Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Knawbone on February 09, 2012, 06:58:00 PM
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Been thinking seriously about buying a Hill bow,aithough Iv' never shot one. To me the shape of the bow and the way it looks just screams traditional glass long bow. I know you Hill shooters have yuor faverites. So please chime in with your favorite
. Looking for something around 53# @ 26". Cougar,Cheetah,Rhino,Wasp,or Red Man, or Half Breed Are the models I'd most be interested in hearing about.WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET? Iknow,Iknow Buy them all!
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I only have one and thats all I need its a Tembo. Hill bows can pry a truck out of the mud, beat of a tiger, or be used as a tent pole or javelin.Any one you but will exceed your expectations.
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I can't detect a difference in how the different models shoot. My recommendation - go for the woods you like best!
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Knawbone ...
I think that after years of owning , selling and shooting straight limb longbows , many many of which jave been built by Craig for either myself or my customers it comes down to personal aesthetic preference .
Which colour woods do you like ?
I am a fan of natural 'boo if for some reason I cannot get Yew ...
But IMHO they all shoot pretty much the same ... some people find 'boo smoother and less shocky , others say the same for yew ...so on and so on YMMV .....
most importantly ... pics when you get it eh !
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Thanks guys,Pics no problem Ben. 66" long for my 26" draw sound right?
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My 69 inch tembo was the easiest bow to pull per pound that I've ever shot.
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Knawbone ...
sounds spot on ..... you could go shorter imho if in string follow ... but 66" in any configuration at 26" is gonna be sweet to draw , stable to shoot and long like a longbow should be .
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I draw right around 26 1/2 and my two blanks are both 66". I have a Tembo and a Redman. I would hate to have to choose between them, but there is something about the shooting quality and smoothness of the Redman that is indescribable - OK, I'd choose the Redman but the Tembo is a bit snappier, just not quite as smooth.
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Half breed has the best of both worlds, Boo and yew. I had a Redman and liked it but I like my Big Five better, gotta be the Boo.
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I've owned number of them, including some with carbon on the back. My favorites are the Tembo and Big 5. Though my next will probably be a Cheetah.
I visited Craig a few years back, and he spoke very highly of juniper. Cast very similar to bamboo, but it's prettier.
I think one can go overboard on the number of laminations in the limbs. I've owned few Westley Specials, with five laminations, and they seemed a bit stiff by comparison to four and three lamination bows. But in the end, it comes down to what you like to look at. There's probably not 5 fps difference between the bows regardless of lamination numbers or combination.
And you're right, they do scream traditional. Just very solid,good shooting bows. Nothing to disappoint. Good luck.
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Owned several. Best performing combo for me is the Half Breed. Boo and Yew. Plus, I love the looks of Boo and Yew.
However, the Mountian Juniper of the Cheeta is very nice.
In the end, it is more about the grip then the wood combos.
Matt
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Thanks for everyones input. Decisions,decisions, what a fun way to end the day.
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(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/bhaukom/HillandBrillhart002.jpg)
Redman
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They are all great bows, but the first I believe really needs to be a Tembo or Big Five, 'cause that's what a Hill really is.
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I have just over a 26" draw and my next one will be a reverse handled 62" Cougar at about the same poundage you mentioned.
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Just my opinion but I don't think you will go wrong with a Tembo.
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I bought a used Cheetah a while back. I sent it to Craig to be re-finished and reduced. It's 66", 49@28, (marked 45#) has just a bit of backset. I love the bow and think the juniper is beautiful.
I just recieved a Tembo that I ordered from Craig. I stayed with 66", I draw 27". I ordered 40@28, it pulled 45# on the bow shop's scale last night. That's about what I was shooting for after reading about the weights marked on this sight. It's a string-follow, tillered for 3-under, and the handle, dished, was made slightly bigger than my Cheetah's per measurements I sent to Craig (feels exactly how I wanted it to). The limbs are carmelized (?) bamboo, clear glass, padouk riser. I only shot it at the shop last night, but I'm excited about the initial shooting. It seems to like 29.5" 2016's with a 145gr. tip the best, which surprised me a little. I'm really looking forward to a lot more expermenting.
If one of them jumps out at me as a clear favorite, I'll chime back in.
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I own a Wesley Special, a Redman, a Wapiti and soon I will have a Crocodile. They're all good, I believe. It'll shoot, and it'll kill - just choose the combinations you like.
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Thanks again everyone,Lots of helpful info,Now I have to decide on a handle style. I have a BBO with a straight handle I like very well, and my R/D are pistol grips. I like the looks of the straight on the hills. I think I would be comfortable with either.
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BK, What are the woods on the Wapiti?
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I like straight, never tried the others. I've heard some people reporting difficulty getting a consistent grip but that has not been my experience. As you get familiar with the bow it just becomes second nature.
2 weeks after receiving my first Hill bow I shot my pb 300 round with it. I attributed this to the fact that it is very forgiving of shooter error so I didn't get as many 'fliers'.
