when all they had to do was design the bow so both limbs fold on the same side of the riser.
BUT, having both limbs fold on the same side would add extra length to the folded bow. Reversing one limb is what allows the bow to fold down to 21” and fit into a standard daypack or bug out bag.
Once you have re-attached the reversed limb, then you need to string the bow. This usually takes only a minute to do.
When you’ve practiced it a few times, you can string the bow in just a few seconds.
The typical technique used to string the bow is the step-through technique.
Attach the string to the lower limb. Then rest the lower limb against your foot, bend the bow around the back of your thigh, and attach the string to the upper limb. Once attached, step out of the strung bow.
Make sure you understand that the SAS Tactical Survival Bow is NOT a quick flip-up and shoot type of bow.
It does take a minute or two to assemble and string. You can do it quickly with practice, but it just isn’t instantaneous.
If you want to reverse one limb – and don’t mind extra length, then check out the 63” SAS Recon Survival Bow, the Tactical Survival Bow’s bigger brother. It folds down to 24.3” but assembly is much quicker and easier.
The Tactical Bow’s performance makes it suitable for those who like to hunt in the woods. It’s not really suited for long range shots even though it has ample power. (See our list of the best bow for survival)
Long range shooting requires a great deal of practice. This bow’s rectangular shaped riser isn’t the most comfortable for hours of practice.
However, its sturdy, no-nonsense build makes the SAS Tactical Survival Bow ready for serious survival work.
This is not just some bow meant for a little recreational fun on the weekend.
It’s a powerful bow that will give you excellent results even if you draw less than 30”.
Accessories
SAS provides the following accessories along with the takedown bow when you order this bow:
- String (Dacron)
- Carrying Case that Converts to a quiver (Camo)
- Fred Bear Arrow Rest
- Brass Ring Nock Set
- Retaining Strap
- Owner’s Manual
- Warranty
Does NOT come with Arrows. You need to purchase the arrows of your choice separately.
Recommended: The SAS Game Getter Arrow
Survival Archery Systems makes a 2-piece takedown arrow perfectly suitable for the Tactical Survival Bow. 3 of these arrows fit inside the riser.
The assembled arrow measures 31” (which is the maximum draw for the bow), and breaks down to 15.5” segments.
The 400 spine arrow is made from modified Easton Aluminum with marine grade 316 stainless steel takedown inserts.
It comes with a combo point. The arrow shaft is black with orange and black Easton Diamond vanes.
Check out the SAS XX75 Game Getter Arrow
Arrow Rest
The riser doesn’t have a shelf incorporated into the design.
You can shoot off the knuckle, or you need an arrow rest.
SAS provides the Fred Bear Arrow Rest which is either left or right-handed. The one you receive depends on which you choose when ordering.
Keep in mind, this arrow rest is an accessory. If you have a preferred arrow rest, you can use it instead. The bow itself is ambidextrous.
Retaining Strap
The manufacturer provides a simple Velcro strap that retains the hinged limbs when the bow is folded up. When using the bow, you can keep it in the carry bag/quiver or you can wrap it around the riser so it doesn’t get lost.
Carrying Bag/Quiver
The bow comes with a carry bag that doubles as a quiver.
It has a large main pouch that stores the folded bow. It also has a secondary pocket where you can carry your accessories like arrows, an extra bowstring or wrist guard.
It has shoulder straps so you can carry it like a small backpack.
Who This Bow Is For
A survivalist or prepper who wants a powerful, light and reliable weapon that can pack neatly into a bug out bag or survival pack without taking up much space.
Survivalists and preppers always look for ways to gain an advantage and improve their chances. And if it doesn’t fit inside your bug out bag or survival pack, most likely you won’t carry it.
If it does fit, then you gain a big advantage.
You get a weapon that significantly increases your effective hunting and security range while remaining stealthy and silent…
…and sometimes keeping quiet can be a matter of life and death.
SAS understood this very well when they came up with the idea for the Tactical Survival Bow.
