Peep sight yanked out?!

[Paul in Idaho]

I was supposed to be on the road this morning, headed for my archery pronghorn hunt. Instead, I have to wait for the local bow shop to open at 11:00 so I can have my bow repaired.

A couple days ago, the latex tube that keeps my peep sight aligned broke. I bought some silicone tube to replace it. I marked the location of the knot on the cable, cut the silicone tube to length and installed it with the knot in the same location. No problem, I thought.

The first 3 practice shots following the replacement were good. On the 4th, I heard a snap, saw the nock flying across the yard and the arrow missed the target by a foot. The peep sight had been jerked out of the string and was hanging by the tube.

Have any of you had something like this happen? Can you tell me what may have gone wrong so I don't repeat the problem?

Thanks.

 

[emrah1028]

Wow! Was it not tied in? Not trying to lecture you but I'm not a fan of the elastic tubing on some peep sights. Again, not trying to insult but they usually come on entry level bows with crappy strings that stretch. When it stretches, the peep rotates. Hence the reason for the elastic tube. On better quality strings this is not a problem.

Regardless, it seems your peep was not properly tied in. It probably didn't wasn't tied around it'd circumference, which is crucial for safety. Please verify that the shop putting the new peep in does this.

I do all work on my bows now. Luckily I can do it all using my portable Bowmaster press. Best $50 I ev spent. There are a variety of ways to tie in a peep, but Tim Gillingham's method is my favorite and incredibly secure.

https://vimeo.com/20458060

Good luck on your hunt.

Emrah

 

[el unit]

Like emrah said, get a new, quality string with a peep tied in and ditch the elastic tubing.

 

[Paul in Idaho]

Thanks for replying. It's a Hoyt Alphamax, about 6 years old. I bought it used 2 years ago and have been shooting it since without modifications, with no previous peep problems except for the tube breaking once before this time.

I'll ask about the tubeless peep option. I had been thinking about those recently, before this problem. The alignment tube has always seemed like a weak link that could cause problems at a bad time. It's lucky this happened at home instead of on the hunt.

Here's a picture of the string and peep.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

Your nock went flying? Was the nock broken? If so, your nock was probably cracked and broke an ear off it on the shot, which is essentially dry firing your bow. Any chance that happened? That could certainly through your peep from the string as the energy has to go somewhere.

I cannot see how your peep coming out could cause your nock to come off the arrow.

Also I do not like how those type of knots hold a peep in. They can slide way to easily. I like the knot that uses one single piece of string for both knots and chinches the 2 knots to the center.

 

[Festus]

Sound advice above - ditch the tube, tie in peep properly.

I sometimes shoot all year without my peep tied in at all (until season). Placement is marked with sharpie on string to assure no movement.
I did tied my peep in last Saturday so it will be secure for my MT hunt next week.

 

[Paul in Idaho]

Nope, nock is in perfect condition. I found it about 30 feet from where I shot. I felt something hit my bow hand during the shot, but I'm not sure if it was the nock, or the peep and tube flipping around.

Your nock went flying? Was the nock broken? If so, your nock was probably cracked and broke an ear off it on the shot, which is essentially dry firing your bow. Any chance that happened? That could certainly through your peep from the string as the energy has to go somewhere.

I cannot see how your peep coming out could cause your nock to come off the arrow.

Also I do not like how those type of knots hold a peep in. They can slide way to easily. I like the knot that uses one single piece of string for both knots and chinches the 2 knots to the center.

 

[emrah1028]

It was probably your peep flailing around. Another reason to absolutely make sure your peep is tied correctly around the circumference. Stories about peeps flying out, whacking your riser and flying back into your eye are not old wives tales. It can happen and take an eye out.

Emrah

 

[Nockdown]

If you stick with the tubing style peep, the tubing only has to be tight enough to keep it straight. When your bow is at full draw there's not much tension on the string, and if the rubber is too tight, you get what happened. But yeah, tubeless is the way to go.

 

[CATAHOULA12]

As stated above.... Ditch the tube, get tied in properly. Best of luck to you on your hunt...