Sight in Your Setup

Overview

It's time to sight in your setup. This is the most crucial step in the process, so it's essential to get it right!

You can think of this like a 'ballistic calibration' for your arrow setup. We'll use the sight-in data you provide to model your arrow's drag properties in flight. This allows us to generate accurate sight tapes, marks, and ballistic calculations for your setup.

Since our drag model is based on the sight-in data, it's important to make sure this data is as precise as possible.

Choose Your Sight-In Method

We have four sight-in methods to choose from today. Each are detailed below.

Quick Start

This is the fastest and easiest sight-in method. It requires only your arrow's launch speed.

This method is designed to get you close quickly. We expect this method to produce sight tapes and marks accurate to about 1 yard at 100 yards. At closer ranges, it'll be much better than that.

This method is our recommended method for beginning archers, low poundage shooters who can't stretch out the distances very far, or anyone in a rush.

Details →

Two Marks + Launch Speed

This method requires you to shoot in marks at two distances and provide your arrow's launch speed. With accurate marks and launch speed, this method is as accurate as any other.

This was our first method, and is still the most popular. It's a great choice for most shooters.

Details →

Three Marks

This method requires you to shoot in marks at three distances. In this method, we calculate both your arrow's launch speed and drag properties based on the three marks you provide.

This method is the most sensitive to error, but also very accurate. It's a solid choice for experienced shooters who can get accurate marks at extremely long ranges.

Details →

Downrange Speed

This is the most recent addition to our sight-in methods. We got to thinking - besides shot in marks, what else can we use to determine an arrow's drag properties?

Shooting in marks is time consuming, and depending on shooter ability, can be difficult to get perfect.

The answer? Measuring your arrow's speed as it flies downrange!

If you have an accurate (ideally doppler radar) chronograph like a Lab Radar or Garmin Xero chronograph, this method is for you. With this method, we just need speeds at two different distances.

This method has proven to be extremely accurate and is by far the most resilient to error.

Details →

Which method is the most accurate?

With the exception of the Quick Start method, we consider all of the sight-in methods to be equally precise given accurate data.

They all will get you to the same place, but it's up to you how you want to get there. We have top-level professionals using each of the methods with excellent results.

What if I don't have a chronograph?

While a chronograph can certainly help with the sight-in process, it's not required. You have a few options:

Ask your local pro shop or club

Many pro shops and clubs have a chronograph that you can use for a small fee. Often, they'll have a knowledgeable staff member who can help you through the process of gathering the data as well!

Estimate your launch speed

We have a feature within the application that will estimate your bow's launch speed based on your bow's specifications and your arrow weight. This will get you very close - we estimate within 5-10 fps (or better) of your actual launch speed.

Use the Three Marks method

If you're confident in your ability to shoot in precise marks at three, long-range distances, you can use the Three Marks sight-in method. This method will calculate your launch speed and drag properties based on the three marks you provide, and does not require a chronograph reading.

General Tips

Target Sight Mark Formatting

Marks should be supplied in the format of <turns>.<clicks>. Most commonly, turns is determined from the sight scale on the side of the sight, and clicks are determined from the micro-adjust knob.

Note

Some sight scales, such as Shibuya's, are labeled 0, 1,...,9 instead of 0, 10,...,90. In this case, to determine the turns of a sight mark, simply multiply the reading from the scale by 10. For example, 8.4 on the scale with a click reading of 0.45 on the elevation knob becomes 84.45 when inputted to the program.

10 Click Sights

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 0.0

20 Click Sights (Except CBE)

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30,..., 0.70, 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 0.00

20 Click CBE Sights (Axis and Vertex Elevate)

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05,..., 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.00

30 Click Sights (CBE Vertex Target)

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05,..., 0.29, 0.00

Spot Hogg

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.0

B3 Exact Q2 Target

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06,..., 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.00

B3 Exact Q2 3D

Full rotation of the click nob: 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06,..., 0.45, 0.46, 0.47, 0.48, 0.49, 0.00

Note that the click labeled X.50 on the B3 Exact Q2 3D should be entered in the program as X.00.

Why do I keep getting an error message?

This occurs when our ballistic engine determines that a feasible trajectory for your arrow cannot be determined. Since we search for a ballistic trajectory curve that matches your sight-in marks, this error indicates that the combination of bow measurements and marks provided are not physically possible within the laws of physics.

In short, there is an error in the data provided somewhere.

Almost always, the error(s) are in the shot-in marks themselves. The amount of error might be quite small and difficult to detect on target, but it's there and it's enough to throw off the calculations.

Here are a few things to double check, and some tips:

Setup Measurements: Just to be safe, ensure that the peep height, sight radius, and arrow weight measurements have been correctly entered.
Mark Measurements: Confirm that the mark measurements or target sight marks have been accurately recorded and inputted into the application.
Mark / Shooting Error: It's advisable double check your shot-in marks at the range. Here are a few tips to ensure the marks are accurate:
- Shoot at a thin, horizontal line. We like blue painters tape. At closer ranges (40 and in), aim for the EDGE of the tape and try to break the edge with the arrow.
- Take plenty of time to ensure the marks are accurate. We'll often spend several different shooting sessions over multiple days to double check the marks.
- Focus intently on just the marks that you need. For example, if you have 4 hours to shoot, we'd rather see you spend two hours each on 40 and 100 vs. 15-20 minutes each on 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100. You can always verify these other distances once the new tape is made!
- Throw out bad shots. We don't care about the group so much as we do where the shots that break cleanly land. These are the ones to pay attention to.
- Stretch the ranges out. We never recommend shooting in marks at 20 or 30 yards. We like 40 and beyond. The farther the better, in pretty much all cases. Reason being, at close ranges, there can be significant error in the mark that isn't noticeable on target. For example, for a typical setup, you can be a full yard off on your tape and stay within a 1” circle at 30. At 20, it’s probably 2-3 yards. When it comes to sight tapes, this is a big deal.
Try a Different Sight-In Method: If you're still having trouble, consider trying a different sight-in method. If you're using 3x Marks, try 2x Marks + Launch Speed. The Quick Start method is also a great option for a sanity check.
External Factors: If the above steps don't resolve the issue, consider other contributing factors. These might include the bow's tuning, weather conditions, error in your rangefinder, or even shooting errors that might skew the marks. Things like peep alignment, lighting conditions, face pressure, creep tune, arrow flight, etc. can have a significant impact on the sight-in marks.

Remember, this error is an indication that something isn't quite right with the provided data. If you've tried all of the above steps and still cannot get it to work out properly, feel free to reach out, and we can help you troubleshoot!