D-shaped, red elm core longbow

[ranger42]

Hi fellas, my name is Rod. I have been shooting some d/r longbows the last year and a half. I shoot them o.k., but recently picked up a staight limbed longbow. Actually, it has a slight bit of string follow with red elm cores. I put a skinny string on and this bow is dead silent. I am amazed at my accuracy with this bow.
 The bow has a solid thump at release, just wondering is that the design, limb cores? Feels solid compared to the d/r bows.

Your thoughts & ideas are appreciated, Thanks

[Apex Predator]

That thump is the teeth rattling handshock that some people can't stand.  I like it myself!     Quiet is perfection.

[ron w]

They can't stand it because they don't hold'em right or they don't shoot a heavy enough arrow. A little thump is good for ya.......lol!

[ranger42]

Thanks Apex! The bow shoots to good not to like it. Can't get any quieter.

[RC]

Some love`m and some hate`m. I`m in the first group.Silent and deadly. Very forgiving too if you have a longer one.RC

[LongStick64]

I may try other bows but I will always have a Hill or two on hand. It's very easy to uderestimate the simplicity of a D style longbow. They just plain work.

[Mudd]

You won't catch me dissing a long bow. The longer the better,there may be a cut off but it would be beyond 72" for me. It's hard to beat quiet and accurate. IMHO

God bless,Mudd

[Dick in Seattle]

I think most of you know about me and the straight longbows  8^)    Finished two already this year and hoping to start another maybe today. It'll be #20.  Darn things are like potato chips... I can't stop.   Someone asked me what's my "go to" bow;  I asked 'em what time it was...

[GingivitisKahn]

My HH thumped the heck out of me until I learned how to hold it correctly.

[Shakes.602]

Will a  FAT  D-90 Flemish String Take Some of that Thump Out?? Just an Idea!!    
  Dick, You are a Bow-Building Machine anymore!! They  ALL  Look and seem to Shoot Great!! Where can  I  get in Line??  

[Arwin]

IMO, people that have problems shooting a straight limb "D" bow, are holding them too tight.  
 If you watch Howard Hill shoot in slow motion the bow almost jumps out of his hand after release cause his grip was light, hence the larger grip on that style of bow.
 I used to like a tiny grip on a bow till I started to hold the grip loose. My fingers barely hold the bow.

[Renaissance Man]

All true, and Shakes if your bowyer says your bow is OK with it you should do just the opposite, one of the newer fast flight type strings with fewer strands in the body and more strands in the loops will get rid of a lot of the noise and bump, especially if you are not holding as described above.
B-50 is a good material but stretches to much when the limbs drive forward and that is a lot of what you feel.

[Dick in Seattle]

I'm seeing lots of recommendations for the skinny strings on D bows.   Guess it works, but it bothers me...  doesn't seem "right"... like putting shaped grips on them or shooting carbons. Last bastion of "real" tradition and all that...   I also worry about older examples that didn't have tip wedges; their nocks could be cut up pretty quick by skinny strings, so if you go that route, be sure to pad.  My own bows are duplicates of the oldest glass versions and I don't use the skinny stuff.  As skinny as it is, I'm not sure my hands could twist it well.   In my constant search for simplification I make all my strings the same size... 12 strands of B50, regardless of bow weight (20 to 40#).   Why that size?  Fits my nocks perfectly with one serving.   Needless to say, I've standardized my nocks as well.   Lot to be said for simplicity  8^)      As to noise and thump, folks say my bows are quiet and the biggest single factor to me for shooting comfort is heavy arrows, 10 to 12 gr. per #.  These bows LIKE heavy weight.   Do you give up a bit of trajectory?  Sure, but let's get real, we're hunting or simulating hunting.   8 to 20 yards, remember?   Realistically, giving up a few feet per second in return for increased energy's a pretty good deal.

[LimbLover]

My bows are all D-style. I love the way they feel. I use a dacron 14 strand string - I guess thats somewhat skinny but it isn't FF. I noticed a significant decrease in handshock with the 14 strand as opposed to a 18-20 strand dacron string.

[Chuck Hoopes]

I've always like 'em.  Straight foward bow that I've found getting on the target to be quick and easy.

[Ben Maher]

always has been and always will be my go to style bow whether made by Craig at Howard Hill, Dave Miller at Miller longbow or Tradgang's own Jim Belcher [ my new favourite that's why he is building me two new take downs ! ]
And regardless of bow statistics etc .. at the end of the day, if i have a back quiver full of woodies and a straight limb bow in hand i look cooler than everyone else !!! lol

Ben

[Overspined]

I shoot all hill bows. Skinny strings take the vib out and pick up a few fps (not that I care). I did notice a lot less shock. You really need to shoot them back to back with both strings...quite a difference. Holding them right is the key. If it feels uncomfortable at first it is probably correct which is why most folks shy away. You shouldn't get into the grip too much. I really like almost all bows, but most I cannot just pick up and hit with the first arrow. Hill style are awesome for that IMO.