HI,just wondering if anyone has any experience with the Howard Hill broadheads?How durable,easy to sharpen,flight,just like to get some feedback on them.Thanks
they take a bit of getting used to sharpening wise but i really like them and they have helped me take many a hog !
The bowhunters of Tradgang DVD has a good bit on sharpening them ...
The style of the HH broadhead is wonderful, the execution leaves something to be desired IMHO. I'm a Hill bow guy, but never fell in love with his broadhead. My trouble with them is the aluminum ferrule. If you hit bone with them, they tend to bend. While this isn't a big deal with deer, it can be with hogs.
If you like this style of the head (and I definitely do) try a Simmons Interceptor (now called Safari's) They are the same design, but much tougher. The concave design of both heads really does a number on animals - it "hooks" the flesh and leaves a hole almost double the width of the broadhead (sounds impossible I know, but try it out on deer/hogs and you will see what I mean). Hope this helps.
I have found that nothing flies in a cross wind as good as a Hill.
They are tuff,and fly great!.But they take some skill to get them sharp,once you get it down it's easy.Thats all I use.
I would agree with the sharpening I tried filing them as I do my others and took off the edge of the pin holding the main blade and it fell off. once you get past sharpening they fly like darts!!!!!!
Tommyboy saved me a lot of typing. I will add that they are one of the most easy to get to fly right. I like them when its windy. Sharping them - you'll have to pay some dues. H
Agree with Tommboy,
I saw the broadheads you guys were talking about and they miss the main point of the Howard Hill broadhead. Howard thought it was very important to have a 3:1 ratio for optimal penetration. The head you recommend, while similar in appearance, is just about 2:1. Now I don't know enough about penetration to say if this really matters for penetration, but I just wanted to point it out.
Q: "Durable,easy to sharpen,flight"?
A: I have had them bend on not-so-punishing shots in addition I have had the ferrules open up on the same blade-bending hits. Because they are concave, they are more difficult to get at i.e. sharpen. I feel the metal in the blades are difficult to get a nice edge on as well. On a brighter side, the flight characteristics are excellent, they fly like field points. They are cool looking and nostalgic, if you like them, give em a try. Have fun with it!
Good Luck -
Kris
I bought a dozen several years ago. Never could get them sharp enough to be confident on deer but did hunt rabbits with them in sub zero temps and had one of the blades break impacting a log. Never had a broadhead blade snap before. I still have 8 or 10 in my tackle box. If I could get them shaving sharp I would hunt with them. Guess I just don't have the necessary sharpening skills.
What Tommyboy said. If I was going to use that style of head a simons would be a much better choice. dino
I have a half dozen, but I prefer my Montec G5's. Never hunted with the hill's, just target shot with them
Try the Rada knife sharpener. (used to be called the "wheelie" sharpener when Simmons sold them) It was the ONLY way I could get one sharp. I killed a big ole doe with one. It blew through her so quick I thought I had missed her. Didn't find a drop of blood but it wasn't needed. She only went about 40 yards. Fly GREAT but a little bit expensive and too heavy for my set-up now.
Howard seemed to have good luck with them. I'm going to try them out this fall, the 145 grain will be my choice. All I need to do is buy some.
The Simmons is the way to go.Jerry Simmons told me once that he designed his head somewhat after the "Hill" but since he was hunting deer instead of elephants he made them wider.RC
remember also Howard back filed alot of his heads causing a maijor serated edge on the heads
The ferrule is large & thicker than most other bh's making the Hill hard to sharpen until you get the knack. This broadhead might be a monster if the blade were wider to have easier access to the cutting edge. Possibly 3 or 4 to 1 cutting dimension? Like to see also more than a pinned ferrule.