Nova Archery Field Guide · Precision Setup
Sighting in a compound bow is a process of controlled correction. Shoot a consistent group, identify the center of that group, move the sight toward it, and repeat. The hard part is resisting the urge to adjust after every arrow.
This guide walks through a practical 20–40 yard sight-in for a multi-pin hunting sight. It assumes the bow is safely assembled, the peep and D-loop have been fitted, the rest is close to center, and the arrows are correctly spined. If any of those foundations are uncertain, have a qualified bow technician inspect the setup first.
Before moving sight pins, confirm that you can align the peep with the sight housing without lifting, lowering, or twisting your head.
Before you sight in a compound bow
A sight cannot fix an unsafe bow or inconsistent shooting form. Complete these checks before making fine adjustments:
- Inspect limbs, cams, strings, cables, fasteners, and arrows for damage.
- Confirm the draw length and draw weight allow a smooth, repeatable shot.
- Use arrows of the same model, spine, length, point weight, and fletching.
- Confirm the rest, sight, and stabilizer are secure.
- Align the peep so the sight housing appears naturally at full draw.
- Choose a large, safe target with a reliable backstop.
Never dry-fire a compound bow. If you hear a new noise, see serving separation, find a cracked arrow, or notice a cam or string problem, stop shooting and have the equipment inspected.
Use a repeatable aiming reference
Pick a target face with a sharply defined center. At full draw, center the circular sight housing inside the peep before settling the pin. This peep-to-housing relationship is often more repeatable than trying to judge tiny gaps around a single pin.
Keep your grip pressure, anchor points, facial pressure, and release execution the same. If you change the way you shoot while moving the sight, you are chasing two variables at once.
Step 1: Set the 20-yard pin
Begin closer than 20 yards if the bow has never been sighted. Five to ten yards gives you a safer first check and helps confirm that arrows will land on the target. Once impacts are safely centered, move to 20 yards.
- Shoot a three-arrow group. Use good arrows and the same aiming point. Do not adjust after a single shot.
- Ignore one obvious bad shot. If you know you punched the trigger or collapsed, mark it as shooter error and shoot another arrow.
- Find the group center. Think of the average impact location, not the closest arrow to the bull's-eye.
- Follow the arrow. Move the sight in the direction the group needs to move. If the group is low, move the sight pin or housing down. If the group is left, move the sight left.
- Make a small correction. Tighten the adjustment, shoot another group, and evaluate again.
Continue until the center of several good groups matches the aiming point. One perfect group is encouraging; repeated centered groups are evidence.
Step 2: Set the 30- and 40-yard pins
After the 20-yard pin is dependable, move back in 10-yard increments. For a typical multi-pin sight, keep the top pin as the 20-yard reference, then adjust the next pin for 30 yards and the next for 40.
At each distance:
- Shoot three to five arrows with a deliberate pace.
- Judge vertical error first.
- Move only the individual pin up or down when horizontal impact is already correct.
- Repeat until multiple groups are centered.
- Return to the previous distance and verify that nothing shifted.
Your groups will naturally grow with distance. That does not mean every wide group requires a sight adjustment. If arrows scatter equally around the center, the sight may already be correct; work on execution instead.
| Observed group | Likely sight correction | What to move |
|---|---|---|
| Consistently low | Move sight reference down | Individual pin or housing |
| Consistently high | Move sight reference up | Individual pin or housing |
| All distances left | Move sight left | Housing windage |
| All distances right | Move sight right | Housing windage |
| Random scatter | Do not chase with the sight | Check form and equipment |
Step 3: Correct left and right impact
Windage is usually adjusted by moving the entire sight housing left or right. Because this affects every pin, base the correction on repeated groups across more than one distance.
If the 20-, 30-, and 40-yard groups all land left by a similar amount, move the housing left. If only one distance behaves differently, pause before moving anything. Inconsistent anchor pressure, grip torque, peep alignment, wind, or an emerging tune problem may be responsible.
