HH BUG GOT ME - Part Three!

Tim Reese · June 15, 2025, 01:19:43 PM

I started with 68" ASL's and over the last year or two I've really seem to like 66" as well. Kinda the sweet spot for me also. Who knows. Maybe it's in our heads

MnFn · July 16, 2025, 06:51:05 PM

I have read numerous times the quote by Howard Hill that "all things being equal a bow with string follow will be more accurate".

Has anyone had any experience comparing a string follow with an otherwise equal backset or neutral longbow?

Orion · July 16, 2025, 07:58:05 PM

I dunno. I've shot them all, and can't say as I've proven one more accurate than the other. If I do my part, they all do theirs. I do like the draw force curve on the string follow a bit more though. It starts out gentler and builds weight quicker toward the end of the draw. Stephen Graf, author of The American Longbow) and I think Nate Steen as well have offered the explanation that one's muscle/skeletal positioning is not as good in the beginning to handle the draw weight (where it is greater with a set back design vis-a-vis a string follow) as it is toward the end of the draw. Because there is less recoil at the end of the shot with a string follow, I also find them more comfortable to shoot. Whether any of this leads to greater accuracy, I'm not sure, but a string follow is my preferred ASL type.

Burnsie · July 24, 2025, 04:36:19 PM

I have a separate post going showing off my new Bivouac - Hill Jack, but I figured it also deserved a spot on the HH thread. Jim and Georgia really do make a proper Hill Style longbow. I am enjoying shooting it in my side yard for now, but I believe it will be my go-to bow for whitetail this Fall.

evgb127 · July 28, 2025, 09:10:23 PM

Congrats on the new bow Burnsie. I hope it brings you luck this fall. I'm a fan of brown glass. I think it's good luck. Brown glass leads to brown gravy!

Ceb · July 30, 2025, 02:00:32 AM

Well, the bug still lives. A bit of backstory, I have since the early to mid eighties always preferred the longbow for bow hunting, as I aged (72 this year) I found I simply could not handle the 60-65# draw weights of my longbows. So for the past several years I turned to shooting one of my old mag handled Bear takedowns.

I recently found a Howard Hill Wesley Special 50# @27" in beautiful condition, at 62" I wish it was a bit longer but for my 26" draw it will work fine. I look forward to the fall season, my 55th.

MnFn · August 07, 2025, 01:01:41 PM

Burnsie,
Tell us more about your Bivouac Hill Jack. I looked around but didn't see any specs. What wood, length, weight and draw length.

How are you getting along with it? What arrows are trying?
Thanks

Burnsie · August 08, 2025, 10:22:51 AM

Quote from: MnFn on August 07, 2025, 01:01:41 PMBurnsie,
Tell us more about your Bivouac Hill Jack. I looked around but didn't see any specs. What wood, length, weight and draw length.

How are you getting along with it? What arrows are trying?
Thanks

My Hill Jack has a Bolivian rosewood handle and brown glass both back and belly. I used to be all about the fancy, highly figured limb veneers, but I have really come to appreciate the simplicity and look of solid colored glass limbs. All bamboo limb cores. As described on the Bivouac web site, all the laminations of the core are on the back of the bow/riser - only the outer layer of glass runs up the fade outs on the belly. The Union Jack model has one of the laminations running up the belly with the glass. I may get on the list for a Union Jack? It is 48# @ 28, 68" long. Right now I am shooting a set of "Arrow Dynamics" arrows out of it that I had set up for my Toelke Whip that is close to the same weight. I can shoot those Arrow Dynamics out of a broad spectrum of bows, and they will fly well. But - I really need to get a proper set of good wooden arrows - carbons out of a Hill style bow just doesn't seem right.
I have really been enjoying shooting it. I've been reading up on Nate Steen's blog trying to learn the Hill shooting style. I've "sort of" shoot that way all along, but Nate really gets into the nitty gritty and nuances of the Hill style. I was shooting it with the stock string that came with the bow - it shot fine and was pretty quiet bare string, but I could detect a twang/vibration at the shot. I got a new Ten Ring string from Allen Shafer with a set of his small rubber cat whiskers, and now its almost dead quiet - just a faint thump. So far, so good - I'm enjoying the bow so far.