Made my mind up I think and going to order a hill longbow.Just haven,t decided what model I want.It will be 48lb. at 26in. 62 length.Lets here some ideas on Hills.what do you shoot out of them/What would make a better hunter 4 or 5 laminations?
I like the all yew Redman, but they are all good. I'd suggest calling them directly and having a conversation with them about what will work best for you. Hills are true traditional longbows. IMHO, anything less than 68" is a touch on the short side for a Hill style.
I personally like four laminations (Big 5), though my best shooting Hill ever is a 3 lamination Tembo. The more laminations, the more glue joints, which stiffens the limbs IMO. I also like bamboo for the core, though the Cheetah with juniper back and belly lams and bamboo inner lams is a real looker and shooter. 62 inches is a little on the short side, even for a 26 inch draw. You might like 64 inches better, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some recommend longer than that. Good luck. Hills are not only easy on the eyes. They're a lot of fun to shoot.
Great choice of bow, I think you might want to bump up the length a bit. At your draw I think a 66" would be real smooth. I draw 29" and shoot a 70" Tembo.
I would go longer! 64 or 66 IMO. You can still get the draw wt, but even @ 26" you may find either finger pinch feeling, or a little stack at the last inch. I draw 27-27.5 and way prefer 68" to 66"
I draw about 26 1/2 and my Tembo and Redman are both 66". I personally wouldn't go any shorter at my draw. I have the carbon strip in both, under black glass on the back. I think the Redman is a bit smoother, but the Tembo seems snappier - can't lose with either.
3 FEATHERS
Pmd ya
58winters
Tim, You will be able to Partake in the Hill appreciation thread even though it should be a sub forum at this point.
I would recommend getting a 66" bow for your draw.
I would too recommend a longer length,I draw 27" and prefer 66" and 68" for my Hill's.A Hill is not a design for a short bow like R/D and forward handle type bows.If I was going for a shorter Hill I would look at a reverse handle Hill.JMO and my experience with them.
My draw is 26" and I shoot 66" big Five bamboo and black glass. 62" in this bow design is short, I would recommend 66" longbow.
If you want to try my Hill Half breed just give a shout Tim......66" 45# @ 28". You can shoot it anytime!!
I draw my Hill style bows just short of 28". I have a 64" "RedMan", a 66" "Cheetah" and a 66" "Wesley Special". I would not recommend anything shorter than 64" at your draw length. Do yourself a favor. Call Craig directly. He will not steer you wrong.
Wouldn,t I get better preformance with a short bow with a short draw??
Nope, the performance difference will be negligable, whereas the accuracy and the contentment will increase many times if you go longer.
QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Kleinig:
Nope, the performance difference will be negligable, whereas the accuracy and the contentment will increase many times if you go longer.
X2
This bow design does not lend itself to a 62" bow at your draw. You will only be loosing accuracy by going shorter in a Hill style bow. If you want a short bow, then you might look at a more R/D design. Hill style, 64" would be bare min. at your draw. I would lean towards a 66".
I betcha if you call the bowyer (Ekin) at Howard Hill Archery he is going to concur with the longer bowlength.
Tim, your gonna love it but they do take a second to get familiar with. Im ordering one myself. Thanks Bill Turner. :banghead:
Izzy ... what are you getting ?
QuoteNope, the performance difference will be negligable, whereas the accuracy and the contentment will increase many times if you go longer.
QuoteThis bow design does not lend itself to a 62" bow at your draw. You will only be loosing accuracy by going shorter in a Hill style bow. If you want a short bow, then you might look at a more R/D design. Hill style, 64" would be bare min. at your draw. I would lean towards a 66".
Some of the best advice you'll get right there.
These bows are designed to be long, they can be shortened but you loose the other benefits, performance is not speed alone.
Eric
How is a 66in. for shooting out of treestands?
I draw the same as you and went from 60 inches in my hybrid to 66-68 in my Hill bows. I find either good from my tree stands but overall the smoothness, forgiveness and stability are what really make these bows shine.
My feeling is 66 would be perfect for you.
Thinking about a 66in. cheetah...48lbs at 26in......What do you think?
Sounds perfect....I had a Cheetah, nice bow! What grip you thinking about!?
Don,t really know about the grips......
This is solely my opinion but I'd choose the Hill that appeals to you regardless of the lams. I've got a Wesley and a Half Breed and just put an order in for a Cheetah today. You can't loose really, they all shoot great so just choose a wood combo that you like!
This might ruffle a few feathers, but in my opinion, if your concerned about performamce, and that means speed to you, you might want to look at D/R style bows. They would also be better suited to your desired short bow length too. To me, Hill style bows are more about looks and stability than speed.
Tim, you have several choices of grips, I like the slightly dished myself. There is a straight and a locator also.
I have a lot of hill bows and if I was choosing I'd go for a 66" cheetah horn tip overlays texas ebony riser with a silver inlay and an elk skin grip but that's just me. Good luck
I have recently acquired a Big Five with four laminations of bamboo. It is 66" and marked 55 @ 27 but the guy I bought it from scaled it at 55 @ 27 which feels right on.
It is silky smooth on the draw. I'd go at least 66".
QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
Tim, You will be able to Partake in the Hill appreciation thread even though it should be a sub forum at this point.
I have thought that too, A HH style forum with sub threads for all things Hill Style.
Go with a 66"er for your (my) D/L. No problem in a stand or off your knees. Just takes a little practice and getting use to. I agree that if you want to go with a shorter bow then go w/ a R/D. A Hill is made to be a LONG bow. Shoots best that way.
Owned several HH bows. Different lengths and materials.
Pick the 66" all day long.
And I would got with the Half Breed!
