Trophy Ridge React Pro Review: The 5-Pin Sight That Sets Its Own Pins

Sighting in a multi-pin bow sight is one of the more tedious jobs in archery. You set each pin at its own distance, one by one, and repeat whenever anything changes. Trophy Ridge's React series promises to cut that work down: set the first two pins, and the rest move to the right positions automatically. The React Pro is the higher-spec 5-pin version. This review explains how that works, what else the sight offers, and who it is for.

The short version

The React Pro is a 5-pin fixed-pin hunting sight. It uses React Technology: once you sight in the two shortest-distance pins, the remaining three pins are positioned automatically using the arrow trajectory those two settings imply. It has fibre-optic pins in .019-inch (right and left hand) or .010-inch (right hand only) diameters, tool-less micro-click windage and elevation, third-axis adjustment, a rheostat light and a glow ring, and is built from aluminium with stainless steel hardware.

How React Technology works

An arrow's trajectory follows a predictable curve. If you know exactly where it hits at two distances, you can calculate where it will be at longer ones. React sights use that principle mechanically: the pins are linked so that adjusting the first two moves the others in proportion.

In practice the process Trophy Ridge describes is:

1. Sight in the first pin at its distance, typically 20 yards.
2. Sight in the second pin at its distance, typically 30 yards.
3. The remaining three pins move automatically to their positions for the longer distances.
4. Confirm by shooting at those longer distances and fine-tune if needed.

Trophy Ridge says this lets you sight in all five pins in a fraction of the usual time. It is still worth checking every pin by shooting, because arrow weight, form and conditions can all shift long-range impact slightly.

Pin size: .019 or .010?

Pin diameter is the most important choice when ordering a fixed-pin sight.

Most hunters choose .019 because legal shooting light often begins and ends in dim conditions. The .010 option is right-hand only.

Adjustments and features

• Tool-less micro-click windage and elevation. Adjust by turning knobs in small, repeatable clicks rather than loosening screws, which makes field adjustments practical.
• Third axis. Aligns the sight's level with the bow when it is canted for steep uphill or downhill shots, so the level reads true at full draw. This matters most for treestand and mountain hunting.
• Rheostat light. A dimmer that lets you brighten the pins in low light without making them flare. Check local hunting rules on lighted sights.
• Glow ring. A luminous ring around the sight housing that helps centre the peep in low light.
• Fibre-optic yardage indicators. Help identify each pin at a glance.

Mounting options

Trophy Ridge sells the React Pro in versions for standard sight mounts and integrated mounting systems, including IMS and Mathews Bridge-Lock. Check which version fits your bow's riser before ordering.

Fitting and setting up the sight

1. Mount the sight to the riser with the supplied bolts, using the version that matches your bow's mounting system.
2. Level the sight: with the bow held vertical in a bow vise or by a helper, adjust the second axis so the bubble reads level when the bow is level.
3. Set the third axis if you will shoot at steep angles: with the bow at full draw at a steep angle, the bubble should still read level when the bow is not canted. Many archers have a shop do this.
4. Install a peep sight in the string at a height that lets you see through it naturally at your anchor.
5. Sight in the first two pins at their distances, then confirm and fine-tune the automatically set pins.

Maintenance

• Keep fibre-optic pins clean and dry; check them for cracks, which dim the pin.
• Check mounting bolts and pin guard screws before each season.
• Re-check sight marks whenever you change arrows, draw weight, or string and cables.
• Keep the rheostat light's battery fresh before hunting season.

Fixed pins versus single-pin sliders

Trophy Ridge also sells single-pin React One models for archers who prefer a slider.

Common mistakes

• Ordering the wrong mounting version for the riser.
• Choosing .010 pins and then struggling to see them at dusk.
• Skipping the level adjustment, which causes misses left or right at distance.
• Trusting automatically set pins without shooting each distance.

Who the React Pro suits

• Bowhunters who want a fixed-pin sight that is fast to set up and adjust.
• Archers changing arrows or draw weights who would otherwise re-sight five pins from scratch.
• Owners of adjustable compounds such as the Bear Cruzer G3 and Diamond Infinite 305 whose set-ups change as they progress.

Who should look elsewhere

• Target archers generally prefer a single-pin slider or a scope with a magnifying lens.
• Recurve archers use a different style of sight entirely; World Archery rules for recurve do not allow magnified or multi-pin hunting sights.
• Archers on a tight budget may find entry-level fixed-pin sights adequate if they rarely change set-up.

You can see React Pro listings on Amazon. Check hand, pin size and mounting version in the listing.

Frequently asked questions

What distances should I set the pins for?

Most hunters use 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards, but set them for the distances you will actually shoot. If you never shoot past 40 yards, you might use 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40.

Does React Technology work with any arrow?

It is designed around typical arrow trajectories. Heavier or slower set-ups may need fine-tuning on the longer pins, which is why you should confirm every pin by shooting.

Is a lighted sight legal for hunting?

It depends on where you hunt. Some jurisdictions restrict lighted sights. Check your local regulations.