Choosing a Bow Sight with a purpose
“The hunter without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.” - Me
What kind of bow sight do you use? It’s a question I have been asked a few times in my life and can be somewhat misleading. I’ll usually reply with, “Well, what do you want it to do?”. Are you a hunter? Where do you plan on hunting? Are you hunting out West? There is a lot to consider when choosing a bow sight and your bow sight should have a purpose that is aligned with your intentions.
Background
Bow sights are housings consisting of solid metal pins or pins with flexible fiberglass mounted on the bows’ riser so that the archer can aim their shot. Similar to the sights used in firearms, bow sights are designed to help hunters gain more control of where they aim their arrow. While firearms have had sights for a long time now, the idea of sights on a bow hasn’t been around that long. The modern bow sight first came about back in the 1950s like the K-C-S Bowsight.
These types of sights were very basic. The early sights used primarily a single pin setup used to gauge multiple distances. Since the modern-day compound bow hadn’t yet been invented,these sights were mainly used with traditional archery bows and then later were used on compound bows. After the compound bow was invented in 1966, newer and better sights came along. Sights now came in a variety of styles and designs. With many different options, there are two main styles: fixed-pin sights and adjustable pin(s)
Fixed pin sights are probably the widest use among bow hunters in one form or another. They are the simplest to set up, and when used properly, are very accurate. It is a simple design of multicolored pins locked into place in combinations ranging from 1-pin up to 7-pins.
Adjustable pin(s) sights differ from fixed pins in that typically your pins move. Adjustable sights housings come in a range from 1-pin up to 5-pins. Adjustable’s are exactly what they sound like, allowing the user to adjust the pin(s) for distance on any given shot. The distance is typically marked on a slider scale or dial wheel on the sight that can be “adjusted” to desired shot distance.
According to a recent poll we took,
75% of people who responded prefer Muli-pin Adjustable sights
Purpose
Everything you have for hunting in terms of gear should have a purpose… including your bow sight.
Most backcountry and DIY public land hunters will tell you that having equipment that can serve “multipurpose” is paramount for success. For example, imagine having to carry out a cup, a bowl, a pan, a plate, and a cooking pot all separately. That would take up a lot of room in your pack. Luckily there are systems where all of those items can be packed up into each other to save space. The same goes for multi-tools. Its a knife, pliers, screwdriver, file….ect. Multipurpose items can mean having 4 items compared to 20. I know when I’m out hunting, I like using my gear hanger for multiple purposes.
Fixed pins sights allow for a number of pins to be added which gives you the availability of setting several distances, but the more pins you have the more they are likely to be a hindrance than a benefit; typically you can get away with 3 or 4 pins. Setting one pin for 20 or 25 yards and then increasing by 10 yards for the remaining pins. Depending on how you set your pins you’ll have to learn how to compensate for all those gap shots. If you are using a 20 and a 30-yard pin and your game is 25 yards out, you’ll have to practice shooting in between the two pins. Fixed pins make sense for hunters not shooting past 40+ yards. But what if you plan on taking those long-distance shots?
Adjustable pin sights are the all-around workhorse. If you're using a single-pin adjustable and your target is at 35 yards, adjust the pin to 35 yards and you’re good to go! Most sights like this are usually good from 20 yards all the way out to 100 yards! (or wherever you feel comfortable shooting).
The drawback to this kind of sight is that in order to make a clean shot, you need to adjust your pin accordingly. This can cause problems if your game is constantly moving. Having to adjust your sight allows for your prey to spot your movements and it is not the most ideal thing to do when you are already at full draw.
Perhaps for someone from the midwest who hunts primarily in the thicker hardwoods looking for a basic bow sight that can do most things, then go with a fixed pin. There will be less hassle, fewer bells and whistles, and much more concrete. For the hunter looking for a more flexible option with the ability to shoot short distances and long distances, then go with an adjustable. More and more midwestern whitetail hunters are embracing the adjustable sight for not only the ability to have longer shots but to also have their setup compatible with hunting out west for Elk and Pronghorn.
In the end, it ultimately always comes down to shooter preference. I can scream until I’m blue in the face about what you should do, but if you like a certain sight over the other, then go with what feels right to you. You have options, and if you don’t like the sight you have after a season of using it, change to a different one! Like I was taught early on, “How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never had it?”. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but have a purpose in mind.
Sighting In-Your bow
After considering the different options available and determining the purpose of your bow sight, now its time to sight it in.
Adjustable sights will have different sighting methods and is usually manufacturer specific, so make sure to visit the companies website for instructions. But for fixed pin sights, here is a quick little explanation of the sighting in process.
Before you can even begin to sight-in there are a few things to consider:
Be sure the peep sight and sight are mounted on the bow correctly
Be sure your bow is correctly set up and tuned
After you have ensured the previous are completed, start with the windage adjustments (the left/right) because much of the adjustment can be done without shooting the bow. Hold your bow straight out in front, and examine the bowstring from cam to cam. The pins should be lined up with the string or close to it. This gives you a good starting point, and you will probably be close to having the windage correct.
Next, head to a shooting range (or a clear area in you backyard) and using a large target, stand at 10 yards and shoot a few arrows with your top pin and see how the arrow is hitting, left or right. I prefer shooting three-arrow groups. Three arrows will give you a clear average. The arrows will create a triangle to pinpoint the center of your shots. After finding the center, you can make your adjustments accordingly.
Once you have the windage set where you want, now its time for elevation adjustments (up/down). Still at 10 yards. If the arrows are hitting within a couple of inches of your aim point, move back to 20 yards and start the process again, making the adjustments to the top pin so it is hitting dead on at 20 When adjusting the sight pins, remember the adage: chase the arrow. That means if you are hitting high, move the pin higher; if you are hitting left, move the pin left.
Depending on how many pins you have, repeat the elevation process for each additional pin walking out their determined distance.
After you’ve sighted in your pins, now its time to have some fun! Practicing at different distances, angles, and shooting positions to help you get ready for the real thing!