HH BUG GOT ME - Part Two!

ChuckC · June 19, 2014, 08:54:00 AM

CMH, some will find, in any endeavor that they pursue, that it often comes down to not which is best, or fastest, or gaudiest, etc, but that which becomes a part of me.

I have said it before and really feel this way. I shoot a recurve a bit better than I do a longbow, but I am much happier shooting a longbow, for some reason.

It has nothing to do with increased difficulty or any known (to me) features, it is just... me !

Seems the Hill style bows do that to a lot of folks.
ChuckC

Mudd · June 19, 2014, 10:16:00 AM

ChuckC you've nailed it for me as well.

I have always said it isn't so much as how the bow feels when I shoot it..... as it is how the bow makes me feel when I shoot it.

There more than a few bows out there that I can shoot well with but unless they "take" me to "Sherwood" when I put my hand to it, I won't be shooting it much.

God bless,Mudd

Dan bree · June 19, 2014, 11:14:00 AM

Chuck and mudd well said. It's just something when a bow takes you there and has that mojo .

June 19, 2014, 04:08:00 PM

When hunting we spend most of the time simply holding the bow. For me, a hunting bow has to go from just being held to shooting with no additional preparation or thought, an automatic response coupled with casual accuracy. I have had recurves that I could force to shoot tight groups by using the typical static target form techniques. As a predominately still hunter and small game hunter, I rarely get a typical shot that allows for the form that I used with my target bows. There are a couple of static things in my game shots, the arrow comes in my vision to a familiar position, the point lightly tags my index finger, my thumb knuckle slides to the back of my jaw and my fingers plant to my anchor. If I need to do anything gentle or finicky with the bow, my concentration and the shot is blown. When I get my hands on a bow that allows all of that and still puts out a quick accurate arrow, I get extremely possessive of that bow. Just this morning I did a bare shaft test with four bows. When I tested with my last bow, Morningstar, I chipped the nock of the first arrow with the second arrow. I do not recall aiming all that hard, I was watching for arrow flight. That is what I call casual accuracy.

Blaino · June 19, 2014, 04:55:00 PM

I'm with Paven on this one. I didn't start busting nocks and tearing up fletching until I committed to shooting "Hill style".... Short draw (from 30" to 28"), easy, nonchalant, let 'm rip style!

To take it a step further I struggle with my shooting in Howard's fashion if I think about the shot. When I just draw, get a solid anchor for a split second and drop the string without my string hand leaving my face is when I'm at my best. The American semi-longbow allows me to shoot that way better than any other bow.

Hunting season is still far away though

June 19, 2014, 05:09:00 PM

My objective is not to see how many arrows I can wreck, that just happens. My objective is to confidently put good arrows through animals that we can eat. I just went out and reminded myself how good my Hill Halfbreed from a blank is for me, I can shoot a few right handed without flaring up my release fingers. It looks like I still have two bows that allow that game killing autopilot type of shot.

Green · June 19, 2014, 09:05:00 PM

Well said gentlemen!

Mississippi bow hunter · June 21, 2014, 10:51:00 AM

I have the new Hill bow fever. I will be ordering in the next couple weeks. I currently have a 68 inch Wesley Special. Clear glass with locater grip. I am thinking about black glass on my next one. What do you guys think about adding carbon to the limb. Also I have a 29 inch draw. Do y'all think 66 inches would be to short? Thanks for any help.

June 21, 2014, 12:49:00 PM

I have seen 66" longbows that definately did not want to be drawn to 28" and some would go beyond. Bows with thicker cores and faster tapers that I have had, all seem to have a sweet spot and going beyond that showed stacking. On the flip side I know of a 62" Nortern Mist Whisper that drew smooth out to 28". If the bowyer was aiming at a 29" right from the glue up, I am sure it can be done.

Mississippi bow hunter · June 21, 2014, 01:38:00 PM

I was just thinking that a 66 inch would be a little more handy in the woods. It seems that everyone, I have spoken to about the carbon in the limbs all say the same thing. If they had it to do over again they would not add the carbon. They say that it made the bow feel a little stiffer than normal or maybe not quiet as smooth on the draw.

God Bless

Jabar · June 21, 2014, 02:23:00 PM

cmh · June 22, 2014, 11:36:00 AM

Thanks

cahaba · June 25, 2014, 09:08:00 AM

Got out and shot my JD Berry Vixen this morning. Deer season here starts Oct. 15th. so I'm still on the bag target. This bow amazes me every time I shoot it. The swing draw is coming together. I have shot swing draw style for awhile but something was missing until recently. It has taken me a month of practice to get to where I am. I am pumped for hunting season to start. Any of y'all pumped for hunting season to start?

Here is a 5 shot group at a measured 20 yards.

I shot my Shelton some this morning too. I haven't shot it in a while. But it sure shoots great. Steve did a trapezoid design on this bow with the back being narrower than the belly. It shoots smooth and accurate too.

Mississippi bow hunter · June 25, 2014, 09:15:00 AM

Good shooting cahaba!!! Looks like you got the hang of it. God bless

ChiefStingingArrow · June 25, 2014, 04:42:00 PM

In this video of Howard shooting there is good footage of his release at 7:57

What kind of release did Howard have?
did he relax his fingers and just let it go
or did he pull through the shot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1iQhBhngD8 at

arrow flynn · June 27, 2014, 12:48:00 PM

When I went to see bob Wesley in 95 he was still shooting 70 lb bows . I wanted a hill style my draw is 27.5 and he ordered a 70 inch bow for me saying it would shoot the best for me I believe all of his bows were also that long and he drew 28 . I would not shoot anything less than 68 inches in a hill style mho

cmh · June 27, 2014, 08:57:00 PM

Very interesting..... Did Mr Wesley elaborate why..... Thanks

PEARL DRUMS · June 29, 2014, 07:27:00 AM

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Bud B. · June 29, 2014, 08:00:00 AM

I like this pic the best. Nice grip/handle/riser!!

Nice build Chris! How deep and wide is that grip??

PEARL DRUMS · June 29, 2014, 08:07:00 AM

I cant get this stupid Photobucket thing figured out Bud? I tried.

The bow is 69" ntn, 58 @ 28", 1" fades straight tapering to 3/8" tips, basically an ALB. The grip is 2" x 4" by 7/8" wide. It was made from a 3/4 x 6 x 40 deck board scrap end. All held together by TB3 wood glue. Even the splice.