Bama vs. Hill

[PaddyMac]

I just want to say thanks for this thread. I'm thinking about this also and paying close attention to grip types and why people like what.

[mikebiz]

As far as I'm concerned if you are having a "custom" bow built by a "custom" bowyer, you should be able to get pretty much anything you want (within reason).  If you want a straight grip ask.  If you want a carbon lam ask.  Now if the bowyer never does carbon, then I wouldn't expect them to do it, but asking never hurts.

Custom should be just that.  Custom.

[DannyBows]

I just got a 2 pc Royal from Nate. I got a straight grip on it and it's sweet. I had her done in a gloss finish, all Curly Maple. 64" and 50@28. His carbon sleeve is great. I love this bow!

 

 

 

 

 

My Curly Maple collection:

 

[Blaino]

I too have been looking at getting a longbow....... Hill and Bama are on top right now. I haven't seen an ugly Bama yet!!!

[Nala]

All these great looking bows makes it very difficult to pick one.  One thing that weighs HEAVY with me is price.  The Bama bows start at $389 and the Hill bows start at $525.  May not seem like much to a lot of people, but that would buy me a dozen woodies to go with the new bow so I could learn to make them too.

I wouldn't mind having either one.  Good luck with your choice.  Please post pics of what you get when it arrives.

Nalajr

[cbCrow]

Either one would be a good choice. I have not shot a Bama but do own a Hill Tembo. Food for thought the Hill has at least 3 lams in its construction with more limb taper while the Bama has only 2 lams and a little wider. I don,t know for sure what that means as I am not an expert but still should taken for what it is. Hill has been doing what it does for a long time, I know been shooting them for over 30years!

[ripforce56]

FWIW Nate can ADD any extra LIMB laminations that you want to the Hunter! The Hunter comes w 2 limb lams and the Royal has 6 limb lams! I own one of each plus the Royal has the limb veneers w clear glass! The thing about Nate is he will build your  bow any way you want it to be he is very open to ideas and suggestions, great guy to have a conversation with

[DannyBows]

Steve is right on about the Lams in Nate's bows. I always get an extra Lam or 2 in my Hunters.

I recently bought a used 2 pc Hunter from the classifieds and it has a lam of black glass in the center of the limb core. I don't notice a significant loss of smoothness, but it does add noticeable speed.

[LimbLover]

Extra lams are $25

I cannot tell you that a Bama shoots like a Hill because it doesn't. It seems like if you want it to shoot like a Hill...then you should order a Hill or you won't be satisfied.

If you are looking for a straight-limbed longbow, I'm sending you to Nate because they are a whole lot smoother than a Hill from my experience.

On the other hand, I know that Nate has built a straight-gripped Hill style bow and has been getting requests for them. I haven't tried one so I cannot help you there. Nate isn't into copying other bows so its still going to have that Bama feel.

[khardrunner]

That's what I'm thinking too Limblover. It's not that I don't want a Bama (who can resist his dark curly maple??), it's just that I'm looking for something specific right now. A Bama is definitely on the wanted list, not for how well it mimicks a Hill, but just because they are sweet bows.

[LimbLover]

And I simply want you to get what you want. Trust me, there is no one that would rather see you get a Bama than me. You would love it. I'm the biggest Bama fan boy there is. I have no doubt that Nate would build you an incredible bow.

I wish you had the opportunity to shoot both and choose.

[Brianlocal3]

Khardrunner,
I'm curios what bow did you go with?

[khardrunner]

I actually had to make some big changes due to a deformed shoulder and the resulting problems. So now I shoot lefty.

Anyway, I have a Fred Anderson skookum and a Schulz trophy hunter that are my main bows.

I've also had some dealings with Craig from HH archery since this and I can't say enough good things about him. Nate seems to be a great guy as well.

[Brianlocal3]

I'm sorry to hear of you injury. I'll pray for your recovery. But so now you get to shoot lefty! I have heard wonderful things about both bows you own.  
Thank you for answering my question also. The suspense was killing me.  It was like being left hanging at the end of a book waiting for the next one.

[Rob DiStefano]

a "D" bow can be a hill style or a mild r/d hybrid style.  both are Vastly Different in many ways, notably in performance.  decide what's most important for your bowhunting and move forward ...