When I build a bow I want one that will stand up to the conditions and is easy to use. The sight is half of that equation.
Sight choice depends on what you hunt. There is no universal best. Here's how I think about it, and the exact models I run.
The Three Categories That Matter
- Fixed multi-pin: Three to seven pins set at fixed yardages. The traditional hunting sight.
- Slider: One pin, or a hybrid with a few fixed pins on top and a slider for distance. Dial to range.
- Target sight: Long bar, premium scope, single pin. For competition.
Fixed Multi-Pin: My Picks
For a fixed-pin hunter — tree stand, blind, anywhere shots come fast inside 40 yards — I'm a fan of two:
- Spot Hogg Hogg-It: Micro-adjustable. MRT pin guard. Lighter, longer sight bar than older Spot Hogg designs. Built like a tank. Lifetime warranty.
- Dialed Archery Strike: 7.5 oz precision-machined aluminum body, Cerakote finish, multiple pin configs (3H or 3VA dovetail). Mag-Swap compatible so the scope housing comes off if you want to throw it on a different bow. Lifetime warranty.
Black Gold Ascent Mountain Lite and HHA Optimizer Lite are fine if you already have them. They aren't where I start a new build.
Sliders: What I Personally Run
I shoot a slider on most of my hunting bows. Here are my picks in order.
- UltraView UV Slider with UV3XL SE scope. I have this on three bows right now. ~12.5 oz. Bridgelock, Picatinny, and dovetail mounts. Single-turn DualDial elevation with zero backlash, pre-leveled 1st and 3rd axes out of the box. The scope cartridge system means I can swap pin count or size without re-tuning the whole sight. Ships with 140-yard tapes, case, batteries. The fourth long-range bonus pin is a bigger deal than people give it credit for.
- Spot Hogg Boonie. Modular slider, removable tape wheel, enhanced micro-adjust. Single or double-pin ROTI configurations. Same Spot Hogg toughness, lighter package than the older Fast Eddie line.
- Honorable mention — Axcel DRIVR. 8.6 oz, marketed as the lightest slider out there. Top-to-bottom in 3/4 of a wheel turn with Micro Deadstop. AVX-41, AVX-31, or Accustat II scope options. Bridgelock, dovetail, or Picatinny. Comes in Coyote Tan, Stone Grey, Tactical Bowhunting Green, and Stealth Black. If light weight is the priority, this is the move.
Hunting Plus 3D, Stretching Shots Way Out
If you do both — hunt hard and shoot 3D, and you want to reach out past 80 — the Spot Hogg Hogg Father Pro is my pick. It combines the Hogg Father and Boonie features into one body: vertical micro-adjustable yardage wheel, refined micro-adjust windage, precision dovetail. I pair mine with the PRIZ, Spot Hogg's new-for-2026 lens insert that shifts the sight picture for zero magnification and crystal clarity. Note: PRIZ is a lens product, not a rangefinder. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Target Sight: One Answer
Axcel Achieve XP Pro. Hard to find something the XP Pro is missing. 6" and 9" lengths. Single-screw balanced tension on windage and elevation that locks down. New Diamond Weave ultra-high-modulus carbon bar cuts twist and vibration roughly in half. SVD damping in the elevation and windage GIB system. Compact 2nd/3rd axis scope block — about an ounce lighter than the old Achieve. Wedge Lock mount, Dual Bridge Technology. Comes in Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, Silver. MSRP $549.99.
Pin Diameter
- .010" pins: Fine. Best for target shooters and precision long-range hunters.
- .019" pins: Standard hunting pin. Good visibility, sharp enough at 60 yards.
- .029" pins: Heavy. Maximum low-light visibility, less precision at distance.
For most hunters: .019" across the board. For long-range western: .010" on the long pin, .019" up close.
Sight Light Reality
A sight light buys you 30 minutes of legal light morning and evening, depending on the state. Some states allow them. Some don't. Check your regs.
If you can use one, get a fiber-optic sight with a battery-powered rheostat. Half-power for legal light, full power for indoor or pre-dawn practice.
Level and Bubble
The bubble catches cant. You can't feel three degrees of cant. The bubble shows it. Every modern hunting sight has one. Use it. Especially from a treestand or sidehill.
Sight Tapes
Most sights ship with a generic tape. Get one printed for your actual bow, arrow, peep height, and sight model. The Forge prints custom sight tapes for the major sight brands. Enter your setup, get a tape PDF you cut and stick. Temperature compensation is in there for late season.
The Picks
- Fixed multi-pin: Spot Hogg Hogg-It or Dialed Archery Strike.
- Hunting slider: UltraView UV Slider with UV3XL SE. Spot Hogg Boonie. Axcel DRIVR if light weight matters most.
- Hunt + 3D, long shots: Spot Hogg Hogg Father Pro with PRIZ lens.
- Target: Axcel Achieve XP Pro.
The Honest Decision
Buy the sight for the shot you actually take. Stand hunter inside 40? Fixed multi-pin. Western hunter pushing 60+? Slider. Competitor? Target sight. Don't buy a competition rig to hunt whitetail. Don't try to stretch a 5-pin fixed to 80-yard elk.
Match the tool to the job. Practice with it until the sight picture is automatic.