Hill bows and draw weight

[Dan bree]

Do you who shoot HH bows find that the draw weight is a lot lower or higher than marked on the bow. I have a Wesley  that is marked 50@28. And allways had trouble with arrow slap arrows are spined for 50. Well I weighed it at a buddy's Hanson scale and it came in at 44@28.   No wonder they were slapping.

[ron w]

I have always found then to be a bit higher than marked......2-4 pounds. I do have 2 right now that are right on the marked weight.

[Paul_R]

First thing I do when a new bow gets strung is put it on the scale. I've been lucky and all of my HHA bows and my 7 Lakes have been within a pound. I had one from another maker that was off by three pounds. 6 pounds would be grounds for a return IMHO. Maybe somebody lightened it and didn't change the marking?

[bulldog18]

I ordered a new one from HHA this spring. It is marked 45@28. It scaled at 45.42 at 28 on my scale. I have had some older ones in the past that were 2-4 pounds heavier.

[Dan bree]

Paul.  It was new . 66inch black glass back . Red belly .take down . With a silver inlay of a buck. Nice bow ill save it for when I can't pull hi 50,s &60,s.   I  all ways heard that they came in heavier  but this one is just to lite.

From my experience only two things can cause them to go down in pull.  Leave loaded for years and a guy like me with a bunch of cutting sand paper. Like Craig said about older bows with sharp corners, "I can take five pounds off just by corners off."

[Dan bree]

Ok guys what spine arrows would you suggest .  All ways. Shot woods.  Carbon  maybe ?    Again 44&28stringfollow  hill

[Paul_R]

I'd start with some full length 600 spine like GT 1535's. You should have plenty of room to play with length, tip weight, and even weight tubes.

Next batch of carbons I tune I plan on using Gold Tip's screw in weight system and trim the arrows from the back if/as required. Seems like just the ticket.

With 125 grain points and if you have a 28" release and if your arrows are 28.5" to 29" bop,40 pound tapered cedars with five inch feathers.  If those seem stiff, you can go up to 145 or 160 grain heads. Lots of people shoot so the arrow actually leaves their finger tips a bit shorter than their full draw. If one watches the Hill dvds in slow motion, it even happened to Hill. This can make a slightly stiff arrow seem much stiffer.

[LBR]

Have you calibrated the scale you have?  Hanson scales aren't known for being dead-on accurate.  There's a reason they are marked "Not Legal For Trade".

That said, some bowyers use them (no idea what Mr. E. uses) so they may be marking them honestly and have a scale that isn't on the money.

And, of course, everyone is prone to making a mistake here and there.

The combination of a stretchy string and a low brace height will change the full draw poundage a bit as well. If your brace is an inch under normal it can effect your full weight.

[mike g]

Measure that bow on 3 different scales and you'll probably get 3 different weights....

[Dan bree]

Thanks guys.

One thing to consider, what you are hunting, at 44 pounds if you find a New Jersey deer that it won't kill, run for your life. My son had a sprained wrist and used a bow under 50 pounds one year.  He shot a 180 class buck that weighed 254 pounds dressed. The first arrow through the lungs at 18 yards after a long stalk and the second arrow on the run at 70 yards through the liver.

[Dan bree]

Pavin  we have some good size deer but not like your sons congrats on that kill .  At 44lbs it will feel like my ultra light fly rod .  But I normally hunt in the 60lb range.  Going to try and break in my northstar  James  said the deer will just come by and give up. ,   ,   Lol

[bulldog18]

Dan bree,
I am shooting 45.42@28. My draw is 28 inches. My arrows are 31.75 inch Gold Tip 3555 with 3-5 inch feathers, 100 grain brass insert with 150 grain tip.

[Rob DiStefano]

always higher than marked, sometimes more than 5# higher!  i always order 5# lower.

What weight is the Northstar, perhaps you should let me limber it up for you> I had a typo not a 280 deer it was a 180 and something.