Single Pin Slider?

[itsnlkthing]

I'm sure this has been discussed here but I didn't find anything when I did a search. I'm curious how many of you Western hunters are using a single pin sight. I had already bought a 5 pin Montana Black Gold sight and then the bow I ended up buying had already been set up with an HHA slider. I like the clean sight picture of the single pin but being new to archery I don't want to introduce any unnecessary complications. My bow is rated at 355 IBO and shoots pretty flat.

If I'm better off with the 5 pin, I'd prefer to practice with what I will hunt. What are your thoughts?

[bowpackerrob]

I have the Spot Hogg Tommy Hogg with 3 pins using the bottom pin for my slider. This slider also allows me to use a tight spot quiver on my bow. I like no more than 3 pins, keeps my sight picture clear. 5 pins are alot in your sight picture, just my opinion.

[>>>---WW---->]

I used to use only one pin but it wasn't a slider. I had it set dead on @ 25 yards. That I could hold on from point blank to 30 yards and still be in the kill zone. It worked for me as my personal hunting range limit just happens to be 30

[8upbowhunter]

I used an HHA single pin slider for 8 years but took it off to go on my elk hunt last year and went with a 4 pin sight for that hunt. The thing I was worried about is I have always kept my slider locked on 20 yards for hunting whitetails down here where my farthest shot is usually 30 yards. By locking it down there was virtually no chance of my sight moving unintentionally. All I had to do is aim a little high to make a 30 yard shot or a little low for something like a 5 yard shot. For my elk hunt I didn't want to leave the sight unlocked so I could move it as needed because I didn't know at what distance that I would get a clear shot and then have to adjust the sight for the shot only to have the elk change direction and me have to adjust the sight again. The single pin slider gives you a good clear sight picture and is an awesome sight for where I do most of my hunting but I didn't like the idea of having to range a possible opening, adjust my sight and do it over again if the elk changes direction.

[timberland]

Missed a bull due to a single pin slider. Had it set for 30 yds which happened to be correct, but then he spooked out to fifty and stood broadside looking away. Didn't take time to readjust and shot over his back. With one pin you have no reference at odd yardages for compensating high or low. Now I use 5 pins 20-60yds. Anything 40 or less I have more than one pin on an elk. At 55 yds my 50 is on his back and the sixty is just under his chest. With a little practice I shoot just as good groups splitting pins as I do holding the pin dead on.

[Willie makit]

I also used to hunt with a single pin pendulum sight but limited myself to 35 yards. Two reasons were I never bothered to get a rangefinder and I almost always was in thick areas anyway. The last couple years been listening to others talk about 60-80 yard shooting and I figured they were just mouthing off, then I got my "new" used 2009 bow which came 100% set up with carbon arrows and a 7 pin Hogg sight.

It took no time to get used to shooting 50-70 yards with this bow. I’ll be switching to FMJ this spring so I’ll have to wait to see how bad that cuts my speed and drop out at distance, it should help spread my pins out considerably. The guy I got it from had installed some water proof labels on the 30-50 and 70 pins to help with clutter, it’s still busy but I’m so used to it now, it doesn’t really bother me.

Having something else on your bow to adjust or fiddle with is just inviting disaster while hunting, you rarely have time to make mechanical adjustments for a moving target, add some adrenalin to the equation and its that monkey having fun with a football thing. I’m sure they are awesome for shooting 3d though.

[itsnlkthing]

Thanks for the input. It sounds like most everyone prefers pins. What are your thoughts about switching back and forth? Should I just stick with one for practice and hunting?

[Mikeha33]

I dont know why you'd want to switch back and forth between hunting and practicing??? It seems like it would be counterproductive, IMO, to take yourself away from putting yourself in an actual hunting situation...

[jmez]

HHA will have good resale value on AT. I wouldn't want a single pin slider for elk. Too many variables involved.

You should practice the same as you hunt. You practice with a single pin then hunt with a multi pin you'll get confused when the adrenaline is flowing.

[Swede]

Even for tree stand hunting, I prefer a multi-pin sight. I don't want to fiddle with making an adjustment when a bull comes in and stops at 20 yards variance to what a slider is set for. I pick out nearby objects when I first get to my stand, and range them so I can quickly establish how far the bull is away from me. Selecting the correct pin is very easy, even in low light.

[itsnlkthing]

HHA will have good resale value on AT. I wouldn't want a single pin slider for elk. Too many variables involved.

You should practice the same as you hunt. You practice with a single pin then hunt with a multi pin you'll get confused when the adrenaline is flowing.

That was exactly what I was thinking...Especially as a rookie. I'm not looking to complicate things or add confusion. Both sights have a lot of interest on AT classifieds (other than being left handed), so now I'm wondering if I should possibly sell both and upgrade to an even better multi-pin. What are you folks using and how important is 3rd axis adjustability?

[Olydog09]

Montana Black Gold makes a pretty decent option. I believe someone else brought it up. They make a 3 pin slider combo. You set the three pins to 20,30 and 40 yards. Then you set your slider for additional yardage and use your bottom pin for those shots. It really is the best of both worlds. If you end up with an opportunity over 40 yards and have the time to make the adjustment on your sight it gives you options you did not have before.

Also if you really like a clear fov like the single pin offers you can take 2 pins out and set your single pin at 25 and use it from 0-30 or 0-35 yards. Then set the slider up for yardages beyond that.

[danarnold]

I hunted elk in WY with both, I'm sticking to my 5 pin Black Gold for 14

[Stateline]

I had my local shop modify my Montana Black Gold 5-pin down to a 4-pin slider. My thought was to set a 25, 40, 50, and 60 pin. Then I could adjust for playing longer shots at the range. I love that it clears up my sight window, but I still have a set 60 yard pin. I found with both a 20 & 30 yard pin, it was a little to close to pick out small points on a target. Therefore 25 & 40 seemed more practical. 3-pins may not be a bad idea either, but one makes me nervous in a constantly changing environment. I would give a thumbs up to Montana Black Gold sights. Good product from my experience.

[Toby]

What is the model of the MBG that has 3 pins and a slider? Does only one pin move or the entire sight housing?

[ChukarNUT]

its the MBG Ascent. I have the MBG ascent with a vengeance head. 3 pin. top pin is .19 and bottom 2 are .10. LOVE this sight. bottom pin is your slider pin and the whole housing moves but has a zero setting at top so you can easily move back up for your standard 20-30-40 fixed. buy one dont look back--best of both worlds!

[itsnlkthing]

its the MBG Ascent. I have the MBG ascent with a vengeance head. 3 pin. top pin is .19 and bottom 2 are .10. LOVE this sight. bottom pin is your slider pin and the whole housing moves but has a zero setting at top so you can easily move back up for your standard 20-30-40 fixed. buy one dont look back--best of both worlds!

I think I like the idea of this as best of both worlds. I see a lot of people mix pin sizes on custom sights. What is the logic on this? Is it smaller target at greater distance = smaller pin?

[ChukarNUT]

thats exactly the point! I was amazed at how much easier it was to shoot tight groups at farther distances with the smaller pins. the mbg sights offer photochromatic so they change brightness with the light---very very slick.

[itsnlkthing]

Which base do you have and what are the advantages of a dovetail over a standard? They offer both a 4 and 6". I'm not looking to add too much weight and it is primarily for hunting

[ChukarNUT]

Dovetail allows you to slide the housing closer or farther from the bow to give you the best sight alignment for your eyes. really no weight issue as they weigh nothing--machined aluminum. i have the 4" and after messing with it really helped with getting perfect alignment. I have the ascent base with vengeance head