I prefere the horizontal pin sights myself. Actually I prefere a movable scope sight like the Sightmaster or something like that, but not for hunting. It's too easy to shoot at the wrong setting in the field. I will admit that I have never used one of the verticle pin sights, but I look at them every time I go to Cabela's and am just not impressed to be honest. I think you have a better view with the horizontal pins myself. And I like to practice at odd yardages like 50 yards and I only have a 40 yard pin. You can use your 40 yard and 30 yard pin to estimate where to shoot at 50. I think this would be hard with the verticle pin sights. Plus they would cover up the centerline of the target, making it harder to shoot between pins, I don't like that.

As far as the shape goes, it doesn't matter to me. I don't sight that way, even if I use a peep. I currently use a no peep any way though. I don't even notice the housing of the sight when I shoot. I also shoot with both eyes open.

Paul