Are you looking for your first bow sight for your bow? Or are you looking to upgrade your bow with a new, more impressive sight? There are lots of factors that go into bow sights, and it can be easy to feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the details when you’re trying to choose the best one for your bow.
What type of sight you’ll want will vary with the type of bow you shoot, what types of archery you’re into and your individual style of shooting. This page will give you all the important tips you’ll need to be able to pick out the very best sight for you.
So let’s get started:
Single Pin vs. Multi Pin Sights
The first thing to consider is whether you’ll want to go with a single pin adjustable sight or a fixed pin multi pin sight. They both have their own unique advantages or the other, as they will excel at different types of archery and with different uses.
Single pin sights have one aiming pin, which can be adjusted or “dialed in” to a given range or distance. So for example: If you want to aim at a target 30 yards away, you simply adjust the dial for the given yardage and you’re ready to shoot. You’ll have to re-adjust for any subsequent range with each shot.
Multi pinned sights have fixed pins that aren’t normally able to be adjusted at all while you’re out in the field. You’ll have to sight in your bow sight over several sessions at a practice range, before you ever use the sight.
It is worth mentioning that there are a few multi pinned sights that can be adjusted while you’re in the field, but these tend to be pretty expensive currently. Expect to pay a lot more if you’re looking to pick up one of these types of sights.
Multi pin sights have several aiming pins, each of which is set up for a different distance. As an example: You may have a multi pin sight set up for ranges of 20, 30 and 40 yards, respectively.
Most hunters tend to use multi pin sights as you can quickly and easily readjust for different ranges if the target moves nearer to or further away from you. So if a deer is at 20 yards distance from you, you aim with the 20 yard pin – then the deer suddenly sprints to 40 yards away. All you need to do is adjust your aim over to the 40 yard pin.
This allows you to quickly adjust for different ranges while the bow is still drawn. That can also help you with hunting, as the deer could very well notice you if you have to move to let your draw back in, adjust the sight and then draw the bow back again.
That being said, many archers do still hunt with a single pin sight – some even prefer them over multi pin sights as they have a much more clear sight picture due to the single pin.
If you do decide to go with a multi pin sight, you have lots of options as there are many 3 pin, 5 pin and 7 pin sights available on the market today.
As I mentioned above, the different types of archery you practice will often times dictate what type of sight that you”l want to go with.
Single Pin Sights
Single pin sights are great for both target archery and field archery alike. In fact, they’re actually the preferred sights for both. Single pin sights are also great for 3D archery as well. I find that both single pin and (fewer pinned) multi pin sights can both be fun for shooting 3D archery, but there’s really no need for more than 3 pins at once for 3D archery.
Multi Pin Sights
If you’re mainly interested in hunting, you probably want to at least have a look at a few multi pin sights. They’re pretty much designed specifically for hunting and there are far more affordable multi pin sights on the market now then there were several years ago.
If you’re thinking of shooting a mix of both hunting and 3D archery, a multi pin sight may be the way to go. Keep in mind that you can buy multi pin sights with 7 or more pins, and more isn’t always better.
On the contrary, more pins means that your sight picture gets more and more cluttered. Many an archer have yelled a profanity in the woods, when they shot at the wrong pin and missed a deer due to a cluttered sight picture.
Don’t write of single pin sights altogether for hunting. If you know someone who will let you borrow one, it may be worth taking one on a hunt or two, to see if you like it better than a multi pin sight or not.
For Beginner Archers
If you’re somewhat of a newbie when it comes to archery, I would highly recommend that you start with either a single pin sight or a 3 pinned multi pin sight, depending on whichever seems right for the types of archery that you’re planning on shooting.
Long story short: Target and field archers should start with a single pin sight. Hunters should opt for a multi pin sight, while 3D archers can use whichever one appeals to them most.
Pin Sizes
The aiming pins of multi pin sights range in size as well. Pin sizes are measured in ten thousandths of an inch, the most common being .029, .019 and .010, respectively.
Smaller pins tend to be more accurate, they’ll help you put the arrow exactly where you want and they’ll keep your sight picture far less cluttered. They also obscure far less of the target that you’re aiming at, make them far superior for long distance shots.
Larger pins will collect more light and are all around better for low light conditions. Larger pins will also clutter your sight picture more. There’s always a give and take when it comes to which type to use – as they even have their own advantages and disadvantages.
There is a way to balance this out a bit, and possibly get the best of both worlds:
You can go with larger diameter fibers for your shorter range, first few pins, while using smaller fibers for your longer range pins.
