How To Install A Peep Sight At Home? (Compound + Recurve)

Are you ready to take your archery skills to the next level? Installing a peep sight on your compound or recurve bow is a simple and easy way to improve your aim and accuracy. 

Whether you’re a seasoned archer or just starting, this step-by-step guide will show you how to install a peep sight at home quickly and safely. 

From choosing the right style and materials to proper alignment and testing, this article has everything you need to know to master the art of peep sight installation. 

Best of all, I will share a step-by-step guide for installing peep sights on both compound and recurve bows. 

After reading the last, you will have a crystal clear idea of installing the peep sight with and without a bow press.

So grab your tools and let’s get started.

What Is A Peep Sight On A Bow?

A peep sight is a small circular or rectangular device that is mounted on the string of a bow, usually near the eye of the archer. The bow is aimed at using it as a reference point. 

When the bow is drawn back and the string is at full draw, the archer can align the peep sight with the target and the front sight, which is usually a pin or fiber optic element mounted on the bow, to aim the bow accurately. 

The peep sight helps the archer maintain proper head position and eye alignment with the target, which is important for consistent and accurate shooting.

Is A Peep Sight Necessary?

A peep sight is not a must-have, but it’s a helpful tool for aiming arrows. However, if you say whether it’s necessary or not- there’s no specific answer for this. 

It all depends on the type of archer and the type of use case. Some archers find it useful for long-distance shooting and better aiming at low night conditions. In the end, every archer has to figure out what works for them.

Confused? Here’s a deep dive into the subject. Do you need peep sight on a bow?

How To Install A Peep Sight On A Compound Bow?

You can do it with a bow press or without a bow press. Here I’m going to show one method and that is how can you install it with a bow press.

How To Install A peep sight without a bow press?

In this section, I’ll discuss how can you install a peep sight without a bow press. Follow along.

Things to Do Before Putting a Peep Sight without Bow Press

First of all, go to your target range and fire a minimum of 20 arrows before you install your peep sight. Thus, the bowstring will get stretched as well as seated preventing your peep’s sight from twisting afterward. 

Don’t need to sweat about the accuracy, it’s all about seating the string.

Though it’s not necessary to pound your bow to reduce the tension of the strings, it’s better to do so for ease of installation in the future. That’s why pound the bow so that you can easily separate the strings later on.

After lowering the tension of the strings, you’ll be able to separate them with ease. And that’s when the real process of how to put in a peep sight without a bow press will begin.

Installation Process of Peep Sight Without a Bow Press

Fitting a peep sight to your bow without using a press is not that difficult. It’s a good idea to start with a new peep sight because it’ll be easier to put on without having to worry about damaging the old one. Here’s what you need to do:

• Take a robust plastic string separator to split the strands wide enough. That way, your peep sight will snugly fit inside when you twist the strings sideways.

• Ensure that the D-loop is straight out before using the splitting tool to equally divide the strands. Remember, you’re only separating the strands not splitting them.

• Now, carefully divide the fibers without cutting or tearing them to protect the bowstring from any kind of damage.

• If you’re doing everything right, you should be on the upper middle of the bowstrings by now. This ensures that the peep sight doesn’t become twisted as you draw the bowstring through the D-loop.

• After evenly separating the major strands on both sides of your tool, rotate the tool ninety degrees to make an extended diamond shape.

• Finally, insert the peep!

Correcting the D-Loop Position

Even if you’ve placed the peep by now, there is another part of this process that needs to be done accurately. And that’s fixing the D-Loops position. To do that —

• Confirm that the extended diamond-shaped aperture and D-loop are perfectly aligned. If it appears to be inaccurate, remove the separation tool and fix it.

• Twist the separator after putting the peep into the opening so that the strands slide into the grooves of your peep.

• Your peep sight will now be positioned at an angle, which is how it should be.

• The peep sight will then automatically recline and straighten out when you draw your bowstring back. In this manner, you’ll be able to gaze through your pin as well as the peep to the target.

• You must take a fully drawn position to evaluate the location of your peep sight as it’s now inside the strings. To look through the sight and pins properly, you might need to slide the peep upward or downward.

• Well, that’s it. You’re ready to shoot arrows.

How To Install A Peep Sight On A Recurve Bow?

To attach the peep sight on a recurve bowstring, you can utilize a torque-less or D-loop. You must insert the peep into the string as well as align it to the center.

Many archers use their preferred ways to divide the strands however, using the bow press is the best way to do according to the experts.

Plus, you can go for a string that’s two-color that way it’ll be easier for you to do the splitting.

