For veterans and newbies alike, aiming accurately every time is always a new challenge. Aiming without any archery accessories is quite a skill to master, but most professionals prefer to use helping tools, just in case.
Bow sighting tools can increase the possibility of hitting the bull’s eye to a greater level. That’s why hobbyists do like to have a bow sight on their bow to master the skills of archery and for this it is found in entry level compound bow package. But is it always the case? Does a bow sight always the solution? If not, then when do bow sights work best?
Well, the answer is simple but explanatory. Let’s dig in and find out!
What Is A Bow Sight?
A bow sight is a simple accessory that works for aiming. Just like there’s a rifle sight, a bow sight is also there for archery. It’s generally a circular tool that has a number of pins on it for you to make an aim. There’s also lens-versions that pretty much resembles a gun sight. Overall, the bow sight is there to make sure you enhance your eyesight toward the target and hit it accurately.
Types of Bow Sight
Although you can find lens sights for archery, the most common and popular bow sight type is the pin sight.
A pin sight is generally a circular attachment that has some pins on it. The number of pins is either 1, 3, 5, or even 7. These pin numbers signify the distance you can cover through the sight. For example, with Pin 1, you can cover a distance of 10 yards; with Pin 4, you can hit at a distance of 30 yards.
So you need to measure the distance by a good bow hunting rangefinder you are trying to hit. Then choose the pin accordingly. Apart from that, the fix-pins have two variants – single pin and multi-pin.
Single pin sight is easy to adjust on the go, even if you are running after prey. On the other hand, adjusting the pins in a multi-pin sight is quite a hectic task. So, it’s always preferable to use a single pin.
How Bow Sights Work
Well, before you plan to use an accessory, it’s better to understand how it works. Bow sight applies the Parallax concept in its operation. It is a circular device that is placed right at the middle part of the outer area of the bow. Then there are the pins on it that you need to look through.
All you need to do is just look through the pin and the lens toward the target. It will make the entire target area appear closer to you than usual and allow you to hit the bull’s eye.
How To Use A Compound Bow Sight
Using a bow sight needs a bit of practice. You should consider practicing with a bow sight at a practice zone before actually using it for the real purpose. Place the bow sight on your compound bow in the middle.
Now, if you are using a single pin sight, then adjust it to the distance you want to travel. On the other hand, if you’re using a multi-pin one, say a standard 3-pin one, then select the pin ranges accordingly. The lower pin will cover the longest range, while the top one will cover the least distance.
Now simply look through the pins towards your target. Close one eye to have a perfect look. This is how you use a sight perfectly.
How To Aim A Recurve Bow Without Sights
Although it makes it a lot easier to hit the target with a bow sight attached, some professionals are choosing a more traditional method of aiming good recurve bow without a sight. It needs a lot of skills to master the technique, but there are some ways you can do it.
Gap Shooting: In this way, you will aim the arrow point towards the target a bit lower than the bullseye if you are shooting at a short distance. In the case of long-distance, the arrow will be a bit higher than the bullseye.
String Walking: In string walking, you point the arrow towards the bullseye, but you will move your hands for the draw upward and downward, depending on the distance.
Face Walking: In this case, the draw hand doesn’t move; instead, the anchor point will be moving upward and downward.
Instinctive Aiming: This is the oldest method of aiming. You aim at a target, adjust your body accordingly, stabilize the bow by target bow stabilizer and then move the arrow a bit to shoot. You basically use your instinct to hit the target. This one may take tons of practice to master.
When To Opt For Using A Bow Sight
It’s not everybody’s task to use a bow sight for targeting. Even if you want to use one, you have to know – do you need a bow sight? There are certain processes to follow before you choose to use a bow sight. Before you use one, make sure you have ticked the following.
- You have got used to the bow itself
- You have a good grasp of measuring distance
- You are making continuous mistakes in targeting at a long distance
- You are hunting in hilly areas
When Do Bow Sights Work Best?
So, below are some situations when the bow sights work the best.
1.When targets are not on level ground
This is one of the most accurate situations when the bow sight works the best. You get to line up the accurate sight pin for your target. To make sure you are getting the best output, try to keep the arrow as close as possible to the level.
2.When you can judge the distance accurately
Using the bow sight has a lot to do with judging the distance perfectly. The pins that are used in a bow sight need to be set and adjusted according to the distance you are planning to cover. If you can’t measure the distance appropriately, there’s no point in using a bow sight, as it won’t give you the best result.
3.When you need to be sure of your position
Obviously, bow sight allows you to make sure if you are holding the bow correctly or not. If you look through the sight, you will immediately understand if you are placing the bow at a perfect angle with the target or not.
4.When you need to improve accuracy
As we know, bow sights are there to improve the accuracy of your target-hitting. So, if you have been missing the target quite a lot of times and your instinctive aiming isn’t working either, having a bow sight on the bow can help.
5.If the bow sight is compatible with your bow
Not all the bow sights suit all the bows. In that case, consider yourself lucky if you have got a bow sight that suits perfectly with your bow. So, in such a situation, a bow sight may work perfectly as it will sync with your bow.
6.When you are shooting long distance
As we all know, bow sights work best when you are using the tools for hitting a target at a long distance. So, if you are going for a target at a long distance, a bow sight will definitely work best.
When Bow Sight Doesn’t Work Best?
It’s equally important to know when not to use a bow sight, as well. Keep the following situations in mind when you need to avoid using a bow sight.
- If you are shooting at a short distance
- If you are shooting on a well-leveled ground
- When you are targeting fast-moving preys
- When you have the expertise of sight-less hunting
Factors To Choose The Best Bow Sight
Part of a successful hitting is using a good bow sight. So how to find the best bow sight? Here’s how.
- Go for the best brand possible. Brands always live up to the mark when it comes to quality.
- Always choose the one that allows you to hit the target at longer distances.
- Make sure that the sight is made from durable and strong material.
- Choose the single-pin option over multi-pin as it is more user-friendly and easy to adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How To Set Bow Sights?
Ans. Setting a bow sight is pretty easy. It is usually set on the middle of the bow with a few attachment tools.
Q2. How Do Pendulum Bow Sights Work?
Ans. Pendulum bow sights work on a self-adjusting method. It adjusts the single pendulum with the help of gravity. Thus, you can pull up the bow in a vertical position, and with a bit of adjustment that is automatically done, the contact point range will increase.
Q3. How To Sight In A Compound Bow With 3 Pin Sights?
Ans. On a 3-pin sight, you have the lower pin for the longest distance, the middle pin for a standard distance, and the upper one for a shorter distance. So, according to the distance you need to cover, you have to adjust these pins to get the accurate range in a compound bow.
Final Words
It’s not at all surprising that learning how the top archery sights work is more important than finding the answer to the question – when do bow sights work best. If you understand the mechanism of a bow sight and how it actually helps an archer hit the target, it’s quite easy to figure out when to use it and when not to.
In this piece, we tried to give an overview of bow sights and when it performs the best. Try following the tips to get the best result for your next shot!
