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Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the FAQ!

We've compiled some of the most common questions our users have about our platform, along with detailed answers to help you make the most of your experience with Precision Cut Archery.

If you can't find the answer to your question here, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!

How is Precision Cut Archery different from other sight tape and sight mark software?

Short answer:

We produce the most accurate sight marks and sight tapes available today. Period.

Long answer:

There are a couple items that set us apart today.

The Most Accurate Marks Our unique approach to arrow drag modeling leads to much more accurate marks for all ranges right out of the gate. If care is taken during the ‘sight-in’ process within our app, we are confident our marks will be the closest thing to perfection available. In addition, we can calculate a table of sight marks down to 1/4 yard increments. Have you spent time tweaking and fiddling with your sight marks to get them just right in other programs? Are some marks good, but some marks are not? That's where we shine - perfect marks for all distances from the start.

Adjust for Air Density We are the only sight tape software that can properly account for changes in air density. If you are shooting in different environmental conditions than you sighted in with, we can adjust your sight tape or sight tape to compensate. Show up to that high-country mule deer hunt or TAC event with confidence that your marks a calibrated for the environmental conditions of the destination.

Cuts for Angled Shooting. The proper shoot-for mark for an angled shot is a dance between the effect of gravity over the horizontal distance to the target, the effect of drag force over the trajectory path of the arrow, and the difference in sight height induced error between the shoot-for range and the line-of-sight distance. Again, with our unique approach to drag force modeling, we are able to provide the most accurate software-generated cuts available.

Granular Shoot-For Calculations We can provide a shoot-for mark for ANY arbitrary distance and angle you’d like. Shooting a target at 47.7 yards. 23.2 degrees uphill? We can compute the exact sight mark to use. No estimating between marks necessary.

Modern user interface. We’ve spent a lot of time making our app easy to use and understand. We've also optimized our app for use on mobile devices as well as desktops, so you can use it from your phone or computer with ease.

Do you have a mobile app?

At present, we offer a web application that’s accessible from any computer or phone web browser. Please note it does need an internet connection to function today.

We do have a dedicated mobile app for in-the-field use cases on the road map. Stay tuned for updates!

What sights does Precision Cut Archery support?

We support the widest range of sights of any sight tape software on the market today, and we are constantly adding additional sights based on our users' requests. If you don't see your sight listed, please let us know and we'll get it added ASAP.

Any sight where the tape mounts on a flat surface is good to go. If you don't see your sight in the list, but your tape mounts to a flat surface on you sight, simply select "Other Model" from the list and / or let us know so we can add it.

Note

Any sight where the tape mounts to a flat surface (Black Gold, UltraView Slider, etc.) are supported. If you don't see your sight in the list, you can select "Other Model" from the list and / or let us know so we can add it!

Sights where the tape mounts to a curved surface are a little trickier, since we need to factor in the movement on the sight tape vs. movement in the sight. Today, we support the following:

  • Spot Hogg Fast Eddie
  • Spot Hogg Fast Eddie XL
  • Spot Hogg Tommy Hogg
  • Spot Hogg Hogg Father
  • Spot Hogg Boonie
  • HHA NYTRX
  • HHA Tetra Series
  • HHA Optimizer King Pin
  • HHA Optimizer Lite X
  • HHA Optimizer Lite 3000
  • HHA Optimizer Ultra X
  • CBE Tactic Hybrid
  • Dialed Archery Arxos
  • Dialed Archery PRUF
  • Redline Torch - Wheel Tape
  • TruGlo Range Rover Pro, Wheel, and M4
  • Viper Sidewinder

For target sights / target sight marks, we support the following:

  • Axcel
  • Shibuya
  • Sure-Loc
  • Black Gold
  • Spot Hogg
  • Davis
  • Copper John
  • Bowfinger
  • CBE Axis
  • CBE Vertex Elevate (20 click)
  • CBE Vertex Target (30 click)
  • B3 Exact Q2 Target
  • B3 Exact Q2 3D
  • DS Advantage

We also have generic options for 24x10, 24x20, 32x10, and 32x20 target sights.

Again, if you don't see your sight on the list, just let us know!

How far of ranges can I make a sight tape for?

As far as you can shoot! We currently have an arbitrary limit of 250 meters (273 yards) for sight tapes and sight marks. We haven't found anyone yet who can dial their sight down that far, but if you can, let us know! We'll be happy to increase the limit.

Can I print sight tapes on label paper?

Absolutely. We have three sight tape printing modes today.

  1. Default Mode

    • This will print 3 copies of the sight tape on our standard printing page. This page includes notes about the bow and arrow setup, sight tape settings used for creating the sight tape for future reference, and a scale checker to ensure the sight tape was printed at the correct scale.