Now, follow the three simple step-by-step process to mount a peep sight –

Step 1: Select a Perfect Height

Place your sight in the string and completely draw your arrow. Now, without moving an inch, tell your buddy to align the peep so you can determine the most comfortable height.

If it’s too low, it’ll be hard for you to see through it. On the other hand, if it’s too high, then you’ll not be able to focus on it properly.

Step 2: Fire a Few Arrows

Fire a few arrows to find out if you further need to adjust the peep height. If so, thread on another height and shoot again until you find one that works for you. 

To make things easier, fire at least 20 arrows before adjusting any settings. This will give you a good idea of whether the peep size is right for you without having to constantly adjust it during your shooting sessions.

Step 3: Spin the Tool

You might find that the peep sight isn’t aligned precisely even after firing arrows. No worries, you can gradually turn the tool to find the exact place. After placing everything in position, place the peep sight using some threads.

How To Install A Peep Sight Using A Bow Press?

Setting up a peep sight with a bow press is a great way to cut down on the amount of time you need to spend installing your bow sight. 

It’s also an easy way to make sure your sight is going to be properly aligned and ready for use. The process is rather simple and easy to follow.

1. Modify the peep position using a rubber band

In the very beginning, you get to adjust the position of the peep. 

Place the peep sight in the desired location, and then wrap a rubber band around the bowstring. Simply draw back your bow to see if the peep will suit your eye or not.

If the peep sight does not line properly with your eye, change the rubber and try over.

2. Install your peep sight

It’s time to place the bow in the bow press and split the threads equally to place your peep sight. Release the bow to verify the position and alignment of the peep. If the peep does not sync up right the first time, re-divide the strands and re-install.

When separating a string of two colors, you don’t necessarily have to keep the colors distinct. You can divide them apart to acquire correct alignment; just make sure that none of the string fibers become hooked and seem tighter than the other strands.

3. Tie in your peep sight

After the peep has been aligned and positioned appropriately, you can place “stop knots” below and above the peep. For this, you need to reduce the string’s tension slightly on a bow press.

But the tension shouldn’t be too loose otherwise the strands won’t be able to hold the peep.

You better use a different piece of string to attach the peep sight to the bowstring. That way, only three tie-in points will remain- below, above, and surrounding the peep sight.

Thus, you’ll be able to realign the peep by simply drawing the bow and then adjusting the alignment if there are only knots above and below the peep.

4. Confirm the right peep sight placement before shooting!

You can utilize super knots or constrictors while talking about knots. Take the bow, make sure the peep’s location is appropriate, and fire!

How To Install A Peep Sight With Tubing?

Installing a peep sight with tubing typically involves the following steps:

1. First, gather all the necessary materials, including the peep sight, tubing, and any tools you will need (e.g. bow press, Allen wrenches).

2. If necessary, remove the string from the bow using a bow press. This will make installing the peep sight easier.

3. Locate the appropriate mounting holes on the bow’s string or cable. These are usually located near the center of the string or cable.
4. Insert the tubing into the mounting hole and secure it in place with an Allen wrench or other appropriate tool. Make sure the tubing is securely fastened and will not move during use.

5. Attach the peep sight to the tubing using the provided mounting hardware. This typically involves inserting a pin or screw through the peep sight and into the tubing.

6. Once the peep sight is securely attached to the tubing, you can replace the bowstring (if you removed it) and adjust the sight as necessary.

7. Finally, test the peep sight to make sure it is properly aligned and functioning as intended.

It is important to follow the specific instructions provided with your peep sight and to use caution when working with archery equipment.

If you are unsure about any part of the installation process, it is recommended to seek the assistance of a qualified archery technician.

How To Put Peep Sight Back On The Bow?

Here is how to install a peep sight on a bow. Note that the same process will also be applicable for-

1. Williams peep sight on a benjamin 392 installation.
2. g5 peep sight installation.
3. diamond infinite edge peep sight installation.
4. Or any kind of new bow.

To carry out the process, here are the following tools you will require-

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1. Screwdriver or hex wrench to remove the factory peep sight.
2. A drill and drill bits to drill a hole for the peep sight.
3. A torque wrench and torque screwdriver to properly tighten the mounting screws.
4. A bow press.

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Here you go the exact step-by-step process-

1. Remove the factory peep sight: If you are replacing an existing peep sight, use the screwdriver or hex wrench to remove the mounting screws that hold the factory peep sight in place.

2. Drill a hole for the peep sight: If you need to drill a hole for the peep sight, measure and mark the spot where you want to install the peep sight.
   
   Once the hole is drilled for the peep sight, use the appropriate drill bit. Level and straighten the hole before inserting the peep sight.

