Archery Releases ad Nauseum: Carter Whisper 2 & Whisper 2 Small

Deep dive into Carter's newest product for 2023. I will post the timecodes in a pinned comment as soon as possible.
website: www.artandarchery.com
etsy shop: ajbholsters.etsy.com
Timecodes:
00:00: Intro
00:22: Carter Marches by its Own Drummer (skip if you don't want to listen to me rag on Carter)
01:16: Taste the Rainbow
03:14: I start talking about the Whisper now.
05:33: One Screw
06:05: What's in a name?
08:24: Finger Attachment
09:15: 2, 3 and 4????
10:00: Rules of Attraction
11:40: Adjusting Trigger Tension: The Magnet Shuffle
12:42: The Hook
14:25: Travel Adjustment?
16:00: The Trigger is Very Crisp
16:25: Ergonomics
17:22: Fit and Finish (and ergos, cont'd)
18:16: Competition
19:30: Conclusion

[@C.Adams82]

As an archer/bowman that wall in the background puts a smile on my face.

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@C.Adams82 thank you very much. I call that my "Wall of Impending Bankruptcy" 😂.

[@acohen5267]

I sincerely appreciate the thoroughness of your review as well your editing/camera work. Very well done and hit every aspect one could ask for. You clearly like Carter as evidenced by the many on your wall but are by far the most unbiased archery reviewer I have ever seen. Glad I found your channel.

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you very much for watching and for the kind words. Carter is a solid brand and their reputation is well-deserved. Thank you for checking out my channel. Many more videos and reviews are on the way. 👍

[@briank4533]

Holy releases!! That was a very good review. Extremely knowledgeable about releases and thorough with your reviews. You’re like the neurosurgeon of releases.

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you found my analysis useful. As it turns out, there's a lot to be examined when it comes to the different ways companies figure out how to fit a trigger system (whether it be hinge, trigger, or resistance activated) into something that also has to fit into the human hand. Cheers 🍻

[@kristins1985]

Love your reviews ❤ Funny thing, I have a Carter Ez and super glued a little peace of rubber at the point where the hook slams against the body. That made the release super quiet 🤗

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you for watching. That's a good idea. There's a dent forming in the case of my EZs in the same location, so that hook has some energy behind it when it lets go.

[@kristins1985]

@@ajbholsters2035 oh yes, I read about this issue in a review on the Lancaster website. That was another reason to do the mod 🙂 BTW, I used a piece from a flex fletch vane. 😄

[@C.Adams82]

This channel should have more subs. Great content. I noticed when you gripped this it looked like there could be a possibility of interference with the middle finger on the string. With that head design looks like a tight fit. If that makes sense.

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@C.Adams82 hello and thanks for watching. The clearance between my middle finger and the hook is right when I'm holding it loosely, but when you get to full draw and your fingers are under tension and fully seated into the finger beds, they don't touch. I have small fingers, though, so somebody with thicker fingers might have more of an issue.

[@ez7977]

Spend more and get one of the premium releases like the Onex? The way i see it we are getting the absolute best release made and designed by the best in the business. The Carters are the base that all other releases have been modeled off of and literally stay one step ahead of the competition in terms of innovation.

[@ajbholsters2035]

The nice thing about compound archery is there is literally something for everyone. I don't know if I can agree that Carter is staying ahead of their competition. I think they have a niche they occupy from which they are unlikely to be supplanted, and they used to have a lower-enough price tag from the competition to make the purchasing decision easier. Now the gap is narrower. As for innovations, most of what they're doing is small incremental changes to existing platforms, but they are also comfortable in their position to let their line stay on the market for a few years before they put out something new or make changes to an existing model. Like I said in the video, Carter works on their own schedule, and it seems to work for them.

[@lukethomas9879]

You can call Carter and order directly and select the color you want if they have it in stock. S&S archery also allows you to select their available color options.

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you. That's good to know. I hope the random color batches is something they try to get away from, or they just pick a color for each model and stick with it (they do that already with the less prolific models).

[@lukethomas9879]

Agreed!

[@matevans2122]

Did u know u can flip the whisper 2 over replace the black "kicker" with a thumb post, (silverback post) and attach the kicker to where the thumb barrel was and now u have a great little ring finger release... Similar to what the Carter convertible or ember tried to do. Been shooting it a couple weeks now and luv it. Just be careful when drawing back to have your ring finger and pinky out. I could send a pic if you'd like to see 😊

[@ajbholsters2035]

Hadn't thought of it, but that's definitely doable. The trigger on the Whisper would need to be heavier like the Convertible (which I have) for me to be comfortable settling in my ring finger on it, but if it works for you, then I'm glad to hear it 👍.

[@drewolm]

Wow! That is an impressive collection back there! I found this video doing a search on this release. Have you found the hook on the small, hitting your finger, interfering with the release firing? I’m looking for a open hook to replace the Nock2it I have and my hands are probably normal size, if there is a normal. What I really want is a Carter Sensation and I can not find one new or used anywhere. Any chance you have one you would part with? Thanks

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you for watching. When my fingers settle into the finger beds, there is enough clearance that the hook isn't hitting my knuckles when I come to full draw and anchor. It's just when I'm holding the release and doing something else (like nocking an arrow) that the hook pokes my knuckles. As for the Carter Sensation, unfortunately all my releases have to start put so I can test the holsters I make for them. I think I saw one in the classifieds on Archerytalk last night when I was scrolling through it. Between that and the Whisper 2, though, I'd go with the Whisper. It has a better trigger.

