Acousta Power Recurve Riser Review: Budget Price, Surprising Performance (With One Big Caveat)

Quick Take

Unboxing → setup → tune → 70-meter test → honest verdict

For about $120, the Acousta Power 25" ILF riser looks the part, sets up easily, aims well, and is shockingly low-vibration on the shot, more “carbon-quiet” than you’d expect from a budget metal riser. It’s light, adjustable, and comes with a padded sleeve.

But there’s a catch: hardware quality, especially the tiller bolt locking mechanism (collet lock). My lower bolt stripped while snugging it not “gorilla tight,” just normal “don’t-move” tight. Draw-weight range is also very limited (uneven top/bottom), and the tiller bolts measure undersized vs. ILF ideal.

If you’re careful with adjustments (use blue threadlocker), this can be a fantastic starter/backup riser that punches way above its price. If you like to tinker often or demand durable hardware, this compromise may frustrate you.

Price & What’s in the Box

• MSRP I paid: ~$120 (Lancaster; currently out of stock when I checked)

• In the box: riser, padded sleeve (nice surprise at this price), manual (didn’t list this exact PR model), small swag

• Finish: powder-coat with visible orange peel; a few small hardware/bushing quirks

First Look & Build Notes

• Weight: ~1,160 g (~41 oz, ~2.56 lb) → ~100 g lighter than many flagship metal risers. Great for youth/smaller archers or anyone who prefers a lighter handle.

• Mounts: 3 front bushings, 1 rear, dual plunger holes, sight holes, clicker plate.

• Grip: soft-touch stock grip = comfy if you “hold the bow,” but lacks support where a performance grip should. Swapped to an Arcore “I AM” grip (fit fine) for better hand contact and stability.

• Serial number: I couldn’t find one anywhere on the riser. That’s a concern for traceability/warranty.

• Finish/Hardware QC:

  • Powder coat shows orange peel.

  • A couple hex heads looked partially rounded from the factory.

  • One rear bushing sat slightly skewed (limits some weights unless you use spacers).

ILF Interface & Tiller Bolts (Read This)

• Tiller bolt diameters on my sample: ~0.369–0.370" (undersized vs. the ~0.373–0.375" “happy zone”).

  • Upside: most limbs will “fit” easily.

  • Downside: looser limb-to-bolt interface than ideal.

• Draw-weight range (turns out from contact):

  • Top: ~2.5–2.75 turns (very limited)

  • Bottom: ~4–4.5 turns (oddly more than top)

  • This asymmetry limits total usable range; standard ILF often allows ~6 turns.

• Locking mechanism: collet-style lock. The internal threads stripped on my lower bolt during a routine snug. The head/hex didn’t round—the threads spun.

  • Result: I can “mostly” lock it, but it’s compromised.

  • Strong recommendation: apply blue (not red) threadlocker to the tiny grub/lock screws on day one; avoid adjusting while strung; tighten gently.

Setup, Tuning, and Range Time

Build: Limbs bolted on and aligned quickly; all accessories mounted without drama. Despite the budget price, the alignment system worked cleanly.

30 m tune:

• Felt extremely dead in the hand, almost no residual hum.

• With my older flagship limbs, the bow shot quiet and “neutral.”

• Needed stiffer arrows than expected (ended up at 410s).

• Bear-shaft showed I was in the ballpark; a tiny nocking-point tweak would polish it.

70 m session:

• Aims steady; jumps straight (not hyper-snappy, but ok).

• Groups were competitive when I did my job; the platform isn’t the limiter.

• Limbs (not the riser) contributed some perceived shaking, note on me, not the handle.

What I Loved

• Insane value at $120; looks like a “real” ILF riser, because it is.

• Very low vibration, shockingly dead in hand post-shot.

• Lightweight build is friendly for newer/smaller archers or long sessions.

• Alignment & setup were straightforward.

• Comes with a padded sleeve (rare at this price).

What Missed the Mark

• Tiller bolt system:

  • Undersized diameters; limited turns (especially top).

  • Collet lock stripped under normal snugging, big knock on durability.

• Hardware/finish QC: visible orange peel, a few iffy hex heads, skewed rear bushing.

• No serial number that I could find.

• Stock grip lacks performance shaping (aftermarket grip recommended).

Who Should Consider It

• New archers (recurve/barebow) and budget-minded shooters who want a true ILF platform without breaking the bank.

• Younger/smaller athletes who benefit from the lighter handle.

• Tinkerers on a budget, as long as you’re gentle with hardware and don’t plan frequent, aggressive adjustments.

Maybe pass if you:

• Frequently change tiller/draw weight.

• Want a long-term “heirloom” riser with immaculate finishing.

• Need wide draw-weight adjustability.

Setup Tips (Do This)

• Add blue threadlocker to grub/lock screws and accessory screws.

• Avoid adjusting while strung; make small, even changes top/bottom.

• Consider an aftermarket grip (Rrcore “I AM” worked great for me).

• If you run a rear weight, test clearance; use spacers if the bushing angle interferes.

• Expect to tune with a slightly stiffer shaft than you think.

Bottom Line

The Acousta Power riser shoots far better than it costs: stable aim, straight jump, and a remarkably quiet, dead feel in the hand. For a first ILF or a budget backup, it’s genuinely fun and very capable.

But the tiller bolt/locking situation is the Achilles’ heel. If Acousta upgrades that hardware (and tightens QC on bushings/finish), this would be a category killer. As it stands, it’s a great value, just treat the hardware with care, set it, and don’t crank on it.