3. Install the peep sight: Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Peep sights are usually mounted with mounting screws after being inserted into the hole. Use a torque wrench and torque screwdriver to tighten the mounting screws.

4. Adjust the peep sight: Use a bow press to adjust the peep sight as needed.

5. Test the peep sight: After installing and adjusting the peep sight, test it out by shooting a few arrows. Make any necessary adjustments until the peep sight is properly aligned and you can shoot accurately.

It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the appropriate tools when installing a peep sight on any bow.

How Do I Adjust a Peep Sight?

Peep sights are an excellent way to improve your accuracy, but they can also be a bit tricky to use. Here’s how you can adjust a peep sight and get the most out of it.

The process is pretty straightforward that requires a few simple steps.

1. Tuning the Peep Sight While Installing

While installing, you can easily align and position your peep in a suitable spot. And this is considered to be the perfect place to tune up since your bow is placed in a press and the bowstring is stretched. That way you can adjust or replace your peep sight to align and set it correctly.

2. After-Installation Peep Sight Adjustment

You can also try to tune your peep sight after the installation which is also quite a painless process. Apart from the rare rotation issue, when installed correctly, you should not have too many problems. 

However, if you see that the sight is not aligned accurately after pulling the bow, you can tweak the bowstring to fix it. Later on, you can use a bow press to improve the adjustment of peep sight only if the issue exists. 

Moreover, you should add or minus a twist in the bowstring after releasing tension from it. Twist or untwist the peep sight to rotate though it might take a few attempts to perfectly align. 

However, after you’ve tied it in, this will let you change the peep sight’s direction.

Ways to Do Minor Fixes to a Peep Sight

Sometimes you’ll need to make minor adjustments while shooting your bow although you’ve installed the peep sight properly. 

Now, that happens for several reasons such as varying poundage, or stretching of the bowstring. Yet, those minor adjustments are effortless.

Suppose you want to take the peep up or down. In that case

• Use extra serving thread or dental floss to hold the sight in place flimsily.
• Draw back your bow with the assistance of another person.
• Now, move it up or down unless it’s placed in a perfect location.
• Then, you can now release and firmly fix the peep sight.
• Finally, tighten it securely when you feel that it’s right there where you desire.

Benefits of Using Peep Sights

Peep sights are a great way to improve your accuracy and precision when shooting, though there is some debate regarding it. However, the benefits of a peep sight speak for themselves and they’re-

• Reduce Error

A peep sight reduces errors by eliminating distractions and keeping your eye focused on the target. 

Furthermore, it prevents your eye from deviating from the visual image, which occurs when you are focused intently on anything like a target.

• Placing the Pin

Have you ever tried to observe the difference between shooting arrows with as well as without sight? No? Then do it now. You’ll notice the distinction.

Because of the small peep, you’ll be able to set the bow sight pin in a location with far superior precision.

• Pin Positioning

If you ever shot arrows, you might have noticed that sometimes arrows fly more than the specified distance. 

Well, that’s because the pin is not centered properly. And you can easily center the pin with the help of sight.

• Fixes Anchor Point

One of the biggest benefits of a peep sight is its ability to help you locate your anchor point. 

The anchor point is an important concept in hunting. It’s where you’ll be standing when you begin to hunt and it should be safe and comfortable.

Shooting With A Peep Sight

Shooting with a peep sight is an easy method to learn, but the basics will still help you shoot better. Here’s how to get started:

• First, do some stretching to warm up before you for shooting
• Take a solid shooting posture at an angle of 90 degrees with your feet shoulder keeping width apart.
• Now, hold the bow in a usual manner
• Draw the arrow back to your anchors after nocking it.
• Finally, you’re ready to sight the shot.

How Do You Use A Peep Sight?

Keep in mind that a peep sight is a tool that you can use to shoot with a multi-pin sight. As a result, before shooting, you must configure the tool appropriately. 

Anyway, here’s how you can shoot using a peep sight-

• Set the aim of the pins depending on the range of your shot. Usually, 
• The top pin is often placed at 20 yards, with the remaining pins being placed at 30, 40, and 50 yards. So, to properly position the aiming pins, you must first decide whether you want to take shorter or longer shots. 
• To get the proper draw weight for firing, bring the arrow to your anchor point.
• Fix the target’s one point at which you’ll shoot.
• Now, use the peephole to view the target and if necessary, make minor modifications to the peep.
• When your arrow and the target are lined up, fire at your will.

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Peep Sight?

The cost to install a peep sight can vary depending on a few factors, such as the type of peep sight you choose and whether you have it installed by a professional or do it yourself.

If you choose to have a professional install the peep sight, the cost will typically range from $20 to $40. Some archery shops may charge more if the installation process is more difficult or if you’re using a high-end sight.

