Garmin Xero A1i - Anyone using it?

[X-Treme]

Just curious on the Garmin Xero A1i bow sight system. Anyone using one? Do you like it? I've heard both sides, but also heard that if you set it up PROPERLY, it works minty.

What are your thoughts?

[Lunch_box]

I have the A1i pro, I played with it a bit but ended up using my UV slider for hunting this season. Im going to give it another go around after hunting season and see how it compares. I want to get the Garmin xero C1 to make setup easier for different arrow profiles.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Too many things I see as drawbacks, I’ll stick to a multipin movable sight. If hunting in wet or foggy weather you are looking through a screen… if walking through tight bush I could see scratching or putting a stick through the screen. Just too many things that can affect a sight picture and a shot IMHO… also if you have to range through a small window can’t it do that? If you hunt open country or tree stands only, I could see it working well… but not better than other sights. Also it doesn’t meet the conditions of fair chase by B&C or P&Y standards.

LC

[Lunch_box]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Too many things I see as drawbacks, I’ll stick to a multipin movable sight. If hunting in wet or foggy weather you are looking through a screen… if walking through tight bush I could see scratching or putting a stick through the screen. Just too many things that can affect a sight picture and a shot IMHO… also if you have to range through a small window can’t it do that? If you hunt open country or tree stands only, I could see it working well… but not better than other sights. Also it doesn’t meet the conditions of fair chase by B&C or P&Y standards.

LC

The screen it self is tough, and pretty well protected by the housing, damaging it would be the least of my concerns. Moisture on the glass, that was one of my concerns though.

As for ranging in trees. If for whatever reason you can't get an accurate range you can always go to your set pins with a quick hit of the button, so thats not to bad.

[jcrayford]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

Just curious on the Garmin Xero A1i bow sight system. Anyone using one? Do you like it? I've heard both sides, but also heard that if you set it up PROPERLY, it works minty.

What are your thoughts?

Bought a used one from a fellow AOer almost 2 years ago. Haven't taken an animal with it (yet) but it's awesome. I'm still working with the original batteries that came with it - battery strength still shows full. Ranging with it is your typical rangefinder situation. If your handheld rangefinder will work through the weather conditions, the Xero A1i will too. The reticle for aiming provides another check on proper form at draw/ranging - if it's mis-aligned then something is off and it will show it prior to your release of the arrow.

I've got 2 arrow profiles set up in mine. My heavy (550 grain) hunting arrows and my light weight (400 grain) target arrows. Easy to switch between the two arrow profiles, a couple of button pushes. Choosing one from the other, the pin stack / ranged pin will automatically change (once you get either arrow dialed in). I'm going to look at buying different arrows after New Years so I'll have to set those up with another profile (10 profiles allowed), but it's an easy process to do that.

When I bought the sight, I was recovering from a shoulder injury and thought no better time to change things up. I've shot all types of sights; fixed horizontal stack, fixed vertical stack, slider sights, No-peep / rear peep sight, etc. This Garmin will remain on my bow and any future bows until something better comes along. It's easily (in my opinion) the best thing that has helped me shoot better, other than more practice. Speaking of practice, it has a practice mode that will allow you to track your shot patterns and show you tendencies to help refine your future practice sessions and get you dialed in better.

I looked at the Pro version too, but couldn't justify the extra cost. even to buy a new A1i I can't justify the cost which is why I looked at used.

YMMV

J.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by jcrayford

Bought a used one from a fellow AOer almost 2 years ago. Haven't taken an animal with it (yet) but it's awesome. I'm still working with the original batteries that came with it - battery strength still shows full. Ranging with it is your typical rangefinder situation. If your handheld rangefinder will work through the weather conditions, the Xero A1i will too. The reticle for aiming provides another check on proper form at draw/ranging - if it's mis-aligned then something is off and it will show it prior to your release of the arrow.

I've got 2 arrow profiles set up in mine. My heavy (550 grain) hunting arrows and my light weight (400 grain) target arrows. Easy to switch between the two arrow profiles, a couple of button pushes. Choosing one from the other, the pin stack / ranged pin will automatically change (once you get either arrow dialed in). I'm going to look at buying different arrows after New Years so I'll have to set those up with another profile (10 profiles allowed), but it's an easy process to do that.

When I bought the sight, I was recovering from a shoulder injury and thought no better time to change things up. I've shot all types of sights; fixed horizontal stack, fixed vertical stack, slider sights, No-peep / rear peep sight, etc. This Garmin will remain on my bow and any future bows until something better comes along. It's easily (in my opinion) the best thing that has helped me shoot better, other than more practice. Speaking of practice, it has a practice mode that will allow you to track your shot patterns and show you tendencies to help refine your future practice sessions and get you dialed in better.

I looked at the Pro version too, but couldn't justify the extra cost. even to buy a new A1i I can't justify the cost which is why I looked at used.

YMMV

J.

Great info!

I appreciate everyone's answers!

[Lunch_box]

Where abouts are you located X-Treme? If you are near the Beaumont area you can give mine a try before committing to buying one.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

Where abouts are you located X-Treme? If you are near the Beaumont area you can give mine a try before committing to buying one.

I'm in Sherwood Park. I may just take you up on that offer, thanks!!

[Lunch_box]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

I'm in Sherwood Park. I may just take you up on that offer, thanks!!

Sounds good, im am out on an acreage and can gout out to 90+ yards. Send me a PM if you end up wanting to.

[bezzola]

Buddy of mine has had 2 now and says he will not go back to a normal sight.
I want one but i also need a scope for the new rifle so i best decide to pick my battle.

[X-Treme]

My "used" (it's brand new, but bought from a fellow archer at an $800 discount) arrived today. A little late for this year, but LOTS of time to get it set up and used to it for next September!

[Lunch_box]

Nice find. What model did you end up going with?

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

Nice find. What model did you end up going with?

I got the A1i pro. It's the "Hoyt Edition". I think the only difference is that it also comes with the picatinny mount.

I just finished updating the firmware and will hopefully install it myself tonight. I was gonna have Jim Bows do the install and get them to crank the draw weight at the same time, but they're closed today.

[Lunch_box]

Ya just comes with the extra mount. Install is easy and setup isnt to bad. There are some good YouTube videos out there that helped me. I wish I had a chronograph though, would have made setup simpler.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

I wish I had a chronograph though, would have made setup simpler.

Yeah. I just watched a couple of videos, and saw that. May have to look at getting one, unless there's a range out there that has one for use.

[jcrayford]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

My "used" (it's brand new, but bought from a fellow archer at an $800 discount) arrived today. A little late for this year, but LOTS of time to get it set up and used to it for next September!

Uh oh...... You may want to pick up some muscle relaxer.... Your cheeks will be sore from all the smiling in the future....

Congrats! I'm eagerly awaiting hearing more about your testing.

I'm going to use mine tonight to hopefully play "tag" with a WT or Muley....

J.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

Ya just comes with the extra mount. Install is easy and setup isnt to bad. There are some good YouTube videos out there that helped me. I wish I had a chronograph though, would have made setup simpler.

I emailed Jim Bows in Edmonton, and they have a chrono that they'll let customers use (under strict supervision I would guess) to get accurate arrow speed.

[Lunch_box]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

I emailed Jim Bows in Edmonton, and they have a chrono that they'll let customers use (under strict supervision I would guess) to get accurate arrow speed.

Good to know. Ill have to swing by that way in the future.