Bear with me here: I'm going to use my wife's Diamond Edge bow which is adjustable up to 70 lb. DW and 75% let off. It is set at 28 lb. so she can use the NASP arrows. I want to set it for me as she hasn't touched it in years; start with a lower DW and work up. I went with my grandson so he could try out his new bow. I shot three arrows and gave up. Here's the setup as it stands: The Apex Gear sight is set at the lowest point. The peep sight is 4-1/2 inches above the nock point. I shot three arrows at 10 yards and hit the bottom of the target! Any suggestion are most welcome. Would it be an advantage to start from scratch with suggested settings? Need photos? We have the same DL. Many thanks.
Where you anchor on your face and peep height will have a big effect on where arrows land on target. Also, you said she hasn't touched it in years. By chance has it sat for a long time with the same string set on it? They will stretch over time and your axle to axle gets long, which means a lower poundage than what it was originally set at, along with cam synch going out of time. Lower poundage than what it used to be, along with cam synch being out, can for sure cause vertical changes in arrow impact. If it has been sitting with a factory string for a couple years or more, I'd bet you're not actually getting 28 lbs draw weight anymore and cams are out of time. Nock point is usually set so that the arrow runs somewhere in the range of the Berger hole(s). I set rest height so I have a level arrow that has the bottom of the arrow through the middle of the Berger hole(s). I make the nock point on the string at whatever height I get the above. I may adjust string nock point a bit later on to get a better pin hold, or rest height during tuning, but it is a good starting point. 4.5" peep height above the nocking point is pretty darn low. I'm a short 5'6" and my peep height is 5.5". It may very well be too low for you and you are dipping your head and contorting your body to make it fit the bow setup, rather than making the bow fit you. That can cause vertical impacts at the target. You could also be struggling to maintain the sight housing being centered in your peep view if it is quite a bit off for you. It is probably in your best interest to take the bow to a shop and have them inspect the string and cables. If they deem them fine they can adjust them, so the bow is in spec again and cams are synch'd, and set a new peep height that fits you better. You do not say what model of Apex Gear sight you have. Fixed, mover, or? Often sights have scopes that you can remove a couple bolts and move the whole scope up/down on the arm.
Mod-It, thanks for the detailed reply. The Apex Gear is a three pin sight, no model number or anything else to ID it. I'm also 5-6. I'll have to put it on the back burner as I'm scheduled for knee replacement tomorrow. Waiting to see when to report to the hospital. Might let the wife shoot it and see how she sets up for the shot. What is the Berger hole? That's a new one for me.
Hope the knee surgery goes well and you have a fast recovery. The Berger hole (or sometimes "holes" as there can be two side by side) is the hole in a bow's riser that is just above the arrow shelf. All manufacturer's put them on their bows and they are a standard for setting arrow height. I'll find a pic and circle them.
Thanks for the photo. Knee surgery went well on the 4th. PT is described by some as the Spanish Inquisition or war-time atrocities.
