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-   -   Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-) (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/technical/6900-matts-long-boring-sight-report.html)

Matt / PA 02-26-2002 06:15 PM

Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
This will be the first installment of “Long and Boring Accessories Report”!!!!
I figure since most of us (except for Frank<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>) are basically tapped out financially and can only realistically Report on so many bows........we’d better start evaluating some less expensive.......but still important items.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
This will give us the chance to examine everday items that we spend the rest of our hard earned money on.
If anyone has any installments of new accessories they've tried.......we'd welcome your own &quot;Long and Boring&quot; reports!
I know I like to learn a little more about an accessory before I'll drop $50......or even $10 <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


This brings us to the first item to be evaluated.........

Trophy Ridge “Flatliner Extreme” 3 Pin model.


Initial impressions:

First off the sight is pretty darn cool looking.......it’s a design the conventional pin shooter is not used to looking at, and I will outline some of the sights strong and weak points as we go along.







The sight is light weight,relatively inexpensive ($50.00), is simple to adjust, and is very bright.

The design as you can see is based on a Verticle Pin stack consisting of 3 separate adjustable pins which actually sit behind one another with the top pin being the furthest from the eye.(5 pin models are available)
There is also a built in “Torque Indicator” feature which you set basically by loosening the 2 set screws on the top and bottom of the sight housing (using allen screws) and rotate the sight housing until all pins line up perfectly. Once set, if you rotate or torque your grip while shooting the pins will not line up vertically, and you’ll start to see the sides of the pin blocks themselves......nice feature.

Positives:
The sight is SUPER simple to adjust.......After the initial torque setting adjustment and mounting to the bow, put the allen wrenches away......you won’t need them. All vertical and horizontal adjustments can be made by hand with wing nut-screws provided. (There are even wingnuts to mount the sight bracket if you like......I didn’t trust them and they were too bulky).
Fine pin adjustments are made by first releasing the right side cam underneath and sliding the pin itself to the desired height with the lever on the left.......then simply lock the right cam back into position! Say goodbye to stripped screw heads.

The aiming points are super fine on this sight, but they lack nothing in the brightness dept. There is a complete external fiber wrap around the sight housing which gathers light very nicely right up to the point where a deer is going to need a flashlight to see you! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

The field of view for a 3 pin sight is simply as good as it gets........there is hardly any target obstruction whatsoever. (On GAME or 3D......spots are a different story and we’ll get to that)
The vertical orientation compliments shooting at animals as it makes it very easy to line up just behind the front leg to the promise land.
It should serve as a pretty good 3D sight....However real &quot;Gap&quot; shooting is impossible.
The sight although fairly bulky is actually quite light......due to it’s composite sight housing and streamlined aluminum mounting bracket. (You Mathews Shooters can get one with those “Harmonic hoohas” in them :))

Negatives.....or should I say things I’d change.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>:

For such a nice design there are quite a few minor negatives that I’d change on the overall design.....this is after shooting it for a few months now.

Even in the tightest (closest to the riser) mounting position the entire sight housing sticks out pretty far from the bow...... And the furthest location is almost comical......it’s way out there.
I’m going to probably shoot a few early 3D's with it, so I split the difference mounting wise, but for brushy tight hunting applications or jerking it up and down trees, a tighter fit to the riser would be a definite benefit.

Some details of the sight are a little “Cheesy”.....the annoying yellow Trophy Ridge raised emblem (sticker) on the side.....falls off and slides around. Why bother?
The inside edges of the Horizontal and vertical adjustment bars have nice marks that allow you to “Dial” in your position.....it’s not micro adjust, but at least it gives you a frame of reference when you are tinkering.......Unfortunately these marks are a DECAL.....and the sharp edges of the dovetail itself work it over pretty badly. I haven’t moved mine much but the stickers looks like my cat was trying to kill a spider on them.
If it were mine to do, I’d have the marks ETCHED into the sunken faces of these ars instead of the cheapy stickers.

I’m shooting a low poundage, low recoil bow with this sight and if I put my ear up to the sight housing and pluck the string, I can hear a slight ‘Tuning Fork” sound.......maybe the fact that it is shaped like a tuning fork is a factor? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> That might be why they came out with the new “Harmonic Hooha” version.
As you can see in the pictures I tried to eliminate this sound with some &quot;Mini&quot; Limbsavers.....didn't work <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>, so I assume that the sound is above the frequency where Limbsavers are effective.
I left them on to help defeat any shot vibration as the sight sticks pretty far out there.