[@drewolm]

@@ajbholsters2035 10-4, appreciate it. I did a search on AT, I hit the classifieds at list twice a day. Total junkie. Anyways, I ordered a Whisper 2 small. Did a search on the ol internet machine and found them at Buds Gun Shop for $211.00. Had to do it at that price.

[@stormchildkennelsjasontrac6749]

How's it going? Looking to get my first thumb release. Interested in the onnex or the whisper 2. Coming from the hbc flex. I tried it as a 3 finger, tried the 4 finger, went back to 3 finger. Eventually settled on shooting it as a 2 finger. Just makes everything easier and repetitive for me. Wondering what your recommendation would be?

[@ajbholsters2035]

Hello and thank you for checking out my content. Between those two, the OnneX and Whisper, I think I would go with the OnneX, as I've found the OnneX pairs up to the HBC Flex very well. So your anchor may feel the same between the two releases. The OnneX has a greater range of adjustability in terms of trigger travel, tension and configuration (2, 3 and 4 finger, sweep adjustable, and a multi-axis thumb barrel). The Aluminum OnneX isn't significantly more expensive than the Whisper 2 to boot. The Whisper feels good in the hand, but I don't think it's in the same category as the OnneX.

[@stormchildkennelsjasontrac6749]

@ajbholsters2035 appreciate the response. I've had an opportunity to check out the onnex, though never fired it. Feels nice in the hand. The whisper 2 caught my eye because of the short neck. I'm at 28" dl, so giving some up is not an option. Thanks again and keep up the cool content

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@stormchildkennelsjasontrac6749 my pleasure and please feel free to reach out if any time. If you can get your hands in the Whisper, you might find you like it better, but you shouldn't be giving up any draw length with the OnneX given you are set up for the HBC (they're very close to the same hook height if they're not the same). There's literally something for everyone when it comes to handheld release aids.

[@rolldysharpshooter6593]

Thank you so much for the review. I am regretting selling my short neck stan thumb med. Whisper 2 sounds like the closest I'll get now but that 3rd finger piece is eww

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found my video useful. The Whisper 2 isn't pretty, but it's surprisingly comfortable despite looking like a child's drawing of a thumb release. Form fitting function, I suppose.

[@stormchildkennelsjasontrac6749]

Does the whisper 2 small come with the extend-o-bar? Thanks

[@ajbholsters2035]

Thank you for watching. Yes, both sizes come with the Adjusto Trigger Bar extension and Adjusto Thumb Barrel.

[@stormchildkennelsjasontrac6749]

@@ajbholsters2035 thanks. There's some guys that say it doesn't come with the small

[@andresgonzalez6166]

What size is comparable to the wise choice

[@ajbholsters2035]

The Regular sized Whisper would compare to the Wise Choice in finger bed size.

[@mgrundy]

@@ajbholsters2035 is the height/length of the jaw position the same for the whisper 2 and wise choice? just curious if draw length will be affected.

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@mgrundy I'll have to check when I get home, but I think the Wise Choice's neck is longer. I don't have the Whisper 2's in the sizing guide yet, but the originals are on my website, if you have a printer and wanted to see them in real life.

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@mgrundy hello again. The hook on the Whisper 2 sits about 1/8" lower and 1/8" further out over your middle finger than the jaw on the Wise Choice. So the difference between them isn't as significant as I thought it was.

[@mgrundy]

Awesome thanks. Great reviews btw

[@ryanrosser8520]

This might be a good stalking release if only it had a lanyard.

[@ajbholsters2035]

Agreed. The Whisper 2 is a nice release but its feature set is working against it. They put a lanyard hole on the Revelation, which is a 3-Finger Whisper with a swept handle (presumably to make up for not having one on the Whisper), so I suppose their learning their lesson.

[@ryanrosser8520]

@ajbholsters2035 Thank you for the review and reply. You certainly have quite the assortment of releases. I'm just working on my 3rd. I may modify the whisper because I really like the open hook for stalking. I passed on three deer this year just because my release wasn't ready. I lost it once hooked on my D-loop and I'll never walk around like that again.

[@ajbholsters2035]

@@ryanrosser8520 my pleasure. If you decide to drill a hole for a lanyard, you may want to consider doing it through that outboard finger extension. Some of them already have holes in them, so it's safe to drill them. If you can help it, try not to build too much of a release collection. The key to accuracy is not to change equipment too often, and focus on mastering your tools through practice and repetition. When it's necessary for me to focus on accuracy, I use one release and leave the rest home. Good luck with your Whisper. I hope you can get it sorted and fit for purpose 👍

[@ryanrosser8520]

@ajbholsters2035 Thank you for the advice. I just ordered the whisper! I've got a CNC mill. So worst case scenario, I make a whole new housing. Seems like most releases are Carter designs anyway.