Well, despite the super-hot weather this weekend, elk camp is packed in and set up. Saw tons of tracks and sign on the way in, and one cow elk at about 50 yards. Plenty of fresh rubs and even one smoking hot rub 20 yards from the one and only place I have found that is flat enough to pitch my tent near water, which we only have to carry about 70 yards to camp.

The elk season opens this week. My Hill bow is ready, my arrows are ready, and my camp is set. So far, so good-------Now, will someone please turn off the hot weather. It's time to get those elk fired up!

I could use some advice please.

I recently received a Bama Bow Hunter, 66" n-t-n and 60#@28". I draw 29". The bow came with a 9-strand BCY 450+ Flemish twist string.

The current arrows are 2317, 729 gr. and 11.5 GPP. The arrows are fletched with 5" RW helical feathers and this is a typical example of a bareshaft tune with the above set up from 15 yards. Cannot go further at the moment.

Is this acceptable?


Today I decided to chrono the arrows and got an average velocity of 147.84 ft./sec. with the chrono at 9 yards from me. Even though this is a Hill style longbow, isn't 148 ft./sec. a tad slow or is this just fine for 11.5 GPP arrow?

BTW, is there an appreciable difference in velocity at a couple of yards and nine yards? It will be another couple of days before I can set up the chrono again but the question is troubling me. How far do you'll place the chrono from the shooting position?

Howard Hill Archery, in their booklet, claim a minimum speed of 115 ft./sec. + the draw weight, though it does not state what grain per pound arrow is used. Does anyone know what GPP the above thumrule is based on and how far the chrono is from the archer?

There is a fibre glass lamination sandwiched between the bamboo limb cores. Could this be responsible for such a drastic difference in velocity vis-a-vis the Hill thumbrule?


Thanks.

Mudd-

The Old Tom looks great, and good shooting. What's the build time on Miller's bows?

Darren

I would say that with  29" of draw that is on the slow side. I would guess you got too many twists in the string.  I know with a Hill style of that weight you should be right around 165fps, especially with a skinny string.
Is that a backset bow?

Thank you Darren!

If memory serves me correctly the wait time on Miller's is about 14 weeks.

God bless,Mudd

PS: It's well worth the wait.

Wow Roy! What a beauty. Between you and Rik I am seriously envious.  Although in the near future I will be in possession of a new Sunset Hill.

Swampthing,

Not entirely sure what is meant by 'backset'. If it helps, here's a pic of the unstrung bow.


The string was provided by the bowyer and the brace height is currently at 6 3/4".

I was given a BH range of 6" to 7" by the bowyer but at the lower BH (6 5/8" and below) the arrow is overspined.

I could play with point weights but everything needs to be imported and the cost and time involved are best avoided if possible.

Thanks.

Well I got my Tembo today! The bad part is I'm still at work for another 3 hours then I have league bowling tonight      I'll post some picks of this beauty tonight!

I came home from work today to find this beauty by John McDonald had arrived. I strung her up and immediately starting sending my #11 micro-flites into the boiler room of my 3-D target. 68", 60# @ 29".

Some nice groups showing up here. Methinks the deer and elk are in dire trouble this year!

Dodger,
Shooting thru the chrony at 9 yds. is too far away from it.... try it again from 1 yard.

The bare shaft is showing stiff.

Backset, is when the limbs are bending away from the riser, when un-strung. It is formed that way when the laminations are glued up and clamped down on a form that is designed for this. It pre-stress the limbs.
Looking at your bow un-strung, it appears to have about 1/2" to 3/4" of back set.

Hope this helps.

Mudd, that Tom Miller bow has a lot of Schulz in it... looks good!

JCJ, I've never heard of John McDonald, but that's a fine looking bow, and looks like you're shooting it very well.... as Mudd is his.

Ric, I believe you got it figured out - setting up camp well in advance of opening day, as not to rush things... hope you kill a big one.

Awesome stuff lads ...

Rik ... I trust that the wolves will luck out this year and you'll be packing those Llama's with antler , meat and hide .

WOW!  

I just came back to the computer after having cataract surger and see that there's all kinds of Hill interest and photos of longbows     keep 'em coming!

very nice bow Mudd,  David does beautiful work and great shooting by the way...looks like your form is in fine shape  

Dodger....not all straight limb longbows are created equal.  some designs are better for throwing heavy arrows than others.  some bowyers don't temper their bamboo either...too many variables to say why your bow shoots the speed it does.

I do know that the Hill pamphlet and website stating about arrow speed comes from quite a few years ago when everyone shot cedar arrows, of which most were around 500 - 550 gr in a hunting arrow weight.  And also, back then most Hill Archery bows were backset quite a bunch, meaning the bow bent away from the shooter when unstrung...sometimes as much as 1 1/2" - 2".  nowadays guys shoot heavier arrows, and the bows aren't backset as much, even straight or string follow....so that speed statement doesn't really apply now.  

What matters is your accuracy with your bow....if you shoot it well and hit your target, that's what important, not how fast the arrow gets there.....

Rik.....you have 2 wolf tags with ya?    

Hey Mudd, that's a fine looking piece you got there.  I was fortunate enough to score an as new Miller the other day.  I know how pumped up you must be to own one.  David crafts a beautifully graceful Hill.  There is something special about his style.  

Fantastic shooting by the way.  Nice of David to tune it for you   :p  

I don't know about you or any other Miller shooters out there, but I certainly want another one.  Good luck with it.

Lambow: Will try and do a quick chrono check either before I leave for work or tomorrow from one yard.

Unfortunately all the 2317 are already cut to size as I was using Stu's calculator and was well within the 2# range. Guess, I may just have to add a little extra weight.

Nate: When Rob got his Bama Hunter a couple of months back, he claimed that it was the fastest American longbow he had shot to date. He did not mention arrow weight but from his posts I gather that his arrows are usually in the 11 to 12 gpp range. He too has bamboo limb cores in his Bama, though I have three to his two, plus there's that glass sandwiched between the boo and I wonder if that is robbing the bow of some speed.

Thanks for throwing some light on that Hill Archery thumbrule.

At present I am restricted to 15 yards and am happy with the accuracy. The only reason I am worried about the lack of speed is that it is not measuring up to what others are reporting and I do not want it to be the cause for lesser penetration.

Had one cataract removed in 2009, so don't exert yourself until the doc gives you the all clear.

Appreciate the replies. Thanks guys.

Just received an e-mail from Nate of BamaBows saying that he does temper the bamboo and the limbs have 3/4" reflex in them.

Roy,That is a Beauty of a bow ! Looks like Mr.Miller filed away all the misses,I love a bow made like that!
I honestly believe there is a true epidemic going on ,us oldies going back to what it was and a whole bunch of new fellas discovering what Hill bows are all about.So many great bowyers turning out fantastic bows and more info and help today than probably anytime in history.Kudus to everyone on here!  

Guys, I goofed.   :rolleyes:   Checked my draw length and I am not drawing to 29" yet. It's a 10.5# jump from the 50#@28" Bear Montana I have been shooting until a week or so ago. The same thing had happened when I went from a 40# Sage to a 50# Bear Montana. I used to think my draw length was 27" until recently when I screwed on a broadhead and the back of the BH hit my finger. Checked my draw length on the kids' bow and it was 29". With the Bama, I am currently drawing 28.25" and it may take a few more weeks before it settles at 29".

Will post the chrono readings from one yard today and after I reach my 29" draw length.

Regards.

Dodger