Bow sight Opinions?
Equipment
I'm in the process if building a new setup for this coming season. For the past 12 years I have used the Spot Hogg 7 pin fixed. (Western game hunter) I like the quick ability to shoot out to farther distances for follow up shots, etc, but have realized the need for more precision if I have the time pre-shot to dial a slider. I have narrowed down my choices to either a Montana Black Gold or an Option Archery sight. I really like the black Gold pin brightness, but also really like the ability to open the housing on an Option sight and declutter the sight picture.
I have not recently handled an Option sight (Had one 6 or so years ago) and am wondering how bright their pins are in comparison to a Black Gold? Any thoughts?
Quick question. What speed are you getting with your hunting arrows?
I have a whole log of opinions I could put on bow site... Ohhh... You mean...
BG sure does make solidly bright pins. Not sure on Option. Following though as a new sight may be in my near future...
Well I haven't finished my build yet, but based on the few speed tests I've done at the shop, and the speed tests I've researched, I should be getting around 290-295 fps. Mathews Lift 33 with 30.5" draw @ 80lbs.
(Rebuilding my arrow setup as well and should come in around 500 grains give or take 10 grains)
30.5” DL @ 80lbs?! What I wouldn’t give!! That makes what I recommend a no-brainer IMO. I’d go with a Black Gold single-pin slider. Bright pin with zero pin clutter, and set it for 30 yards. With that speed, you’d be good to go to approximately 45yds without needing to move your pin. Hold a little low for close shots, and a little high for longer shots. Beyond that, you normally have time to range and move your pin to the exact yardage for practice and/or follow-up shots.
Since I’m not blessed with your long DL, and can no longer pull near the draw weight as I used to, I’ve used a 3-pin slider for years. I’m envious of anyone that can effectively use a single-pin slider. ;-)
I'd wait for the new Spot Hogg Boonie coming out soon. I think you'd really like a 2 pin vertical with that kind of speed, Justin. Set your pins at 20/40 or 30/50. I have a MBG dual pin I like real well, too, I used for whitetails with a 60 lbs. bow I set at 20/30. It was perfect for whiteys. Shooting a 3 pin vertical now on my new bow.
Just a WAG, but if the Option doesn’t have a means of reducing brightness, the BG is probably brighter…. ;)
I had a BG about 10 years ago and zero complaints with it….
Just a thought…. You can’t get a “quick” follow up (or a quick shot of ANY kind) if you have to make a sight adjustment, and if you’re looking at an animal which is moving at all (or likely to be) then that “precision” you’re chasing is already out the window. But that’s OK, because a “follow-up” shot means that you’ve already screwed the pooch and drawn blood, so basically any hit at all will do….
I think you guys just want too much from a sub-300 fps projectile system.
It’s very strange to me that I can shoot well within +/- 5 yards range estimation (and generally keep within half of that) at targets between 60-90 yards out while using an arrow around 180 fps and no conscious elevation reference whatsoever, while sight-pin shooters seem to feel that it’s impossible to hit anything at that kind of range without a laser reading and a sight-pin dialed down to the foot… Despite a MASSIVE velocity advantage…
Maybe you should take up Golf…. ARCHERY Golf. ;)
You’re right about one thing, Corax. It was most certainly a WAG. Comparing instinctive shooting to shooting with pins is apples to oranges. If someone gets the speed the OP gets, there is ZERO need for a pin adjustment at any reasonable shot distance. OTOH, if someone gets the speed I get, then a 3- pin slider is the best option IMO. Again, at any reasonable shot distance, there is ZERO need for sight adjustment. However, if I used a single pin slider set at 30 yds, at 45 yds I would have to settle my pin above the animal’s back. Increase the yardage and the distance above the back would be measured in feet. So much for “precision”. For those of us that actually use pins, taking a long shot without first verifying the yardage would not only be unethical, it’d be pretty damned stupid.
Look at Dialed sights. That will be my next sight when I can afford it. About $500.00. Single pin with another pin dot built in on the bottom where the bubble usually is. They place their bubble level on the top of the sight. Very nice sight.
The WAG was all about pin brightness. Duh.
If you don’t believe that you could learn to shoot accurately without lasering the distance, I guess you won’t, but there’s nothing the least bit unethical about learning how. I think compounds could be a whole lot more flexible and versatile than you guys are letting them be.
Thanks for the words of wisdom, but I’m sure we’ll somehow continue to do just fine.
Option Archery Canyon Pounder. Best of both worlds… multi pin for the very common “oh shit” moments while hunting, but also can pop the housing out for single pin shooting. I also think you’ll be above 300fps with your specs and a near 500 grain arrow.
I wish I could shoot at 30.5” and 80lbs!
