When I started researching new back tension releases I was a bit surprised to see this one come in at around $150. Far below the norm for quality back tension releases which are usually $200 or more. Especially with it having the ability to modify the click to ready and click to fire settings which is somewhat unique. But I watched a few YT videos where it fared reasonably well, it's the release being used by one of the worlds top archers and it's made in the USA, so I decided to give it a try. I want to preface this review by stating I have been shooting using back tension since I started in archery some 20+ years ago. I cut my teeth on a old Stanislawski xCalibur which is about as pure a back tension release as you can find. Since then I have shot many makes and models of hinge and thumb style releases using back tension, which is a method of shooting a bow not a type of release. That said, while the Tru-Fire Sear is a nice looking release with a superb finish and feel it is far from a polished product. The design, while unique, lacks the level of design quality and sophistication as many of the competitors operating in the same space - which I guess accounts for the lower price tag. I did not even need to shoot this release to know it would not be a good fit...for a few reasons. I have big hands and while it has a nice weight to it and did fit okay, albeit a bit snug, the head position put pressure on my middle finger knuckle if not held is just the right way. The hinge post needs to be about a 1/8 to 3/16 inches longer. The sear wheel that rotates to allow for the various timing options requires a lot to adjust. You need to remove a very small screw with a small allen wrench (not included) that holds in a pin. The pin then needs to be removed using a paper clip or push pin, which is not explained very well in the included instructions, then two set screws, one on each side, need to be loosened to allow the allow the sear to rotate. Then reverse the whole process. Now granted that is not something you would do very often after the initial setup, but I still consider it a design flaw requiring too complex a process compared to....well, about any other release on the market. And there are two of those little screws, like the one I just mentioned, that could very easily be lost or stripped out over time since the hex head slot is very shallow. Also, the two screws had some sort of thread locking compound on them, which leads me to believe they are susceptible to loosening on their own over time and there was no mention of this in the instructions. However, the most off putting design issue, for me anyway, is the swept back design of the head. It requires the archer to really focus on pulling with significant pressure on the thumb pin to prevent a misfire, and possible punch in the face, while drawing the bow. I much prefer releases with the head that is more straight. I suppose that is a preference but it did not work for me. Given all of that, I cannot recommend this release to anyone other than someone who has seen one and likes it, and/or is experienced tinkering with archery releases. Definitely not one for someone new to archery or wanting to try a go with a back tension release. There are many more mature products on the market that would be a much better fit for a first timer. The Sear has some unique features and with a few design upgrades, could be a real contender in the back tension release market. But for right now, I can not recommend it and am sending this one back to try my second choice.
