| It had been a long while since I last shot a handheld rope release
and quite frankly, had forgotten the "feel". When Stacey sent me
their 3D Supreme, the first thing I noticed was that the "feel" was different
than my recollection. It was much more comfortable and had significantly
better mechanics.
Construction:
All Stacey Release parts are C.N.C. machined and are held to extremely
tight tolerances. The main 2-piece casing is made of 6061 aluminum
and shaped with smooth flowing lines for comfort. Three 4/40 x 7/16
inch long hex head screws hold the two case pieces and inner parts together.
All of the inner workings are made of steel that is heat-treated, nickel
plated and polished following the machining process. Again, tight
tolerances are held on these parts to enhance performance. The key
to the whole mechanism is called the sears. Basically, when the trigger
is pulled, the rope hook falls off the edge of the sears and the string
is released. The precision of the machining allows this to happen
consistently and without travel, otherwise known as, "creep".
The trigger assembly includes a machined aluminum trigger barrel that
is slotted to allow a wide range of adjustment. The slot not only
enables the barrel to be spun 360 degrees, but also provides parallel movement
along its axis. The barrel measures approximately ¾ inch in
length and 5/8 inch in diameter. The 3D Supreme can also be shot
without the barrel.
Braided 1/16-inch diameter rope is threaded through two 1/8-inch holes
located just above the middle finger position. The rope can also
be removed if you want to place it directly on the string or use it with
a pre-existing string loop. If it is placed directly on the string,
the release should not be rotated at full draw.
Adjustments can be made to both the trigger tension and the trigger
travel. Trigger tension adjustments have no effect on trigger travel
and are made by turning the tension screw into the release. Two other
springs are packaged within the 3D Supreme and can be inserted in place
of the installed light screw to increase tension even further. The
adjustment screw for travel is just behind the thumb barrel while the tension
adjustment screw is just forward of it. Trigger travel can be made
too short and not hold the pressure of a draw cycle. If this occurs,
back the travel screw out until it holds.
The 3D Supreme is available in seven different colors for those looking
for a little flare.
Testing:
An initial quality check found the over-all release finish and mechanics
to be flawless. A very clean piece of equipment.
Next up on the testing agenda was to use the release in every one of
the available options. Rope on, rope off, with string loop, direct
attachment, varying thumb barrel positions, no thumb barrel, no trigger
travel, some trigger travel, and finally, varying trigger tensions.
My conclusion is that anyone should be able to find a perfect combination
of variables to fit them. If they can't, they are not trying hard
enough! Versatility is certainly an appropriate term for the 3D Supreme.
Personally, I ended up with a hair trigger, no travel and the thumb barrel
all the way to one side of the slot and pushed forward so no "reaching"
was needed.
At first my fingers were set deep into the rounded gripping area.
This grip position, however, irritated the knuckle on my middle finger,
so I backed out a little. I find the most comfortable grip is to
position the pressure point between the first and second knuckles.
One concern I had was how difficult to load this release could be in
a hunting situation. To see if my concern was justified, I hung the
bow beside me and did a speed drill. Sure enough, I bumbled around
and took forever to get the shot off. Definitely too slow and too
much movement! At that point, I was almost convinced that this was
no hunting release. There was a solution, however, and it included
two factors. The first was simply time. If you haven't shot
a rope release in a while, be prepared to spend some time getting used
to it. The second part of the remedy is a pre-bent rope. Make
sure the rope is set to the length you will be using it at and then hang
weight from it for a day or two. This will put a permanent bend in
the rope and make it infinitely easier to load. By the time it was
all over, I could quickly load the release without looking.
The 3D Supreme is an extremely well made release that performed above
my expectations. For the archer looking for a super high-quality,
hand-held rope release, Stacey's 3D Supreme should not be overlooked.
Design: 4.5 of 5
Extremely versatile and user-friendly.
Quality: 4.5 of 5
Right down to the last detail, this is a top-notch release.
Value: 4 of 5
For a target and 3D shooter looking for an extremely tight precision
release, the value is there. Some bowhunters may have a little bit
of a harder time paying $119.00.
For more information on this or any
other Stacey Archery product, contact:
Stacey Archery Sales Inc.
6866 Jennifer Lane
Idaho Falls ID 83401
Phone: (208) 523-7278
Fax: (208) 523-7278
Email: info@staceyarchery.com
Web Site: www.StaceyArchery.com |
