HH bug got me ... Part One!

[Trad Longbow Joe]

Here is a sample of what was in the tube:
 

[Ron Roehrick]

Joe congratulations, that's a beauty it looks to be a Miller Old Tom and that will be one smooth shooting longbow. I have an early 66"er myself with the cougar inset and its a great shooting bow. David is a true master of the American Semi Longbow.

[Goshawkin]

Joe, Very nice!

[John McCreary]

All you guys using FF strings, what sort do you use? 10-12 strand w/ B-50 padding on the string loops? I've always used B-50 and considering the change. My Wesley is 46@29" but I pull it 30-1/2".

John

[Overspined]

I've been shooting Hill bows with either Dacron or skinny 450+, or skinny FF.  Dacron is just plain smooth and whisper quiet, the skinny strings add FPS and are still really quiet. These bows shouldn't make a sound really.  I tend to use the 450+ 6 strand with padded loops, I make my strings so I play with them a bit. When I'm building the bows I use Dacron, I can't deny how nice Dacron feels, but like the added performance as I generally shoot lighter draw weight bows, about 53# and under.

Some folks have found if they experience hand shock with Dacron, FF types of skinny strings help reduce it.  I'm of the opinion that something is wrong with the shooters form or bow design, or arrow weight if there is handshock of any appreciable amount with Hill style bows.

[Trad Longbow Joe]

Thanks guys, this is one of Dave Miller's Expeditions, 65# @ 27", 68" long:

 

 

[SportHunter]

Every time I look at this thread I see another bow I'd like to have...must stop.....  

[Green]

My Bama Classic Elite on the right (courtesy of Greaseman), and a new to me Jerry Hill Wildcat SN 815 courtesy yesterday of Kestimator.  Can't wait for my Half Breed to get here....but at least I've got these two.

 

Gotta peel off the leather "over grip" to see if that's a nice looking piece of Elk underneath on the Jerry Hill grip.
 

 

 

 

I'm havin' way too much fun.        

[Brianlocal3]

That is my old Jerry Hill wild cat. Absolutely fantastic shooter. The shelve is cut like no other I have seen and just rockets an arrow.  
Only TWO lams in that bow too

[moleman]

Rob, Ive got both the Wildcat and Half Breed, you will in no way be disappointed with either.
I havent had the pleasure of shooting a Bama Classic yet, but I will!
Very nice!

[Mike Mongelli]

That Wildcat looks sweet!

[Green]

Yes, the Wildcat's a great shooter.  I was intrigued by the channeled shelf as well.  I shoot 3U and this bow is tillered almost dead even....only 1/64" positive actually, so it shoots pretty quiet 3U.....and I'm diggin' it!

Brian - I'm interested in whatever history you can provide of this bow.  Was the over wrapped grip something that you did, or did it come to you that way, and when did you happen to own it? Any idea of the year it was built?  

Moleman - this Classic has a very narrow grip, and I'm wanting to add some leather on the sides, then over wrap that, but am hesitating for some reason.  This bow is 3 lams of Yew and sends a 13gpp arrow downrange on a very flat trajectory....I've had R/D bows that didn't shoot as flat.

[Brianlocal3]

Rob,

I do not know the whole history of the bow. I picked it up from *****bay a year ago. The seller had stated he was the original owner and hunted it alot, but had dropped weight.  He had the now made with the locator fro jerry and he is the one who double wrapped the grip to make it larger. That Hil is amazingly accurate bad very very comfortable to shoot.  The year I am not sure of.  
I owned it for a few months but after I recieved my First JD Berry I knew my search for the "perfect" bow was over and honestly sold every other Hill style bow I owned, and I will tell you it was hard to let that one go, BUT I got it at a good price so I sold it at a good price hoping someone interested in shooting a Hill style would pick it up and become afflicted with the bug as so many of us had.  
Sorry I couldn't help you any more.

[Green]

Thanks Brian...I'm thinking this bow was made probably early 80's judging by the S/N....but I'm hoping someone may know more than my WAG.  Interesting that you were only the second owner, and yep I believe I'm gonna have to take a look underneath that grip.  Lol.

[kestimator]

Rob,

I'm so glad that you are enjoying the JH!  She was very smooth and easy to shoot accurately...but as you and several of my other archery friends know....I suffer from trade-itus and am always trying different types of bows and have to sell some to feed the fever LOL!!  I'm sure the wind will change directions and have me buying another Hill style on down the road.  I've only come back to the Hill style about six different times in my short bow shooting "career"    LOL!!!

BTW...awesome photos!!  Your Bama is sweet looking too!!

[Green]

So, as soon as I had gotten some work stuff out of the way this morning, I grabbed the Jerry Hill and an Exacto knife to remove the well worn outer grip.  Turned out it was double wrapped, and laced back into the original grip lacing at its' start, again where it went over the original lacing at the conclusion of the first wrap, and then again at the end of the second wrap.  Here's the reveal:

 

 

 


I'm much happier with the grip size now, and the original leather certainly enhanced the riser wood and limb lams.  Happy, Happy.

[Brianlocal3]

You photos were removed, I'd like to see the Newley remoded JH, please repost

[Mudd]

Originally posted by Brianlocal3:
You photos were removed, I'd like to see the Newley remoded JH, please repost

You may already know this but the photos weren't touched by the admins... it's something you did..maybe moved them to another album after posting.

I know I've done that myself before...lol

While it sucks, it is easily remedied.

God bless,Mudd

[John McCreary]

Originally posted by Overspined:
I've been shooting Hill bows with either Dacron or skinny 450+, or skinny FF.  Dacron is just plain smooth and whisper quiet, the skinny strings add FPS and are still really quiet. These bows shouldn't make a sound really.  I tend to use the 450+ 6 strand with padded loops, I make my strings so I play with them a bit. When I'm building the bows I use Dacron, I can't deny how nice Dacron feels, but like the added performance as I generally shoot lighter draw weight bows, about 53# and under.

When using "skinny Strings" do find a need to go up in arrow spine? I don't like to use string silencers, necessary with 450+?

J-Mac

Some folks have found if they experience hand shock with Dacron, FF types of skinny strings help reduce it.  I'm of the opinion that something is wrong with the shooters form or bow design, or arrow weight if there is handshock of any appreciable amount with Hill style bows.

[Overspined]

I don't use silencers at all anymore, not even on the skinny 450+, FF, or D 97.  All you can hear is the whoosh of the string, or the arm guard contact at times.  The Dacron is lower pitched a bit, so sometimes I think it's even quieter.  

You will usually go up a spine grouping.

One nice thing about the quiet Hill style bow is when shooting alert animals, they don't really react to the shot noise and bolt,  or lack of noise. I've shot a lot of keyed up Michigan deer and NEVER had one jump the string.