Tru-Fire Stealth....mini review

muzzyman88 · 05-04-2004, 06:39 PM

I've had this release about a week and have shot it about everyday and figured I could give a little update on what's been happening with it.

First off, I like this release. Very comfortable strap and the easiest I've used to put on quickly.

Adjustments: There are three major adjustments. One under the trigger that adjusts the sensitivity, one that is a dial that adjusts the travel of the trigger and the other is the whole body rotates to adjust the overall length. These adjustments are very easy to get to

Accuracy: Too early to tell how big of a difference, but I can't see how it couldn't help some. The big selling point is that unlike I think all other releases, the head rotates in front of the trigger. I've tried and there is no way you can torque a string loop with it. It swivels that freely. The release is crisp and very deliberate as well, but will depend on how you have it set.

What I like: The adjustments and ease of taking on and off. I also like the swiveling head as mentioned earlier. I find the buckle strap confortable as well. I always hated releases that you pulled the trigger to open the head, and pushed the trigger forward to close it. This release, you squeeze to open and let go to close. Nice feature IMO. Thats was the deciding factor when I purchased my previous release, a Tru-Ball.

Dislikes: There are a couple of things that I'm concerned about. One, there is no way to lock the trigger in one place so that it is in the exact same position every time. I contacted Tru-fire about this as I found it somewhat annoying. Also, there needs to be a set screw in the tension adjustment knob. Unless you put marks on it to keep an eye on it, it could move. I did't have any trouble with this simply because I prefer a stiff trigger and have it set as high as it will go, which I believe is 21oz.

One other pet peeve I have and its little. Being that the head rotates, its at times a little weird putting the calipers on the loop if it rotates out of alignment. Not that big of a deal once you get accustomed to using your them to align everything when you clip on though.

If they can lock that trigger and tension knob, this release would simply be awesome. I really like it and I'm planning on hunting with it this fall.

JeffB · 05-05-2004, 05:19 AM

Thanx for the review

Tru-Fire does (or at least did, it's in the ad in Inside Archery magazine)advertise being able to lock the head down with a set-screw?! [&:] what did they tell you when you asked?

You've got the trigger set really stiff, have you set it up for minimal travel at that setting?

I'll take a look at 'em this weekend.

PABowhntr · 05-05-2004, 05:43 AM

Does the head of the release just turn in a circular rotation or is it on a ball-like swivel so that it can move more in multiple directions at the same time?

muzzyman88 · 05-05-2004, 06:36 AM

JeffB, I have played with it at multiple settings and they all are awefully good. The tiny setscrew under the trigger that sets travel is extremely sensitive though as I did whap myself in the chin once while fooling with that setting.

I did have it set almost exactly like the feel of hair trigger on a gun, heavy trigger but basically no travel. But I quickly learned a little travel was needed for me to shoot it well. You can lock the swiveling head down with a set screw, but not the body where the trigger is. Kind of disapointed in that feature as I really cant see why you would ever want the head to be locked down on this thing.

Frank, the head just rotates 360 in front of the trigger. I'm really impressed with this feature in that it will not torque a loop, even with the new white loop material that I think BCY came out with this year that is real flexible.

RobVos · 05-08-2004, 12:22 AM

This is one release that really caught my eye at the ATA show and I will probably actually get one and switch from my trust hand-held releases for hunting this year. I used to use a classic caliper that the head swiveled ahead of the trigger and it is a good release, but the ability to make this on very stiff and no travel at all may this release really impressive.