Use smaller changes as distance increases
A sight movement that appears minor at the bow can create a meaningful impact shift downrange. As you get close, use micro-adjustments if your sight provides them. Record the direction and number of clicks so you can reverse a change that does not help.
Step 4: Verify the complete pin gap
Shoot each marked distance in a mixed order rather than finishing all arrows at one range. For example: one arrow at 20, one at 30, one at 40, then repeat. This tests whether you are selecting the correct pin and rebuilding the shot consistently instead of settling into a rhythm at one distance.
Next, test a few known in-between distances. Do not invent a pin hold under pressure. Learn where the arrow impacts at 25 and 35 yards and write down the reference you will use. A rangefinder removes distance guessing; it does not remove the need to know your pin picture.
Step 5: Confirm hunting arrows with broadheads
Field-point accuracy is not the final hunting check. Broadheads can expose tuning, arrow, or form issues that field points do not make obvious. Use a target rated for your broadhead type and follow the manufacturer's handling instructions.
- Confirm every broadhead is assembled correctly and spins true.
- Start at a close, safe distance.
- Compare broadhead groups with field-point groups using the same arrow specification.
- If the two groups separate consistently, diagnose tune before simply moving the sight.
- Once they group together, make the final small sight correction if needed.
Do not wait until the evening before a hunt. Broadhead confirmation may reveal a rest alignment, cam timing, arrow-spine, vane-clearance, or shooter-torque issue that needs professional attention.
Why your compound bow will not group consistently
You are adjusting too often
One arrow is a sample, not a trend. Unless the impact is dangerously far from the target, shoot a full group before moving the sight. Make one change at a time.
Your grip pressure changes
Excess pressure or inconsistent hand placement twists the bow at the shot. Place the grip along the meaty pad at the base of the thumb, keep the fingers relaxed, and let the bow sit in the same position each time.
Your anchor or peep picture changes
Use repeatable contact references: release hand position, nose-to-string contact when appropriate, and the sight housing centered in the peep. Avoid forcing your head toward the string.
You are fatigued
Stop when your bow shoulder rises, the pin will not settle, or the release becomes rushed. Fatigue groups are not reliable sighting data. A shorter, focused session beats 30 poor arrows.
The setup needs tuning
Loose accessories, fletching contact, unsuitable arrow spine, cam-timing problems, or rest alignment can create inconsistent impact. Mark bolts with a fine paint pen to make movement easier to spot, and use a qualified technician for work beyond routine sight adjustment.
A simple sight-in log
Record the date, weather, arrow, point or broadhead, draw-weight setting, sight marks, and group notes. A log helps distinguish a true equipment shift from a single difficult day. Reconfirm after transporting the bow, changing arrows, changing draw weight, replacing strings, or making any adjustment that affects tune.
A protective bow case can reduce the chance of bumps during transport, but you should still check sight and rest fasteners before shooting. If you are building a complete setup, see the NOVA ORIGIN compound bow and have the full system fitted to your draw length and intended use.
Frequently asked questions
What distance should I sight in a compound bow?
Start at 5–10 yards when the bow is not yet on target, then establish a 20-yard reference. Add longer-distance pins only after the closer pin is repeatable.
Which way do I move a bow sight?
Move the sight toward the arrows. If the group is low, move the sight down; if the group is left, move the sight left.
How many arrows should I shoot before adjusting?
Usually three to five well-executed arrows. Exclude a shot only when you clearly recognize an execution error. Adjust from the group center, not the best arrow.
Should broadheads and field points hit the same place?
A well-matched, well-tuned setup should allow them to group together at practical distances. A consistent separation is useful diagnostic information and should be addressed before the final sight correction.
Why does my bow hit differently the next day?
Fatigue, grip, anchor, lighting, wind, loose hardware, string settling, and transport can all change impact. Check equipment, warm up, and compare several groups before changing the sight.
Bottom line: Build the 20-yard reference first, follow the center of repeated groups, adjust one variable at a time, and verify every hunting setup with the exact broadheads you will carry. A sight mark is trustworthy only when you can reproduce it.
Continue Your Setup