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I tend to agree Rossco, What is pb 300?
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Sorry - personal best on the indoor 300 round.
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No problem Rossco, I wish I had somewhere to shoot. There is nothing around here,{other than my back yard}-nor any trad shooters that I know of.......big bummer!
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I hear ya. My wife insists on living in the burbs but I can shoot 13 yards in the basement and have a range nearby. Can't wait til the summer, just bought a cottage with 1.5 acres to use this summer.
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Sounds great Rossco, Hows the fishing, any walleye, northerns, lake trout? With a bow of course!
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Yew and boo. I have a half breed and a Redman. Love em both all boo is great too
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I decided a couple months ago and got a 68" Tembo with string follow...and love it!
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What is the advantage of the string follow Blackhawk.Something about more accurate at shorter distances?
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Overspined, Ya I really like the looks of the yew,plus it's such a traditional longbow wood.Iwould imagine the boo in the halfbreed would make for a little more of a responsive bow. Just my thoughts.
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Knawbone, it has three lams of bamboo enclosed within veneers of bocote, as well as a bocote riser.
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Some say that string-follow is slightly more forgiving, hence more accurate, at the cost of a little speed. Personally, I can't pick the difference. I have one string-follow Hill, and I reckon in future I'll stick to the straights, not because I don't like string-follow, but just because I'm too insensitive to appreciate the difference.
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BK.Thanks for chiming back in,that Wapiti must be one pretty bow.
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Ben do feel any difference in the "feel" of the stringfollow bow at the shot.RC
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Not really, RC. But then, I don't have a fair scientific test, either. My string-follow is 60#, and my others are 50# and 75#. But none of them thump me bad at all. They're all kittens.
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(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x438/lead955/October2011004.jpg)
Tembo, String Follow, carmelized boo.
3 Lams of boo = Less glue joints.
I think with higher # bows you might want the extra lams.
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Hawk what are the advantages of less glue lines?
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Hawk,how much poundage are you talking? Would they make any of the other models in 3 lam.Perhaps a stupid question, just had to ask.
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To me, more "Lams" feel stiffer. It takes more glue to construct a 5 lam bow vs a 3 lam bow. Glue is not wood or grass "bamboo" and does not like to bend.
I think if you are pulling more weight you might want the extra lams just because you are pulling more weight for support.
Just my opinion.
I know all these questions could be better answered by Craig at Howard Hill!!!
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I agree with RTHawk, glue adds weight to the limb but does nothing to help the performance.
Knawbone, good question, dont know if Craig would build his other woods(yew, osage..) in a 3 lam or not. Would good thing to ask him, why or why not...
I dont own aHoward Hill bow, but I have it down to 3 choices . A Tembo, Redman or a Cheetah.
Eric
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IMHO, can't tell a hair's difference shoot wise between any similarly matched draw weights & lengths. Never shot any Yew Hill which may be some of an exception? Go with what you like to look at. I don't care for anything but rock solid longbow straight or slight dish on all my HIlls. There was a monster Hill right up your alley in the classifieds the other day. Real beauty & not too common woods. Have a look.
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I have Wesley Specials, Cheetahs, and a Big Five, ranging from 40# to 65# and like them all. For me, they all draw smoothly and are comfortable to shoot. Some have the straight grip and some have the dished grip, and all of them work well for me. I like 68" length even though my draw is slightly less than 28". Both the juniper and bamboo suit me nicely. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the Redman or the Half-Breed yet but have heard only good things about them. I have only shot a Tembo a few times and found it to be every bit as smooth as some of the other guys have stated on this thread. If you can, shoot several different specimens, and choose whatever "reaches out and grabs you".
I am certainly no expert, but I believe that, if you like this style of bow, any Hill you choose will serve you quite well - pick your spot and the bow will put it there. Good luck. This will be an enjoyable quest.
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Old school, no carbon, and no glass. (http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv247/pukingguts/P1040117.jpg)
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Thank you guys for another page of useful info.I always appreciate being able to learn from the experienced.I would like to see some honey locust up close if anyone has any pics.
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I'm enjoying this post, too, as I am in the process of deciding on which Hill to order. The comments have me leaning towards a Tembo...
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Igot a tembo from bob wesley it was a bow ekin made for him tonkin cane 3 lams 70". my son shoots it.53 at 28.nothing shoots better i swear.brn glass white belly.if your able bob wesleys school is money well spent.
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I have two Half breeds both are 68" both are beautiful bows but perform awesome, one is older with real dark yew, it has a sterling silver inlay of a elephant, elephant hide slight dished grip, mammoth ivory tips put on by BamaBows and a d97 string.Also had Nate cut it down from 70" to 68" and refinish, needed to stiffen her up a bit truly a tricked out one of a kind Hill. I recommend tip overlays and fast flight with a couple extra strands. You can feel the difference. Enjoy I can remember getting my first Hill then Two and three and --oh well you get the point.