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Archery Gear Accessories

Best Archery Sights for Hunting in 2024: Review & Buyer’s Guide

First there is the debate in the archery community on whether to use an archery sight or not. Once you make your mind to use one, then there is the dilemma of whether to get a single pin or a multi-pin sight, or a fixed-pin or an adjustable one, and many such factors.

To make things a little easier for you, we reviewed today’s best archery sights for beginners and seasoned toxophilites with their pros, cons, and performances in different conditions. See which one ticks all the boxes for you to help take your skill to the next level.

5 Best Archery Sights for Hunting

1 Topoint Archery 3 Pin Bow Sight

Topoint Archery 3 Pin Bow Sight

Topoint Archery sight is a durable piece of equipment that will never affect the balance of your bow. Made of aluminum, it’ lighter than steel sights. The center-to-center distance between the mounting screws is 1.35 inches. This configuration makes it compatible with most archery bows on the current market.

The installation process is a breeze and you just need a set of Allen wrenches to get the job done. Once installed, you just need to calibrate the pins using the windage and elevation marks. The base of each pin is sturdy, made of brass. The optical-fiber tip is just 0.029 inches in diameter so you can better aim at small targets.

With this archery sight you can set three different shooting centers for different yardages or types of arrow. To start the calibration process and determine the drift, you just need to shoot some arrows from a certain distance. Then move one of the pins so the tip matches with the impact point of your arrows.

The pin tips are available in two different colors – red and green. The tips have reflective properties and shine in low light conditions. So, using this bow sight is still effective when dusk begins.

This device is suitable for both right-and left-handed users. The windage and elevation marks have no numbers. That way, each user can assign the right number to each mark at convenience. So, there’s a lower risk of confusion.

Specifications

  • Number of pins: 3
  • Pin tip material: optical fiber
  • Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
  • Pin tip diameter: 0.029 inches
  • Pin tip colors: red, green
  • Suitable for right-handed and left-handed users

Pros

  • Sturdy design
  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight
  • Durable and resistant
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to setup

Cons

  • Instructions not included
  • The mounting screws are too long for some curved arches

Our Verdict

This is by far the best 3 pin bow sight for hunting on this list for good reason. First of all, it’s incredibly accurate if you calibrate it properly. Second, it’s lightweight and doesn’t affect the balance of your bow. Best of all, it’s compatible with most bows you can currently find on the market. Apart from that, it’s 6061-T6 aluminum build makes it even more durable than its peers. The aesthetic design and ergonomic shape makes it more desirable. You can definitely get this without a second thought.

2 Trophy Ridge Volt 5 Pin Bow Sight

Trophy Ridge Volt 5 Pin Bow Sight

This bow sight is incredibly lightweight and resistant to high impacts. The whole structure is made of Ballistix Copolymer, which keeps the bow light and doesn’t affect the balance. With eight different mounting holes, this device allows for a greater number of mounting configurations.

Trophy Ridge Volt 5 has five illuminated pins made of optical fiber. Each pin is 0.019 inches in diameter, improving light transmission and guaranteeing optimal visibility in low light. With the help of a small Allen wrench, you can change the position of each pin. The windage and elevation controls move smoothly, allowing for a more precise adjustment.

This sight has a reflective green ring around the pins that improves visibility and eases the aiming process. The bubble level in the lower side of the ring helps you correct the position of your bow to guarantee more precise shots.

This device is also suitable for right handed and left handed users. There is an advanced vibration reduction system. That way the natural movement of your hand doesn’t affect your aim. This unit is 25% lighter than regular aluminum archery sights. That means less weight in your bow and more control.

This device also features a rheostat light. This component lets you control the brightness of each pin at convenience. This feature may be incredibly useful on the hunting ground where the smallest light can alert game animals. By decreasing the brightness of the pins, you have a better chance of going unnoticed.