I also shoot the Option Canyon Pounder. I have one of the very first ones and have had some very minor hiccups with it but really like it. I shoot 3 pin then open to 1. Dan also offers a 5 pin. But for me 3/1 is she sweet spot. It’s been a while since I shot a MBG so it would be hard for me to say about pin brightness between to 2, but I would guess the MBG is probably a hair brighter.
My second choice would not be a MBG though. Spot Hogg would be my second option. The Dialed sights look slick, and they are good at marketing, but I have been extremely underwhelmed with the ones I’ve seen/handled. Just not the quality of the option/spot Hogg/mbg. I might also look at the Axcel Landslyde if I you are open to other options.
—Jim
Jim,
That’s interesting to hear about the Dialed sights. I never by anything generally without hands on the product first just so I can see the things I like and don’t like. $500 is a lot drop on a sight without handling it first. So, because of that, I’ll probably stay with MBG or SH. I would like to know what you didn’t like about it from your experience first hand.
I really like my canyon pounder. Best of both worlds imo
Another vote for an MBG single pin slider set at 30. For me with a lifetime of shooting trad gapstinctive, it's easy. Tony Peterson suggested it, and it improved my shooting immediately
You say you like the 7 fixed pins but also like the idea of a single pin slider. So to me Canyon Pounder by Option Archery is your obvious best choice. Being able to simply flip open the front of your sight with your 4-7 fixed pins and have a single pin at 40 yds is fantastic, then you simply dial it to the distance for a precise one pin shot. I bought one 4 months ago.
I had the black gold pure 75 sight that I could dial my 60 pin to longer ranges but I disliked having the pin in the bottom of my housing and still had the 5 pin clutter. You eliminate all of that with the Option sight. It is very sturdy, smooth and precise when dialing too, much better than it was 5 or so years ago.
I would probably give the edge to the black gold sight for a bit easier to see pins, not sure why, but it’s really marginal, not worth using the black gold sight to me. You can also put sight light on it too, one for the fixed pins and another for the single pin.
You can walk around with 5+ fixed pins, for say calling elk when you don’t know if an incoming bull is going to stop at 60 yds or 20 or just flip it open and shoot one precise pin. I really don’t know why anyone would shoot any other sight? It is so damn innovative! (I only got a 10% discount as an outfitter, it still ain’t cheap though, especially in Canadian dollars.)
Another vote for an MBG single pin slider set at 30. For me with a lifetime of shooting trad gapstinctive, it's easy. Tony Peterson suggested it, and it improved my shooting immediately
Jaquomo, just curious, how far are you comfortable shooting with your pin at 30?
I do the exact same thing as Jaquomo except I set mine at 35. Shooting out to 45 yds is no problem. Just have to learn to aim a little higher. All of the animals I have ever killed have been under 30 except one and it was 35.
Yep I’ve been shooting a single pin since 2006. My current MBG is the dual track. I also set my first pin at 30yds and the second at 40yds. When I had just a single I was comfortable shooting to 45yds. The main thing is you need to practice to know your drop past 30yds which isn’t much with today’s bows imo.
The ultra view sight looks pretty sweet as well
“Thanks for the words of wisdom, but I’m sure we’ll somehow continue to do just fine.”
But not as well as Jaq, who’s doing exactly what I’m talking about…. LMAO
Warning, my opinion is contrary to modern thinking.
I like the fixed pins over the sliders. Its true, sliders can be more pinpoint accurate on the target range BUT…in the woods, I’ve had buddies spook critters and lose shot opportunities due to fiddling with their sight.
Beendare- that is the beauty of a 3 pin slider. I never touch it under 45ish yards. 20/30/40 give me good accuracy (I can’t trust myself with one pin to 35 and gap like some can). And if I’m shooting past 45 I want the most accuracy I can get (dialed to exactish yardage) and if that long a shot I should have time to range/slide/shoot an accurate shot or I won’t be shooting at long range.
Now a single pin slider is a bit deferent if you can’t “gap” out to say 35. But that is why I hedge my bet with 3 pins and slide.
—Jim
How about durability of the sight?? I don’t think the MBG is as tough as similar SH and HHA products. I like the MBG, but it stays on my 3D bow … RYZ on my hunting rig.
As for the single pin set at 30 - been doing that for years. I think I remember someone on this site calling it ‘instinctive with a crutch’ :). I can shoot out to 40 without adjusting the sight. When I decide to shoot beyond that I’ll range and adjust - if that costs me a 60 shot on a deer (that I probably shouldn’t be taking anyway) … so be it.
^still shooting with the 5 pin fixed also. Keep it simple, If I ever switched I think it would be the 3 pin slider. Be good at closer ranges without the added movement to adjust sight and you can get away with more movement if animal is farther out. I don’t like the idea of holding over/under in heat of moment personally, it would lead to a brain fart eventually….again, personally. I know some hunters that have no problem with it.
