Ive had my tru fire wrist strap release for 6 years now. I really like it and have no complaints at all. Its just starting to wear out, and has a couple of small tears in the wrist strap. I think my next purchase for bowhuntin stuff will be a new release, and i have never tried hand held releases before. I was hoping a few of you could give me some suggestions on hand held releases. How they are for hunting/shooting and the pros and cons compared to a wrist release. Is it just personal preference? Any info i would greatly appreciate it! Thanks.
I truly thinks the handhelds are a better release all around. I used to shoot a wrist strap, and I shot okay with it. Good, but not great. I then decided to try my buddies, my first few shots were bullseyes. I was hooked ever since. For the advantages, in my opinion, here ya go: 1) I shoot better groups. It feels more natural to me. I was starting to get a bit of target panic by punching the trigger. Now I just pull my elbow back into the wall and squeeze it off. 2) It's quieter when hunting. I don't have a metal release dangling from my wrist to accidentally clank off of a Lonewolf stick or my stand. My hands are free and the release never gets in my way. 3) Its quicker for hunting purposes. I don't have to look down, find my loop, hook up, and then draw. My handheld is already hanging there from my loop. All I have to do is grab my release and draw! Those couple of seconds you spend hooking up could be the deal breaker between killing your dream buck or missing your opportunity. 4) They are more customizable. You can adjust your trigger tension as well as the angle of the barrel on some of them to make them fit your hand better. As far as releases go, Carter is absolutely the best, in my opinion. I currently shoot the Carter Too Simple. I have shot the Carter Simple 1, the Carter Evolution, and the Carter Plain 1. The Too Simple is my favorite so far. I'm sure I could think of some more advantages, but those are off the top of my head.
I've been thinking about switching from a strap release too actually. Mainly for the reasons englum said were benefits. It doesn't always get in the way but I'd like the ability to have the release already on d-loop and not haveta search for it every time grab bow. Hopefully some more people will chime in.
My tru fire is getting old and making marks on my loop. Think I may try something new also but not there just yet.
Its all preference to me! I have a truball cyclone that is very adjustable. Its accuracy is excellent in every way. But that being said I am not against tee releases either they are equally the same. To me its preference and if I were in the need of a release I would look at both. The one thing I would do if I got a tee is get a sling for it I hate looking for the release when I have a shot. Hutch
I've shot both styles quite a bit. For hunting I prefer a wrist strap style release. 1. It always strapped to my bow when not in use. I have left my other style release behind more then once. 2. As said above there is the benefit of being able to let it hang for the shot. At the same time I don't like it when it is really cold outside. I always wear really lite gloves and don't like grabbing onto a cold piece of steel for any length of time. Secondly I never let it hang in incremental weather. 3. I am more relaxed with a wrist style release at full draw if I have to hold a long time. A get "white knuckles" with a hand held.
Ya like i said, ive never even tried a hand held release, everyone that i know personally,has a wrist strap release. I figured some guys on here could tell me about a hand held, and i appreciate the responses so far!
I prefer a wrist for hunting but I like a high quality release with a great trigger. Carter provides that for me. I have and shoot all kinds from back tension to thumb and wrist. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
I am afraid of a hand held but want to try the ringer. My tru fire is not a hair trigger, which I like and Buckles around my wrist which I like also. Choices...
I don't have a thumb release. I have a hinge and love it. I hunt with it most of the season. I only wear a very thing glove when hunting and a hand warmer to keep my hands and release in. I still have to hook it before the shot but, since I'm not playing in my phone, I usually see the deer with plenty of time to prepare. That being said I still have my old trusty wrist strap that goes to the stand with me. I have many time worn it on my wrist along with using the Hinge. Why? In case I drop the hinge so that I don't have to climb back down to get it. To me it's personal preference. I can shoot either well. I just prefer the hinge over the strap.
I shoot both. I have a Tru Fire Hardcore Max and love it. Also have a Tru Fire hardcore 4 finger which has a thumb trigger, love it as well.
I recently went through this very thing. I had an old Tru-Fire, and purchased a Tru-Fire Hardcore. I kept it for a couple of days and took it back to Cabela's. If you're going out looking for a new wrist strap release, definitely check out the Spott Hog Wiseguy release. It's basically the same $ as the Hardcore within a couple of $$. Personally, I like a wrist strap. The Wiseguy is a leather buckle, it's quiet, it will lock back out of your way when not in use, and it has the same sensitive trigger that you're looking for in a competition style release, but it's made for hunting. Here's a link to a write up I did for it in my blog. FWIW. http://www.elkdiy.com/2014/02/28/new-release/?preview=true&preview_id=432&preview_nonce=a4314d1f85
I have shot a wrist strap for years and just about a month ago I tried the thumb release. First shots where a dead ringer and I to was hooked. Playing a little now to dial in but will use my Stan Shootoff this year. Thinking about trying a 3 finger as well but at the cost of these releases trying isn't inexpensive
Keep an eye out on archery talk. That's where I've bought mine. I started out with a Stan SX2 that I bought for like $75- then I traded it for a Carter Evolution. I traded the Evolution for a Carter Plain 1, I traded the Plain 1 for my Carter Too Simple. I don't see myself trading my Too Simple- I love it.