Specifications

  • Number of pins: 5
  • Pin tip material: optical fiber
  • Material: Ballistix Copolymer
  • Pin tip diameter: 0.019 inches
  • Pin tip colors: red, green
  • Suitable for right handed and left handed users

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easy to install
  • Reversible
  • Durable and resistant
  • Modern design
  • Extremely accurate

Cons

  • It consumes too much battery power
  • Less resistant than aluminum sights

Our Verdict

If most aluminum sights add to much weight to your bow, this is definitely the archery sight you need. It’s incredibly light and keeps the balance unaffected. The pins are brighter than normal, giving you a better vision in low light conditions. In conclusion, the best 5 pin bow sight for night hunting.

3 Trophy Ridge Fix Series Sight

Trophy Ridge Fix Series Sight

This is a more advanced version of the Trophy Ridge Volt 5 Pin Bow Sight with seven illuminated pins. That way, you can shoot with extreme precision from seven different yardages. The pins are 0.019 inches in diameter, made of optical fiber.

The brightness of each pin can be easily adjusted with the rheostat light. That way, you can increase brightness when daylight begins to fade. Best of all, you won’t need an Allen wrench to calibrate this bow sight. It has a pair of turret dials that let you easily adjust windage and elevation with your bare hands.

It also comes with a pin adjustment tool that’s much easier to use than a regular Allen wrench. After using the tool, you can screw it to the body of your bow sight so you never miss it. This sight is compatible with most archery bows on the current market. It can also be installed in four different positions.

If the windage and elevation controls aren’t enough for you, this tool gives you more. It has a second axis adjustment system that lets you make quicker but less precise adjustments. This feature can be quite handy when you have too little time for adjusting, aiming and shooting. For example, when chasing a game animal.

Unfortunately, this is not suitable for left handed users. However, it’s by far the best 7 pin bow sight for right handed people.

Specifications

  • Number of pins: 7
  • Pin tip material: optical fiber
  • Material: Ballistix Copolymer
  • Pin tip diameter: 0.019 inches
  • Pin tip colors: red, green
  • Suitable for right handed users

Pros

  • Durable and resistant
  • Easy to use
  • Doesn’t require Allen wrenches
  • Easy to install
  • Quick calibration process
  • Modern design

Cons

  • Non reversible
  • More fragile than aluminum sights

Our Verdict

This archery sight is versatile, durable and easy to setup. With this device, you don’t need to always carry a small set of Allen wrenches in your pocket. The adjustment tool is screwed to your device. In fact, it gives you more adjustment controls than most bow sights on the market.

4 TRUGLO Range-Rover PRO LED Bow Sight

TRUGLO Range-Rover PRO LED Bow Sight

This archery sight is perfect for those who like to keep things simple. It has no pins or adjustment screws. Only a big circle with a small illuminated dot in the center. It’s perfect for making quick shots from long distances. This makes for one of the best bow sights for hunting and archery competitions.

You can adjust the brightness of the illuminated point for better aiming in low light conditions. The ring around the big circle glows in the dark for improved visibility. In case you need extra magnification, you can add an extra lens for this purpose. However, the magnification lens isn’t included with the product.

This archery sight has a sturdy design and it’s made of CNC-machined aluminum. This material is incredibly resistant to high impacts and extreme temperatures. However, it’s still lightweight enough to not affect the balance of your bow.

This sight comes with a set of stickers that work as calibration marks for different yardages. To learn how to use these stickers, you just need to read the instructions included with the product. You can also find many video tutorials online explaining the whole process.

Specifications

  • Material: CNC-machined aluminum
  • Aperture diameter: 1.8 inches
  • Zero-in adjustment dial
  • Compatible with Range Rover accessory lens kit

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Doesn’t require Allen wrenches
  • Easy to install
  • Lightweight
  • Extremely accurate
  • Modern design

Cons

  • Too bulky
  • The mounting screws are too fragile

Our Verdict

If bow sights with pins are too complicated for you, you certainly need to try this bow accessory. This 1-dot sight is super easy to calibrate. No special tools are required, just your bare hands. Best of all, you can add additional accessories to this device to make it more functional.

5 HHA Optimizer Sight 5519 1 Pin .019 RH

HHA Optimizer Sight 5519 1 Pin .019 RH

The best HHA sight for hunting, it uses a single pin as aiming point. The windage dial is bigger so you can make quick adjustments with extreme precision. Its whole body is made of CNC-machined aluminum. So, it’s durable and extremely lightweight. It only adds 0.8 lbs to you bow, so you’ll barely note the weight difference.

