HH bug got me ... Part One!

Rob DiStefano · September 07, 2011, 07:14:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Kleinig:
So Rob, with the general rule of thumb being two or three pounds per inch, what have you found Hills to be?

i have had at least 5 custom ordered hill longbows over the last 20 years. i've bought at least 6 used hill longbows as well. none scaled at their labelled weight, all were between 3 and 6 pounds higher in holding weight. my last was a custom ordered 70" tembo (r.i.p. ol' gal) that i intentionally ordered as, and was labelled as, 47@29 and it arrived 52@29 (as measured on my easton digital scale). i was shooting for a real holding weight of 50@29 and knew that it could be higher! and it was!

all weight measurements taken as the average of at least six pulls using a 32" nocked arrow shaft incrementally marked from 26" to 30" in half inch measures, clothespin clip stopper, as measured to the back-most side of the bow, whence at the designated draw length.

just sayin' - this is not a bad or good thing, it is what it is and something one should want to be aware.

beyond all of the above, yes ... 2-3#/per inch of draw, UNLESS the bow length is short for your draw length and then it could easily stack as 3-5#/per inch of draw. be aware!

Benny Nganabbarru · September 07, 2011, 07:25:00 AM

Cheers, Rob!

Rob DiStefano · September 07, 2011, 07:30:00 AM

cheers ben!

David Mitchell · September 07, 2011, 08:00:00 AM

My experience has been the same as Rob's. Every Hill I have owned (now have 5 on the rack) is AT LEAST 4# heavier than i ordered and heavier than marked. I had one that I bought on TG classifieds that was 6# heavier. So guys, be aware, if you are ordering near your upper limit you may wind up going over--order lighter! I wish Craig would get this issue resolved.

I bought a couple of bows from a local bowyer who carefully calibrated his scale in the upright position, but when he checked weight on his bows they were laying horizonal on a wench sort of rig attached to the scale--they always came out 5-7# heavier than the scale was actually reading until someone told him he had to use the scale hanging vertically.

September 07, 2011, 12:39:00 PM

On the draws of the longbows I have tested over the last40 years, I have found that they are not all the same. I have seen some that have a gentler areas of build up in poundage followed by a stacking jump right at 28 inches, some that were 2.5 right up to the target draw and hit a brick wall before it got to the next full inch and others that were a steady 3 to 4 pounds all the way to 29 inches. I had one that was 89 at 27 inches, 85 at 26 inches, and around 100 at 28 inches. A 70 inch Big 5. The roughest shooter in the bunch, but for some reason I hit more rabbits and pheasants with that bow than any others. I even shot a bright orange golf ball out of the air at over twenty yards with it with the first try. I did not try to see how many times i would miss it after the first miracle. I threw the golf ball overhand myself, my golfer buddy wanted to chip them for me with his nine iron, to see how many times I could repeat the accident, I refused. How a bow feels is not always the best judgement on how many animals the bow will kill.

stik&string · September 07, 2011, 01:56:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
How a bow feels is not always the best judgement on how many animals the bow will kill.

I couldn't agree more. I bought a big five from the auction site that's marked 87 @ 27 (I got 93 @ 27 when I measured it) that can at best be described as a rough shooter. The thing is I can hit where I am looking more so than not and just shoot it lights out. In fact it is so accurate that my sweetest shooting Hill, string follow Robin Hood, has made the classifieds so I can eventually order another one closer to this big five.

Rob DiStefano · September 07, 2011, 01:57:00 PM

there's something to be said about a better release from a heavy, "rough" longbow.

Nate Steen . · September 07, 2011, 02:59:00 PM

Hey gang....I'm back!

took a few days off to do some elk, deer, antelope...you name it hunting

however, I got serious flu the first day...serious dehydration and it affected my eye with the new cataract surgery....long story short I didn't hunt much except for chasing some mulies and 'lopes.

BUT....

my buddy came through!

dragonheart · September 07, 2011, 03:48:00 PM

Way to go!!! That first one, he will not forget this hunt anytime soon. Awesome! Hilly Longbows on the prowl this hunting season.

Red Tailed Hawk · September 07, 2011, 04:24:00 PM

Okay guys just got Jason on the horn and pulled the trigger on a new custom Hill.

She be a
Tembo 47# @ 30" length 70"
Carmelized boo
String follow
cocobolo riser
Antler tip overlays
Mild dish grip

Asked for bow to be cut as close to center as possible, and tillered for 3 under.

Cannot wait real excited, will post pics when she arrives.

Mudd · September 07, 2011, 04:32:00 PM

Nate I always read that the old mountain men never got sick up there because there weren't any flu bugs in them hills.

I am glad to know that you made back ok.

Now I have something to look forward to when you get your pictures re-sized..lol

God bless,Mudd

dragonheart · September 07, 2011, 04:36:00 PM

Nate, Take care of yourself, sending you good vibes and prayers from Texas.

dragonheart · September 07, 2011, 04:37:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Red Tailed Hawk:
Okay guys just got Jason on the horn and pulled the trigger on a new custom Hill.

She be a
Tembo 47# @ 30" length 70"
Carmelized boo
String follow
cocobolo riser
Antler tip overlays
Mild dish grip

Asked for bow to be cut as close to center as possible, and tillered for 3 under.

Cannot wait real excited, will post pics when she arrives.

That "Hill Bug" Gotcha!

Red Tailed Hawk · September 07, 2011, 05:07:00 PM

yeah im afraid it did. Nasty little bug.

tradlongbow · September 07, 2011, 05:15:00 PM

Red Tailed Hawk-

The bow Craig built for me in January is carmelized boo and cocobola riser. If you go back to the first couple pages there's pictures. Are you going with the exposed riser on the belly? I like mine because it really shows off the cocobola riser.

Congrats,
Darren

Nate Steen . · September 07, 2011, 05:16:00 PM

Rob, did that twice...maybe 3rd times the charm...

tradlongbow · September 07, 2011, 05:17:00 PM

Nate-

Glad your back, sorry to hear about the flu.

Darren

September 07, 2011, 05:17:00 PM

Back in the 60s, i would look at those black and white Hill archery brochures and watch my real to real Howard Hill shorts and and get a strange goosey feeling. I got the same feeling when looking at canoe paddles, wood canvas canoes and Duluth packs. I know now what that feeling was, adventure.

Rod Cam · September 07, 2011, 05:27:00 PM

Nate too bad about your flu. Maybe next time Rod

Ben Maher · September 07, 2011, 05:35:00 PM

Nate .... very cool mate ! I got the flu myself so I feel for ya ! i paased it onto my Dad who now has Pneumonia !!!

You have to tell your mate that he can't get game without carbon arra's ......
he is breaking the rules !