Hill wood limb bows

[swampthing]

Seen lots about bamboo Hills, probably good reason, but I'm trying to find info on the wooden bows that are on Hill "menu."
 I've heard a little contradicting info on the all osage crocodile, on how it is 10fps slower than the others, also, that, it has been cronied as being the same.
 How many shoot the all wood Hills. That Bighorn Sheep is a slick one, Crocodile of course, I have a Redman on the way, Rhino is tough to find info on.
Thoughs, expierience, informal testing? Any and all would be appreciated.

[Pat B]

I don't own nor have I shot a Hill bow but it is logical that the osage version would be slower than others just because of the physical weight of the wood. If I am not mistaken, Hill preferred boo in his bows. Boo is lighter(physically) than most other lam materials and especially osage.
   If you are looking for speed, a Hill style bow doesn't lend itself to speed. R/D or recurves are built for speed, a Hill style bow is built for stability and durability.

[SpankyNeal]

My impressions of the ones i've shot have been that the wood limb Hills are a tad slower, maybe a little smoother on the draw, and just a little more thump in the hand at the shot. But that does not mean they are any less of a bow, or less fun to shoot! The differences are pretty minor and you will probably see just as much difference between two bamboo bows since all bows are different, even ones of the same model. I love the looks of the Redman and Crocodille and will probably own one of each sometime in the future!

Regards...Ken

[Rob DiStefano]

imo, it's the bamboo core that makes the hill bows smooth and with some measure of added 'stability'.  i have a cougar - bamboo core, locust veneer - could never imagine a hill longbow without that bamboo core.  ymmv.

[swampthing]

Right on with what I've seen/heard, a Croc is also on my list. Not after the fastest bow, like I said just curious as to the performance of the woods.

[bayoulongbowman]

Ive shot many , its hard to beat bamboo, just seems to be more foregiving and smoother draw to me . ...good luck..

[Apex Predator]

I've found about 3 fps difference in maple verses laminated bamboo cores in my straight longbows.  The maple being faster.  In my mild R/D an all edge grain red elm cored bow has been my fastest by several fps.  Right now I'm building an all hickory pronounced R/D longbow to compare to the boo cored one I just built.  Hickory has had lots of good press lately due to it's stiffness.  Hickory is very heavy as well.  Laminated bamboo is great because it is very consistent, smooth drawing, and easy to mill into lams, but there are faster choices.  This is just from my limited experience.  Stay tuned!

[Dick in Seattle]

I'm with Spanky.   I've had and shot 40 Hills of all models.   The all woods are generally (repeat:  generally!) a hair slower but noticeably smoother to draw.   However, overall, I think the differences between individual Hill bows based simply on minor construction process details, initial processing and cutting of the wood and just on how a particular tree felt like growing are probably as significant as the model differences.  

My own personal preference in Hills is for the combo bows... the ones with outer woods and inner bamboo... i.e. the Half Breed and Cheetah.  I've had half a dozen of these models and each one was a great shooter and seemed extra smooth.

I started making my own bows awhile back and last month got around to building my own "Cheetah" formula bow.  Had to use cedar instead of juniper but the combination of two lams of cedar and two of lamboo is one of the sweetest shooting bows I've had.  I'm currently working on a Halfbreed type... yew and lamboo and I have high hopes for it as well.  

I think combining the woods works very well and both the Cheetah and Halfbreed are truly beautiful Hill bows

[KYArcher]

Dick   Can you post pix of your bows you have built? I would like to see them.

KYArcher

[Dick in Seattle]

KYArcher, et al...

Here is a link to my bow gallery:

 http://dickwightman.com/archery/bowyering/bowsmade/bowsmade.html

I'm honored you want to look!

I recently did a strongly reflexed heavy Hill style for a friend... 70" and 61#.  He's a BIG friend!   I didn't grind the lams, he ordered all bamboo from Craig.  No pix yet but we'll get some this weekend when he shoots his first 3D with it.   I can't pull it, but I can tell you that it really honks... buries a 2117 1/3 of the shaft length in my plastic target backers.

[KYArcher]

Thanks Dick

[Romans3]

I had 4 hills at my house this weekend (not all mine). They all had bamboo in them though. A cheetah, big five (for sale on classifieds!), and 2 tembos. They all shot pretty darn nice in my opinion. The biggest difference in speed was not from different woods used, but length of the bow. The 64# was a bit faster than the 66 and 69#. In the end though, I say pick the one you like the look, feel of the most because there's not enough performance difference to worry about.

[khardrunner]

Actually dude, it was from poundage. My 69 inch (not # which means pounds) tembo is 53# at 29 inches while the other bows ranged from 58-65# at that draw length. That made the biggest difference.

[Stone Knife]

I had a Redman, all yew. Nice shooting bow never put it on a chrono, but felt it was faster than my Big Five, but Hills aren't about speed there about the romance of days gone by.