Holding at 6O'Clock vs. Dead-on

[Doegirl]

When I sight in rifles, I hold the crosshairs at 6O'Clock directly under the "x-ring", approximately 1/2" below dead center.
I don't hear of anyone doing this for archery. I have to wonder, how are you suppose to concentrate dead center of the center of the x-ring when it's obliterated by the sight pin?
I'm tempted just to affix a 1'' square piece of tape to the center of each bull and use the 6'oclock hold. At least I would be able to see what I'm aiming at.

[BT]

I set my sights up to be under or at 3 O'clock.
I use the pin as a pointer (as you describe) and it helps me stay on target much better due to the fact that I am not covering my point of aim.

[red]

I am with you two...glad to hear I wasn't the only one. I shot handguns quite a bit before starting archery and just find that it is very natural to hold my pin at 6 o'clock. Covering my point of aim makes me jerk the bow away to see if I've hit it instead of having a smooth follow through. Make sense?

[Doegirl]

red said:

I am with you two...glad to hear I wasn't the only one. I shot handguns quite a bit before starting archery and just find that it is very natural to hold my pin at 6 o'clock. Covering my point of aim makes me jerk the bow away to see if I've hit it instead of having a smooth follow through. Make sense?

Exactly what I do I "peek" to see the point of aim at the very last moment and of course that screws up the shot.

[kipohio]

I on the other hand like to completly cover the target. I know a few realy good 3 spot shooters whos pin completly covers the yellow and have to change targets cuase the X ring is shot out. ???I don't go to that extreme, I look after I hear the arrow hit the target.

[DocHolladay]

I hold dead center also. I know what you are talking about on the pistols Red. But you can also hold dead center with them and hit dead center. Most pistol sights arent adjustable where bow sights are. I teach Boy Scouts how to shoot bb guns and I teach both ways. The young kids are easier to teach by putting the outer circle on top of the sights, but the older kids seem to like putting the "bullseye" on top of the sights. They tend to get excited when they hit the bulls.

[fred70]

I hold at 6 so I can see the spot I want to hit my rifles are set the same way! someone told me along time ago it is more accurate to see what you are shooting at. I beleive they call it shooting top of site.
Not to mention you can break more nocks when you can center directly under it!LOL!

[buckfvr]

I hold dead on with the pin I decide is correct for the estimated yardage on 3-D's. I then use 12 o'clock hold if my estimation is say 34 or 35....and use a 6 o'clock hold if it is say 27, 28ish. This way I dont have to try and shoot between the pins for odd yardage, I always have a spot to plant my pin. R

[oldfarmsblueman]

???Never gave it a thought with a bow.I will shoot
some guns at 6:00 when sighting them in.My deer
rifles I have one inch high at 50 yds.and hold dead on
my target.I know where they hit if I have to compensate.
90% of the deer I have shot are 50-70 yds.Back in
Newburg Ny 1966 I shot woodchucks out to 400yds.
with a 22-250 that I built.I would hold on where I wanted
to hit.Those 20 year old eyes are MISSED to day ;D.
I used to target shoot a heavey barrel 308 and would
sight it in 2 in to the right,and have 3 or 4 diff.size small round
dots lined up to see with fit in the center of my cross hairs
and just peaked out on 4 sides.With a gun and I think a
bow the smaller your target the tighter you will shoot IMO
With the bow I aim at where I want the arrow to go.In my
mind it gives me more room for error.High,low,right or left

[CopperHead]

In the Marine Corps we teach to use a the 6 o'clock point of aim for longer distances when it is not feasible to hold center mass. But many primary marksmanship instructors (PMIs) will teach it and allow the shooter to chose whihc method they prefer and how and when they use it. With optics though we have always taught point of aim point of impact as the sight generally does not obstruct the view of the target.

With todays high speed riggs and minimal pin gap it could be hard for some to use that method. BT's method sounds like a great alternative in place of the 6 o'clock point of aim for archers though.

Generally with the bow I move the sight to the 3 o'clock position and move it over to cover the spot I am aiming at then touch of the relase. This method does case me to error slightly right alot though.