The Pacific Yew and Bamboo is the smoothest and quickest combo for me.
Matt
For a 26 inch draw if it will be reflexed, I prefer 66", if it will be straight then perhaps or the string follow, 64". no matter, if I order another one it will be a 62" or 64" reverse handle. My son thinks that I would be happier with the Northern Mist Whisper. One thing about the reverse, it can be made leaner and meaner and still be stable. I am kind of leaning towards a a JD Berry Apollo or a Stotler.
Anybody have one with all bamboo limbs or all red elm limbs?Would that make a differance in performance with all same wood or two different kinds of lamimnations?
At Waterloo my son shot most of the bows that Northern Mist had in his weight range. The one he liked the most was a 62" all red elm Whisper, but he said the all bamboo bows were nearly as good. Generally bamboo is considered to be smoother feeling. My yew/glass is very nice but my bamboo/yew/glass is the best of both worlds. There is probably more variation from bow to bow than there is from one wood type to the next, but because of bamboos consistency it is more predictable for the bowyer.
Do you hill shooters use bowstringers to string your bows or the push-pull method?If a stringer what kind?
Hill bows are generally built with large enough tips that any cup type stringer will work. Just get the one Hill sells if you get a Hill. I most of the time push- pull, but that is an acquired strength from a life time of shooting and loading very heavy longbows, the stringer is safer for most.
It's all good Bayyybeee :) Seriously...I'd go no shorter than 64" and probably say 66" would be best for you. I like the Wesley!!!!...Big Five Great too!!!
With his 26" draw at less than 50 pounds, he could get his 62" bow length to work nicely with a reverse handle, but a I agree that a 64" string follow or a 66" reflexed would be the way to go with the standard handle.
Anybody use there hill for there main hunting bow?
I'm pretty sure that Ben Maher in OZ uses his HHs for all or most of his hunting. I've taken Hills and "Hill" styles to the field many times, but have only killed stumps, cactus, and "elephants" with them. No deer, pigs, or small game to date. Lots of fun though!!! :)
66" Halfbreed with cocobolo riser will look and shoot real nice at that draw length.
Do it!
Monday's and Wednesday's I use my Halfbreed
Tuesday's and Thursday's I use my Redman
Friday's and Saturday's I use my Wesley
I hunt almost exclusively with the Hills
3feathers
I hunt with a range of different bows ... many makes and models ...
And they are all Hillstyle bows .
I also have a 26" draw and I have a 64" HH Longbowman's Choice. I have killed deer with it and I enjoy shooting it but I have always wanted to try a 66".
I`ve hunted a great deal with Hill bows and they are killers.I hunt most with my Mohawk but will soon be breaking out the Hill again.
I`ve hunted with a Big 5, Cheetah and Wesley and for me I liked the Wesley most.I like the slight locator grip as well. A Hill bow with a heavy arrows is deadly as any bow and made for hunting.RC
Anybody have a hill with antler overlay tips?How do they look?Trying to figure out if I want them on my cheetah that I order.
I do and they look great! You won't regret it
I do and they look great! You won't regret it
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x438/lead955/October2011003.jpg)
Here's my Tembo with an antler overlay. I think it looks great on a Hill.
Remember order it 3 # lighter cause they tend to run 3 # heavier per Craigs scale at desired draw length.Mine did I know there are others too.Love my wesley quiet as a mouse.
Tim,
pick a weekend and stump shoot with me and Ron. you can shoot his Hill style bows and my Shelton of all various weights and lengths as well as different grips. see what you like.
The longer you wait to place your order means it's just that much longer before you can begin to enjoy the thrills...lol
God bless,Mudd
Whish I could order one of each model.I hate to choose............Want them all.
Anybody shoot a low poundage hill?Say 45-48lbs.
What weight arrows do you shoot?
3Feathers,did you consider the Badger model? Its not listed but Craig was still making them,58 or 62 inch lengths.I have a 62in.and its shoots as good as my Big 5s.Just a different look.
I have a 48# Tembo That i should have later next week and a 56# Robin hood that i should have by Wednesday. If you can hold off you can shoot both of these to help make up your mind. I live in Sauquoit but am now working in Clifton Park.
Stacy
My Half Breed is 45# @ 28, 66", I shoot 60-65 cedars full length 125 gr up front and draw just over 29". Arrows are about 575 gr.
My main hunting bow is a 69" Halfbreed marked 45@29. I pull it to 31". I figure it's probably around 53-54@31. It is a little too short for me, but, man, it is a sweet shooting bow. It's accounted for a lot of squirrels and rabbits for me, as well as a couple of coyotes. If I were to order a bow from Craig, it would be another Halfbreed, with an ebony handle, straight-gripped, sized to fit my big hand, 55@31, 70-72".
Anybody use fastflight on their Hillbows?Does it make a difference in performance?
I have a pair of Wesley Specials, a pair of Cheetahs, and a Big Five and like them all. They are all 68" long (I draw just over 27")and are very smooth. I hunt from tree stands a lot and have no problems. I don't have a Redman or a Half Breed yet but every one I know has said good things about them. I have both straight and dish style grips, and both suit me well. Good luck. A new bow quest is one of life's great pleasures.
QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
A new bow quest is one of life's great pleasures.
Hah!
AMEN!
:thumbsup:
Great bows I will have another as soon as I work out my shooting problems since I switched to southpaw. One reality though is hill bows are very forgiving but you have to have your form rt. Bow design has moved on and left hill bows behind. You can shoot a hybrid of 10 lbs less poundage and in some cases it will shoot the same arrow 20 ft per sc faster.that's more kinetic energy w less effort and for some more accuracy.Fred asbell had an article ln T mag a few yrs back voicing these same opinions.