Q41 - Sight extension bar 9", 12" or 15"?
Last Updated 11/04/2014 at 04:47:36 PM EST
My question is on length of sight extension bar – I shoot a 50lb target recurve bow with a sight extension of 15inches. However, over the last year my sight extension has broken some three times and replacements are getting a bit expensive, as the manufacturer won’t replace it free of cost. I am reluctant to change to a more conventional length of 9” or 12”, as I feel that the 15” sight extension gives me greater accuracy. Could I please have your views on this issue? Thank you!!
May 26, 2007
from M.S. of Poland:
"My question is on length of sight extension bar – I shoot a 50lb target recurve bow with a sight extension of 15inches. However, over the last year my sight extension has broken some three times and replacements are getting a bit expensive, as the manufacturer won’t replace it free of cost. I am reluctant to change to a more conventional length of 9” or 12”, as I feel that the 15” sight extension gives me greater accuracy. Could I please have your views on this issue? Thank you!!"
"My question is on length of sight extension bar – I shoot a 50lb target recurve bow with a sight extension of 15inches. However, over the last year my sight extension has broken some three times and replacements are getting a bit expensive, as the manufacturer won’t replace it free of cost. I am reluctant to change to a more conventional length of 9” or 12”, as I feel that the 15” sight extension gives me greater accuracy. Could I please have your views on this issue? Thank you!!"
I think there are two issues here- one is accuracy and the second reliability.
Conventional wisdom has it that a longer sight radius should provide for greater accuracy. However, obviously it will depend on how steady one can hold the aim and the distance involved. Firstly, the radius of rotation of a longer sight bar gives more movement on the target face than a shorter one. Secondly, the longer the sight bar the more sensitive to movement it becomes and the sight pin could be floating all over the target face – this in itself could cause over-aiming and loss of focus.
A good test is to see if an archer can hold the sight pin steady enough so that it just moves around in the Gold at the distance being shot. If that is achievable than the sight extension length is ok and if not, obviously it is too long. Please remember that there is nearly always wind and that longer sight bars are more sensitive to movement. Therefore, it depends on the aiming steadiness of each individual archer to establish an acceptable sight bar length/sight radius.
On the reliability issue I can not really comment, other than to say to discuss this issue with the manufacturer. Also with your poundage being in the higher range, as is your sight extension, it might be worth examining your bow set up as obviously there must be a lot of unwanted vibration causing your sight bars to break, assuming of course that the sight is from a reliable manufacturer.
Conventional wisdom has it that a longer sight radius should provide for greater accuracy. However, obviously it will depend on how steady one can hold the aim and the distance involved. Firstly, the radius of rotation of a longer sight bar gives more movement on the target face than a shorter one. Secondly, the longer the sight bar the more sensitive to movement it becomes and the sight pin could be floating all over the target face – this in itself could cause over-aiming and loss of focus.
A good test is to see if an archer can hold the sight pin steady enough so that it just moves around in the Gold at the distance being shot. If that is achievable than the sight extension length is ok and if not, obviously it is too long. Please remember that there is nearly always wind and that longer sight bars are more sensitive to movement. Therefore, it depends on the aiming steadiness of each individual archer to establish an acceptable sight bar length/sight radius.
On the reliability issue I can not really comment, other than to say to discuss this issue with the manufacturer. Also with your poundage being in the higher range, as is your sight extension, it might be worth examining your bow set up as obviously there must be a lot of unwanted vibration causing your sight bars to break, assuming of course that the sight is from a reliable manufacturer.