Hand Shock Comparison

[USBP1969]

Howdy all.  

From 1991 > 2007 I shot Howard Hill Longbows.  Then, in 2007, at age 65, I began to experience arthritis pain in my bow hand.  I could shoot one day and then would have to lay off for 3 – 4 days.  Not good.  I started wearing a golfing glove and that helped, but eventually decided that I had to stop.  Sadly, I put up three for sale, keeping only one that had been a gift.

Since then I have shot a radical R/D longbow as well as several recurves, but really miss the simplicity and beauty of a standard longbow or flat bow.

This morning I was browsing this site and came across some awesome photos of a Great Northern Brush Bow.  It was stunning with Osage limb core and Cocobolo Diamondwood riser and I was smitten again.

Question: I’d sincerely appreciate anyone’s experience regarding a comparison of these two fine bows, particularly in regards to hand shock.

Thanks in advance.

[fireball31]

As far as hand shock goes.  between a hill style LB and a great northern Bush bow there isn'a  comparison to be made.  The hill has it, in the bush bow it is almost non existent. Shootability is a personal thing but if we are just talking hand shock the GN wins easily IMHO.  However I don't know how your dexterity is with the Arthritis.  THe grips on most of the GN lonbows are fairly slim.  You may be interested in trying the Fireball.  It has a little more extreme R/D ,but the  index grip on them is a bit bigger.

[USBP1969]

Thanks Fireball, that helps a lot.  Dexterity is OK, just experienced discomfort after shooting.

[30coupe]

USBP1969,

I don't know about either of these bows, but this might help you. I have a Mahaska longbow that was quite shocky. I loved the bow, but like you, the handshock was causing me pain. I put the bow up for sale, but before it sold, I started reading the thread about O.L. Adcock's 4 strand string. I made an 8 strand d97 string, padded the loops to 16, served the loops with yarn, and put it on the Mahaska. Much to my surprise and delight, the bow now has NO hand shock!

I can't believe the difference. If I build a new string for it, it will be a six strand. I have them on my Kanatis as well. They had no hand shock to begin with, so I just wanted to gain some performance. I don't have a chrono, so I can't say whether it worked or not.

Before you give up on your Hill completely, put a 6 or 8 strand D97 string on it. It worked for me.

BTW: I'm keeping my Mahaska!

Russ

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have a 40# Redman I'm thinking of selling, if you'd like to try a lighter weight Hill. I find the Martin Savannah pretty smooth, too.

[Swamp Preacher]

I've had good luck with the Martin Savannah and the Tomahawk Longbows. I just got into longbows this summer when I tried these deflex-reflex designs.  No hand shock.  I'm 62 and had previously avoided longbows because years ago I shot one twice and it rattled my teeth.

[JRY309]

Handshock can feel different for every shooter.I shoot Hill's and enjoy shooting them.I use a padded loop D97 and arrows 9-10 gpi and don't feel any more handshock then my other longbows.I don't even notice any handshock with my Hill's with the D97 string.

[SpankyNeal]

You might also try a Hill style bow with some string follow built in, like a Sunset Hill, David Miller, or Northern Mist Shelton. These bows are very nice in the hand especially with FF type strings and 10-12 gpp arrows.

[USBP_1969]

Thanks gentlemen.

Sadly my Wesley Lamboo bows are gone.  

I was just very taken by the photo I saw of the Great Northern Flat Bow.  It's good to hear that it's easy on the hand.

[Jim Wright]

Another suggestion, contact Dan Toelke at  www.montanabows.com,  I believe he still has a 48 lb. cocobolo/black limba "D" bow (Hill style) that he sent me to try. I now have my own 57 lb. Texas ebony / Myrtlewood "D" bow which like the loaner shoots 11-12 gr. to 1 shafts silently and though Dan told me it might have slight hand shock, I honestly cannot detect any. To boot, like every Toelke bow I've seen it is beautifully made of beautiful woods and delivery time is weeks not months.

[HATCHCHASER]

Try a Mohawk!  

[Swamp Pygmy]

I wouldn't get osage limb cores. They are much heavier than other woods if I remember correctly. That will attribute to handshock.

[LKH]

Jack Harrison is cutting bows in half and making takedowns out of them with his new process.  He thinks this may make the HH have far less shock.  Has something to do with breaking the harmonic at the junction.  Will try and remember to let you know what he finds out.  

Just got a new TD from him and another will be done in the next week.  Will have 69,63,58, and 53 pounders once done.  Sort of a line up for aging.

[cahaba]

To bad Allen Boice hasnt started back making bows yet. His D style English has no noticable hand shock.

[freefeet]

Originally posted by 30coupe:
I don't know about either of these bows, but this might help you. I have a Mahaska longbow that was quite shocky. I loved the bow, but like you, the handshock was causing me pain. I put the bow up for sale, but before it sold, I started reading the thread about O.L. Adcock's 4 strand string. I made an 8 strand d97 string, padded the loops to 16, served the loops with yarn, and put it on the Mahaska. Much to my surprise and delight, the bow now has NO hand shock!

I had a very similar experience with my X200.  There wasn't a lot of handshock before but it has become absolutely still in the hand after i put the 8 strand on.

[firewater100]

USBP1969,
     I read somthing a while back where a guy couldn't shoot his s&w 500 more than a couple shots but then he found some gell gloves and could shoot 30 to 40 shots. Im not sure where the gloves were from but maby when you find your new bow you could also try to find some of the gell gloves to eliminate even more stress to your arm

[Bob Sarrels]

My longbows are completly dead in the hand.  Check out my site.. sarrelsarchery.com

[Orion]

USBP:  Don't know if you've tried it, but a fast flite type string will reduce hand shock compared to a dacron string.  I haven't shot a bushbow, but have shot a lot of critter gitters, which have an almost identical if not identical profile, but a narrower, thicker limb.  Hand shock is mild, but then, I think hand shock on Hills is mild as well.  Good luck.