As The Bow Sight Swings

by
posted on April 3, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
qa_ah2015_fs.jpg (20)

Q: Do pendulum bow sights really work?

A: Yes, pendulum sights do work out to about 30 yards, plus or minus, depending on arrow trajectory. They use a real-world trigonometric formula to compensate for arrow drop at varying ranges via a swinging sight pin. It sounds complicated, but actually it is harder to describe than to understand if you see one in action. Once the stationary pin is sighted in at a given range, it is allowed to "swing" freely under gravity. The only catch is the archer must shoot from an elevated position—usually higher than 10 feet—for the pendulum to swing and the formula to work. As the bow is raised or lowered for elevation, the sight pin remains on target.

When a long-range shot—usually more than 30 yards—necessitates holding much over the target, the sight bottoms out and is no longer effective. Pendulum sights are extremely useful when hunting predominately from tree stands because they eliminate perhaps the toughest element of bow shooting—range estimation.

Latest

Ledeworlds Biggest
Ledeworlds Biggest

World’s Largest Gathering of Outdoor Enthusiasts Begins Saturday

More than 200,000 hunters, shooters, anglers, RVers and virtually every other flavor of outdoor enthusiast will attend NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS). It opens Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., and is the place to be if you want to see your favorite pursuit’s latest and greatest, book a trip and more.

Year-Round Gear Care

Every fall season I hear one or two horror stories involving equipment failures in the field. All too often these stories include personal injuries. Let's take a few minutes to help you avoid such costly circumstances.

New for 2026: Mossberg Maverick Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Mossberg has introduced its Maverick SA Semi-Auto line of shotguns, engineered to be multi-season workhorses, chambered for both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shotshells and featuring a 6-shot capacity.

First Look: Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro

The Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro is the kind of gear that takes the basic tenets of turkey hunting into consideration, while attempting to minimize the burden of a cumbersome full-size vest. This makes it a a straightforward alternative to a full-size turkey vest for run-and-gun hunters who want to balance loadout with freedom of movement.

The Value of Post Season Scouting in the Snow

Although for most of the country deer season is over, there are some important aspects of deer hunting to be understood, particularly when it snows during the winter months. In my part of the country, we don’t often get a good blanket of snow until the deer season closes. However, when it does snow, I make a point to get outdoors and visit each of my hunting areas to learn when the learning is best.

Tuo Introduces New Camouflage Pattern: Ryse

Tuo launched its proprietary Verse camo pattern in 2024. While the supplemental light tans and sharp lines render effectiveness in wooded environments as well, Tuo wanted to offer a second exclusive pattern for whitetail hunters. It has done so with Ryse.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.