Bow hunting has always been a popular way for people around the world to spend time – and the activity is becoming more popular every day. To keep up with people’s changing preferences and desire for perfection, bow sight manufacturers are stepping their game up every passing year to give users the best.
However, bow sights can be difficult to understand and navigate through. Thus, for both beginners and seasoned users, we have compiled a list of products to help everyone find the best bow sight that serves them the best! We hope this complete guide will help make everyone’s quest for the perfect bow sight easier!
Best Bow Sights For Hunting & Target Shooting
- Apex Gear AG2301GB 1 Dot Covert Pro Sight
- TOPOINT ARCHERY 3 Pin Bow Sight
- Trophy Ridge Volt 5 Pin Bow Sight
- Trophy Ridge Fix Series Sight
- Trophy Ridge Mist Sight
- Trophy Ridge Hotwire 3-Pin Sight
- TRUGLO Range Rover PRO 1-Pin LED Bow Sight
To kick off this guide, let us take a look at the five bow sights that we believe to be the best. We have kept in mind both features and quality while compiling the list.
Apex Gear AG2301GB 1 Dot Covert Pro Sight
Our last product boasts a feature, unlike any other. As we know, lighting and visibility are a great issue when it comes to bowhunting. But, some models of bow sights have pins that are so poorly lit that it leads to the shooter making inaccurate shots. However, this problem ends with the fifth product on our list.
This model has a pin with adjustable brightness levels to ensure you can use the bow sight and pin at any brightness you prefer. As a result, your target shooting is likely to improve exponentially. Furthermore, the pin on this product is actually an illuminated dot, giving you an obstruction-free view.
In terms of convenience, the model is lightweight and can be used by both left and right-handed shooters. Regardless of your preferred shooting hand, you can enjoy this product to its fullest.
Moreover, the bow sight does not produce any operational noise. This makes using the tool an enjoyable experience. Lastly, you do not need to recharge the component frequently as it boasts a battery life of 700 hours, making it very convenient for camping trips.
In order to save battery, the bow sight will switch off automatically after four hours without any adjustment. So if you forget to switch it off, you need not worry about draining the battery.
On top of so many great features, this bow sight is also very easy to use. The features do not complicate the user-friendliness of the product, thus making it an ideal model for almost every bow hunting enthusiast.
TOPOINT ARCHERY 3 Pin Bow Sight
Trophy Ridge Volt 5 Pin Bow Sight
Trophy Ridge Mist Sight
Trophy Ridge Hotwire 3-Pin Sight
TRUGLO Range Rover PRO 1-Pin LED Bow Sight
Features To Look For Before Buying
Now that we are done with the list of recommended products let us take a look at features that should be considered before purchasing a bow sight.
Preferred Shooting Hand
One of the main attributes that need attention is which shooting hand the bow sight is designed for, or if it is universal. Bowhunters usually prefer models that are made to match their dominant shooting side.
However, universal bow sights are also becoming more popular every day. A great advantage of this type of bow sight is that the user can easily switch sides depending on comfort, injury, or just preference.
There is so right or wrong with this feature. The user needs to closely monitor their preferences and such before making a sound decision. If you have a dominant shooting hand, getting a bow sight made for the wrong side will render it completely useless. Thus, choose carefully.
Fixed Vs Adjustable Pin
Second, only choosing the dominant side orientation, the biggest and most important decision will be to choose between fixed sight pins and adjustable sight pins.
Fixed sight pins are sighted in for a number of distances that one can expect to shoot during hunting. It is great in the sense that a shot will always be present once the target presents itself at any of these distances. Additionally, you will not be wasting time and effort in calibrating the distance manually.
However, the accuracy of fixed pins is subject to the hunter choosing the correct distance every time. This is why many users opt for moveable pins which are slid up and down with the help of a lever-like component. Here, the pin needs to be slid up or down along the marks of the yardage tape to arrive at the correct distance. It takes more time to adjust such pins. They also need to be adjusted and readjusted frequently.
Material
As for any product, the construction material is of utmost importance. Plastic bow sights are lighter, so they weigh your bow down less. This is often seen as an advantage but plastic bow sights are not durable at all.
