Unleash Your Archery Skills: Mastering The Site Compound Bow

The top pin in a compound bow is typically set at 20 yards, which also serves as a pin for 10-25 yard distances. The first step in setting up your compound bow is to ensure that the middle or anchor pin is vertically centred in the middle of the sight body. This gives you maximum room for adjustment when sighting in your top (close-range) and bottom (long-distance) pins. The next step is to set up your target, ensuring there is enough space to shoot at least 30 yards with nothing obstructing your firing path. Once you've made these initial adjustments, you can start shooting and making micro-adjustments to your top pin.

How to sight in a compound bow

To sight in a compound bow, there are several steps to follow. Firstly, ensure your bow is tuned, with the rest and nocking point aligned, so arrows leave the bow straight. Then, level your sight, ensuring it is straight and not at an angle, which will impact the accuracy of the pins.

Next, you should set up your target, ensuring there is plenty of space to shoot, and nothing in the way of the arrow's path. It is also recommended to have a backdrop behind the target, like a hay bale, to prevent any mishaps.

Now, check your equipment. Ensure your sight and arrow rest are secure, and check your arrows for any cracks or fractures.

It is important to have a consistent stance and anchor points. You should stand straight, with your feet perpendicular to your body, and hold the bow in the same way each time. Bring the bowstring back to the same point on your face every time (your anchor point).

Now, start with your top pin. You can adjust the bow sight by moving the entire sight body, or by adjusting each pin individually. Start by moving the sight body. Set up your target at 10 yards, and shoot three arrows at the bullseye, aiming with the topmost pin. Shoot until you get a group of three arrows within a 3-5cm area, and then adjust your sight. If your arrows are shooting high, lift the sight higher. If they are shooting to the right, adjust the sight to the right.

Once you are consistently hitting the bullseye at 10 yards, move back to 20 yards, and repeat the process, this time only moving the pin, not the whole scope. Repeat this process for each pin, moving back in 10-yard increments.

For a single-pin sight, you will need to adjust the scope housing up and down for different distances. You will need a sight tape, which is a yardage guide fixed to the sight body. Start with a blank tape, and a 10-yard distance, and adjust the pin until the arrow hits behind it. Repeat this process at 20, 40, and 60 yards, marking each position, and then transfer these marks to a pre-printed sight tape.

Finally, practice!

The importance of setting up the target

Setting up the target is crucial for a successful archery session. Here are some key considerations for target setup:

Safety First:

Archery is an extremely safe sport, but it's important to take some basic precautions. Set up your target in a clear area with no obstacles or people in the firing path. Make sure there is a safe backstop behind the target to stop any arrows that miss, such as a hay bale or a mound of dirt. Always be aware of your surroundings and what's behind the target. For indoor archery, ensure that arrow safety curtains are hung behind the targets, and that all doors are closed with warning signs posted. Establish a shooting line and a waiting line for archers to wait their turn, maintaining a safe distance from the target.

Target Type:

The type of target you choose depends on your archery style and needs. Common types include paper targets, bag targets, block targets, and 3D targets. Paper targets are simple and affordable, but may not be as durable. Bag targets are portable and lightweight, but may not be suitable for beginners as arrows can be difficult to penetrate. Block targets are made of high-density foam and are weather-resistant, but they can be expensive and challenging to remove arrows from. 3D targets are life-size animal shapes, providing a realistic hunting scenario, but they are also prone to wear and tear.

Target Distance:

The distance of the target depends on your skill level, the type of bow, and the purpose of your practice. For Olympic-style target archery, the standard competition distances are 70 metres for recurve bows and 50 metres for compound bows. However, for beginners, it's advisable to start with shorter distances, such as 10 or 20 yards, to get a feel for the bow and improve accuracy.

Target Size:

When starting out, it's best to use a larger target to ensure you hit the intended area and don't damage your arrows. The traditional bullseye target has circular rings that get smaller towards the centre, with the innermost ring being the bullseye. As you progress, you can opt for smaller targets to challenge your precision.

Stance and Anchor Points:

Consistency in your stance and anchor points is vital for accurate shooting. Establish a comfortable stance, grip, and anchor point (where the hand drawing the bowstring meets your face), and practice until it becomes second nature. This way, you can be sure that any deviations in your shots are due to the bow setup rather than your stance.

With these considerations in mind, you can effectively set up your target for a safe and enjoyable archery experience.

How to adjust your sight

To adjust your sight on a compound bow, you must first determine your sight-in distance. If you're using a multi-pin sight, start with your closest distance, which is typically 20 yards. If you're using a single-pin sight, you'll need to adjust the scope housing up and down to shoot at different distances, using a sight tape as a yardage guide.

If you're just installing your sight, start close to the target to dial in your sight before moving back. Shoot three arrows with good form, so they hit the same area, which is called a "group". If your three-arrow group isn't where you aimed, move your sight toward the group. For example, if your three arrows grouped left, move your sight pin to the left. If your arrows hit high, raise your sight.

