HH bug got me ... Part One!

[RLA]

I got a few pic's of the new to me bow today.


 

 

 

 

 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Bicster, that is fantastic! I hope to get to do some of that soon! It must be almost time to call Craig to ask him to build Evan a bow!

[Ben Maher]

Its Miller bow day !

Awesome lads ! they are great shooting bows for sure .

[RC]

I find a 66" Hill bow to be just right for me. I hunt a lot from treestands for deer and on close shots I have learned to not cant the bow but have it vertical and on the inside of my legs. I bend sharply at the wast. I usually don`t take a straight down shot on anything other than small game or a smaller pig. Much to easy to get only one lung. I have killed a few 5-8 yards and the shot placement needs to be near perfect for both lungs if you are very high. I really love a 10-15 yards shot. money in the bank usually. I tried bending and canting the bow sharply but as the fella said it will get into your shirt and even worse if your bulked up with cold weather clothing....would be nice about now.
 I have injured my shoulder wrist and elbow and neck too a bit.I have to "scrunch" up to even shoot for now. I may have to hunt with a bow with a grip I can throat till I heal. The shot with a heal down grip sends a jolt that is unbearable. I rigged 700 grain arrows for my 50lb Big 5 and it still kills me. Not the bow but the ripped neck and shoulder.So don`t beat me up if I change bows for a little while.lol. RC

[Mudd]

RC I'll be praying for a quick and complete healing.

In the meantime you do what you need to do brother to keep yourself happy in the woods.

I know all of the other Hill style longbow folks will understand.

God bless,Mudd

[Nate Steen .]

Beautiful Millers gents!  

David builds a beautiful and classy bow he does.

[Kelly]

Originally posted by sunset hill:
you got it Chris.  however,  the shorter bow will feel lighter, duh,  and livlier.  That's why a 66" string follow bow with short handle will shoot as fast or faster than alot of 68" reflex bows. plus it feels smoother on the draw and recoil.

I notice things, and one thing I'm particularly picky about is efficient use of the limbs.  When I see guys shooting 68 - 70" bows, thinking they are pulling over 28", and really they are pulling about 26 1/2 - 27" when actually shooting,  they aren't using the limb efficiently.  all that wasted limb length and slow recoil translates into wasted energy and "shock" (there's that dreaded term).  I've watched ALOT of people shoot longbows and I'd guess that somewhere around 85% don't pull to the draw they think when they are actually shooting.  to me it's one of the banes of stickbow shooters.  Not saying you can have a short draw...if you shoot relaxed and casual, but most of those I observe have collapsing form and lost back tension when they shoot.  In front of the mirror at home or in front of the camera they always pull back all the way.

You are absolutely 100% correct with your observation that most stckbow shooters actually draw less than they think when actually concentrating on shooting. Found that out when I was selling custom arrows and always hated to see 2" or more of arrow sticking out the front of bow-totally wasted when talking about wood and arrow spine.

That said, I've been quilty of the same sometimes when my form falls to pieces from the dreaded TP.

[Rob DiStefano]

if your form dictates a true draw length, the shortening of that true draw length is typically due to the failure to maintain push-pull back tension.  this is so very very common.

[dragonheart]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
if your form dictates a true draw length, the shortening of that true draw length is typically due to the failure to maintain push-pull back tension.  this is so very very common.

It is one of the things that I have been working on.  Maintaining that push-pull puts your drawing elbow in the right location to have everything lined up.  

[tg2nd]

Say hello to "Witchcraft"
62", 1/2" stringfollow, 13" walnutriser, 59#@25"(61#@26", 66.5#@27")
Bow:

Braced:

Riser:

Full Draw:

[frank bullitt]

Sweet bow, Ari! Need to get over to see Mr. Miller. He's only 45 mins. away from me.

I find when shooting lighter right hand bows it is very easy not get the right shoulder back to that power position when I am trying to stack arrows at a target. With heavier bows, it does not show up because I must use stronger muscles sooner in the draw. For years my bows were in the 90s on high end and 65 on low end. when i changed from 65 for the heavies and low 50s for the light bows, those 50 pounders really through me for loop. Kind of like picking up a bucket that you expect to be heavy but is empty, I would tend to draw the arrow back almost as fast as the bow would shoot it forward. Forcing myself to draw them light longbows slowly took a little work, they feel just like the heavy ones before the draw begins. I tried shooting recurves and pulling out to 28 inches the other day, my wife said I looked like I was going to fall over backwards and my neck got a cramp in it that still hurts. I guess my arms have stopped growing and I will have to be happy with these short draw longbows.
  Is that Miller Old Tom an osage over myrtle or yew over myrtle?  I have a terrible soft spot for yew over myrtle, one of my favorite bloodiest bows is yew over myrtle.

[Mudd]

RLA  that's a beauty!  

I hope it becomes the most accurate and pleasurable bow that you've ever owned.

God bless,Mudd

[flint kemper]

RLA, nice Yew wood over a Myrtle riser. I wonder if it is the "special" Yew wood David showed me? I will have to ask him next month when I visit. If it is it has some history that is pretty awesome!!!! Congrats Flint

[Overspined]

Great looking bows!

[San Paolo]

Hi tg2end,
who is the bowyer of Witchcraft? What kind of bow: glass, all wood?

[San Paolo]

Hi RLA,
are two different strings in the pics for your Ol'Tom? and what is the dark lam into the lam limbs?

[RLA]

Thanks guys, yes there are two different strings in the bow pic's. One is a FF, the other a B-50. I really think I like the B-50 better on this bow. I'm having good luck with 50-54 wood but haven't got carbon right yet with this bow. I guess I'll just shoot wood with this one.

[tg2nd]

It has glass on back and belly and 3 lams of heat tempered bamboo. Build by myself.

[Mudd]

Originally posted by tg2nd:
It has glass on back and belly and 3 lams of heat tempered bamboo. Build by myself.

Awesome job!! Folks with your kind of talent always impress me.

Thanks for sharing.

God bless,Mudd