The illuminated ring around the pin improves visibility in low light conditions. The base of the pin is sturdy enough to resist direct impacts without bending or breaking. So, you can be sure the pin will be safe if your bow accidentally hits the ground.

This device also has a mechanical rheostat that lets you vary the pin brightness levels at convenience with a quick wrist twist. The yardage tape and installation instructions are also included.

Specifications

  • Number of pins: 1
  • Pin tip material: optical fiber
  • Pin tip diameter: 0.019 inches
  • Material: CNC-machined aluminum
  • Pin tip color: green

Pros

  • Sturdy design
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to install
  • Durable and resistant
  • Compact
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not compatible with many bow models
  • The yardage stickers have an extremely limited range

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for the best single pin compound bow sight on the current market, this is your only choice. The pin is sturdy and doesn’t deform easily. It delivers an incredibly bright light that you can notice even in direct sunlight exposure.

Do You Really Need an Archery Sight?

Do You Really Need an Archery Sight

Archery sights can help you improve your shooting accuracy and reduce your error chances. Some archery sights have magnification lenses to give a clearer and closer looks of distant targets. That way, you don’t have to try too much to get a perfect shot.

So, it’s more than obvious that all archers, newbies and experts, need archery sights to improve their performance. Below, you’ll find list with some other benefits these devices can give you:

  • Prevent tired eyed and double vision
  • Improve you vision in low light
  • Improve your self confidence
  • Don’t require too much maintenance
  • They’re easy to repair
  • Don’t affect the balance of your bow

Best Bow Sights 2023 – Buying Guide

Best Archery Sights Buying Guide

1. Number of pins

Before buying a new archery sight, you need to decide first how many pins you’re going to use. Choosing too many pins isn’t always the best decision, especially when your shooting yardage is quite limited. For example, if you’re hunting in the dense forest, the obstacles in your way will considerably reduce your shooting range.

In this case, 1-3 pins are enough. On the other hand, if you’re hunting in an open area, like a dessert for example, your shooting range will be much longer. In that case, you’re free to choose as many pins as you wish.

For archery competitions, it’s better to keep things simple. In this case, using a single pin is enough because the yardage is always the same during the whole competition.

Choosing an archery sight with too many pins also increases the risk of confusion. When hunting, the adrenaline rush and euphoria of the moment may cause you to temporary forget the yardage of each pin. As a result, you aim with the wrong pin and you miss the shot.

In conclusion, better choose a single-pin sight if you’re a forgetful person.

2. Material

Archery sights should be resistant to high impacts, abrasion, extreme temperatures and humidity. Most commons materials in this case are plastic and aluminum.

Plastic archery sights are so lightweight and their cheap price makes them a good choice for the budget-conscious archers. However, they aren’t the best resisting high temperatures and abrasion. Additionally, plastic sights are prone to worn threads when screws aren’t correctly installed.

On the other hand, aluminum sights are more resistant to high impacts, rust and extreme temperatures. However, they’re more expensive than their plastic counterparts while they also add weight to your bow.

3. Illumination

Your pins need to be bright enough so you don’t end up with tired eyes and double vision after aiming at a target. Modern archery sights use different illumination systems to guarantee optimal vision in different light conditions. Here’s a list with the most common ones:

  • LED lights

LED lights provide a decent amount of light and consume little battery power. They come in the form of a miniature flashlight attached to the tip of the pin. LED light heads considerably increase the diameter of the pins, making them less effective for aiming at small and distant targets.

  • Optical fiber

Optical fiber can gather light from an external source and conduct it to the tip of the pin. During the day, this material can use sunlight to illuminate the pins. At night, the group of LED lights is used as illumination source.

  • Tritium

Tritium is a radioactive material commonly added to paints to make them glow in the dark. However, tritium needs to be exposed to natural light during long periods of time so its effect lasts for longer

In this case is better to choose a sight that combines tritium paint with optical fiber. That way, the luminescent effect is more durable.

