HH BUG GOT ME! - Part Four!

Tim Reese · February 15, 2026, 03:44:28 PM

The American is the newest one. Got it last year but never set it up till today finally. So far so good. It's very smooth. I think I prefer it over the Shelton. At the end of the draw the American feels a lot better to me. The Shelton feels like it hits a wall. But could be its 68" and the Shelton is 66"

Burnsie · March 15, 2026, 12:54:14 PM

I've went down the ASL rabbit hole. I've accumulated these over the past year or two.
From left to right:
Louis Armbruster - Grevy Zebra
Howard Hill - Big 5
Bivouac - Hill Jack
Mahantango - Redtail
Mike Nelson - Dark Shadow
Northern Mist - Shelton

Burnsie · March 15, 2026, 12:57:17 PM

A few more pics.
The Armbruster and Howard Hill are heavy bows - all the others are 45-50 lbs.

DEggs917 · March 16, 2026, 01:02:06 AM

What's the specs and details on that NM Shelton Burnsie?! Good looking stick!

Burnsie · March 16, 2026, 07:36:16 AM

Quote from: DEggs917 on March 16, 2026, 01:02:06 AMWhat's the specs and details on that NM Shelton Burnsie?! Good looking stick!

Don,
The Shelton is 68", 50# @ 28". Bamboo lams, black glass back and belly, black diamondwood handle, black leather handle.
She's sleek and slender.

djohnson · March 16, 2026, 08:27:26 AM

Troy, what are your specs and thoughts on your Redtail?

Burnsie · March 16, 2026, 08:48:42 AM

Quote from: djohnson on March 16, 2026, 08:27:26 AMTroy, what are your specs and thoughts on your Redtail?

Darren,
I picked up the Redtail used a couple months ago in the middle of winter. I've honestly only taken a few close up shots into a bag target in the basement. It is a well built bow though, fit and finish is very nice.
Handle appears to be made from Bacote? 68", 46# @ 27", Cherry lams, Green glass back, caramel glass belly. I like it, hope to shoot it more soon.

DEggs917 · March 16, 2026, 10:52:25 AM

Quote from: Burnsie on March 16, 2026, 07:36:16 AM
Quote from: DEggs917 on March 16, 2026, 01:02:06 AMWhat's the specs and details on that NM Shelton Burnsie?! Good looking stick!

Don,
The Shelton is 68", 50# @ 28". Bamboo lams, black glass back and belly, black diamondwood handle, black leather handle.
She's sleek and slender.

Thanks for the extra pics!! Love the bow sir! I have a NM Ramer and cannot believe how quiet and soft shooting it is! The Shelton is definitely on my wish list! Got a HH Redman a week ago and am really loving it with the standard hill grip! Curious how the Shelton would compare?!

Burnsie · March 19, 2026, 09:03:53 AM

Has anyone bought or shot a Legend Longbow? I just learned about them yesterday. The bowyers name is Shawn Romack - he is said to have learned his craft from Steve Turay of Northern Mist bows. From what I can see online, they are a nice looking ASL.

Flemish Twister · March 22, 2026, 10:44:29 AM

Son of a biscuit! I knew dang good and well not to read this thread. I don't own an ASL, but now must have one. Its a lord of the rings type deal... Looking for that one bow to rule them all. Turkey hunting will put me close to Bivouac Bow Co, and I will be driving literally right by the place on my way to visit my dad. I have a hanker'in to shoot a Union Jack and see if it fits. Now I gotta check my arrow stash! I think I have a dozen uncut cedars in the basement which is the perfect excuse to find a matching bow!

MnFn · March 27, 2026, 11:22:42 AM

Flemish Twister,
There is a very, very nice Union Jack on the classifieds here right now, by a great guy. I thought about it but I just bought my HillJack a short while ago.

If you have not paid to get access to classifieds, this bow would make it very worthwhile to pay the modest fee for access to a very good deal.

MnFn · April 01, 2026, 12:38:04 AM

Finally got my new Hill Jack outside. It seems to be a very nice performing bow. It was still pretty cold out s.o I only shot a dozen or so shots, but it is very shootable for me at 50@27".

MnFn · April 01, 2026, 08:52:41 AM

I was shooting about 57# POC with 125 heads for total weight of 475 so 9.5 gpp.
I have some 60/65 that I want to try maybe with a little heavier head, just to see.

Anybody know off hand what carbon would equate to that 27" 57# woodie? I'd hate to break my good wood arrows while stumping.

No problems yet with 57# spined arrows - they seem to be performing well.

Come on spring! I love this stuff and can't wait to get warmer weather.

MnFn · April 14, 2026, 10:41:25 AM

At Nate Steen's and Andy Man's suggestion I dropped my brace height on my Bivouac HillJack from 6 1/8" to 5 3/4". Hard to believe what difference it made. I may experiment a little more and go back up to 5 7/8" just to see what that does, but pretty happy with the way it is shooting right now.

Burnsie · April 14, 2026, 10:44:04 AM

Quote from: MnFn on April 14, 2026, 10:41:25 AMAt Nate Steen's and Andy Man's suggestion I dropped my brace height on my Bivouac HillJack from 6 1/8" to 5 3/4". Hard to believe what difference it made. I may experiment a little more and go back up to 5 7/8" just to see what that does, but pretty happy with the way it is shooting right now.

So it's shooting better with that low of a brace height? You getting any arm slap?

Phil Magistro · April 14, 2026, 04:08:15 PM

I shoot my Bivouac Hill and Union Jack at 6", sometimes dropping to 5/78". It seems to me that at least my bows like a lower brace height. Unless dressed in bulky clothes I would seldom wear an armguard. With a lower brace height I wear one all the time now.

DEggs917 · April 14, 2026, 08:25:56 PM

Got out after the storms tonight for some shooting! HH Redman, 66" 45@28"! Loving the asl so far

MnFn · April 16, 2026, 05:19:06 PM

Took all three of my ASL's out today. Have not noticed any excessive slap. Yes they all seem to be shooting better at the lower brace heights.

Andy Man told me John Schulz said 5 5/8" to 5 7/8" on a 66" longbow. These are all 66" bows. Nate Steen seems to think lower is better at least on the bows I am shooting.

Phil Magistro · April 16, 2026, 05:27:32 PM

I've noticed the same thing. I have gone to 5 7/8" to 6" and found the bows like them better. I've also gone back to B50 and like the sound and feel better without any noticeable negative performance.

MnFn · April 17, 2026, 09:24:12 PM

I'll have to twist up a B55 string and try it. I don't have any B50.