Bow sights actually have come a great distance since I first shot a bow. Again then, I bear in mind having pins that have been painted completely different colours. My sight extra resembled a bear entice than an precise bow sight. Lately, we’re past fortunate with entry to top-of-the-line engineered bow sights. And there are quite a lot of them to select from.
On that be aware, particularly for individuals who are new to bowhunting, I wish to take a while right here to level out some options of bow sights that I personally imagine make life a lot simpler, whether or not on the vary or within the discipline looking. These are going to span previous the purpose of run-of-the-mill professionals like being sturdy, ease of use, or having a slider sight.
Hopefully, by the tip, you’ll have some instruments to assist slender down your search in the event you’re out there for a brand new bow sight.
Looking for a brand new bow sight? Try our information to discovering the perfect sight to your explicit setup.
Bow Sight Options to Pay Consideration To
Mounting Choices
A while final yr, I ended up operating right into a scenario the place I wanted to modify from a Picatinny mount on my bow sight to a standard facet mount. This occurred as a result of I ran out of room adjusting my windage sighting in.
Due to this, I wanted to modify to a standard facet mount to achieve that additional windage. Had I not had the choice to easily swap to a normal facet mount, I’d have been screwed and wanted to purchase a brand new bow sight. I’ve additionally run right into a scenario the place I wanted the power to maneuver a sight nearer or additional away, and a dovetail mounted that.
Totally different mounting choices on the market embrace the facet mount, dovetail, and Picatinny. I’m not going to inform you which one is finest for you, and that’s the purpose. Having the ability to swap between them to cater to your setup goes a great distance, hopefully proper into the mark you’re aiming at.
Gang Adjusting Sight Housing
Whereas we’re speaking concerning the potential of operating out of room adjusting a sight throughout sight-in, I’ve gotta contact on one thing else that has saved my bacon. And that’s having the ability to gang regulate the sight housing.
Now, I’m not speaking about your easy windage and elevation changes that transfer all the housing. That is often carried out by both micro-adjusting screws or by manually sliding a sight left, proper, up, or down. I’m referring to detaching the sight housing utterly from the physique of the sight and shifting it to a unique place, reattaching and utilizing the common changes from there.
Sights with this characteristic will both have set slots or mounted screw holes to maneuver the sight into. It is a much-appreciated characteristic in my guide.
Straightforward Entry to Screws
Bow sights as of late are affected by screws that do all kinds of issues — every part from holding steel sight faucets on and 0 stops to unlocking elevation, windage, and axis changes. That is all positive, however you want to have the ability to get to those screws simply.
Some bow sights on the market make it troublesome to get to sure screws through your conventional archery software. I’ve had to make use of sure instruments supplied by the corporate, and I’ve additionally needed to take away items in an effort to make an adjustment. It is a bummer and makes the entire technique of getting dialed a lot tougher.
So, take note of the situation of the screws you’re going to want to have entry to, and know what you’ll doubtlessly need to take care of in an effort to use sure bow sights.
Micro-Regulate Is the Method
I’m a man who finds one thing that works and sticks to it. It’s my consolation zone. Within the case of adjusting bow sights, I by no means had an issue with the old-school hand changes we’d need to make. In actual fact, I prided myself on being good at this. As soon as I attempted micro-adjustment, every part modified.
Whereas I used to be prideful, hand-adjusting my sight, I’d be mendacity if I stated there weren’t instances of frustration doing so, like over-adjusting a pin in a sure route. Or unintentionally dropping your beginning place and having to re-sight in to search out it. Hair-pulling moments, of us.
These moments got here to a halt after I tried micro-adjusting for the primary time. Issues didn’t slide round on their very own. I might very minutely regulate my sight in any route. All of this resulted in getting a bow sighted in a lot faster. Time is cash, in addition to extra arrows downrange.
Changes: No Instruments Wanted
All of this discuss changes wouldn’t be proper if I didn’t contact on the software a part of this. Or, I ought to say the advantages of not utilizing one. An increasing number of bow sights as of late are switching to a toolless adjustment system. Mainly, because of this you don’t want an archery software to do one thing primary like adjusting elevation and windage.
It sounds prefer it’s not that massive of a deal, however belief me. When you expertise the second while you understand you don’t need to go seize an archery software and might regulate on the fly, you’ll get it. It’s such a handy characteristic, and I personally suppose it needs to be a normal as of late.
I do wish to level out that with these toolless sights, you’ll nonetheless want a software to regulate one thing like third axis. I’m primarily referring to creating primary windage and elevation changes. Who is aware of, although. The long run may produce a very toolless bow sight.
Ultimate Ideas
To be very blunt, high quality bow sights aren’t low-cost, they usually every differ slightly bit in design. These designs aren’t cookie-cutter from sight to sight. Due to that, I believe it’s essential to know what you’re entering into earlier than pulling the set off on a brand new sight (pun supposed). Know what you need out of a sight, and to distinction that, know what you don’t need out of 1.
We’re fortunate to have the ability to have entry to so many choices as of late and to have the ability to have as a lot of a say as we do with our tools like this. Benefit from it. I thank the looking gods that I don’t have that bear entice hooked up to my bow anymore. That bow sight of the previous is a paperweight compared to these of the present day.
FAQ’s
Q1: What to look for in a bow?
When choosing a bow, look for:
Draw weight – manageable but strong enough for your purpose
Draw length – matched to your body size for accuracy
Bow type – compound, recurve, or traditional, depending on your needs
Weight & grip comfort – affects control and stability
Let-off (compound bows) – easier to hold at full draw
Always test the bow to see how it feels before buying.
Q2: What are the sights on a bow?
Bow sights are aiming devices attached to the riser. They help archers align their shot more precisely. Common types include:
Fixed pin sights – multiple pins for different distances
Single pin sights – one adjustable pin for accuracy at varied ranges
Target sights – used in competitive archery for fine adjustments
Q3: What are the sight settings for archery?
Sight settings depend on distance and accuracy needs.
Start at a short range (10–20 yards) and adjust the sight until arrows group at the center.
Move to longer ranges, adjusting pins or sliders for each distance.
Keep notes of your settings for consistent accuracy.
Q4: How important is the level on a bow sight?
The level (bubble) on a bow sight is very important because it helps you keep the bow upright. Tilting the bow left or right without noticing can cause arrows to drift off target. Using the level ensures consistent and accurate shots.