Compound bows come equipped with special sights designed to help improve an archer's accuracy. One of these, the pin sight, is located on the bow stave and consists of one or more pins protruding from the side of the stave; the archer uses the sight by lining the end of the pin with her intended target. The other sight, known as the peep sight, is an optional accessory that the archer attaches to the bowstring and lines up with the pin sight before firing.
Pin Sight
Step 1
Grip the bow in one hand and nock an arrow on the bowstring with the other. Fit the front end of the arrow onto the arrow rest. Loop your fingers over the bowstring, so that your index finger is positioned above the arrow and your remaining fingers are positioned below.
Step 2
Stand facing away from the target, with the shoulder of the arm holding the bow pointed in the direction you wish to fire. Extend the bow arm towards the target. Pull the bowstring back until your hand is near your face.
Step 3
Look through the bow sight towards your target. Release the bowstring to fire the arrow. Reload a new arrow and fire as before. Repeat until you have fired a group of three or four arrows at the target. Note the grouping of the arrows, relative to the bullseye.
Step 4
Use an allen wrench or Phillips screwdriver to loosen the nut securing the pin sight in place. Slide the sight towards the same direction where your arrows landed; for example, if your arrows landed down and to the left of the target, set the pin farther down and to the left. Tighten at the end of the pin sight.
Step 5
Fire another group of arrows towards the target. If necessary, make further adjustments until you have properly calibrated the pin sight.
Peep Sight
Step 1
Insert the tapered end of the string spreader into the center of the bowstring. Turn the string spreader until the bowstring separates.
Step 2
Fit the peep through the center strands of the bowstring. Slide the peep into position on the bowstring. Use the nylon string to tie knots on either side of the peep.
Step 3
Cut a length of rubber tubing approximately one foot in length. Pull on the ends to stretch the tubing, then grip one end between your thumb and your index finger. Rub the end of the tubing until it grows warm.
Step 4
Fit the end of the tubing onto the peep's rod. Tie the opposite end of the tubing onto one of the cables on the bow that will not move when you draw back the bowstring. Cut off the unused portion of tubing, leaving a couple of inches of excess length protruding from the end of the knot.
Step 5
Nock an arrow and draw the bowstring back as though you were going to fire. Note the location of the peep. Adjust the peep's position until it is directly at eye level when the bow is fully drawn.
Step 6
Some pin sights feature more than one pin, for use at multiple distances; stand at your normal firing distance and adjust the center pin first, then test the bow at different ranges and adjust the remaining pins if necessary.
Things You'll Need
- Archery target
- Arrows
- Phillips screwdriver
- Allen wrench
- String spreader
- Rubber peep sight tubing
- Nylon strings
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