I shoot 3-under and use a high anchor for gap shooting. When I tried to shoot using a sight I had to lower my anchor point to avoid interference problems for a pin set for any distance beyond about 20 yards. I'm no expert, but it seemed to me that the geometry is what it is, and that I had to make a choice. I wanted to use a sight to try to improve my fundamentals. I'll be interested to see what the more experienced people have to say on this. I am just using a sight bracket off a simple old Cobra sight. They have similar ones at ewbateman.com

Mike

 

if you can locate one, an old merrill heart-shot sight will allow you mount it as high or low as need be.

it can be taped onto the riser until you find the lacation you want then drill two holes for the mounting screws.

 

I think you may find that any kind of side-of-the-face anchor will create a substantial right/left orientation problem with traditional target sights. FITA and Olympic competitions outside the compound categories don't usually allow a peep sight on the string. This means that your right/left orientation - eye to sight pin - must be taken off the string. You will typically align the string verically along the side of the bow profile or right down through the sight pin. To do this you will need a center-of-the-face anchor, typically center of chin with fingers under the chin. Just about any good target sight will give you sufficient up/down adjustment even for this radically low anchor. Also, a kisser button will help your up/down sight orientation. It provides repeatability much like a peep sight does for side of the face compounders. Indeed, many compounders use both. Advantage for you is that a kisser is allowed in most traditional freestyle (sight) shooting.

 

As an afterthought, Hootsma, I'm not saying you can't shoot sights off the side of your face without a peep; I am saying that I don't think you'll be satisfied with the accuracy. After all, if you're going to strap on a sight for anything more than just a temporary form check, you want it to make you more accurate. As to changing your anchor, if you're looking to shoot sights without losing your barebow gapping form, I think straining to get sight alignment will really mess with your head and cause you to lose form quality on your gap anchor. A switch to underchin is so radical it won't affect your side-face gapping position, and it will make your sight shooting oh so much more accurate. I know many shooters, and one very successful competitor, who switch constantly without any negative affect on their form in either position. One of those was the Ohio barebow and FITA seniors champion three or four years ago.
Good luck with whatever you try.

Mike

 

i used to use a prism mounted on a threaded rod that was interchangeable with most sight pins.
they worked great.
most of the ones i used had a red center dot that was quick and easy to put on a target or animal.
don't know if they are still sold or not.
i don't know where mine are! anyone have one still?
larry

 

Fita Sight

I anchor using my tooth and have been shooting a fita style sight with pretty decent success. I use the canine tooth and a champion style sight.
I would think your problem would come from having the sight so close to the arrow when the fletching contacted the sight??? Maybe i am doing something horribly wrong, but it seems to be working my scores are getting better.

Accuracy has two c's and I am begining to see they stand for concentration and consistancy!!!!!

 

I don't have a problem with my first finger, corner of the mouth using a sight at all. Just pay attention where the string lines up on the riser or near it and make sure you put in the same place for each shot. With your high anchor make sure the top feather is not going to hit the sight pin.

Larry...I have a couple of the old prisms lying around somewhere too. Used to use one when shooting the York round (100 yds) way back when in the dark ages when recurves ruled. Sure was weird holding the prism on the target but your sight was not lined up with the target, sure were fun times with this "not trad" stuff near 50 years ago. Remember the little dental mirror mounted above the arrow on the lower part of the sight and used as a draw check? That was well before someone thought of the clicker...Also had a prism that would let me hold on the 180 yd clout flag pole, bow was angled way up in the air but the sight was on the target a long ways out there...warf

 

bob, i sure do remember the dental mirror! and you're right, if it were'nt for all the 30 and 40 somethings telling us whats what we would be lost. i did'nt know for instance that you had to shoot full length arrows! complete surprise to me!
and i'm really ashamed to let anyone know the total arrow weight that killed my last elk!
now that i'm shooting full length 1900 gr. front weighted arrows life is much simpler. i raise my bow arm, being careful to not see it or my arrow, draw back to somewhere and release. i can then simply bend over, pick up my arrow, and shoot again.
i sold my quiver and all my other arrows and am a happy guy!!!
and now i know mirrors belong in the dentists office and sights are on guns.

 

Lol

Warf,

Haven't seen one of those mirror draw checks in years. Hadn't even thought about them until you brought them up. I don't even see them on the old target recurves for sale on eBay.

Friend of mine visited a Clout Shoot in England. Said they had rubber washers around the lower limb of their ELBs and moved them up and down (using it as an elevation reference) until they got their arrows dropping near the stake.

Bet the neo-trads would say that was un-traditional too!

Dave

 

Larry...Guess all those top of the line Bear Tammerlanes and Howatt Del Ray's and other fine target recurves made in the 60's were being used for bow fishing, can't imagine that threaded bushing under the grip ever being used for a stabalizer, not traditional. Does get a little old hearing how it was back then by somebody born in the 80's. A lot more archers shot with sights than shot without them, the Bear Tammerlane had a slideing target sight built into the side of the sight window, I think It was the Root target bows had nice maple and micarta laminations running right down the back of the sight window, worked out to be about five yards apart for those so inclined to use them for a sight. Boy, sure side tracked this thread pretty good!!..lol...warf

 

now that i'm shooting full length 1900 gr. front weighted arrows life is much simpler. i raise my bow arm, being careful to not see it or my arrow, draw back to somewhere and release. i can then simply bend over, pick up my arrow, and shoot again.

Ha, ha, ha... Good stuff Larry!

John.