Image Text: A man shooting with his bow
Alt-Text: A man shooting an arrow with his bow
Image Description: An image featuring a man shooting with his bow
Archery is popular among both hunters and people who like practicing their skills on the target range by hitting the bullseye. Mastering a bow isn’t easy and archers often spend months perfecting their shooting skills before they can hit the center of the bullseye. You can’t just point your bow in the direction of the target and hope to hit it. You must first sight in your bow to increase your chances of successfully hitting the target. By sighting in a bow, you can compensate for the arrow drop because of pull of gravity over different distances. Some people ask, ‘How to sight in a bow without shooting it’. Different laser devices are available in the market that you can use to sight in a bow without shooting it. However, we recommend you don’t use them because they aren’t a good alternative to manually sighting in a bow. Below, we have explained how to sight in a bow by shooting it.
Prepare the Range and the Bow
· Spread the Sighting Out Over A Few Days
You will need to spread the sighting out over a few days because continuously shooting will lead to fatigue, affecting your power and accuracy. By taking a few days to sight in your bow, you would get better results.
· Get the Sight and Mount It
There are different bow sights available in the market. You should look around various products to find the one that is suitable for you. You should be able to get a decent bow sight at around $50. Once you have bought the bow sight, the next step is to mount. Follow the instruction that came with the sight to mount it on your bow. Most bows come with pre-drilled holes that you can use to attach the sight. Bow sights are secured by screws but make sure not to tighten the screws too much as you could end up damaging the bow. Make sure that the sight’s sighting pins are lined up vertical to the bowstring.
· Get the Target Ready and Mark the Ranges
Mark off every ten yards from the target up to at least 40 yards. To ensure accuracy, use a rangefinder. Rangefinders are easily available online and at outdoor supply stores. Next, set up your target. Make sure that the target is durable so that it can take multiple arrows from your bow because it will take some time for you to properly sight in your bow.
Sight in Your Bow
· Set Your First Pin at 20 Yards
Move to the 10 yard mark from the target. Stand in such a way that your body is at a right angle to the target and draw an arrow with your bow. Look through the sight at the top most pin and release the arrow. Take a few shots. Note where the arrows you shot hit compared to the sight. If most of the arrows went above what was being indicated by the pin, move the mounted sight box up. Repeat this step until your shot arrow isn’t shooting above the sight’s top pin.
Now, step back to the next mark i.e. 20 yards. Repeat the process and raise the sight box as required. Once the arrows aren’t hitting above the sight’s top pin, you can make corrections for arrows that are going too far right or left. To do this, move the sight right or left respectively.
· Set Your Second Pin at 30 Yards
Once you have set your top pin correctly, move to the 30 yard mark on the range. Fire off a couple of arrows while aiming down the second pin of the bow sight. Make the same adjustments as you made while sighting in the bow at 20 yards. Move the sight box if necessary and take your time to make the second pin as accurate as you can because it won’t change and will serve as the anchor of your bow sight.
· Set Your Third Pin at 40 Yards
Now look at your third pin (40 yards pin) and shoot some arrows. This time don’t move the whole sight box to make adjustments but just move the pin. If you have to re-adjust your right and left sight placement, go back to the 30 yard market and make adjustments there.
· Check Your 20 Yard Shot Once Again
Once you have made adjustments to the 40 yard pin and set the 30 yard pin, go back at 20 yards and shoot again. This time, make corrections to the pin instead of moving the whole sight.
· Move and Sight Any Additional Pins
If you have more pins for 50 yards, 60 yards, or more, you would have to sight them too. Move back to 50 yard and 60 yard markers and then move the pins to make corrections as required.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, follow the instructions we have laid above to sight in your bow and improve your accuracy before you go out hunting with your bow. Don’t think that you can sight in your bow without shooting it because you will never be able to do it correctly. You will have to actually shoot arrows in order to properly sight in a bow. In case you have any questions about the instructions provided above or if something is unclear, feel free to write us a query.