What to look for in sights
 

First of all, let me say I have really enjoyed talking on this forum. Being new to bowhunting, I have gotten alot of good tips from here & from the other forums. Thanks to everyone. My question is, what do you look for when buying sights for your bow. Do you focus on the pins, the material its made out of, the light gathering capability? I've seen where alot of you guys use spot hog & copper john. What makes them different from, say trophy ridge? What do you guys focus on when buying them for yourselves. I get confused because there are so many differnet kinds out there. Its kinda like broadheads, I would like to try them all out, but dont have the money to buy them all @ one time. I dont mind trying different ones as the years go buy, but I dont want to buy something cheaply made. Thanks for the input. O yea I forgot to ask. Is having the "level" on your sights a must. I mean will it increase your accuracy enough to where buying sights with one on it is necassary?

RE: What to look for in sights
 

Most important to me is the construction of the site and the materials that it's made of. It must be light, solidly constructed out of metal. The pins should be bright and also well protected so that they are not destroyed easily when walking to your stand if it should catch a branch. The site should be easy to adjust but at the same time solid in the fact the pins will not move unless it is being adjusted.

There are many good sites on the market. You can easily spent $100.00 on a site as I'm sure you know. My personal preference lies with a Vital Bow Gear Trapper. They make a few other sites as well and shouldn't be overlooked when in the market.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

Excellent reasons for choosing your sites,exactly what i.m looking for as well.Thats why I chose my Copper John.I am also thinking on purchasing the Cobra Sidewinder LX this year,I was pretty impressed with this site.

The main purpose of the bubble level on your site is to help prevent you from torquing your bow.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

My needs are much like adams'. I will add the following preferences for myself. The sight has to have wrapped fiber optics for brightness during fading light. It cannot used a light with batteries. Batteries can and will burn out while on stand. Most of the batteries cost about $3 each and most sights use about 3 of them. I also MUST have a sight that is microadjustable for windage as my playing and tinkering never cease. Of course it goes on a different bow every year or sometimes two or three a year. I have come to like single-pin adjustable sights for their versatility. They can be adjusted for varying distances when practicing or shooting target and 3D, then just locked down to a specific yardage (25 yards) for hunting. Having only one pin also has the advantage of cleaing out the clutter (too many pins) making for a cleaner sight picture. Also at the moment of truth, as we call it, there is no possibility of picking the wrong pin, so when you miss you can't lie your way out of it. Oh, and I do think itwas mentioned that I prefer all-metal.

Good sights cost more. Let's face it. It takes more time and effort to machine a piece of aluminum than it does to mold a piece of plastic. But it will last much longer and most times give a lot less problems over the years. You'll notice as time goes on that bows do not make much noise these days, but cheap accessories will rattle.

And of course, you have to work within your own budget.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

ditto!

RE: What to look for in sights
 

I have some different needs from other people. I don't care about pins. I have never had problems seeing my pins, I have trouble seeing the target. I hate the trophy ridge pin design, I have never know anyone to really shot it and like it. Sight has to be strong because some idiot I know likes to drop bows... from trees. :eek:It also has to be at least 4 inchs from the bow and adjustable. As for the level, most shooters that I have talked to get there bow level before the draw and don't worry about it after that. I don't like the cooper john (I hate to say it but I have no reason for why I don't like it however I don't) Always had good luck with extreme, I have a viper that is a cheaper version of the extreme(It's ok however, when I bought it the green pins were different lengths then the red[:@]) Other than that it has been a good sight. Vital Bow gear gave me a sight for 20 bucks to try and promote there sights, the darn thing wouldn't go high enough.[:@] I don't know if they have fixed this problem that was the beg. of last season. Find something you like.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

Hi I'm Doug from Wisconsin!

Now you know somebody that actually shot a Trophy Ridge and LOVED it!;)

RE: What to look for in sights
 

BOW why do you like it over standard pin designs? You shoot the 3rd pin down and you can only see 2 sides of whay you are shooting. It's a first for me ever one I know was 1 and out.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

ewolf

How can you say that I dropped my bow froma tree? You don't even know me!!!!!!!LOL

That's why I have no time for plastic sights. Or sights with plastic on them if I can be more precise.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

look for one that says copper john

RE: What to look for in sights
 

One of the things I do is hold the sight so that I don't dampen any vibration and tap it with something listening for vibrations. If it makes noise you won't be happy with it.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

What I look for is #1 durability. If I drop my bow I don't want to have to worry about it being off, its got to be tough. Pins is up to you. I personally dont feel a need to have more than 3 possibly 4 in the mountain flats. I don't fell a level helps during the hunt, I wouldnt look at it, I practice enough to know my shot. I don't need any micro adjustment either, does't mean a thing to me while on the hunt, however they are nice for target accuracy. Fiber optics are nice, so look for good light gathering pins. I briefly looked at drop aways but the more moving parts, the more things can, and will go wrong. I hunt mountains so if something goes wrong I have a LONG way to go for unexpected repairs.
good luck, sorry for the long reply,
standingbear

RE: What to look for in sights
 

With either style of sight you choose to use your pin covers as much of the target based on the size of your pin. The TR's use standard size pins like everyone else. As for only seeing "2 sides" as you put it , it's no different than your sight , you only see "2 sides" as well. Your pin blocks some of the horizontal view and mine blocks some of the verticle view. Considering all my hunting is for animals that are horizontal to the ground it makes perfect sense that a verticle pin alignment gives a bigger target view.
That is why I prefer verticle pin alignment.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

Saved, I would look for a well constructed, all metal sight. If you like fiber optics, make sure the pin is metal with the fiber that extends along the pin and passes through the hole on the end tip. Plastic pins will not last. They will strip or break with the vibration of shooting. You really don't need a sight with all the set screws and moving parts for hunting. This is just one more thing to loosen up. Should you want to shoot competition a fully adjustable sight is a necessity. A quality sight like HHA or Sure Loc Lethal Weapon are quality well made sights that won't break the bank. I have found that the larger fiber optic pins glow so brightly they actually will blur the target when the animal is in the shade and you have direct sunlight on the optics. Check out the micro or thin pin fiber pins. They give off just enough light to sight without being too brilliant. Check out www.lancasterarcherysupply.com

RE: What to look for in sights
 

check out the new toxonic line and copper john is coming out with a smaller pin housing and easier adjusting upgrades in april.tried the cobra sidewinder xl and it was really a bright sight but way to noisy due to the loose wrap on the fiber optic and cover,a few people i know complained about that but if you dont mind the noise its a good sight.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

Get out of left field. I was talking about myself. :eek:

BOW when I shot my 3rd pin I can see 1. Above it 2. Below it 3. To the left of it.
When you shot your 3rd pin You see 1. To the left 2. To the right

RE: What to look for in sights
 

I persnally like the Toxinics line of sights. I currently use the Marksman w/ harmonic dampning. Ilike its durability and the ease of adjustments w/ no tools to carry around to lossen scews.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

ewolf, I know you were referring to yourself, but I had to inject a touch of humor. AND,, I've done it, too. That's why there ain't no plastic what so ever on my sights.

RE: What to look for in sights
 

All machined aluminum... yessir. A level is important... one that you don't have to hunt to see. I've been shooting Copper John for the last 3 years and am pleased with their product. Some others to look at would include Extreme Sniper, Spott-hogg, and the Viper archery line. Very nice indeed.