May 5, 2024
Archery Releases
Need help finding an accurate, powerful release? Our guide will take you through the basics of choosing yours.
How To Buy A Release
Releases are mechanical hand-held triggers that help you pull back the bow string. This helps you use a more powerful bow without giving up accuracy or improving accuracy since you can pull the bow back easier. Most use "jaws" or a loop of string to hold the bowstring and then release it by pressing a trigger.
- Styles
- Trigger releases
- Chonco releases
- Finger releases
- Wrist releases
- Thumb-trigger/Three-fingered
- Caliper releases
- Release quality
Styles
There are several types of release aids.
Trigger releases
These come in several variations, with differences in how you trigger.
- Chonco releases
- A chonco type release is held in the hand triggered with the index finger
- Finger releases
- A finger release is held in the fingers and triggered with the thumb or little finger
- Wrist releases
- Wrist releases wrap around the wrist and are usually triggered with the index finger
- Thumb-triggered/Three-fingered
- Most target shooters use a thumb-triggered release while hunters prefer three-finger hand-held releases
- Caliper releases
- Caliper releases use a manual operation with very few moving parts. The "jaws" usually won't close until you flip the trigger forward with your finger. Most are attached to a wrist strap. Durability and reliability are key advantages, a big plus for hunters.
Release quality
- Good releases should give you easy trigger pull adjustment
- Mechanical releases should be easy to adjust so you can increase stiffness depending on your draw weight
- A recommendation is to set your trigger with enough tension that you can still feel it through heavy gloves before it goes off