We firmly recommend purchasing metal bow sights. They might be more expensive to purchase, but it offers way more value for money in the long run than their plastic counterparts do.
Weight
The total weight of the bow is very important in making accurate shots. It is obvious that the ideal total weight will vary depending on the hunter’s strength and comfort. However, it is a general goal to keep the total weight of the bow low.
Bow sights play a substantial part in doing so. These sights can weigh down the bow past the point of comfort, which is why it may be important to look into the weight of these components.
There are several metal bow sights that weigh very less and do not add extra weight to the bow. We recommend not opting for plastic bow sights simply for the weight as they do not last long and have short service lives.
Size of Pin(s)
The finer the pins are, the more accurate your shot is likely to be. That is not to say that all bowhunters need the finest of pins. For shooting tight groups, a fine pin or multiple fine pins are definitely key.
Single Pin vs. Multi Pin
Expert bow hunters always put emphasis on the importance of not using more pins that one really needs. It may seem like the number of pins and accuracy are directly proportional; however, that is far from being the case.
Whitetail hunters who shoot within 30 years will find that single pins are ample for their needs and requirements. And for those who wish to shoot between 30 and 40 years, three pins models are ideal. Three pins will allow great flexibility without overcrowding the sight.
More than three pins should only be used when shooting for more than 40 years.
Sight Light
Some bow sights come preconfigured with features that will allow you to install a small light to light up the light pins. This can be useful when the lighting condition is poor or at night time.
Whether or not you wish to use this feature is entirely your personal preference. However, it is worth pointing out that not all states in the USA allow for such devices to be mounting on bows. So before making your purchase, ensure that your state allows it.
Visibility
Several manufacturers include incredible features to improve visibility. Some of these features are glow in the dark sight rings, glow in the dark pins, and illuminated pins (sometimes with adjustable brightness), and so on. You will find many of these features in the bow sights recommended by us.
If not glow in the dark, some bow sights may even be lit by battery-powered bulbs. How brightly you would want the sight to be lit is mostly personal preference. Models with adjustable brightness give extra flexibility to those with eyesight issues.
Adjustment Features
Elevation and windage adjustments should be easy to carry out on the sight. These adjustment features can cone in the form of sliders knobs or lever like parts.
Bubble Level
Many bow sights these days include bubble levels. These levels help identify whether you are holding your bow straight and at the correct level.
Ease of Installation
This last feature is also extremely important in having a great bow sight. Ease of installation and compatibility determines how easily the sight can be installed onto the bow on choice – or if they are compatible at all. Not checking for compatibility will render your purchase useless!
Frequently Asked Questions
As always, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding bow sights below!
- Is it mandatory to use a bow sight with my compound bow?
No, bow sights are not a must. However, it takes an unbelievable amount of expertise to shoot by instinct and be able to hit the target. Even though bow sights are not mandatory, there is no shame in using one for the best possible result every time!
- Why do I need to readjust the sight regularly?
The bow sight and yardage need to be adjusted every time to make sure the target is being hit. This may not seem so important in practice shooting, but when it’s the real deal, inaccurate shots can leave animals injured and struggling. Thus, it is very important to adjust every time and hit the target accurately!
- What are peep sights?
Peep sights are a hole in the bowstring which lets the shooter calibrate the line of sight between the target, the pin, and the shooter’s eye/
- Are bow sights allowed in competitive archery?
Yes, absolutely! Bow sights and all other additional equipment needed for competitive archery are allowed in competitions – even the Olympics allow for such components to be used!
- In which states are rangefinder bow sights legal?
A very small proportion of the US states have legalized such bow sights. This includes Washington, Montana, South and North Dakota, Idaho, and Oregon among others.
- Is it necessary to get a bow sight installed professionally?
As a first-timer, we recommend getting it done professionally or at least by someone who understands the process. Placements, leveling, calibration, and adjustment are all very important aspects that need to be corrected from the get-go for the best results. With time, you will be able to install your own bow sights.
Final Words
Admittedly, bow sights are not simple or easy to understand the product. But we hope this guide has made it a tad bit simpler for you to find the best bow sight. With the perfect purchase, you can enjoy competitive archery, target shooting, hunting, and many other great activities!
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