Bow Sights - Types of Archery Sights for Improved Accuracy

Accuracy is very important in archery. Whether you are in for a serious sport competition or into bow hunting as a hobby, your success depends on making accurate shots. And this is where bow sights come in. The main purpose of bow sights is to aid aim and help in the accuracy of your shot. The type of sights to employ is totally dependent on the intended purpose. The types include fixed pin, pendulum, movable pin and archery target sights.

1. Fixed pin archery sight. Probably the most commonly employed sight, the fixed pin utilizes three to five pins fixated at a specific distance. The first thing you have to do is set and adjust the pin towards the target from a preferred or specified distance. Then you have to tighten the pins together and it is ready for use.

The fixed pin is usually used for bowhunting, field and 3D archery and has normally 20, 30 and even 40 yard/metre distances set. The downside of using these archery sights is that you will have to adjust for the target itself when your pins are not originally meant or set for the distance, such as 36 yards, etc.

2. Pendulum bow sights. As the name itself implies, the pendulum sight has swinging pins which are meant to compensate for a target at a downhill angle. Designed for hunting from a tree stand, this pendulum type of sight requires some kind of adjustment in terms of height for greater accuracy. In some instances when you have to use the pendulum for a target at level ground, the pins have to be tightened and locked to stop the swinging.

3. Movable pin. Equipped with only one pin that moves up and down, the movable pin bow sights require adjustment on the pin to compensate the exact distance from the target. In this case, you will have to estimate the exact distance of the target. This type of sight may not be practical for all bowhunting purposes. In reality, no target will stand still and wait for the fatal shot. So, it requires a lot of adjustments that is each and every time the target moves which is a great inconvenience during a hunting expedition.

4. Target bow sights. Target sights are probably provide the most accuracy among the type of sights available in the market today. So it follows that this sight is commonly used in competitions. The engineering in this type is based on the movable pin coupled with a system of wind and elevation adjustment techniques.

Before settling into a specific sight type, there are some things that you need to consider. First and foremost, you have to consider where you will be using it. You may not need to spend on an expensive sight if you are only planning for a bow hunt now and then. However, if you are competing all the time in field archery, 3D, target archery or are a serious bowhunter, then a more solid bow sight should be considered.

If you do pick the right archery sights for your shooting style, you are definitely in for a big win whether you are bow hunting, for pure fun of the sport or into some serious target competition.