Bow Sights; Selecting the right sight for you

In the world of archery supplies few accessories offer as many choices as that of bow sights. Bow sights come in so many different colors, makes, models, and sizes that it can confuse even some of the best archers. The intention of this article is to help clarify some of the truths and myths of bow sights.  We will review the differences between traditional target sights, hunting sights, pin size selections and accessories you may want to look for on a bow sight.

Target Sights

Target sights are traditionally the sights used for both target and 3-D shooting. These sights generally feature smaller pin size and will be on a dovetail. They come in models of 5,6, or even 7 pins. The smaller pins enable the archer to see more of his or her target allowing them to really zero in on a small area in which they want to shoot at. Pin sizes are now going smaller than ever with some manufacturers introducing pin sizes of .010” and even .009”. The most traditional size though still remains the .019” pin. The dovetail is another feature often misunderstood when purchasing a sight. The dovetail’s primary purpose is to get the sight further away from the riser of the bow. This allows for greater accuracy as well.  Dovetail lengths can vary, but we would suggest that approx. 4-5” as an acceptable length to most archers. Some other features to consider when purchasing a target sight would be is the sight adaptable to a lens. What this means is will the sight easily accept a powered lens, much like a rifle scope, to enhance accuracy. Also you will want to check on availability of a sun shade for the sight you are considering. All to often on bright sunny days the fiber optic pins tend to “burst” or “star” making it very easy to miss your mark. Several manufacturers like Spot-Hogg, Extreme Archery, Cobra, Copper John, Viper Archery, and Toxonics are known for making high quality sights.  Below are a few examples of quality target sights.

Hunting Sights

Hunting sights have gone through extensive changes over recent years. Some hunter’s still prefer the pendulum sight or the adjustable single pin sight, but these sights have far less options then the traditional fixed pin sight. Gone are the days of a fixed pin sight that has one or even three pins. Today’s bow hunter wants a sight that feature at a minimum 3 pins, but most tend to go above that into 4 and 5 pin models. With the evolution of the modern compound bow and faster speeds this was an inevitable change. With most new compounds shooting at speeds of 300+fps a lot of hunters find themselves wanting more pins enabling them to shoot farther. Your typical 4-pin set up will feature a 20 yard pin (for shots up to 20 yds), 30 yard pin, 40 yard pin, and a 50 yard pin. The most recent trend that we have noticed is the pin size has gone smaller. As recent as 2 years ago 70%+ of the hunting sights sold were that of the .029” pin size. Now we are seeing a huge change over to the .019” pin size. The smaller pin size, much like that of the target sight, allows the hunter to focus more on a precise spot in which they want to shoot. The .019” pin also give a bow hunter a huge advantage over the .029” on the longer shots of 40 yards or more. The smaller pin does not cover nearly as much of the vital area allowing for cleaner shots. Fiber optic length is yet another feature to keep in mind when purchasing a new sight. The more fiber optic a sight has the more light the pins will gather, producing better pin visibility in low light conditions. Pendulum sights are another style of hunting sight that has gone through some changes in recent years. They now are offered by several manufacturers in fixed/locked position and adjustable. This enables the archer to lock it down for single pin or ground use and also to unlock it for tree stand use. The single pin sight has lost a little of its support with this change in the pendulum sight. In addition to the previously mentioned manufacturers, you may also want to look into the Tru Glo, Impact Archery, Montana Black Gold, G5, Vital Bow Gear and Trophy Ridge’s line up of excellent hunting sights. Below are a few samples of quality hunting sights.

Accessories to look for

Manufacturers of sights, both hunting and target, have become very competitive in offering more than just a sight. Several sights on the market today offer some sort of noise dampening system to help in reducing noise heard during shooting. This helps tremendously in bow hunting already skittish game. Many of the sight manufacturers now also produce their sights to be fitted with a light. After market lights are now a thing of the past with the new sights that allow you to simply screw the light into the side, top or bottom of your sight. These lights are designed to keep the light pointing on the pins and away from any approaching game. You will need to check your local and or state game laws to be sure that a lighted sight is legal. Finally, camo options for sights have never been so abundant. Almost every camo pattern made today is also available on a bow sight. There are also several manufacturers who produce their own camo that is designed to closely match several of the leading camo finishes.

Summary

In closing, with all of the choices available in the sights remember that there is a sight out there for you. Keep in mind that when you are looking for a sight, options are abundant. Do your homework and you will be happy with your decision. We hope that we here at Real Deal Outdoors helped explain some of the features and trends to help you make an informed decision when choosing the sight for you.

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