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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: John McCreary on June 12, 2007, 10:18:00 AM

Title: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: John McCreary on June 12, 2007, 10:18:00 AM
Been considering adding another Howard Hill bow to my collection and would like some ideas for it. My Wesly has black glass with a cocobolo riser and a black elk wrap. I've been thinking of going up 5 pounds in a Rhino or Cougar. Honey locust on the back and belly coupled with 3 not the usual 2 lams of tonkin cane. For the riser, figured bocote with a brown stitched wrap and elk antler on the limb tips. Think "Wapati Medicine"...the contrast of the light limbs and dark riser appeals to my eye but bow choice is a very individual thing. Perhaps you have some imput or even your own idea as to what your ideal Hill would be. Let's hear it...

John
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Dick in Seattle on June 12, 2007, 10:36:00 AM
John...   Your choice sounds good (are thre any bad ones with a Hill :^)   I've never shot a Rhino.

The members of the Howard Hill Longbowmen recently went through quite a exercise in designing what would be their "special" bow.   Members were surveyed as to what woods they wanted most, what featues, etc.   What we arrived at was a bow that has a few choice options and is called the "Longbowman's Choice".   Craig has agreed to build them as a limited edition bow for members of the group.   I believe we have seven on order right now.   I'm hoping to see my own, the first, show up here this week.  We have a web page on the process we went through and the result... no photos yet.  Those will be added as soon as the first couple of bows are in hand.    You might want to check it out and see what we came up with.   Here's a link:

 http://www.howardhillshooters.com/longbowmanschoice/longbowmanschoice.html

Dick in Seattle
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Justin Falon on June 12, 2007, 11:05:00 AM
Hill, the best there is.  You can buy more, but you really don't need more.  I rest my case for Hill bows!!
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: stabow on June 12, 2007, 11:17:00 AM
Hear are some pics of my owl that I had Craig rework for me and my new Wesley Special with juniper on the belly.......stabow

  http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/oldnewbow001.jpg
  http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/oldnewbow003.jpg

 http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/lnewtoy011-1.jpg
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Orion on June 12, 2007, 02:39:00 PM
I like bamboo, and lots of it.  Have a Black Bear -- Wesley Special (5 laminations of bamboo) with carbon backing, and a Big 5 -- 4 laminations of bamboo.  Like them both.
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: John McCreary on June 15, 2007, 09:57:00 AM
Stabow, is that Owl a take-down? I really like your  Wesley. What are the woods? do you have a piuc of the belly wood?

Orion, Does the carbon lam make a significant  
      diffrence in performance?

Does anyone have a Hill with Mountain Juniper on the limbs? What do you think of it? Any Pics?

John
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: longbowman on June 15, 2007, 11:34:00 AM
Dick,
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: longbowman on June 15, 2007, 11:35:00 AM
Dick,  How do you join the Howard Hill Longbowmen?
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: stabow on June 15, 2007, 12:15:00 PM
John the Owl is a take-down. You wanted to see juniper on a Wesley.......stabow

 http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/lnewtoy010.jpg
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: stabow on June 15, 2007, 12:19:00 PM
John  the riser is cocobolo on the belly, bamboo under clear glass.......stabow
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: OH at work on June 15, 2007, 02:36:00 PM
longbowman,  just go to    http://www.howardhilllongbowmen.com/    and sign up on the email list and you will then be part of our growing group of HH fans.


Joe
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Jim Picarelli on June 15, 2007, 03:18:00 PM
My idea of the classic Hill is my 66" Wesley,53#@27".Bamboo under clear glass,overlays on the riser back and a dished grip.
  (http://i12.tinypic.com/630z6rn.jpg)
  (http://i9.tinypic.com/6cfutyo.jpg)
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Stone Knife on June 15, 2007, 05:36:00 PM
I just traded one of my big fives for a Redman 47# @27" 64"long, locator grip stitched elk wrap. Real sweet shooter. I had been shooting a straight grip but i like the locator better.
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: NorthShoreLB on June 15, 2007, 08:21:00 PM
What would my HILL be like ?

I've being trying to talk myself into buying a new Hill, unsuccessfully so far   :bigsmyl:  


toying with what combination I'd like my 3 choices would be:

5 lams of YEW clear glass and YEW dished riser (I have a Redman and it's great)...than I would apply snake skins.

5 lams bamboo black glass and the darkest ebony riser Craig could find,...again with skins


5 lams bamboo black glass and the lightest Myrtle riser possible, skins too


...If I had to order now I still wouldn't know wich one   :banghead:    :banghead:    :banghead:
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: SpankyNeal on June 15, 2007, 09:41:00 PM
One of the sharpest Hills i've seen yet was posted on "the other site" a while back. It was a Redman with a Macassar Ebony Takedown riser and I think a laced Elk grip - man that bow took my breath away and I caught my hand writing out an order form and a check! Whoo, too close.
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: KodiakBob on June 16, 2007, 06:41:00 AM
A wesley with clear glass and a snakewood riser would be interesting.
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: mike g on June 16, 2007, 10:55:00 AM
My next dream Hill would be....
3 Lambs of Lamboo with a back of Yew and a Belly of Osage.
    The Riser will be Leopard wood along with limb tips and maybe riser cap.
    I'd let Craig pick a leather that matches the bow.
    The bow would be 66-68" and around 48# I use the Takedown grip slightly dished and it would be Ambi also....
    Everyone can send donations to....  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: John McCreary on June 19, 2007, 10:27:00 AM
Jim , I like that. Never thought of clear glass over boo. Is that cocobolo in the riser and overlay?


Another question. Has anyone shot one of Craig's new Black Bear ? Does the carbon lam make a signficant diffrence in performance and smoothness? Additionally does the carbon add much to the mass weight of the bow? One of my favorite characteristics of a HIll is the light mass weight. Easy handling and not fatiquing after a day in the mountains chacing elk.
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: John McCreary on June 23, 2007, 09:02:00 AM
Ok, another possibility. What do you think would be a good choice of riser wood on a Cheeta ? Ebony, Cocobolo? I know what bow I want just not the woods...

John
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: stabow on June 23, 2007, 09:20:00 AM
The ebony looks great on a cheetah and you mize well go all out and get a sterling silver inlay applied.
My new one that I've got ordered is the longbowmans choice with yew outer lams and a Texas ebony riser.......stabow
Title: Re: Hill shoooters, I'd like you opinions
Post by: Orion on June 23, 2007, 01:45:00 PM
Re the carbon backing, I believe Craig says it adds 5-8 fps, depending on the bow's weight.  The nearest Hill I have to the Black Bear is 5 pounds lighter so I don't have a good comparison.  Seems plenty quick to me.  At 68 inches and 60#, it's going to be my elk medicine this year.