A multi-pin sight has three main adjustments. You can move the sight housing up, down, left and right. You can also move the sight pins up and down. Use your top pin for the closest distance and the bottom pin for the farthest distance. Sight in your top pin first, which is typically 20 yards, but you should start at 10 yards.

Loosen the screw that lets you move the sight housing left and right. Move the sight housing toward the group. Shoot three more arrows to check your adjustment and move the housing again if necessary. Next, move your pin up or down until your group hits where you aimed. The top pin should stay in the upper third of your sight housing. If you run out of room to move your pin, loosen the screw that lets you move the sight housing up and down. Adjust the housing, and then fine-tune the sight by moving your pin.

Move to 25 yards, aim with your 20-yard pin, and shoot another three-arrow group. If you see no significant drop, move to 30 yards. Shoot a group and move your second pin up or down until your arrows hit where you aim. Continue this process for the other pins.

To adjust a single-pin sight, loosen the scope housing and adjust it up and down to shoot from different distances. You can also move the scope left and right by loosening and re-tightening it.

The role of the anchor pin

The anchor pin, or middle pin, is an important component of a compound bow, particularly when it comes to the accuracy and consistency of your shot.

The anchor pin is the middle pin of a multi-pin sight, which typically has three, five, or seven pins. These pins are set as aiming references for different distances. The anchor pin is the reference point for the archer to ensure they are setting up with the same form and alignment for each shot. Consistency is crucial to improving and maintaining accuracy.

The anchor pin is set at a middle distance, with the top pin being for close-range and the bottom pin for long-distance. The anchor pin is set at a distance that gives the archer enough room to get a good shooting range out of their pins. For example, if you have a three-pin sight, you might want your pins set at 20, 30 (anchor pin), and 40 yards. For a five-pin sight, you could set your pins at 10, 20, 30 (anchor pin), 40, and 50 yards.

When setting up your pins, it's important to start with your top pin and then adjust each pin individually. You want to begin by making adjustments to the sight body only. Set up your target at 10 yards, aim at the bullseye using the topmost pin, and release. Shoot two more arrows at the same bullseye and try to get a group of three arrows within a 3-5cm area. This will give you a better indication of where your sight needs to move.

Once you are consistently shooting in the bullseye at 10 yards with your top pin, you can move on to your anchor pin. As with the top pin, you will need to shoot groups of three arrows and wait to make adjustments until your arrows are hitting groups within 3-5cm. Remember, at this stage, you are still making adjustments to the sight body, not the individual pin.

After your anchor pin is set, you can then move back to your top pin and adjust the remaining pins individually without moving the sight body.

How to set up your pins

Setting up your pins correctly is crucial for accuracy when shooting your compound bow. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Firstly, ensure your bow is tuned, and your sight is levelled. A tuned bow has the rest and nocking point perfectly aligned, so arrows leave the bow in a straight line. If your bow or archer is not shooting straight, you may need to level your sight. This ensures that as you shoot at different distances, the left-right alignment of the sight remains true. You can do this yourself or get it done at an archery shop.

Now, you need to decide whether to use a multi-pin or single-pin sight. Multi-pin sights typically have three, five, or seven pins that you set for aiming at different distances. Single-pin sights, on the other hand, have just one pin and require the archer to adjust the scope housing to shoot at various ranges.

If you opt for a multi-pin sight, the first step is to vertically centre your middle or anchor pin in the middle of the sight body. This gives you maximum room for adjustment when sighting in your top (close-range) and bottom (long-distance) pins.

Next, set up your target. Ensure you have a clear shooting path of at least 30 yards, with a backdrop behind the target, such as a hay bale or mound of dirt, to catch any stray arrows.

Now you're ready to start adjusting your pins. For a multi-pin sight, you'll want to start by making adjustments to the sight body only. Set up your target at 10 yards and shoot three arrows, aiming at the bullseye with your topmost pin. Shoot another two arrows and see where they land in relation to the bullseye. If your arrows are hitting high, move the pin up; if they're hitting to the right, move the pin to the right. Keep making these adjustments until you're consistently hitting the bullseye.

Once you've got your top pin sighted in at 10 yards, move back to 20 yards and repeat the process with your second pin, making adjustments to the individual pin rather than the whole sight body. Continue this process for each pin, moving back in 10-yard increments and making minor adjustments until your arrow hits the target consistently.

For a single-pin sight, you'll need to use a sight tape, which is a yardage guide fixed to the sight body. Start with a blank tape and shoot at a target from 10 yards with your sight pin set as high as it can go. Adjust the pin vertically and horizontally until the arrow hits behind it, then repeat the process from 20 yards. Draw a line on the blank tape to mark where your indicator is positioned. Repeat this process at 40 and 60 yards to get solid marks for each distance. Then, compare these marks to a pre-printed sight tape to find the one that matches your marks. Affix this tape to your sight, and you're ready to go!

Frequently asked questions