some new accessories.....

Looking to dress up the bow this off season with some new accessories.  I currently have some el cheapo stuff on there, and although I have killed several of deer with it like it is, I have a desire to make things a little easier on myself.  One thing is the sight.  I have my heart set on the G5 Optix XR....any feedback would be great.  I like the several small pins, light option, and the adjustable bottom pin, for really dialing it on on a long bomber.  Anyone use a light?  I fear that it will be too bright, and cause me to lose the ability to see past it when it is dusk.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21424-cat20071&rid=&indexId=cat20071&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat20071&id=0068576

I am also in the market for a new rest.  I have looked at some drop aways, but in my limited archery experience, I have had several whacked out shots, and i don't know how the drop away would perform on these.  So I have been looking at the brush type, although cheap in price, it looks like what I am looking for.  I am currently using a whisker biskit, and it really beats up my fletchings.  Here is what i am looking at now.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21424-cat20074&rid=&indexId=cat20074&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=3&parentType=index&parentId=cat20074&id=0057115

I also need to get a range finder.  I have been working with guess and shoot from the beginning, and so far it has worked out for me, but if I miss a 180 inch buck in Ohio this year, I would never forgive my cheap****  Not looking to spend a fortune, but what do you guys use, and what do you like/dislike about it?

Any feedback on any of the above would be great.  I am a lefty, and that limits me some in the rest/sight department.  I would like to get my rest and sight first, get used to them over the summer, and then get a decent rangefinder right before season.

Also, how often do you guys replace strings?  I fear stretching, and general wear as well.  I have had the bow for 3 years now, and have yet to do anything but wax my string.

I shoot a muzzy zero effect. No complaints. Everyone that has a dropaway I hunt with shoots a ripcord. No complaints. Have heard mutiple issues about trophy ridge drop away. That's all I got.

I had the Muzzy Zero Effect for a few years. Overall it performed very well, I was always big fan of the inertia driven drop away mechanism. However, the part of the rest that slides on the cable wore out on me. I was getting lots of extra vibration and noise; after checking everything imaginable on the bow, I finally figured out the rest was the culprit.

I shoot a QAD Ultra-Rest now; I have no complaints whatsoever with it. The only thing is that it did take some playing with to get the timing right. Make sure you have someone competent to set it up for you (most shops will do it for free).

As far as accessories, I would look into a string suppressor if your bow does not have one already. They are worth every penny for the noise and vibration reductions they provide.

Like s10 I shoot the trophy ridge drop away. Its quiet, has good fletching clearance, and has not needed adjusted once since I got it a year ago.

A lot of guys I shoot with are now shooting the rip chord, because it offer the best of both worlds as a drop away with full containment.

A couple of my friends were shooting whisker biscuits before the switched to drop aways. They all tightened their groups when they made the switch.

I'm shooting carbon express maxima 350's. They're pricey, but shoot great.

I personally shoot with a ripcord on my Guardian and I love it. Full containment, easy adjustment, not bad price wise. I also shoot a really heavy Easton FMJ.  I am a believer in the heavy arrow is a better arrow school, more power and follow through for me.  In the string department it depends directly on how much you shoot.  I have a buddy that shoots 3D and gets a new string every year, its part of his yearly bow maintenance. Hope this helped some or gave you some things to look into.

I shoot easton FMJ 400 out of my alphamax.  Fly very well.  I too shoot the trophy taker drop away rest.  Never had a problem with it.

My favorite rangefinder feature is the red reticle. It makes it useable in low light conditions.

My maxxis 31 is setup with a HHA xl5519,QAD ultra rest and a G5 peep sight.I shoot the easton st axis through it at 73 lb's of KE.My rangefinder of choice is the bushnell arc 1200.I love all my accesories.I got the rangefinder for free but not really.I bought it when cabela's gave you a cash card.I bought two garmin gps for out west and then got my rangefinder with the cash cards.