QuoteOriginally posted by khardrunner:
I tried a test kit up to 75-80 I think at full length the flew ok but not good nor consistent. Not heavy enough?

Remember the spine decreases as the length of your arrow increases past 28" so those 75-80's full length are really 55-60#.

This is the main reason why Howard developed the style and draw he used in order to find stiff enough wood shafts.

khard, you've probably said in the past but what is your draw length with a Hill style? Also your height and shirt sleeve?

QuoteOriginally posted by Rossco7002:
I feel like more and more of us are adding stringfollow Hills to our stable of bows. Initially I thought this may be just coincidence but after shooting my stringfollow Schulz for the last 3 months I gotta say there is DEFINATELY something to it. I don't know exactly 'it' is but I do know that on a well executed shot there is no difference to my reflexed bows BUT on a poorly executed shot the stringfollow bow seems much better at cutting me some slack and still dropping my arrow into the right place.

Anybody else see the same thing? What makes the stringfollow your profile of choice?

HHill himself was pretty clear that stringfollow bows were more forgiving.  Miller says so as well in his book.  I have tried both and I must say my current Hill bow, an Old Tom w/ about 1/2" to 3/4" of reflex def has a little more 'bite' than the straight or stringfollow bows I've tried.  Got a new sweetheart on the way as I type, a new to me Redman, straight profile, traded w/ Blueridge.  Can't wait to try her.

Oops, was reading page 812 when responding to this quote and had yet to read your last post. Would like to know the answers to the last question though?

If your draw is really 30.75 you sure don't need 1.25 extra hanging out front because that all effects the spine. Cut them back to the absolute bare mininum and then see how they shoot. Would say you are getting close.

Are you using 5.5" fletch? Cock feather in?

Thanks, Kelly

QuoteOriginally posted by swampthing:
5'11" same wingspan, strong as B/O, 26" draw.

After reading this I just measured my wingspan,finger tip to finger tip it's 6'1.5"
I'm 5'9" tall and have pretty big arms,shoulders and chest. My draw is 26".
I shoot with my bow arm shoulder low and a pretty good bend in my arm.I don't have to hang my head over quite as far as alot of shooters I see,to get my eye and arrow lined up.
I can shoot with a swing draw,but always come down onto my spot instead of settling into it on the upswing.Don't know why,but I shoot much better that way.Alot of times when I'm hunting(and I practice it on targets as well) I'll hold the bow up at 1/2-3/4 draw waiting for the shot.Then settle down onto my spot and let her go.Just got to figure out what works the best for you.

I think my high bow shoulder combined with my long arms makes for my long draw. It is likely a product of a birth defect and 2 torn labrums in my right shoulder.

As for arrow length, I think I could cut them down a little. I have to be careful about BH length though. I don't like it hitting my hand.

Next time I try woodies I will get another test set and see. The 60-65 lb arrows cut to 28.5 BOP flew awesome when I shot low shoulder. But again, that was uncomfortable and wild.

Funny how that works.
  No problem KhardRunner, as this is a Howard based thread I still hear in the back of my head.....  "I've never seen a  "highly tuned" bow with a string full of game." "Most archers will do better by tuning their "form" than by......"

Had to find what works for me. I'll post more videos soon

QuoteOriginally posted by khardrunner:
I think my high bow shoulder combined with my long arms makes for my long draw. It is likely a product of a birth defect and 2 torn labrums in my right shoulder.

As for arrow length, I think I could cut them down a little. I have to be careful about BH length though. I don't like it hitting my hand.

Next time I try woodies I will get another test set and see. The 60-65 lb arrows cut to 28.5 BOP flew awesome when I shot low shoulder. But again, that was uncomfortable and wild.

If using two blad broadheads they can be mounted horizontal(always the way I mount them) and one can gain close to an inch as the broadhead is above your hand.

I dont mind it close. I just dont want to draw it to my hand or to the broadhead hitting the bow even when horizonrally mounted. I think I can get away with 31-31.5. I dont have any shafts that will work right now anyway. Ill have to do another test set sometime if I want to use wood.

Cool picture! Man,John had a good set of pipes on him.

QuoteOriginally posted by dragonheart:
 

Still my archery fave ... alongside Swinehart ... and Dougherty .

Mr Schulz always had great hair , and his camo was the best ......

Sit in a chair, make a gun with your finger and thumb and point it at something across the room. See that nice bend in the arm? Now do the same thing as you draw the bow, keep it bent like that. Like you would if you picked up a dead bunny by the ears and held it out to the side. Draw so the nock is in line with your eye, around the side of the mouth or so.  You still drawing 30" like that KHaRdRunner??

Somebody mention John's pipes?  This photo always impresses me.  He was in great shape for sure.
     

Hey Ben.  Hope all is well in Australia. I'm a big Swinehart fan being that he was from the Northeast.  That and the whole taking the Big Five thing.  "Sagittarius" is a fantastic book.  If you guys/gals haven't read it yet, you should.  Great stories and excellent natural history information regarding his quarry.  Too bad that Bob had some demons and isn't around to tell those tales anymore.  Sad.

I understand the principle Swamp. You can do the same thing with a drill or a handgun. I get it. To be honest my elbow isnt even locked. Its my high bow shoulder that rotates my bow arm forward giving me a longer draw. I wish It were more of a possibility to get that shoulder down but because of my anatomy im not sure that I can physically do that.

I love the photo of Mr. Schulz that dragonheart posted!  I first saw it on the Wensel's website.  I wish that he was still involved in the archery game.

Hey Mike , Hope this finds you well mate ..... and well said .

Guys , for those who haven't read it ... beg borrow and steal a copy and you'll get a read of some of the most thrilling archery hunting , let alone  Hill style action,  anywhere in print ...

Mr Swinehart remains somewhat of an enigma , a Hill protege and by all accounts an amazing hunter ... one that left of all too soon ......

It was a chapter form his book [ inc. in Col Allisons 'The Trophy Hunters' ]  , read aloud to young fella of maybe 7 years old in Melbourne Australia , that lead a Dad [ a rifle hunting non archer ] tracking down and purchasing a copy of the book "Sagittarius" for his young son ..... the pictures of that book , back quivers , long longbows and well oiled rockabilly hair cuts that led this fella to have a life long love of longbows , and hunting with such .....

cool stuff .

Wow. Schulz is ripped in that picture....

Howdy Mate!  Ben...your endorsement is enough for me.  I'll have to track down a copy.  It must be a great book!!!

Sincerely,
Kevin

Well well well everyone! All this talk of string follow bows pushed me over the edge. I just out in an order for my new JD Berry Misty Dawn!!!!!!  I told James to surprise me, so I'll let you all know what the woods are when I find out !!