The learning curve associated with a crossbow may be much shorter than that of a compound bow, and it certainly takes much less time to become proficient with one than it does with a recurve or a longbow.
All the same, that thing isn’t going to be much use to you if the bolts don’t go where the sights indicate (or the optic, for that matter).
Fortunately, sighting one in is basically the same as sighting in a rifle, whether you shoot over open irons or have an optic like a scope or a red dot mounted over the rail. Here’s what to know.
Sighting in a Crossbow with Iron Sights
The first step, whatever type of sights you use, is to set up a target with an appropriate backstop at a given range. For a crossbow, 20 yards is a good range to sight in, since most shots on game will likely take place at ranges closer than that. That being said, you can sight in your cross either closer or farther than that; it’s up to you. Just remember that your bolts will fly a little high if your zero is farther off, and that bolts will drop beyond that zero.
For sight-in, it also benefits you immensely to have a stable shooting rest that will completely support the crossbow, so that it will remain stationary once you take the shot and go to adjust the sights.
Once you have the target set up, cock the crossbow, lay a bolt on the rail against the string, and place the crossbow in the shooting rest.
Take aim at a point on the target, and fire the first bolt. Take note of where it landed. Then cock the crossbow and repeat that process three times.
If your bolts all landed in roughly the same area on the target, you can get started with sight in.
After the final shot, leave the crossbow in the shooting rest, pointed where it was after it fired the last bolt. Then, adjust the rear sight in the direction opposite where the groups fell; that is, if the bolts went high and to the right, you need to adjust your rear sight down and to the left.
Make these adjustments until the point of aim through the sight picture over your iron sights roughly corresponds to where your group of three bolts landed.
Clear the range, gather your bolts, and repeat the process, refining the steps detailed here until you have sighted in the crossbow.
Sighting in a Crossbow with an Optic
All steps to sight in a crossbow with an optic, such as a red dot sight or a scope, are the same as they are for iron sights, with one exception.
After you set up the target and fire your group of three bolts, leave the crossbow in the shooting rest, then adjust your reticle or red dot. However, whereas you move the rear sight in the opposite direction, with a reticle or red dot, you move that towards the grouping.
So, adjust your red dot or reticle so that it is positioned over the center of the group. Then repeat the process until you are satisfactorily sighted-in.
Here for a New Crossbow?
If you landed here because you need a new crossbow, or an optic for one like a scope or red dot sight, make your first visit online to BudK. They carry a variety of simple recurve and compound crossbows at surprisingly competitive prices.
Visit their website or get in touch with them if you have questions or need more information before you buy.