4. Additional features

Above all, bow sights should be easy to calibrate. Usually, these devices have small lock screws that let you set the correct windage and elevation. You just need a small set of Allen wrenches to make the necessary adjustments.

However, depending on Allen wrenches for every adjustment is not practical. If you forget to bring your keys on your hunting trip, you’re done. So that never happens to you, it’s better to choose archery sights with built-in adjustment controls. Some devices use small turret dials to let you vary windage and elevation without tools. These are the best by far.

A bubble level is another handy feature on any archery sight. These devices help keep your bow vertically aligned for more precise shots. If you’re a newbie archer, a bubble level will make you a more accurate shooter. However, with experience and practice, the use of bubble levels is no longer necessary.

A peep sight can improve your shooting accuracy even more. These devices open a small hole on the bowstring where you can look through. Peeps are available in a wide variety of sizes and each configuration provides a different result.

For example, small peep sights are extremely accurate but totally useless in low light conditions. On the other hand, big peep sights are much easier to use but they increase the error range. You actually need to try different sizes of peer sights and find out which one works best for you.

It’s Time to Wrap Up

As you can see, finding the best archery sight for you isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need to consider some important things before making the right decision. For example, the number of pins, materials, illumination system and accessories. Also, make sure the sight isn’t too heavy or too bulky so it doesn’t affect your shooting accuracy.

Considering the characteristics of the hunting ground is also important. If obstacles are many, your shooting range will be reduced. So, choosing too many pins would be absurd. In most cases, keeping things simple will give you better results.

FAQs

1. What is the best way to find the center shot on a compound bow?

Ans. To find the center shot on a compound bow, follow these steps:

  • First of all, cut two sections of an arrow.
  • Get a pair of Allen wrenches that fit the limb bolts of your compound bow.
  • Slide the arrow sections over the Allen wrenches.
  • Put the Allen wrenches into the bolts.
  • Extend a rubber band between the Allen wrenches.
  • Place an arrow between the two sides of the band. Then nock the arrow on your bowstring.
  • Loosen the adjustment bolt on the bow rest and move it right or left until both sides of the band line up with the arrow.
  • Finally, tighten the adjustment bolt.

2. How far is it possible to back the weight off of a compound bow?

Ans. Not more than eight turns of the weight-control limb bolts from the maximum weight position.

3. Will the sight retain its calibration after multiple shots? How often should I recalibrate?

Ans. Yes. If the adjustment screws are tight and properly installed, the sight will retain its calibration after multiple shots. However, it’s recommended to recalibrate when you start missing shots too frequently.

4. How do I adjust for different yardages?

Ans. First of all, stand at a known yardage from your target. Then, make several shots. Use the windage and elevation controls to move the tip of the pin as nearest as possible to the impact point. Repeat the process changing the yardage and the pins.

5. What is the difference between the .019-inch and .010-inch optical fiber?

Ans. .019-inch optical fiber is thicker and has 3.6 times the cross-sectional area of 0.10-inch optical fiber. It also transfers a greater amount of light than its counterpart.

6. Why do I need to adjust my bow sight?

Ans. Bow sights require calibration to remain accurate. If the sight loses its calibration, the arrows you shoot won’t impact the target.

7. Do I have to recalibrate a single pin sight at every yardage?

Ans. No. Some fast bows can shoot an arrow at a fairly flat trajectory, so the drift is almost zero between 10-35 yards. In that case, it wouldn’t be necessary to recalibrate the sight at that specific yardage range.

About the author

Catherine Weeks

Cathy believes that hunting is not about downing an animal; rather, it’s about enjoying the purity of this challenge and making a connection with nature.

She loves country music, horses, shooting, and hunting; and spends her weekends in the great outdoors with her husband and two kids.

Though Cathy has hunted most of her life, it was not until her partner gave her a bow that she realized she had finally found her passion.

She is always determined to share her missed opportunities, dedication, emotions, and small details that people often forget to mention when they talk about their hunting experiences.

Cathy also works to promote wildlife preservation and protect natural resources. She thinks “patience” is the most important thing that can make a big difference.

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