What size sight-pins should I use?

Question:
Which is better for hunting: lighted sights or fiber optic sights? Do you recommend the large or small pin diameter?

Answer:
Several companies are now making fiber optic sights that can be used either with or without an artificial light module. You can rely on just the light-gathering ability of the fiber optics until the light gets low, then you can flip a switch to make one or more pins brighter. Most of these sights are really well built and streamlined. But there is a downside. First, these sights disqualify you from entering any game into the Pope & Young record book. Second, if the light module covers the end of the fiber optic pin it won’t receive as much ambient light and the pin will be slightly darker than normal early and late in the day. Of course you can always flip the switch and take care of that.

If you will be using a sight with an artificial light attachment the small diameter pins (approx. .019 inch or smaller) will do a very good job. However, the larger pins (up to .050) are more visible if no artificial light is used. Some shooters don’t like the larger pins because they block too much of the target for precise long-range shooting. This may be true on the 3-D range, but we haven’t found it to be the case under hunting conditions where average shot distance is shorter.

See the Axion Trax Loc AX-405 Sight For an amazing desing with .020 wrapped fiber optics that are very bright but don’t obscure the sight picture. Also, this sight features a quick on/off feature that is really cool!