However, if you decide to install the peep sight yourself, the cost will depend primarily on the cost of the sight itself and any additional materials you may need such as tubing or bow press. You can find peep sights for as low as $5 and as high as $50.

It’s essential to keep in mind that installing a peep sight is a challenging task, and if you’re not comfortable or experienced in working with archery equipment, it’s best to leave it to a professional. Incorrect installation can not only make the sight less effective but also can lead to safety hazards.

In general, you can have a peep sight installed professionally for $20 – $40, but if you decide to do it yourself you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $50, depending on the sight you choose.

How Does A Peep Sight Work?

Peep sight helps at aiming from long distances and low light conditions. But, how does that little device work?

When using a peep sight, the archer looks through the peep sight and aligns it with the front sight, which is usually a pin or fiber optic element mounted on the bow. 

The front sight is used to aim the bow at the target, and the peep sight helps the archer maintain proper head position and eye alignment with the front sight and the target.

To use a peep sight, the archer first draws the bow back and brings the string to full draw. The archer then looks through the peep sight and aligns it with the front sight and the target. 

The archer should try to keep their head as still as possible and maintain proper eye alignment with the peep sight, front sight, and target.

The peep sight works by providing a reference point for the archer to use when aiming the bow. 

It helps the archer maintain proper head position and eye alignment, which is important for consistent and accurate shooting. 

By using a peep sight, the archer can aim the bow more accurately and shoot more consistently.

How To Choose A Peep Sight?

The peep sight is mostly explained so far. Now it’s time to choose the best peep sight for you, right? But, how do you choose the right peep sight? 

Let’s reveal.

Here is the key thing you must rely on-

1. Low light performance

One of the great benefits of having a peep sight is it enables you to shoot at low light. Therefore, you should look for a peep sight that works in low light. 

Larger sights work better in dim or low light. Environmental factors also affect performance.

Here’s a good peep sight that works best in low-light conditions.

2. Axle-to-axle length

The axle-to-axle (ATA) length of a compound bow can affect the selection of a peep sight. The ATA length of a bow is the distance between the two axles (or cams) that hold the bowstring.

It is typically measured in inches and can range from around 20 inches on a short, compact bow to 40 inches or more on a longer bow.

A shorter ATA length typically makes for a more compact and maneuverable bow, which can be beneficial for hunting in tight spaces or for archers with a shorter draw length. 

However, a shorter ATA length can also make it more challenging to use a peep sight, as there may be less space between the peep sight and the bowstring.

A longer ATA length, on the other hand, can provide more room for a peep sight and make it easier to use. 

Additionally, because a longer ATA bow has longer limbs, it tends to be more stable, which can aid in aiming and accuracy.

In general, peep sights that are smaller in size and have a lower profile may be a better option for short ATA bows, while larger or taller peep sights may work better on longer ATA bows.

3. Peep sight size

The size of the peep sight you should choose will depend on a few factors, including the ATA length of your bow, your personal preference, and your shooting style.

If you have a short ATA bow, a smaller peep sight with a lower profile may be a better option as it will take up less space on the bowstring and be less likely to get in the way of your aim.

The larger aperture of a peep sight will make aiming easier on a longer ATA bow, as it will provide a larger opening (through which you look).

Furthermore, peep sight size affects the amount of light entering an aperture. The bigger the aperture is, the more light enters, which may be beneficial in low-light conditions. 

However, if you hunt mostly during daylight hours, this may not be as important.

4. Styles

The best peep sight for you will depend on your personal preferences and needs. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a peep sight style:

1. Aperture size: 

There is a variety of aperture sizes available for peep sights, which are the diameters of the openings through which you see through them. 

In general, the larger the aperture, the wider the field of view, but the less precise the view will be.

2. Rotation: 

Some peep sights are designed to rotate, which can help achieve the proper alignment with your target. Others are fixed and cannot be rotated.

3. Inline vs. offset:

There are two types of peep sights: inline and offset. An offset sight sits at an angle from the bowstring, while an inline sight sits parallel. 

Sights with linear alignment are usually more precise, while sights with offset alignment are more forgiving.

4. Material: 

Among the most common materials for peep sights are plastic, aluminum, and brass. Choosing the material for your bow is entirely up to you.

5. Light gathering: 

You can see the sight in low light conditions with some peep sights that use light-gathering technology.

6. Durability: 

The durability and resistance to wear and tear of peep sights differ. A more durable sight might be a better choice if you will be using it frequently in harsh conditions.

Find a peep sight that feels intuitive and comfortable to you by trying out different types. Peep sights may require some experimentation and testing.

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