The stand out thing about the wise choice is it’s ability to be use as a thumb release or a back tension release. This means your getting real bang for your buck if your currently shooting a thumb release but are thinking of making the crossover to the hinge style releases.
Usually there’s a great lot of apprehension thinking about starting to shoot with a hinge release because people worry about the transition and learning curve of shooting a hinge, but the wise choice completely eliminates that with the trigger / hinge cross over. Hence the reason old Carter probably named it the wise choice, because it would probably be a wise choice for those thinking of going down that route.
The enclosed index finger loop has had some great positive feedback among the bow hunting and arching community. Simply put, the loop provides constant finger pressure in the exact same spot every time, and we all know what that means. More consistent shot releases, resulting in better grouping and overall accuracy. Not only that, but the loop provides a comfortable release and also makes it feel more secure knowing it’s enclosed around the finger.
The wise choice also has an automatic locking hook integrated into it. So you can easily lock the release onto your D-loop and have it ready to go in that split second that counts without fear of it coming off.
If hanging the release off the D-loop isn’t your thing, then don’t fear because Carter has thought of everything.
That’s why they’ve also integrated in a lanyard loop on the release. When you first purchase the wise choice it does come standard with a paracord lanyard loop, but word around the town is most people have changed out the paracord lanyard for something a bit more sturdy. Most people have been salvaging the wrist strap off an old index finger release they’ve got laying around, and rigging it up tot he wise choice.
That all comes down to personal preference though.
The tension on the release is fully adjustable, but unlike the wise choices predecessors, there’s no replacing springs to give different tension pressures.
This makes things a lot easier to adjust. All it is a simple hex screw that gets screwed in or out to give you your desired tension. No more fiddling around trying to swap out springs.
Straight out of the box most intermediate to advanced archers will notice that the factory setting of the tension is rather high, and will want to adjust straight away. For any just starting out in the bowhunting game, this may not be such a huge issue.
I would advise against adjusting the pressure straight away though, and sling some arrows downrange first to break the release in. You’ll notice the release will smooth out after a bit of use, and you may not end up needing to adjust the release as much as what you first thought. As per anything that’s straight from the factory.
The other upside of the wise choice is it’s simple trigger mech, making maintenance easy. People have been known to winge in the past saying that Carter release isn’t firing, when in actual fact it was just poor maintenance.
To maintain and clean the wise choice incase of dirt and dust build up in the mechanism, you simple undo 3 hex screws at the back of the release, your then able to pull the release housing off and clean the simple mechanism which basically runs off of 2 sears that sit next to each other.
Word of warning. Their is no need to oil the inside of the mechanism. This can case the sears to float, and the trigger wont activate release. If somehow you did oil the mech though, just simply degrease, dry it nice and clean, and it’ll be working like a dream again.
The Verdict on the Carter Wise Choice Review
All in all the wise choice is a great release, as per any of Carter’s products. Cleaning and maintenance is easy, and these release will literally last a life time.
They are a little pricey, but once you put the money down for a release of such outstanding quality, you wont regret it.
They fit the niche of probably someone who’s all ready been doing a bit of shooting with a cheaper index style release, and is now looking to upgrade and step up their game.
All of carters products are well known and well respected with in the Archery and bow hunting realms, so if you do purchase this release, you can rest assured, you’ve made a Wise Choice!
Til next time,
Happy Bow hunting,
Redneck Salvation.
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