Image | Length | Bow Weight | Draw Weight | Takedown? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Raging River Busa See on Amazon.com | 60 inches | Unspecified How to: choose arrows, draw weight, and tune your recurve | 45 to 65 lbs. | Yes |
| Pros - Crowned arrow shelf for off-the-shelf shooting - Draw weights that are perfect for hunting - Inexpensive but good quality takedown recurve | Cons - Only available right-handed - Not predrilled for accessories - No bowstringer or assembly tools included |
Hey there, and thanks for stopping by for another recurve review. For this installment, I’m looking at a takedown recurve from a relative newcomer in the business, Raging River. This particular model is the Busa, a takedown recurve with a riser made from Bintangor, Makore, and Chuglam hardwood and limbs crafted from maple and fiberglass. Let’s see how well this new arrival fares in target shooting and hunting.
What’s Included In The Box?
When you unpackage your Raging River Busa, you’ll find the following items in the box:
- The Raging River Busa, including riser and limbs
- Bowstring
- Assembly hardware
- Owner’s manual
That’s it. There aren’t any assembly tools included (you’ll need an Allen wrench for the limb bolts), or a bowstringer. If you don’t already have these tools, you should pick them up because they’re essential items to own when you have a takedown recurve bow.
Is The Bow Easy To Assemble?
Putting the Busa together is pretty simple. You just align the limbs in the limb pockets, tighten down the included bolts, and then string the bow. Make sure you use a bowstringer, or you’ll run into problems at some point.
This is a great time to install any accessories you are able to use with the bow, so let’s talk about that.
What About Accessories?
The Raging River Busa is, unfortunately, not predrilled for use with a stabilizer, sight, or Berger button. You can always have your bow technician drill the holes for you and install the accessories, but that will void your warranty. What you should do, though, is install your nocking points, string silencers, and a stick-on arrow shelf if you don’t want to shoot off-the-shelf. For a full description of what’s involved in tuning your bow after assembly, be sure to stop by our four-part guide to tuning a recurve bow.
Is The Recurve Accurate And Powerful?
The Busa is available in draw weights from 45 pounds all the way to 60 pounds, making it easily one of the most powerful recurves I’ve laid my hands on. If you’re not sure what draw weight to choose, check out this guide on selecting the right draw weight for your purposes.
All of that power, though, doesn’t mean anything if the bow isn’t accurate.
The Raging River Busa really shines in accuracy. The bow is very forgiving of poor stance, and even without a sight I’ve seen relative beginners maintain 2.5-inch groupings from 40 yards with the Busa. In my own personal shooting, I can maintain a grouping of just under two inches from 40 yards.
Can I Use This Recurve Bow For Hunting?
With its minimum draw weight of 45#, the Busa is great for hunting small and medium game. If you can pull a 60# bow, you could even tackle larger game with the Busa. Its 60 inch length makes the bow quite comfortable to maneuver around in the bush or from the tree stand.
Even though the Raging River Busa is a new arrival, I’ve already had it out for archery season. It’s still early, but I was able to spot a large 12-point buck and get within shooting range. The Busa threw my arrow true to the target, and the arrow exited the opposite breast of the animal. The buck staggered off for no more than 50 yards before dropping for his dirt nap, and I got an early fill of my freezer with delicious venison.
Will Beginners Be Able To Learn On This Bow?
Beginners, you ask? It depends on the beginner. Since the minimum draw weight of the bow is a hefty 45 pounds, this isn’t a bow for most youth. An adult new to archery, though, will find some aspects of the Busa very compatible with learning. For instance, the bow is extremely forgiving of poor stance and technique. On the other hand, its inability to accept accessories like a sight or a Berger button could make this bow challenging for real amateurs, since a sight is usually helpful in learning proper aiming techniques.
What Are The Best Arrows To Use With The Bow?
This is the most commonly asked question, and it’s really unfortunate that I have to answer with, “It depends.” It does, however, because different purposes for the bow require different arrows. For a full discussion of how to choose the right arrows, be sure to check out our guide on arrow selection.
How Durable Are The Limbs And Riser On The Recurve?
This is a takedown bow, so durability depends greatly on doing what you’re supposed to do: take down the bow when you aren’t using it. The riser, however, is very high quality and doesn’t get nicked or scratched easily. The limbs are hard maple with fiberglass reinforcement, and have proven themselves so far to be very resistant to limb twist. If you properly service your bow and take it down when you are finished using it, you’ll find the Busa should last you for many years.
What Strings Will Fit This Recurve Bow?
The Raging River Busa comes with a Dacron string, but the limb tips are reinforced for use with FastFlight or Flemish twist strings. As long as you purchase a string with the right length and draw weight for your bow, you’ll be good with any type of string.
Is It Heavy?
Raging River doesn’t state how heavy the Busa is, but I’m estimating it to be less than two pounds. It seems to be very lightweight, and I’m able to carry it for many hours without tiring out. I’m also able to shoot it for several hours straight without much fatigue or hand cramping, as the bow has very little vibration or hand shock.
How Quiet Is The Bow?
The Busa is relatively quiet, although I’ve shot quieter bows. If you install string silencers, though, you shouldn’t have any problems with deer string-jumping on you. The buck that I took down was no more than 20 yards away, and he never saw or heard what was coming.
Recurve Bow Summary
Thanks for reading my review of the Raging River Busa. This takedown recurve bow is excellent for veteran hunters who love to practice instinctive shooting. If you’re a beginner, or enjoy using fancy accessories, you may want to make a different selection.
Take a look at Today's Amazon.com price on the Raging River Busa if you’re interested in buying.