Go with fibers of up to .050 inches for your larger pins and stick with .010 as the smallest for your smaller, long range pins.
You shouldn’t take these numbers as exactly what you need to do. It’s not a huge deal though, as many archers will find themselves comfortable with different setups. This is just meant to be a starting point, to help you find your perfect setup.
Many archers just stick with shooting .019 pins, which are generally the go to pin size for a lot of archers these days.
If you can, check out some different sights with different pin sizes at your local archery shop, if you have one nearby. If you aren’t near one, see if any of your friends (or fellow 3D club shooters) will let you try out theirs.
Fiber Optics
Many sights have fiber optics manufactured into the sight. These are great for low light situations, as they make the aiming pins light up so that they’re clearly visible.
As a general rule, the more fiber a sight has, the more light in the sight. Hunters will normally use fiber optics in early morning or when shooting after dusk. Only hunters really need to be concerned with fiber optics, as most other styles of archery aren’t generally shot in low light conditions.
Sight Lights
Another feature of some sights that primarily benefits hunters, sight lights are battery powered lights that shine down into the sight, allowing you to see the aiming pins in the dark. They can be useful to hunters that are hunting either at dusk or dawn, but they’re not allowed to be used in many places.
In fact, many states have passed laws that do not allow hunters to use electronic devices of any kind attached to your bow. Sight lights are considered electronic, so those laws apply to sight lights.
Also, many states do not allow hunters to hunt before sunrise or after sunset. Check you local laws before you hunt to be sure that you’re following all of the local rules.
Bubble Levels
Many modern sights now include a bubble level, a small plastic vile filled with colored alcohol used to help you level your shots. Similar to the level hardware tool, the bubble with show you if you’re tilting your shot to much to the right or the left.
They’re normally filled with either alcohol or other colored liquids that won’t freeze, so that they are still usable in winter weather conditions.
These are really only ever needed by compound archers, to keep them from shooting off to one side or the other.
Recurve shooters won’t need to rely on bubble levels as much as compound archers, as many recurve archers tend to shoot their bow with a minimal tilt, while still being on target.
Gang Adjustments
Some sight have a feature which will allow you to adjust all of your aiming pins at the same time. Instead of having to shoot at different yardages for each individual aiming pin, one at a time – you can adjust them all from one spot.
Most archers won’t find that they need this feature, unless you find that you’re constantly needing to adjust you sight for both windage as well as elevation. If you do decide to get a sight that has gang adjustments, make sure that it’s one that lets you adjust the aiming pins without needing a special wrench to do so.
Gang adjustments may help some archers to prevent some side to side misses, but they’re not necessary for most people. If you’re new to archery, don’t worry about whether or not your sight has this feature or not.
Some General Tips
A sight bar is the bar that holds the sight and attaches it to the bow. When you’re looking at different bow sights, a couple things that you’ll want to keep in mind are both the size and the quality of the sight bar.
While larger sight bars tend to be a bit more accurate, smaller or shorter sight bars make it easier to get around in the woods without getting caught up in tree branches and brush.
Also, how sturdy is the sight bar? Sights with lesser quality sight bars are usually cheaper, but you’re pretty much just sacrificing sturdy construction for a lower price. A nice sturdy metal sight bar will both perform better and last longer than a cheap plastic one.
Micro-adjustment
There are a few of the more expensive bow sights that are capable of micro-adjustment in the field. This feature offers archers a way to adjust the pins in your sight anywhere, without the need for any special tools.
While it’s great to be able to adjust your sight picture whenever and wherever you are, this feature is only available for a considerable increase in the price of the sight. It’s up to you if it’s worth it or not to pay quite a bit extra for this luxury.
Most of these sights just have a locking screw that locks in the positions of your pins. Loosening this lets you move the positions of the aiming pins and also change the windage (left and right) on the sight.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a cool feature to have on any bow sight, but is it worth it for all the extra money? In my opinion, it’s not.
If you take the time to properly sight in your bow, you shouldn’t need to do this while you’re out in the field. Especially if you’re new to archery, you shouldn’t need to worry about whether or not your sight has this feature or not for now. You can always upgrade your sight later on, if you decide that you simply can’t live without micro-adjustment.
I hope this guide has helped you to know exactly what to look for when you’re trying to decide on your new bow sight. I’ve shown you some things to look for, and some to avoid – so keep these in mind when you’re pricing bow sights. Good luck in your shopping, and have fun shooting!