One of the oldest release brands in the archery industry, Hot Shot Manufacturing was one of the release companies to catch during the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, during its peak the company was bought and sold several times and the brand spiraled off the map. According to current Hot Shot owner Dave White, the brand was basically shut down when he acquired it.
“What I started with was a brand and a little bit of technology,” White recalled. “Honestly, the brand was in shambles and I had to nurse it back to life. In 2007, I had a number of talented engineers working for me and we felt we could start over from scratch. The releases we manufacture today showcase nothing from the original Hot Shot line.”
White and his team certainly did nurse the company back to life. Today, this 100-percent American made brand is steaming ahead like a freight train. Its latest release marvel, the Nano, is proving ideal for index-finger fanatics who demand zero creep and crave shot-to-shot consistency.
More good news has been the addition of the Red Eye peep sight and Kiss of Death kisser button, acquired recently from EP Hunting.
“This is a key move to expand the product offerings of Hot Shot,” said White. “We are excited to carry on the legacy of the Red Eye and the Kiss of Death while growing the Hot Shot brand and product profile.”
White is also excited about his company’s manufacturing capabilities.
“We are using Mori Seiki CNC-Machines, which are the highest quality CNC-machines in the industry,” White said. “The Nano is quiet, crisp, and very reliable. In fact, we have fired it in excess of 40,000 cycles with no signs of wear. We use 7000 grade aluminum on most of the components, and the release boasts some impressive design features. The shape of the Cat’s Eye hook forces the D-loop to be in the exact same spot every shot. There is no risk of any torque or variation in how the D-loop leaves the release. The Lever-Link trigger is fully adjustable in tension from 1⁄8 ounce to 6 pounds. It also comes with a leather wrist-strap. It’s our baby, and we are very proud of it.”
White went on to say that Hot Shot doesn’t produce 25 different types of releases or variations of the same model. He pointed out that Hot Shot is a specialty manufacturer designing high-quality releases at a great value. Looking at it from a retailer’s standpoint, White had this to say:
“Retailers don’t have to line their shelves with loads of different Hot Shot models, and I see this as a definite advantage for them. It’s also an advantage to the consumer. They can pick one release to serve all their needs. What we want to help consumers understand is that it doesn’t matter how good your bow is if you don’t have a good release.”
Hot Shot is also growing in popularity with the tournament crowd, and this is something White is very excited about.
“We have redesigned our back-tension releases for 2013, and the tournament crowd is really taking notice. Our X-Tacy line features our exclusive Titanium-Diamond Nitride coating and hardening process, which means stronger parts with 60 percent less friction than 440-Stainless Steel.”
For more info: (800) 551-3076; www.hotshotmanufacturing.com.
