want a D style bow Hills or R/D suggestions?

[Ari_Bonn]

Got an itch of a light mass weight and long D style bow   66-68".   Been thinking hard on  a HH legend stick.   But theres also the Toelke super D.    I hear northern mists are pretty great to  straight limb or rd but  the wait time would kill me.    Suggestions appreciated.

[limbshaker]

I had two Toelke Super Ds and wasn't impressed in the least with either of them. Thumpy suckers and the grips were round and wallowed around in the hand. If you gripped and shot them like a recurve it may be the bow for you. I know other folks rave about them, which is why I made sure to try two.  IMO, if you want a Hill style bow, these would be my last choice. Either get a Whip, or get a Hill style bow. Just how i see it. 

I shoot and have had all kinds of straight limbed Hill style bows. Had almost all of the Northern Mist models and I don't think you could do better than one of those. The Classic is my favorite, but if you are a little gunshy about an all-out straight limbed bow, his Superior with a Hill style grip is an awesome shooter with zero handshock or bad manners. I have an American as well and in my opinion the backset is a little too much. It's fast no doubt, but more twitchy than my others. As for lead time, Steve updated his stock bow list a couple days ago. 

The Howard Hill Archery bows have been good shooters in the ones that I have tried. Not speed demons, but generally mild mannered and forgiving. All of mine were straight profile. If it were me I'd steer clear of the ones with osage in the core, the Owl I had was the least pleasant of the ones I tried. A plus for HHA is they have a very quick turnaround as well. I think a fella would be quite happy with a Legend Stick, Cheetah, Wesley Special or a Big Five. 

Whatever you choose, be sure and get a bow to match your draw length. Long enough so it doesn't stack, but not so long that you don't get the limbs bending well and end up with a dog. Longer limbs have to be thicker (heavier) to be the same draw weight (stiffness) as a shorter limb, so I like to stay just as long as necessary without any more. Bow design and limb profile will also dictate this, so ask the bowyer. I draw 27" and on most straight or backset bows 66" is just right for me. In string follow I drop down to 64".

But everyone has their preferences! 

[Sam McMichael]

I have both and like both. My preference is the Hill style longbow, but I can't really give a solid reason for liking it more than my R/D bows. I have 7 Hill style bows and 5 R/D bows. They all shoot really well when I do my part. My suggestion to you is to try to shoot both types, if possible, till you can get a feel for what works best for you. You will find lots of people who can give lots of reasons why they prefer one or the other, but as long as it feels good and performs well for you, go with that bow that you, and you alone, like best. Over time, you may feel the need to have both. There is no wrong choice.

[Yooper-traveler]

Yes Steve has a longer wait time for his bows than does Craig.  I know Steve’s “in stock” list of bows is not up to date.  It would be worth the call to see if he has what you want. 

That said, a HH LB is hard to beat and with an incredibly short wait time it’s in your paws in no time. 

Both are beautiful and owning (and having owned) several of each you really can’t go wrong.  I’ve owned a whip or two but never a super D. 

[Eskanto]

Super D is my first choice… it is my favorite bow by far. Quiet, smooth, stable, no hand shock. I love my whips but the superD has something special. I have owned a mohawk sparrow hawk that was also an excellent bow, tho it is much more heavily built with heavier mass weight and a bit of a thump to the shot. I just recently bought a used lightweight lefty Northern Mist Baraga to use when my right shoulder is bothering me too much(I normally shoot right handed). It is very smooth and quiet as well with no hand shock, with a slight bit of deflex coming out of the riser and about the same reflex as the super D, which has no deflex, only slight reflex towards the last foot or so of the limbs. Can’t speak for other makes of d bows. I know everybody fits differently with different bows so your experience may not be the same as mine. Attached a couple fotos of the superD and Baraga side by side... superD on the left(with micarta riser)... both bows are 62". Hope this helps.

[Deno]

Ari
Great advice in the posts above. Make a few calls to Steve(NM) and Craig (HHA) and ask some questions. 

Good Luck with your choice
Deno

[SteelyDan]

Check your PM's

SteelyDan

[Steelhead]

Their are so many choices in Hill style or ASL.Plus many design choices even within those parameters.

In the mild R&D I would look at Northern Mist Superior,Dwyer Original and the Great Northern Critter Gitter is excellent.Might even consider the Great Northern Bushbow.But its got a wider limb and and does not come in 66 or 68 inches.But its a mild R&D with D shape strung up and offered in 64 inches.Yellowstone makes one as well I believe and Kimsha Mowattoman.

I think the Super D was redesigned with more reflex a few years back.I heard it was an improvement over the original Super D which I had.I have not had the newer version.So you need to know about opinions on the newer version vs the older one.

Robertson might have one.I had quite a few Berry's,also Fredericks,Thundersticks original longbow and Mohawk originals and Mohawk Sparrowhawks.I think all are really good bows.Some are not made anymore unfortunately.

I hunted and shot 3-D with this style of bow for years back in the day.I cut my teeth on them.I do like them quite a bit.

I just sold a Mohawk Sparrowhawk.Very solid stick,strong shooter.

The Wes Wallace Royal longbow is nice but show slight reflex strung.Classy looking bow though.Dont forget the the Fox Traditional longbow.He builds nice bows for sure and his 2 piece is sweet.

[STICKBENDER98]

I’m a big Northern Mist fan, when my next one is done I’ll have one for everyday of the week. I was on Steve’s website this past weekend and he has updated it with quite a few new bows.  Good luck in your search.


Jason

[Jim Wright]

I have owned a number of bows by Dan Toelke and have ended up shooting nothing but his Super Ds. Like all his bows they are beautifully made of beautiful woods and I find them to be smooth, fast, practically nothing felt in the hand at the shot, more of a pulse than even a slight thump and they are ridiculously quiet.

[carpenter]

I have always been happy with HH bows.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I am a die hard Yellowstone 3 piece takedown Longbow but I have a Mohawk Sparrowhawk one piece that I am very fond of I wish Vance would get tired of retirement and start building them again.  anyway looks like Northern Mist has stock bows.

[Car54]

http://www.libertybows.net/hill-style-bow-s.html
I have Allen's Liberty Edge, like it a lot.

[soap creek]

My current favorite is a Dwyer Original.  Its a D style with a slight reflex deflex design. My favorite ASL is a Hill Redman. The Dwyer is what I shoot the most.

[Terry Green]

Sorry if I missed....what weight?

[Ari_Bonn]

50-60#   maybe 65

[Hoosierarcher88]

For a hill style i really like the northern mist shelton. One of the smoothest longbows i have had and is a pure joy to shoot. On the flip side when it comes to mild r/d bows i am a complete sucker for great northern. You have the option there of the traditional longbow which has that more hill style feel without the thump some describe. Then there is the critter gitter which seems to have widespread love and is shorter than the traditional longbow. Lastly as mentiooned above is the bushbow. It does have wider limbs and is offered in 60-64" but when strung has a nice D profile and is very smooth.

[Hoosierarcher88]

This one is my bushbow. It can be made with a index locater handle like shown or a straight broomstick style handle.

[BRITTMAN]

7 Lakes longbows makes a Heck of a nice D shape bow for a good price . He has several in stock

[Tim Reese]

I can recommend  7 Lakes also. Have 2 of his Long Nights. Very nice bows. Easy to talk to also. Prices are great too.