Types of Archery Bow Sights
A bow sight is a small device that is attached to the riser of a bow to help you to aim an arrow. It works in much the same way as the bead on the end of a rifle and simply provides you with a field of reference so you can line up your shot. Without a bow sight you can still shoot an arrow but doing so accurately is very difficult.
There is a range of different types of bow sights available that cater for different shooter’s preferences. Here is a brief description of some of the more popular types.
A fixed-pin sight is the bow sight that is used by most shooters. It usually contains either 3 to 5 individual pins that can be set to indicate known distances. You use the top pin for the closest distance and the bottom distance for longer distances, setting them into position where they remain fixed. The distances are usually set at 10 yard increments and allow you to use whatever pin you have set for the distance you are shooting at.
A moveable-pin sight works a little differently in that it usually only has a single pin which may be adjusted prior to each shot. This type of sight has a set of levers and gears that allow the pin to move smoothly up or down as required. What this requires is an ability to accurately gauge the distance of the shot and quickly adjust your sight to compensate, something that is okay for target shooting but not so good for hunting.
A pendulum sight is a sight that is used for shooters who are using a treestand because it allows the hunter to compensate for elevation on downhill shots. There are a number of difficulties encountered when attempting to aim down from an elevated height with the usual result taking the shot high. A pendulum sight allows the pin to swing when the bow is tipped forward compensating for the downward angle of the shot.
There are many different brands of bow sights available with a couple of popular ones including Copper John bow sights and Trophy Ridge bow sights.