Pendulum sights.

[Doegirl]

I hunt from a treestand 99% of the time. Would it be beneficial for me to look into a pendulum sight? I don't shoot the fastest setup (215-235fps) and my max yardage is 25. Thoughts?

[Greg Krause]

It depends. I used them and didn't like them. even at your speeds one pin set at 20yds should sufice with just a little hold over at 25yds.

Pendulems work well, but are designed to be shot from a tree on level terrain at the same height each time. meaning, if your stands are different heights it won't work as well, or if you have stands in trees on hillsides it won't work as well. I also shoot a bit from the ground...
I have too many stands at different heghts and on all sorts of terrain for it to be practical for me. It may work for you just fine though.

[BT]

The pendulum went the way of the doo doo for a number of reasons but shops still carry them because somebody is going to buy one eventually
Back in the day....long long ago....the pendulum had a use but it was not the use for which it was intended.
That is to say that the benefit never was due to what people believed the facts to be.

Here is the old adage (just in case it's the one that you have heard) when shooting downward , gravity acts to assist the arrows flight and therefore , the arrow loses less vertical drop. (I.E.: gains elevation)
In all practical application this is a falsehood and I will attempt to explain why and in doing so , hopefully keep you from buying something that you don't need.....IMO

Within the bows (any bows) flat flight capability , there is no elevations drop to account for.....so within that area , downward angle doesn't change because there is nothing existing to change.
Any hunting bow of any style has a 15 yard flat flight potential and (Tuned) bows in the 230fps range are capable of a 20 yards flat flight potential (+/- 1")
(Forget the Easton flight curve chart....worthless )

So....in any case , the shot that is within flat flight will not gain any measurable change in the area of impact.
Once distance is increased to 20 yards , the elevational change is minimal....perhaps 15% and this will translate to a maximum % elevational gain of 15%.
For an average shot window of 1.2" per yard , a 15% change equates to a 3/16" difference in elevation.
What this means is that you would have to be 20 yards off your mark to miss a 4" window
If you are off 20 yards....4" isn't going to matter

Understand?

[jamaltwy]

I have used 2 different pendulum sights 1 by trophy ridge and the latest by summit called the hot dot deluxe... I really like the hot dot but it is not for everyone I'm a tech-no geek this is all electronic but shot dead on out to 35 yards and at different heights and even up hill... my TR was good also but sometimes from shooting on level ground alot when i shot from a tree i had to make sure it didn't stick to the rubber padding for noise once i made sure it swung free it was OK took deer with both but with the new summit you can set it up for slow , med. , and fast bows and it compensates my suggestion is if you can find one used try it and see if it suits you!! Or you can buy the new ARC range finders and it will tell you what distance you should aim for...

hope this helps!!

[Doegirl]

BT, I get what you're saying. I've never heard that theory before. Kind of hard to believe that an arrow shot downwards will somehow be flatter shooing. That's strange one, alright ;D Here's my thoughts.

1. When on an elevated stand, the shooter forms an imaginary triangle with the target.

2. Of course, the distance the shooter should be aiming for the distance between the base of the tree to the target. Not from the shooter to the target (the hypotenuse (sp?)) of the triangle.

3. My feelings are that the pendulum could help with compensating for the angle (shooter to target) of the shot. Since I pretty much climb to the same height each time I hunt and the distance is short, thought there maybe some merit in a pendulum for me. Or maybe not

[Greg Krause]

Do you have a range finder?
If you do try this. Range the bottom of a tree that is within your range, now range the trunk where it is level with you.

You may be suprised. unless you are very high, the difference will only be a yard or so and gets less as you move out in range.

There will be no noticable differnce in range at 15-29' up..........as i said maybe 1 or 2 yds.

[BT]

Skipmaster has it on the money.
Lets take the 15 yard flat flight bow and look at it's value in this situation.
At 20 yards , a 15' height equates to a 5 yard gain in visual and that might throw you..... but the fact is that you are shooting 20 yards.
You should always range the tree in front of you , at your height.
The reason people tend to shoot over an animal is because they are shooting the base of that tree with the range finder.
(or their eye....whatever the case may be)

Now....that 15' height is half of the total because of the angle of trajectory therefore it nets 2.5 yards instead of 5 yards total.
Taking that number a dividing it by 2 (as was done in my first example) we end up with a 1.25 yard difference which adjusts the impact to 1.35" maximum

[Doegirl]

I'm gathering there's relatively little to gain with a pendulum, then
Thanks-I'll now keep my money in my pocket at least a few minutes longer ;D