  2. Sight-In Mode

    • Sight-in printing mode will print 5x different scaled sight tapes by slightly tweaking the sight-in mark measurement(s) by 0.003" from what was supplied during the sight-in process. These are intended to be used to compare to your shot-in marks.

    • The purpose here is to remediate potential measurement error from the sight-in process.

    • Once you've found a perfect match, update your sight-in measurements with the new measurements, if needed.

    • Note: Today we offer this option only if mark distances were supplied with a caliper measurement or our calibration tape. We're deciding on the best approach to offer this sort of idea for those who use target sight marks for the sight-in process. However, our tapes will exactly match the sight marks you inputted.

  3. Custom Position Mode

    • This allows you to specify the precise location of a sight tape on a printed page. This is particularly useful for those printing on label paper and want to control the precise location of the tape on the page or if you want to conserve paper by printing multiple tapes on a single page at different locations over time.

    • The position is defined to the upper-left corner of the tape. For example, if 1 inch from top and 1 inch from left are specified, the top of the tape will be 1 inch from the top of the page, and the left side of the tape will be 1 inch from the left of the page.

  4. Travel Tapes Mode

    • This mode will print 5x sight tapes in either 1000ft density altitude or 1.0fps launch speed increments to bring with you. This is a great way to have a few tapes made ahead of time for different conditions.

    • This mode is particularly useful for those who travel to different locations for shoots or hunts.

We recommend initially printing in sight-in or default mode on plain printer paper to verify everything prints to the correct scale and to verify the tape is as you desire. Once confirmed, then it's time to print in custom position mode onto your desired fancy paper!

What should I print my sight tape on so it's weatherproof?

If you want the best, you’ll be looking for something adhesive and waterproof to print on. Here are a few options.

Weatherproof Label Paper

This is our preferred method. The catch is you'll need the right type of label paper for your printer type. We have some recommendations below.

We like to purchase label paper in full sheets, and then use our 'Custom Position' printing mode to place a single tape on the page. This way, we can get dozens of tapes on a single page.

We put a piece of clear packaging tape over the tape, and then cut the tape out with a razor blade and straight edge.

Weatherproof label paper is usually pretty expensive, so we recommend printing on normal paper first, finding your desired settings and sizing, and then printing a single tape with the 'Custom position' printing mode on the weatherproof paper. This way, you can use the same piece of expensive paper for many tapes.

This gives you a nice, clean edge, a waterproof tape, and a layer of protection over the ink.

For Laser Printers

If you have a laser printer, Avery weatherproof label paper is great.

For Inkjet Printers

If your printer is of the Inkjet variety, we've had good luck with Sheetlabels weatherproof label paper. (Matte Inkjet Weatherproof).

Here's an example tape done this way. This is an extremely clean and durable method.

Tip

You can often find a local print shop with a laser printer and waterproof labels in stock and ready to go. Simply download the PDF with your tape, and have them print it for you on weatherproof paper with their printer.

Weatherproof Vinyl

Weatherproof Vinyl can also work, but it does require a little extra care. Often, vinyl can be stretchy. This can skew your marks.

Like with weatherproof label, if purchasing vinyl, you'll want to make sure it's compatible with your printer type.

Normal Paper with Packaging Tape

Depending on your sight, normal printing paper with a piece of quality, clear packaging tape over the entire thing on the sight can work quite well. The important thing is that the paper is completely sealed off on all sides so water can’t get to it. We trim the packaging tape with a razor blade once in place. Sights like Black Gold with large spaces for the sight tape are good candidates for this. It's not quite as clean, but it can certainly work in a pinch!

What measurements do I need?

We require only the measurements necessary for us to accurately compute the flight characteristics of your arrow and model its downrange behavior. Here is a list of the measurement you will need:

  • Sight radius (at full draw)
  • Peep height (at full draw)
  • Total arrow weight
  • Arrow launch speed + 2x sight-in marks, or 3x sight-in marks

For thorough descriptions of each of these, check out the following documentation sections!

Can I make sight tapes in meters and use metric measurements?

Absolutely! We support a wide range of units for the various measurements and outputs, with both imperial and metric options. These are all configurable in the application settings.

How does Precision Cut Archery accurately calculate drag properties of an arrow?

You might be surprised when first using our product that we don't require all sorts of details about your arrow build to calculate your sight marks. We don't ask for your arrow length, vane length, vane offset, nock type, point weight, or any other details about your arrow, besides total weight.

Calculating the drag properties of an arrow is a highly complex task. Each and every aspect of an arrow, including the vanes, vane offset or helical, shaft length, nock, point, and more all contribute to the arrow's drag characteristics in intricate ways.