The Wing-nuts......as nice of a feature as they are, really need to be tightened down snugly, or I fear the sight will migrate side to side or up and down. (Hasn’t happened, but i take no chances)
I don’t know if it’s like this on all models or I’m just a lucky one.....but the bottom wingnut winds up when fully tightened, dead in line with the bracket making it VERY difficult to get my fingers on it. Might just be luck of the machining.

Unless you are shooting at a fixed yardage with the top pin......this is not a good spot shooting sight. When you are sighting in the bottom pins on a target face, the vertical orientation blots out the entire spot, and you have no up and down reference. It’s not impossible, but it’s definitely not this sights strong point.

Durability of the composite housing,cams,levers,and slightly exposed pins have yet to be tested.

Overall Impression:
This is a pretty nice sight, that will benefit hunters and &quot;hunter class&quot; 3D shooters alike(unless you are a &quot;Gap&quot; shooter)......it's easy to adjust , and like I said very bright. It’s light, fairly cheap, and ........well sorta sexy.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Overall I’m quite pleased so far, and it will be on my hunting bow this fall, so I trust it to that point.


Edited for picture screw up.....<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - Matt / PA on 02/26/2002 20:21:47

Greg / MO 02-26-2002 07:51 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Thanks, Matt -- and great report!!

I like your suggestion about the accessories reports, and hope others follow your lead. This opens up possibilities....

Now I may have a reason to go buy a digital cam to chip in on these reports... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Winger 02-26-2002 07:59 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Nice report, Matt .. and a very good idea. Let's see more reports on sights, stabilizers, etc.... especially sights, as I will be in the market very soon:)

Winger

Unit5A 02-26-2002 08:07 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
I've been thinking about the getting this sight and have heard the vibration comment before. I was wondering if you could tell me if the lower pins in the stack are easy to see in low light?
It seems like they added the vibe dampners to counter this (Matrix), and was wondering if they added the light stick to make the lower pins more visable in low light due to complaints. Thanks

&quot;Hunt smart, know your target and beyond&quot;

Matt / PA 02-26-2002 08:19 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
I'm hoping for more of these as well!

Unit5A,
I find every pin in the stack equally as bright.....
I'm pretty sure that they had the vibration thing in mind with the &quot;Harmonic Hoohas&quot;.....or maybe just something to attract a large portion of the market??<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

I think that the light stick idea is sort of silly.....you can see these pins (all of them) way past shooting hours, and even if the bottom pins were too dim to see, who is shooting at 40 yards in the dark anyway?<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
I think where the little light stick would be a BIG help is indoors at target faces or &quot;Techno Hunts&quot; where it takes a &quot;Black&quot; light to get fiber optics to light up.
Personally I think the &quot;Lightstick&quot; is a bit on the gimmicky side simply because by themselves the pins are bright enough to see (brighter than most) without it, and plenty enough to shoot legally at game....but then again that's just MHO.
I wouldn't personally bother spending the extra $$$ on the Matrix when this one will work just fine......but if your one of &quot;THEM&quot; and must have the matching &quot; Harmonic Hoohas&quot; or want the extra &quot;Pushing legal shooting light&quot; glow......then by all means HAVE AT IT!

It would be pretty good for a midnight 3D &quot;Coon Shoot&quot;!!:)

Edited by - Matt / PA on 02/26/2002 22:49:42

Ossage 02-26-2002 09:48 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
I kind of like their new metal Alpha sight. I haven't seen one yet, but it seems as though possibly there isn't the long fiber optic wrap with this one (does anyone know ?). In that case the new light stick might be the only way you could see the sight in sub par light. Doesn't bother me much since in December most of the deer I am after would be in regular light, but it would be an issue for most. More likely an issue that would cause folks not to buy it.

Kanga 02-26-2002 11:49 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Matt
good report
I have the 5 pin model
it has been through some harsh treatment and is still in tact
I have pulled it up and down out of a stand.
The only problem I have had with it is the wing nuts that mount it to the riser do come loose but I know that problem and keep an eye on it and make sure they are really tight before i start to shoot.
It will also be going on my next bow
I mounted mine in the very front holes closest to the sight just to bring it closer to the riser

PABowhntr 02-27-2002 07:05 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Matt,

Great report. Very well written, easy to read and the pictures made it more than interesting.

What is next...the Zero Effect rest? :)

..and who said I am not financially burdened? I had to sell a ton of stuff to get that Pro38....<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

This hobby is getting too expensive..I think I will take up bird watching....<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Jason N 02-27-2002 09:43 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Great report Matt. Thanks.

HotLZ 02-27-2002 11:17 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
I have the same sight and don't care for it; here's why:

1. The pins that hold the fiber are plastic, and I had the back(tallest) one break 3 times this last hunting season. Once was my fault, as I accidentally stuck my thumb into the sight. The other two times I don't know how it happened, but it did. I imagine the new Alpha will remedy that problem.

2. The main sight body is rather large, and if you need to lower the sight much, it is possible to have clearance problems with arrow using this sight, as the fibers stick out the bottom.

3. When I was using the wing nuts for the horizonal/vertical adj., the vertical one would eventually start loosining up on me. I really had to crank on it with a pliers to keep it from doing that. I eventually replaced it with a regular hex screw.

4. Like Matt, I don't like the increment marks for windage/elevation being decals. They get chewed up, and can kinda bind the sight a little when you adjust it. etch marks would be better, but would probably add to the cost.

On the plus side, I really liked the long fibers. It is exceptionally bright, even without using any other light source.

I also liked the adjustment of the individual pins themselves. No tools needed, and sturdy.

I'll probably be taking a close look at the new alpha when it comes out. It does not, however, have the long fibers that wrap around the sight body, so it probably won't be as bright. However, you can use it with light stick.

Rod

razorhunter 02-27-2002 05:26 PM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Frank: Birdwatching!!!??? You know, the first thing you have to buy for bird watching is a $1200 pair of Swarovskis or Leicas!!

Matt: You better watch out or somebody might sue you for the &quot;negatives&quot; in your sight report!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

akbowhunter 03-01-2002 12:17 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
matt, ive realy been concidering this site but only if i can get the pins cloce enough. how cloce can you stack the pins? will they fit with in a half inch of each other {all three pins} if so wanna sell it :) curently i have 2 pins touching each other and the top is dead nuts on 20yds and the other one is almost a foot high at 50yds i just measured them and its a hair over 1/2 inch between them, my third pin is inbetween in a different slot.
Ron

5 shot 03-01-2002 04:57 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 

Thanks Matt, I love these reports, and we need more of them.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

JeffB 03-01-2002 08:16 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Matt,

Excellent report. I've been meaning to post the past few days about it, but have been strapped for time.

I've been moderately interested in these sights since last year when they first appeared.

The dealer whom I bought my Patriot from carries them and it was the first chance I had to take a look at one in person, and I thougt about giving one a whirl.

Your review confirmed some suspicions,and clarified a few questions I had about it.

In the end you saved me some money,and for that sir, I thank you!

JeffB :)

Matt / PA 03-01-2002 09:02 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Thanks guys for the replies........just tryin' to help!:)

By the way....if you like the looks of this sight, check out HHA Sports &quot;Triple Threat&quot; on their website....
www.hhasports.com
It's pretty similar in design but doesn't use the &quot;Wing Nuts&quot; to tighten, so it might be a little better for tightening it down and getting it to stay there.........I was playing with the Flatliner again last night and it would move a mark or 2 up and left every 6-10 groups........not good!! I'll have to figure out a different way to tighten.

On another note I just bought an HHA &quot;Optimizer Lite&quot; 4600 (slider one pin sight) with a green single &quot;Up-Pin&quot;.......I mounted it last night at home and got a few arrows out. Pretty neat sight!! (Maybe a review coming??)<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

AKBowhunter, Before i forget......You can get all 3 pins as close together as you want them....You can put all 3 in a line if you wanted! Don't worry about pin gap.......there is none, they can be as tight as you need.

I might put some regular allen screws in mine to see if that stops the &quot;Migration&quot; of the sight bars......and remember, I'm shooting a bow with very low recoil?? Yuo guys with the snappier bows keep an eye on yours to see if it's moving!

All for now.......Matt

SuperX 03-01-2002 10:15 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
Anyone with the Matrix (the one with the harmonic hoohas) should watch their elevation to see if it changes. Trophy Ridge had some mis-machined horizontal bars go out and the up/down bar will not lock into it no matter what you do. Give them a call and you will have a new one in your hands ASAP at no charge. I got one of the bad parts and it would migrate up one click about every dozen shots. The new horizontal bar = no movement at all.

_________
SuperX

akbowhunter 03-02-2002 09:56 AM

RE: Matt's "Long and Boring" SIGHT Report!!! :-)
 
thanks matt, guess i should give this one a shot, or a few thousand.
Ron


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