I’ve been using Black Gold Ascent Verdict sight for quite awhile. Have a couple of custom 6 pin versions. But, if the Lift I ordered ever shows I’m going to try out the B3 Archery version, don’t remember the model name. They look pretty solid.
I got the Option 8S last year and LOVE it. I HATE the idea of a movable housing. Had a MBG at one time that had that. One time forgetting to re-zero and that cured me of that idea. Just talked to a guy last week that missed the shot of a lifetime forgetting to zero the housing. The 8S now all your pins are fixed and you're moving a pin inside the housing. Even with my slow speeds roughly 40fps slower than you I can still shoot to 100. What more could you need? With the oval housing and oval peep accuracy is dynamite. I actually asked for one less pin, and went 5 pins plus rover. I just leave it where a 6th would be and have pins to 70. If I suddenly have time I can dial it to the exact yardage.
I love my SH Tommy Hogg with a double pin scope. For elk I set it at 30 and can shoot out to nearly 50 yards without touching my setup. However, I have never shot an animal that required me to use my second pin and 75% of them I have had time to range and set my pin. The vast majority of animals killed with this has been deer but I also have shot elk, antelope, hogs and turkeys with this same setup.
Anything by Spott Hogg is going to be overbuilt and last a long time. Option also makes a great sight and if I a guy wanted the "option" to have multiple pins and a single pin it is the only way to go.
Plus you get to say Canyon Pounder whenever you want even when you aren't referring to Treeman.
I shoot a 5 pin MBG but most times shoot it like a single pin mover, I’m sure I’m Not the only guy doing this but my 60 is the typical mover however with dual indicators on A black gold 1 pointing at 60yds and the other at 40yds I dial nearly every range if I can, if I have a 26 yd target I add 5-6 yds to my 40 yd I indicator and hold my 20 dead on, adding extra yds is not only limited to a single pin you just have to learn it at 35 I dial my 40 yd indicator to 45 and hold my 30 dead on I get the best option of having 5 pin mobility with single pin accuracy if that makes sense to any of you your
Mike, sorry I missed that. I'm comfortable shooting at a live animal at 40. Which was my effective range with longbows and recurves for most of my life. 40 is pretty much my limit anyway, although I have a tape and can dial. I think my longest shot since switching has been around 30, closest about 7.
That Canyon Pounder looks interesting! I’ve shot 5 pin SH for 20 years, for hunting and tournaments. A while back I bought a hogfather base and put a MRT 5 pin on it. It works for me other than it’s heavy.
For the TAC shoots I’ve used a single pin Tommy Hogg but could never commit to hunting with it. Stuff happens fast during the rut! Another thing (I’m betting you do this too) having 5 pins is good for gauging if the arrow will clear a branch between the bow and animal.
One last tip the 3 ring MRT is not a gimmick, with a 3/16 peep on a bright day I center the small inner ring but in low light you can see all 3 and center the outer ring. In the past before MRT I just used a larger peep and made it work, but it’s definitely less accurate, for me anyway.
MBG look good but I think SH has them beat for durability. Let us know what you end up with! Good Luck !
I went thru this process a couple of years ago. Always shot fixed pin prior. I always thought adjustable pins were a fad because in the "moment" you don't have time to adjust. However, I did end up with a 5 pin MBG slider. I really like it BUT I removed 2 pins so I now have a 3 pin slider, 5 just cluttered everything. Pins are set to 20, 30, 40 with 40 as the floater. For fun, I can shoot to 100 yds relatively accurately.
For whitetail hunting the sight is good to go using the pins. For western/backcountry hunting, the slider is great--very accurate once you get the sight tapes right although I haven't had to use the slider function in a hunting scenario yet--the fixed pins were fine.
Yes, you need to make sure your "0" is set but its a pretty easy habit to form. I liked SH but they are very heavy.
The UV has my interest but not enough to change for now.
Scott
Hard to believe I arrowed a wide variety of big game (over 100) with little more than a bolt with a painted end.
“Hard to believe I arrowed a wide variety of big game (over 100) with little more than a bolt with a painted end.”
Or that many have done so with no sights at all ;)
You remember the sights that had a continuous vertical “crosshair” and the adjustable horizontal pins? I always thought that one of those on a fast compound would be something else for anyone willing to put in the time to get Gapstinctive with it…. Maybe one or two horizontals for reference, but with windage completely solved, being able to float that vertical line right where you want it and leave elevation to the auto-pilot…. Dayum!
Corax-yes I do but never tried. How about the rangefinder that you sighted your bow in with & moved the settings by hand... Now that was a relic..
Ahhhhh yes.... ahunter76 posting his collage for the 10,786th time on Bowsite.... Good times....
The mbg sights see a little fragile, ive seen a few posts of them breaking, not sure which models though. Charlie just broke one on his Saskatchewan bear hunt, dropped from the tree though
