HH BUG GOT ME - Part Two!

mellonhead · March 26, 2014, 05:47:00 PM

I traded into a Northern Mist Shelton over the weekend. It came today, wow!!! This is my first experience with a true Hill style bow. I have been shooting a Robertson Mystical for a couple months now and just fell in love with the simple things. The Robertson has a locator grip so I was kinda sweeting the fact that the Shelton has a straight grip. Boy was I wrong. I believe the Shelton's straight grip fits my hand better than the locator on the Mystical. I believe I am hooked!!!!!

Toby

bsv · March 26, 2014, 08:50:00 PM

Ya, That's happened to a LOT of US.

Burt

Horserod · March 26, 2014, 10:09:00 PM

Now it begins..........The "LongBow" adventures gain another member! All hail the mighty longbow !!! :D Horserod

Ric O'Shay · March 27, 2014, 07:29:00 AM

Yes, the long and winding road of the longbow affliction has begun. Welcome to the world of Longbowitis. It is a marvelous journey.

Kmurray · March 27, 2014, 05:10:00 PM

Well, after years of lurking, and only intermittent posting, I'm finally a member of the trad archery club... not only trad, but now a Hill bow fan...
I got my HHA Bobcat about a week ago... and I've been having so much fun with it, I've only just now got around to posting. It's a real sweet bow!!! Very underrated, if I do say so... by HHA and most shooters... if your a small person looking for a great bow please do not discount the Bobcat!

When Jason took my order, I had him build me a bow similar to the "legend stick" I've seen so many pictures of... I loved the combination of woods and white glass... and I was not at all disappointed in the product I received.

I'll have to see if I can post pictures... probably won't work the first time so bear with me.

It's Bamboo limb lam's (I had an extra lam added for security ha ha), with Bocote riser and white glass on the belly, clear glass on the back... 60", and 45@26" which is my draw length I'm sorry to admit ha ha...

It has blueish/grey grip with the "dished" profile... which I find very comfortable. May be because I've not tried other profiles to compare, but it's still very natural in my hand.

One impressive thing is the amount of back set that was in the bow:

The riser is about 1/2" off the table here... and the bow is still very easy to string, and for my amateur/beginner skill level very easy to shoot..
Having just barely started, I can consistently place my arrows in a milk jug from about 12/14 yrds (depending on where exactly the sun is ha ha. I have to adjust my position to get out of this AZ sun.) ... Not epic accuracy, but I think it's not half bad for never shooting a traditional bow, let alone never shooting a Hill bow...

My journey has just begun! But I want to thank TradGang for the inspiration and education to make this a much more enjoyable start than my introduction to wheel bows so many years ago... A special thanks must go out to MoeBow for his videos on YouTube, which I've watch so many times over and over.... I truly think they have helped me get started in longbow shooting with a good basic idea of what I was getting into.

bsv · March 27, 2014, 07:53:00 PM

Your going to enjoy that bow,congrats.

bsv · March 27, 2014, 07:55:00 PM

Does any-one know how to contact Mr. Steen? I'd like to get a quiver from him. Burt

ChrisM · March 27, 2014, 07:57:00 PM

BSV I pmed you.

Ric O'Shay · March 28, 2014, 08:26:00 AM

Kmurray -
Congratulations on the bow. I purchased a Bobcat for my grandson and he loves the bow. I've shot his bow and it performs nicely! It is much lighter than yours though.

March 28, 2014, 01:17:00 PM

Can the Bobcat be ordered with a reverse handle? That could lengthen its useable draw length, which would be good for some one with a kid that grows faster than anticipated.

GregD · March 28, 2014, 07:07:00 PM

Pavan, what do you mean by lengthening useable draw length? Does the reverse handle affect string angle?

hunthold · March 28, 2014, 10:24:00 PM

Reverse handle bobcat. 45@28 carbon and yew. I have a 64" reverse hill about the same weight and the 60" bobcat is every bit as smooth drawn to 28". I ordered it as an experiment and I love it and wouldn't sell it.

akbowbender · March 28, 2014, 11:34:00 PM

Nice bows there, Kelly and Jeff!

We've had a nice stretch of weather here lately....clear, warm and mostly calm, so I 've been getting a lot of shooting time in after work.

I usually take out 2-3 bows and give them a workout. Today was particularly nice, and I was feeling well rested, so I brought out all of my bows out:

l'm guessing I shot around 200 arrows, which is a lot for me. I was shooting extremely well. Surprised that I only broke one nock.

I could have kept going, but I figured I shouldn't over do it as it looks like it is going to be a real nice weekend. Why can't it be moose season now!

March 29, 2014, 01:48:00 AM

To answer Greg directly, if a standard Hill grip is a bit over 2" deep and the core of that bow is is1/2", the string angle and the bend of an identical length bow would be about the same as a regular gripped bow that would be drawn 1&1/2" less. String angles may vary, but in comparisons that I eye ball measured, it looks to be a bit better than a 2" total bow length difference. In plainer terms, a 66" reverse can have less string angle than a 68" standard. That will vary with layup and tiller.
I have yet to draw my Morningstar simultaneously with a similar length bow or one that is two inches longer. Drawing that much over100 pounds is hard on my sprained wrist. I hurt more than my hip when I slipped on the ice, when that nasty poopy cedar wax wing landed on my bow while it was minding its own business just hanging in my apple tree.

Stump Buster · March 29, 2014, 08:48:00 AM

AKBB,

Would ya mind giving us the makes and models of those babies please?

NICE collection and variety!!!

akbowbender · March 29, 2014, 12:12:00 PM

Thanks, Stump Buster.

Lt to Rt: 70" NM Classic TD, 66" JD Berry Misty Dawn, 68" NM Classic, 66" JD Berry Morning Star, 66" Dave Johnson

BTW: I like your ghillie!

jeffg · March 29, 2014, 07:39:00 PM

Just got me a Northern Mist Superior 63#@28 from a fellow TG and lovin it.
I was wondering what the lowest brace height would be for this bow.

Stump Buster · March 29, 2014, 09:40:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by jeffg:
Just got me a Northern Mist Superior 63#@28 from a fellow TG and lovin it.
I was wondering what the lowest brace height would be for this bow.

Where it's set in that pic is pretty low...I'd bring it up just a little bit more. :D

I'm sure someone here will help ya quickly, but if it shoots quiet at fistmele, you can start there.

THANKS for the info on your bows AKBB!!! The ghillie is just extra parts I cut off of a Rancho Safari suit to cover my shoulders. The Rancho Safari hat is laced onto a desert tan boonie cover and is just enough to break up the human silhouette while still allowing me to draw without string interference. That pic was taken by my father a long time ago on a hunt we shared. Didn't get a deer, but had a great time together in the woods.

Thanks Again,

Stump

WESTBROOK · March 29, 2014, 09:51:00 PM

Jeff, mine runs pretty good at 6.5", from there to 7" should be good.

Eric

alex321 · March 30, 2014, 04:31:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by akbowbender:
Thanks, Stump Buster.

Lt to Rt: 70" NM Classic TD, 66" JD Berry Misty Dawn, 68" NM Classic, 66" JD Berry Morning Star, 66" Dave Johnson

BTW: I like your ghillie!

Hi, I am just curious how you like your take down? I am researching Hill 2 piece take downs and there seem to be a lack of choice and maybe some problems with the handle. How do you find it?

thanks and enjoy what is left of the weekend.
Alex