Congrats. As for the red dot being too dark to see through, they this. I trust that you have a target to practice shooting into. Go out to the target at your normal shooting distance and stuff a cotton ball in the end of your red dot. You can not see through it right? Now hold the bow up as if you were going to shoot it, but keep both eyes open. The view of the red dot in your right eye should superimpose itself to the view of the target with your left eye. Try it and see what happens. Place the dot on the target using this method and squeeze a shot off. It will work.