How to set pin sights.

[DjWoody]

Ok, I listened to Marcus's comments about getting a release, sighting my barebow and playing with the big boys.

The problem I have now is setting the sights so the arrow goes where I aim the pins. What is the standard procedure to follow when setting the pins up?

[Eberbachl]

G'day DjWoody,

Well done - good move :wink:

I'm no super pin - shooter, I shoot with a moveable scope etc - but I've played with pins a few times, so this is what I'd do. Any expert pin shooters out there are welcome to butt in and set me straight :wink:

I'll assume that you've got a few things ready first...

1: a peep sight
2: release aid
3: set of pins
4: an arrow rest designed to be used with a release aid, not fingers.

OK, so with the arrow rest bit - either a drop away or launcher style rest will be fine for release aid (I use a Golden Key Premier). If you still have your flipper from barebow, you'll need to address this first. The flipper wont work so well with a release due to the arrow's oscillation being vertical rather than horizontal with a release.

Now you need to insert your peep. Put your bow in a press (or use a peep insertion tool) and split the sting evenly in half about 100mm above your nocking point to start with. Insert your peep - but don't tie it in yet.

Pretty much with the aid of a friend, what I'd be doing to get an initial peep height would be to draw the bow (with your release device) with your eyes closed. Find a good solid anchor somewhere on or under your jawbonethat is comfortable and repeatable. Open your eyes, and have your friend move the peep up or down as appropriate so you are looking directly through it. Don't move your head to meet the peep - move the peep to meet your head. Do this a couple of times to get it right - then play with the strands of the string on the peep as appropriate to get the peep to line up (rotation wise) correctly. When you are happy with this much, tie in the peep as appropriate depending on the peep type you have slected.

Next, get your center shot right on the arrow rest. To do this, use a bow press to hold your bow inverted. Place a level on the riser horizontally accross the bow, and a level on the string along the sting length. Tie on a piece of serving material about 20cm long to the string at your nocking pint which I would have set about 1/8th" above level to start with - and to the end of the string tie on a small weight. Even a small nut will be fine. This is your plumb bob. With the bow level in every regard, take not of where the plumb bob intersects with your launcher on the arrow rest. Adjust your arrow rest left to right until the plumb bob passes through the middle of it. This will give you your "true" centershot and is a very good starting point. Pay no attention to where the arrow rest is over the shelf - some bow's center shot is over the middle of this area, and some aren't.

OK - we're making progress.

Depending on the release type you are using you might want to tie on a d-loop or use an eliminator button under the nock with a rope release. I shoot a d-loop with a very shot rope on my Carter Atension and it works very well. I loke the fact that it stabilises peep rotation, and is pulling from directly behind the arrow. Also, string wear is minimal with a D-loop.

Right, now bolt on your sight - I'm gonna guess that it is a standard 5 pin sight. To start with, nock an arrow onto the string and place it on the rest. eyeball the string and arrow - and adjust the sight poins from left to right until they are in line with the string and arrow rest. This is a good starting point for your windage.

OK, so I guess the first thing I'd do now before I go out to set my pins would be to shoot through paper. If your arrow spine is fine and everything is good - I'd be looking for anything from an ever so slightly nock high tear, with maybe a little right tendency to a bullet hole. The former would be my preferred tear.

If it is showing nock high, move your nocking point down, nock low, move the nocking point up. If moving the nocking point has no effect - proceed to powder testing, then come back to check the tear again.

Next job is to go to the Chemist, and buy some spary on foot tinea powder. I use Daktarin. Spray it on the back of your arrows, and shoot them into a blank butt. Check the white residue for contact marks. If you don't get any contact - congratulations - you're nearly there :D If you see some contact, adjust your arrow rest height, arrow rest spring tension, or nocking point until the contact disapears. This is important - arrow contact with the rest is a no no :D

OK, so your peep is good - your release works, you've got sights, arrow rest is adjusted, you have a good paper tear and no contact.

Go outside and shoot at a short distance (where you really will not miss the butt!) and note where the top pin placement is. The top pin will be your "short" pin, and the bottom pin will be your "long" pin.

Adjust your pins for the distance you require.

your distances are a personal preferance, and will depend on what you shoot.

A starting point might be:

Pin1: 20 metres
Pin2: 30 metres
Pin3: 40 metres
Pin4: 50 metres
Pin5: 60 metres

..... as I said - your distances will be a personal decision - and will dpened on the speed of your bow, and the longest distances you shoot.

OK, so now you are pretty much ready to go out and shoot some groups, see how it's going, and make any minor adjustments to nocking point, centershot etc whilst your group tuning.

Anyway, that's about all I do when I set up a bow, and once you've got it working well - stop tuning, and shoot it :D

I hope that helps :wink:

Cheers,

Luke.

:bday:

[Eberbachl]

....sorry about the typos - I can't edit in here :cry:

Also, neglected to mention that when you are setting your sights, move your windage (left to right) on your pins if the arrow's line is not good.

Rules for setting sights are:

If the arrow goes left, move your pins to the left.

If the arrow goes right, move your pins to the right.

If the arrow hits low, move your pin down.

If the arrow hits high, move your pin up.

Cheers,

Luke.

:bday:

[Shermo]

A good starting point is often 20 feet = 20 yards.

If your first/top pin is sighted in at 20 feet, go back to 20 yards and it should be pretty close.

[DjWoody]

Thanx chief.
That helps a lot.

All the details are exactly what was needed!

I've only set the first two pins, will do the rest over the weekend when I have more room to shoot :) and I'll get back with a report on how it went.

[Eberbachl]

Cool DjWoody, glad to help.

Let us know how you go.

Cheers,

Luke.

:bday: