Multi Pin Sight Setup for Elk

[jonesn3]

Wondering what folks prefer and found most well suited for elk? Specially looking for suggestions on multi pin sight setups

I’ve been using a Black Gold slider 5-pin the last several years. I do enjoy the versatility of having pins for 20-60 yds, also use a dual indicator for sliding to practically any yardage, but the sight picture is a bit “cluttered” at times.

Anybody find 4 pins a good compromise? Is 3 too few? What yardages do you go with if using less than 5 pins?

What about size of pin? Smaller, say 0.10”, for the slider pin?

I’m looking to experiment a bit this offseason to figure it out, but figured I’d ask the collective group here first…

 

[Laramie]

I shoot with 3 set pins. My bow is very fast so my top pin zero is 30 yards. My next two are 45 and 60. I practice the in between yardage and out to 65. I typically won't shoot at an animal past 50 and 90% of my shots are with the top pin.

 

[LongWayAround]

I have .19 pins at 20, 30, 40, and a .10 at 50 for my sliding pin.

 

[ATL]

I use 3 pins, 15 yard spacing, very similar to Laramie. 35-50-65. 50 is dead center in sight housing. I use a “trick pin” system for hunting, where I use the 50 for quick shots on elk under approximately 42 yards. I can do the same thing on deer with the 35 to 30’ish. I do not plan on taking first shots beyond 50, the 65 is there for extended range practice and reference for required follow up shots in the field.

 

[jonesn3]

ALT & Laramie — what velocity are you getting out of your bow for the 15 yd pin gaps? I assume you check POI difference and compare to your target size (vitals zone of elk is say….24 inches?), and if the drop between pins is larger then adjust pin gap?

LongWayAround — do you miss having a 60 yd pin? Any particular reason you went 4 over 3 or 5?

 

[LongWayAround]

ALT & Laramie — what velocity are you getting out of your bow for the 15 yd pin gaps? I assume you check POI difference and compare to your target size (vitals zone of elk is say….24 inches?), and if the drop between pins is larger then adjust pin gap?

LongWayAround — do you miss having a 60 yd pin? Any particular reason you went 4 over 3 or 5?

I don't miss it at all. The slider adjusts plenty fast for me. I did blow it on a pronghorn this year, but I doubt an additional pin was the culprit.
- Buck bedded at 70. I "knew" he was going to come closer when he saw me, but I adjusted to 70. Look up and he's at 55 with my sight dialed to 70...

My previous sight began as a five pin. I deleted a couple and tried it as a three pin. I just couldn't get mentally used to it. It's easier for me to think "that's about 30" or more like "20," than it is to guess "25" or "35."

I used the custom Black Gold sight builder on Black Ovis several years ago. I'm not sure if it's still an option, but I bet Black Gold would do it.

 

[ATL]

Bow is shooting 280’ish. Less confusion with three pins. I do not have a slider sight. The 35-50-65 are “nice” numbers, but actually for my style of shooting I suspect a 37-52-65 pin gap would likely be better, allowing me to extend my PBR just a bit. I just can’t get away from the even spacing mentally. Maybe this year.

Do a search for “Trick Pin System” on here. An article was written a while ago by Darin Cooper that got me started. The original aiming technique (using the 50 pin) works great for elk, then I adapted the system to deer hunting with my 35 pin (deer are smaller than elk).

 

[Bump79]

I used to run a fixed 7 pin. Then I went 5 pin slider. Now I'm down to a 4 pin. I have .019" on my top two and .010" on the bottom. 294 fps. 20, 30, 40, 50. If it's further than 50 then I know I NEED to range and slide.

I was real tempted to do a 3 pin with 15 yard gaps. I just just so mentally trained to have 10 yd increments I couldn't do it. Even shooting 3d for practice I'd screw it up and misrange. So much of it is just what you're used to.

 

[jonesn3]

Thanks for the suggestions! My setup isn’t winning any speed contests, going about 275 fps, and the drop from 20-30 is decent enough to where I feel like I’d want those specific pins

I’ll take a look a the “trick pin” you mentioned!

4 pins with the 4th being 0.10” seems like a good option, but I’ll mess around with 3 pins this offseason, too.

 

[180ls1]

ALT & Laramie — what velocity are you getting out of your bow for the 15 yd pin gaps? I assume you check POI difference and compare to your target size (vitals zone of elk is say….24 inches?), and if the drop between pins is larger then adjust pin gap?

LongWayAround — do you miss having a 60 yd pin? Any particular reason you went 4 over 3 or 5?

30 / 40 / 50 as this gets me 0 - 60 without sliding.

15 yard gaps are a touch too complex for me when the pressure is on. I also used to have 5 pins but split the wrong pins one time and missed a great buck, never again.

 

[nphunter]

5 pins for me, I’ve shot several animals right at 60 and my average is around 40. I’ve seen way to many shot opportunities be missed while elk hunting from people dialing their sights. I also have a double indicator but never use it, IMO there is too much room for error in the heat of the moment. I just want to range and shoot or dial and be done. I’ve never wished that I had less pins or felt my picture was too cluttered for hunting.

 

[Tilzbow]

Spot Hogg Boonie with three .019 pins set at 27, 40 and 50. I used a .010 for the bottom pin for years but changed to .019 this year due to older eyes and my long range accuracy hasn’t really changed but I do focus more on the target than the pin which helps with bigger pins. The top pin works for any shot 30 yards or under. Past 50 I’m using the bottom pin as my floater and taking the time to range and move the slider. My 500 grain arrows are leaving bow at 290 FPS.

I shot 5 pins for 35 years but changed to 3 pins this year and prefer it. A few years ago, with my older eyes, I missed out on an opportunity at a bull at last light as I struggled to find the right pin due to the clutter and brightness of 5 pins.

 

[Laramie]

ALT & Laramie — what velocity are you getting out of your bow for the 15 yd pin gaps? I assume you check POI difference and compare to your target size (vitals zone of elk is say….24 inches?), and if the drop between pins is larger then adjust pin gap?

LongWayAround — do you miss having a 60 yd pin? Any particular reason you went 4 over 3 or 5?

315 fps with 435 grain arrow. I'm blessed with long draw length and shoot an aggressive bow. I never have to adjust gaps but I do practice a lot and I don't shoot at deer past 40 yards.

 

[jonesn3]

Spot Hogg Boonie with three .019 pins set at 27, 40 and 50. I used a .010 for the bottom pin for years but changed to .019 this year due to older eyes and my long range accuracy hasn’t really changed but I do focus more on the target than the pin which helps with bigger pins. The top pin works for any shot 30 yards or under. Past 50 I’m using the bottom pin as my floater and taking the time to range and move the slider. My 500 grain arrows are leaving bow at 290 FPS.

I shot 5 pins for 35 years but changed to 3 pins this year and prefer it. A few years ago, with my older eyes, I missed out on an opportunity at a bull at last light as I struggled to find the right pin due to the clutter and brightness of 5 pins.

Good grief, that’s awesome, my 512 gr arrows are doing 275 fps from DL 29.5” DW 70lbs

 

[jonesn3]

315 fps with 435 grain arrow. I'm blessed with long draw length and shoot an aggressive bow. I never have to adjust gaps but I do practice a lot and I don't shoot at deer past 40 yards.

That’s some speed! Understand why you like the 3 pin. My RevoltX 70lbs on Performance mode with 80%LO (about as aggressive as I can make it) is doing about 295 fps with a 435 gr arrows!

 

[seanpistol]

I’ve been using a 5 pin for a while. Just got a Spot Hogg Boonie in the triple stack to clean up the clutter. Probably aetting the 3 pins at 25, 40, 50 for hunting. If you’re anywhere between 15 and 35 yards, stick the 25 yard pin on it and you’re only off by inches. If they’re further than 60, I’ll have time to use the slider.

.010 pins for me, I have good eyesight, not everybody does. But for long shots the .019 pins take up most of what you’re shooting at.

 

[ATL]

I had a bit more time this afternoon to assist with setting up the trick pin system. I hope no one minds, I really think it is a good aiming system for unknown distances in the elk woods. I want to do what I can to help anyone that is willing to give it a try.

For elk I use my fixed 50 yard pin for any shot between 8-43 yards using this method. I do not need to know the exact distance, just that the elk is within this range. If calling or ambushing an elk at any particular area all I need to do is laser items (rocks/trees/bushes/etc.) around me to identify the edge of the 43 yard radius. All distances inside 43 yards is in the kill zone for the trick pin system.

All shots between 8-43 yards impact within a 7.75” high group in the center of the kill zone of an elk, and all I need to do is aim at a single well defined aim point to group in this area. The most difficult part of shooting with this method is training yourself to hold the 50 yard pin below the intended POI, instead holding the POA with the 50 yard pin at the bottom edge of the chest. Once you practice this POA and get use to it, I can’t think of a simpler method in the heat of the moment for quick shots over such a large area of unknown distances.

The arrows obviously do not hit directly behind the pin, all shots impact above the aim point, but solidly in the kill zone. For my bow at 280 fps, the 8 and 43 yard POI is 6.25” above the POA. The highest point of the trajectory at 25-26 yards impacts 14” above POA. Every distance between 8-43 yards falls in between the identified high and low POI.

A faster or slower arrow may need to adjust the fixed pin distance setting, but it should be close to 50 yards. The MPBR may be different than my identified 8/43 yards, but should be close to that.

The attached photograph should assist with visualizing this simple aiming system:
For this example the bull’s chest is 27” tall.
POA with the 50 yard pin is 0”
8/43 yard POI is POA +6.25”
25/26 yard POI is POA +14”
All distances between 8-43 yards impact vertically between the two identified POI’s.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've been using 7-pin Spot Hoggs for years.....all .019" pins.

 

[LFC911]

3 pin Black Gold Mountain Lite all .010 red/green alternating colors set for 20/30/40 and dial if further.

 

[nphunter]

I had a bit more time this afternoon to assist with setting up the trick pin system. I hope no one minds, I really think it is a good aiming system for unknown distances in the elk woods. I want to do what I can to help anyone that is willing to give it a try.

For elk I use my fixed 50 yard pin for any shot between 8-43 yards using this method. I do not need to know the exact distance, just that the elk is within this range. If calling or ambushing an elk at any particular area all I need to do is laser items (rocks/trees/bushes/etc.) around me to identify the edge of the 43 yard radius. All distances inside 43 yards is in the kill zone for the trick pin system.

All shots between 8-43 yards impact within a 7.75” high group in the center of the kill zone of an elk, and all I need to do is aim at a single well defined aim point to group in this area. The most difficult part of shooting with this method is training yourself to hold the 50 yard pin below the intended POI, instead holding the POA with the 50 yard pin at the bottom edge of the chest. Once you practice this POA and get use to it, I can’t think of a simpler method in the heat of the moment for quick shots over such a large area of unknown distances.

The arrows obviously do not hit directly behind the pin, all shots impact above the aim point, but solidly in the kill zone. For my bow at 280 fps, the 8 and 43 yard POI is 6.25” above the POA. The highest point of the trajectory at 25-26 yards impacts 14” above POA. Every distance between 8-43 yards falls in between the identified high and low POI.

A faster or slower arrow may need to adjust the fixed pin distance setting, but it should be close to 50 yards. The MPBR may be different than my identified 8/43 yards, but should be close to that.

The attached photograph should assist with visualizing this simple aiming system:
For this example the bull’s chest is 27” tall.
POA with the 50 yard pin is 0”
8/43 yard POI is POA +6.25”
25/26 yard POI is POA +14”
All distances between 8-43 yards impact vertically between the two identified POI’s.

View attachment 823750

How many elk have you killed and how many have you lost due to a bad hit. I'm not a fan of the trick pin, too much room for error and it's pretty risky hitting an elk below 8/43 unless your forward of the leg bone into the heart. You are hitting the diagram if you hit POA and you better have a huge cutting head on if you want to kill one hitting it there.


Here is a shot that hit POA in you pic, the bull didn't die from this hit but I used a big cut expandable and essentially dumped his blood and guts out and he went and laid down 20 yards from where he was hit and I had to put another arrow in him after sneaking up on him and watching him suffer. IMO if I were shooting a COC fixed head the bull would have never been recovered from that shot. Back 1-2" from POA is 100% guts and forward 1-2" is a leg bone you aren't getting through.