Types of hills ...

[Bob B.]

For those of you who shoot lots of Hills, which is your favorite to shoot ... wesley, cheeta, half breed, etc.  Which do you prefer ... I am facinated with these bows.

Bob.

[snakebit40]

 I'm in the same boat as you Bob. Fascinated and very eager to shoot/own one. I'll be watching this very closely. We should probably just read the HH bug thread lol

[fireball31]

I'd recommend the Hill thread.  It seems that its a to each his own situation. I prefer the Big 5. But I would like to shoot one of the string follow naturals.

[mikebiz]

My Sirocco is a fine shooter and a beautiful piece.  Good luck finding one though.  It's a limited edition and only 50 were built.  I was very fortunate to find one.

Aside from the limited edition Hills I think that the Cheetah is the most beautiful of all models.  That juniper is just gorgeous.  I have a 70" that's a bit too heavy for me (and too long).  Wanted to try a 70", but no reason to throw that much extra limb mass around.  I hope to get another one someday that fits me more appropriately.

I have a BamaBows Elite Classic.  Nate crafts an awesome piece.  Only problem is that it's a takedown and the grip is a little to large for me.  This one is going to a new home soon.  

But what I'm really psyched for is the David Miller Old Tom that was supposed to be here today, but it's not      :(      Got it for a steal of a price.  It will be my first string follow Hill.

Definitely go through the Hill Bug Got Me thread.  If you go to page one you can click on a searchable version.  Just use the search function of your browser to look for any model you may be interested in.  It's a wealth of information from folks that are much more experienced with Hill bows than I am.  Good luck.

[tradlongbow]

I only shoot 50#'s, so the Big 5 is perfect. Before the Wesley 5 lam bow came out, the 4 lam Big 5 was the top of the line. I would also consider the Tembo, and as for woods, I prefer all bamboo limbs.

Darren

[JRY309]

I love shooting my Half Breed,the yew looks great and the bamboo.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I own the all bamboo WS, and the all yew Redman. They're both fine. I suspect the main thing is what you like the looks of.

[Ben Maher]

I have owned Hills in 'boo, elm, yew, osage and honey locus ... i love them all and don't notice much difference in the woods aside from the osage which had a little more 'thump' .
As Ben says ... personal preference in aesthetics will be the major factor .
Myself...I'm a yew man.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

They're all the same      :p

[snakebit40]

Hey Bob I just pulled the trigger on a Tembo! Now its your turn!

[Bob B.]

I read your post on another big hill thread.  Sounds like you have the fever!  I am tying to decide between a used Cheeta, a new Wesely or a new Steve Abbott longbow.  

I Know, and Abbott is not the same but it is close.  

Good on you for getting a Tembo.  Let me know what you think once you get it!

Bob.

[Stone Knife]

Get the Wesley  

[JCJ]

I have had a couple Wesley Specials and they are nice bows. Lots of other makers craft this style of bow. If you can find a used bow by Pete George "Timberline" bows or David Miller they are two of the nicest bows of this type I have owned and shot. And then there is WI bowyer John McDonald he still builds this style of bow that is true to form.

If you get the Abbott bow you are getting a mild R/D bow and they are nice but more like a Dwyer original or Liberty English than a Hill.

[Rob DiStefano]

for the most part, craig hill models are gnat's hairs apart in function and performance - pick whatever makes ya happiest.  understand that what IS most important is the relationship 'tween bow length and archer's draw length, and there are guidelines in this matter to seriously consider.  also, most craig hill's will be 3-6# heavier than their labelled holding weights.

[snakebit40]

So is a 66 inch bow to short for my 28 inch draw? I sure hope not....

[Bob B.]

Snakebit,

I think you and the Tembo will be fine with your draw.  I will keep my fingers crossed for you    

Bob.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by snakebit40:
So is a 66 inch bow to short for my 28 inch draw? I sure hope not....

it's all about smoothness of draw, a no-stack hold ("stack" is where the pounds per inch increment very quickly just before, or at, your true draw length), and a smooth release.  only you can tell how the bow feels to you IF you try out different hill bow lengths at your draw length so that you have viable comparisons.  

for me and for a 28" draw, a 68" craig built hill will feel smoother to and at hold than 66".  my draw is 29" and there is no question that a 70" craig hill is better than 68".  but all bows are subjectively different, as are archers, so all these guidelines are just that - things to ponder before ordering out a stick bow.

[snakebit40]

Thanks Rob!

Bob,
LOL Thanks! By the way, I saw a real nice Wesely in the classifieds...        

[Bill Turner]

I currently own three Hill's. A 66", lamboo Wesley Special, 50@28"; a 64", TD "RedMan with 5 lams of yew, 53@28"; and a 66" TD "Cheetah", 56@28". At my 27 and 3/4" draw they are all smooth to draw. I would not recommend going below 64" in length with a 27" to 28" draw. My experience tells me that the shorter (64")bow will provide a little extra performance, but will not be as smooth as the 66" length. I personally have owned and shot 68" and 70" Hill's but I have found that I prefer the 64" and 66" bows for my style of hunting. If I could only have one, I'm not sure which one I would choose. It would definitely be one of my takedowns. Good luck in your quest.

[arrow flynn]

I think the proper length for your draw and the right handle dimension to fit your hand for me a wedge grip works best and adds ameasure of consistancy to your form