When they designed this bow, SAS asked themselves, “What would you consider to be the perfect, single weapon that you would have packed in your grab or bug-out bag?”.
This resulted in a rugged, powerful hunting bow that also offers protection in life threatening situations.
Despite all the hate and criticism from some archery purists, it persists as the go-to survival take-down bow.
Look, the purists have truckloads of beautifully designed modern recurve bows to choose from. But none of them were purposely designed for survivalists, who need something different…
a powerful and light bow that can fit in their bug out bags.
And that’s exactly what SAS created.
SAS Tactical Survival Bow Review Pros and Cons
Pros
- Powerful enough for big game
- Compact so it fits in a bug out bag
- Light so it won’t add much weight to your pack
- Rugged build for survival situations
- Made in U.S.A.
- Holds 3 arrows inside the riser
Cons
- Not a center shot bow (1/2″ offset)
- Rectangular riser not the most comfortable grip
- Not a true flip open, must reverse one of the limbs
- More expensive than some competitor models
Throughout this review we’ve talked about this bow being compact so it fits in your bug out bag, being rugged so you can depend on it in a survival situation, and being powerful so you can take down even big game.
It’s a great addition to your bug out gear that provides a way to hunt or protect yourself while staying quiet.
But it’s not perfect. It does have some drawbacks.
Mainly, the rectangular tubing used for the riser is not the best grip ergonomically. So, it can get uncomfortable if you’re going to shoot a lot of arrows.
But frankly, we found the claims that it’s uncomfortable to be overblown. Yes, it’s not an ideal grip, for sure. But at a 55 lb draw, your draw arm gets fatigued quicker than your grip becomes an issue.
Also, it is not a center shot style bow. Your arrow will sit about ½” off center from your string. You will have to practice more to adjust your shot for this offset.
Getting proficient with the SAS Tactical Survival Bow will take longer and will take more practice than a modern recurve bow with all the bells and whistles.
Another drawback is the lack of attachment points for accessories, like a sight.
So, if you’re new to archery, it will take you longer to get used to this bow than you would other modern bows that accommodate a sight.
Comparisons & Alternatives
SAS Tactical Survival Bow vs. Primal Gear Unlimited Survival Bow
The PGU Survival bow easily converts from right-handed to left-handed simply by flipping the limbs during assembly.
It is similar to the SAS Tactical Survival Bow in weight, size, materials and draw weight options.
Both bows have very similar shooting characteristics.
The PGU bow folds down to 23”. So, it does not easily fit into a 21” daypack.
The SAS Tactical Bow folds down to 21” to fit inside a standard daypack and that is its key advantage over the PGU Survival Bow.
SAS Tactical Survival Bow vs Spectre II Compact Take-Down Survival Bow
While the SAS bow folds down to a length of 21”, the Spectre II folds down to 23”. The Spectre II measures 50” assembled, whereas the SAS bow measures 60” assembled.
The Spectre II is much cheaper and it comes with 3 take-down arrows as part of the package.
Both bows weigh about the same and are made from similar materials. Unlike the SAS bow, the Spectre II bow cannot store arrows inside the riser.
But the main difference between these bows is the folded length. Again, the SAS Tactical Survival Bow is deliberately designed to fit into a standard 21” day pack which is commonly used for bug out bags.
That’s the key benefit of the SAS bow compared to other survival bows.
The SAS Tactical Survival Bow is a powerful, compact and rugged survival tool that was deliberately designed to fit inside your bug out bag and take up minimum space.
So, if you find yourself in a survival situation, you can now take this tool with you without sacrificing space in your bug out bag.
And having a silent weapon maintains your stealth – something you just can’t get with a firearm.
The bow’s accuracy and power increase your effective hunting radius substantially when you don’t have a firearm (or you just can’t use it for some reason). This means you also increase your personal security perimeter.
So if you ever face a SHTF scenario, the SAS Tactical Survival Bow becomes a very important tool that increases your chances of survival. It is the ultimate in minimalist design where utility rules above all else.
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