Mild R/D bow versus straight limb Hill style

[Pat B.]

Is there a significant performance difference in these two styles?

Is the straight bow as smooth on the draw and what about the "kick" on release? Is that recoil worse and harder on your joints ??

Why the hoopla over the straight limbed bows when the mild r/d bows still have the D profile when strung ??

                         Any comments ?? Thanks

[David Mitchell]

The hoopla has to do with a style of bow that has been part of archery (what we now call "traditional archery") for ages.  It is tradition!  And if you have one that is made by a competent bowyer with properly balanced limbs, the fearsome "shock" is not an issue at all.  I have many straight limbed Hill and Hill style longbows on my rack, I'm 68 years old, and not one of them rattles my joints, and I still have all my natural teeth.    :D      The RD bows are more like a recurve than a longbow--fact is, they are not new and used to be called semi-recurves.  No bow is smoother to draw than a well made longbow.  The semi-recurves probably do have a bit of an edge in performance if speed is your criteria, but the time proven longbow of the Hill style has proven itself to have more than enough oooomph to get any job done up to and including elephants and cape buffalo.  They are light in hand, fast into action, forgiving, and do anything you could ask of them. And can be strung without a stringer with no fear of twisting a limb!

If the RD bow is your thing, go for it--they're all good.  I have a couple or four of those as well, but they just don't have that feel that my long, straight limbed longbows have.  Your mileage may vary.    

[ChrisM]

Its more than the looks.  A RD will be faster with 11gpp and down.  Striaght is smooth draw and forgiving as all get out, and cast a 12+ gpp faster per draw weight.  The only problem I know first time hill shooters have is that it must be shot heel down or it can thump you.  This is due to high wrist will thrownthe limbs out of time.

[Bjorn]

I think it is largely tradition and nostalgia.............some folks don't seem to notice 'kick' it sure takes a toll on me. The speed difference may not be noticed if you have lots of time!          

[Shinken]

Pat B.- you have proven your potency on pig-flesh with the D/R Sparrahawk!

     

You should consider raisin' the bar by shootin' some of those critters with a Hill-style!  You can do it man - you are the hog-master!  Then you'll have to decide on what style bow to take to the forest....

               

That's the challenge of traditional archery!

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[BOHO]

Ive shot a couple of straight limbed longbows and they all jarred the crap out of me. One even gave me a terrible headache after 4 or 5 shots. Course it was like 80#. lol  I'll stick with the 62-64" r/d style.

[Hud]

Yes, no, absolutely. Basically, If a longbow is built right, there is little to no kick. If it has much more than 1/2" backset, it will be noticeable. But you can use and should use a heavier string, I prefer B-50 dacron, and a low string. Mine are Hill, Schulz, Miller, Shrew-Hill. Shooting style or form is important and can reduce the felt-recoil or hand shock.

There are half dozen Robertson Stykbow longbows with a mild Reflex-Deflex, They are FF compatible and will be 20/FPS faster than the average Traditional Longbow. I may surprise some, but the R&D longbow, even a mild one, will be faster than many recurves. One with a fair amount of R&D is akind to driving a funny car, your not sure what is going to happen. You will need a lot stiffer arrows than you would use for the others. When there is too much difference, it is hard to adjust and shoot both really well.

[dragonheart]

It sounds like if performance is the interest than Hill probably wont appeal to you.  It all depends on how you define performance.

[Mudd]

I have owned and shot both.

There isn't a thing wrong with r/d longbows.

They pull smooth and are easy shooting.

For me... it's not about how the bow feels but how I feel when shooting the bow.

I am transported to "Sherwood" when I put my hand to the elegant "D"  Hill/Hill style bow.

God bless,Mudd

[tradlongbow]

Any of the guys that shoot Hills will tell ya, they make great hunting bows. The design provides great maneuverability when hunting and because of the thick limbs it shoots a heavy arrow.

I would buy a stringfollow Hill bow, very smooth and comfortable to shoot.

Darren

[fatzboys]

one day you will have both.one day they will both be the best bow you ever had.so.....its up to you which one to buy first

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by tradlongbow:
Any of the guys that shoot Hills will tell ya, they make great hunting bows. The design provides great maneuverability when hunting and because of the thick limbs it shoots a heavy arrow.

I would buy a stringfollow Hill bow, very smooth and comfortable to shoot.

Darren

X2 I was thinking exact same thing. I went straight from recurves to Hills and I have never felt the hand shock so many talk about, but string follow hills are very smooth and pleasant to shoot.

One of these days I need to try a r/d longbow.

[Gator1]

I had a chance to visit Mike Treadway and shoot a bunch of bows.  his three piece, the black rock, black forests, and his D bow that he is building again.

I'm ordering another 56" Mild R/D bow, but I tell you the D shape profile and quietness really has me thinking.  kind of what a longbow should be like fun to shoot as all get out.... I'm gonna get me one next year.

[Sam McMichael]

I have both types of longbow and like them all. Performance difference has not been an issue with me with either bow since hand shock has never been a problem for me, and speed has not not been significantly different.

I am a little like Mudd, though, in that, to me, part of performance is the way I feel when I shoot the Hill bows. So I guess now when I am mentally transported back to Sherwood, I should keep an eye out for Mudd as well as Robin Hood.

[Sixby]

Riddle me this.  How does a Bow that weighs 1 3/4 lbs and is 64 inches long handle differently than another bow that is 1 3/4 lbs and 64 inches long. I have shot many of both designs and for the life of me cannot tell the difference between carrying a true Hill and a light d and r.
I can sure tell the difference in cast and shootability though when I shoot them. The D and r is more than just a little faster and way less jar when shot.

As to the D style shooting a heavy arrow faster than a d and r. It just isn't happening. The more efficient bow is always the more efficient bow. The D shaped bow will never outperform the D and R shaped bow no matter what arrow you shoot through it.

The real controversy is caused by personal bias. If you approch it in a non biased manner the D and R will outperform the D in every aspect except quietness. Then they are equal. as long as the string does not hit the limb on release there is absolutely not one bit of difference in noise level./

God bless you all, Steve

[Shakes.602]

I have both, I shoot both, I  Prefer  My Hill-Style Straight Limbed D Bows. Seem to be more of a Challenge to Shoot Well and from  ALL  Positions. Besides that, I just Like 'Em!!