While it may seem logical to analyze each of these components in detail to calculate an arrow's drag, it would require examining an almost infinite range of arrow configurations, which is practically impossible.

At Precision Cut Archery, we approach this problem differently. We don't estimate drag effects based on the specifics of each arrow's components. Instead, we use data points you provide us from the sight-in process with our application. We apply these data points to our trajectory model and calculate the exact drag properties of your arrow build that fit the ballistic curve you supplied with your sight-in marks. This allows us to capture the unique drag properties of your specific arrow without having to detail every aspect of its construction. Said differently, the entirety of your arrow build is captured implicitly in our model and every single component is accounted for without manually specifying.

Given the vast range of combinations an archer could select and their inter-dependencies, this method offers a much higher degree of accuracy in calculating drag force than a mere estimation based on specified physical arrow attributes like the vanes, diameter, and length.

My rangefinder has angle compensation. Do I need a cut chart?

Most angle compensating rangefinders simply provide the horizontal distance to the target, not taking into account whether the shot is uphill or downhill. For short distances and moderate angles, this serves as a rough approximation of the "shoot-for" distance, as gravity acts on the arrow over this horizontal distance. However, as distances and angles increase, this simple horizontal distance approximation breaks down due to differences in the trajectory path / time of flight for these different angles. There are several factors that need to be considered for accurate cut values when making angled shots:

  • Parallax error (the difference in perspective due to your eye being above the arrow shaft)
  • Time of flight
  • Arrow velocity
  • Arrow drag properties
  • Air density

We take into account all of these factors, model your arrow's ballistic curve for each shot, and provide you with the exact “shoot-for” mark on your sight tape.

What about rangefinders with an 'Archery Mode'?

Rangefinders with an archery mode offer improvements over simple angle-compensating models, but they still have limitations in terms of the factors they consider. Some only account for arrow velocity and time of flight, while others also factor in parallax error and arrow weight.

No rangefinders on the market today consider all the necessary variables and perform the intensive trajectory modeling required for extremely accurate cut values.

How much does air density and steep shot angles really matter?

Actually quite a bit. Let's consider an example setup featuring a 450 grain arrow at 285 feet per second.

Let's say, for instance, you live at 1,000 feet above sea level and have a hunt at 10,000 feet. Using a sight tape made at home, and assuming the shot is on level ground:

  • 80 yards: arrow impacts 4 inches high
  • 100 yards: arrow impacts 7 inches high
  • 120 yards: arrow impacts 12.5 inches high

What about shooting at steep angles? Here are a some examples:

  • 80 yards line of sight, 30 degrees uphill
    • Rangefinder says (horizontal distance): 69.3 yards
    • Arrow impacts 4.5 inches low
    • Should have shot for: 71.7 yards
  • 100 yards line of sight, 40 degrees uphill
    • Rangefinder says (horizontal distance): 76.6 yards
    • Arrow impacts 15 inches low
    • Should have shot for: 81.8 yards
  • 80 yards line of sight, 30 degrees downhill
    • Rangefinder says (horizontal distance): 69.3 yards
    • Arrow impacts 2 inches high
    • Should have shot for: 68.0 yards
  • 100 yards line of sight, 40 degrees downhill
    • Rangefinder says (horizontal distance): 76.6 yards
    • Arrow impacts 4 inches high
    • Should have shot for: 75.0 yards

Keep in mind these are examples based on one particular example bow and arrow setup and representative air density values for the elevations above sea level. Actual values may vary significantly depending on your exact equipment specifications.

Is FOC taken into account? Doesn't a high FOC cause an arrow to nose-dive?

A high Front of Center (FOC) does not cause an arrow to "nose dive" per se, but it does affect the arrow's flight characteristics. FOC is the percentage of an arrow's total weight concentrated toward the front.

Contrary to popular belief, a high FOC does not cause the front of the arrow to be pulled down faster than the back and "nose dive." The universality of free-fall acceleration states that all objects near the Earth's surface experience the same acceleration due to gravity, regardless of their mass. In addition, the fletching align the arrow with the airstream it's moving through (this is why a dropped arrow tends to land point down, and why an arrow arcing into a target is pointing down).

The increase in total arrow weight will result in reduced speed and a more pronounced trajectory arc, which might give the illusion of a "nose-dive."

Do you have a shaft selector or arrow building features?

We're currently working on arrow building functionality. So far, we've built the following:

  • Weight Optimization (compare downrange ballistics of various arrow weights)
  • Spine Recommendation (compute the optimal arrow spine for your next arrow build)

We're working on adding more features in the future, so stay tuned!