HH BUG GOT ME - Part Two!

[Moots]

6 1/2"

[Brianlocal3]

6.5" here

[Overspined]

6 1/4"

[Overspined]

Great animal, Crispin.  Well done!

[BIG GAME]

Hill Gang,
I am limping back to the cabin after a long two years of work and family life.  My family finally made the decision to move to Jordan, MT. and help with the family farm and raise our children.  I have no regrets accept the fact that I got away from shooting a bow.  I shot a Wesley (with the help of Brian "Brianlocal3") and felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.  But knowing that I didn't have the time to fully commit I backed away from hunting and archery for awhile, but now I am can finally catch my breath and enjoy the great outdoors once again.  I have been reading the "HH Bug got me" posts and want to know what it is about these bows that has such a tremendous following.  I called Jason today and had a long talk about what I really am looking for and he told me to start shooting as many Hill bows as I can get my hands on and decide what grip works best and what length feels the best at my 30" draw.  I am leaning toward shooting only 70" bows but want to know what you guys think.  
Thanks for having me,
Traver Hunter

[MikeM]

I have a 29" draw and have found that I prefer the 70" bows from HHA

[Brianlocal3]

Traver,
Long time brother!! You made your priorities, good on you. Glad you can get back to this enjoyable addiction, I mean pastime lol.

With that draw length, and you stay with HHA Id surely say 70". You can talk to other bowyers and ask them what they suggest for their bows also. Some will alter their builds to match your DL (JD berry, and Northern Mist I know for sure)
Also the reverse/forward handles ,(my current favorite) will accommodate a longer DL.

[BIG GAME]

Thank Brian I am really excited to be back and need to start shooting again.  I look forward to reading the comments and information you guys have to offer.  I will definitely look into the forward handle.

[arrowbuster]

I received a Wesley special in the mail today. Decided Id try out a hill bow. All I can say is I get it guys. I see why ya'll love this style bow. I really really like it. I love the lil thump you get on the release, this bow just feels good. Im still getting arrows tuned for her. It looks like it is going to like light spine. The lowest spine wood I got is 45-50 and that's stiff with a 190 up front. I am tuning it with gt trads in 15/35 with 300 up front. This is a 50 lb bow and I pull about 27.5 do my spine issues sound right? Should I be stiff with a 50 spine 28 inch surewood?
  Anyways guys you will be seeing me on here more this is what a trad bow is supposed to be.

[Fletcher]

Arrowbuster, in my experience, a Hill bow will shoot a spine a little under bow weight with a 28" arrow and 125 point.  Every bow/shooter combo is a little different, but I wouldn't think 50 lb spine with a 190 point would shoot weak.  Check your nocking point, brace and shoot thru paper from 6 feet.  Paper tuning helps me a bunch.

[Overspined]

Arrowbuster, something must be wrong because with 190 gr head and 27" draw you still should be at least 50# spine arrows.  Is that your true draw with that bow? I would triple check while shooting.  

Try cock feather in or out, make any difference? Changing point weights is easy, watch the arrow, then change to a 125 gr.  Any difference? How long did you cut your arrows?

My guess is your initial arrows are weak, not strong, assuming a standard hill style bow.

[arrowbuster]

That's kind of what I was thinking too. I have just s started tinkering with it. That's why I was curious what the norm was. I will fool with Nock height today. I have it at around 3/8 and still shows Nick high. Brace is something else I want to tinker with its 6 1/2. Going to bring that down some.

[Dan bree]

Check the weight of the bow. Mine came in way lower . How are the gt. flying. Any arrow slap on the riser?

[frank bullitt]

Mr.Reynolds, what kind of string, dacron, or h.p. material are you shooting?
And as Dan says, check the weight, also.

[arrowbuster]

Fast flite string on it. It pulls like a 50 but havnt weighed it. I got my 45 50s flying pretty good by changing nock point and then lowering brace. Im getting closer but still not there. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to arrow flight Im not willing to accept anything but a straight flying bare shaft. I actually hit pretty good out to 20 with it. Heres the kicker though, I glued on a 125 zwickey and got it spinning true and when I shot it it kicked left big time. Done this every shot. So now Im thinking I am weak. I am pretty good at tuning an arrow to a bow but this one is going to take me a bit more but I will get it. Im wanting to do some late season hunting with her.

[Rossco7002]

I have found bareshaft tuning Hill bows to be an excercise in frustration - the lack of centre cut makes it difficult unless your form is flawless IMHO.

I take what the spine charts say, then set up arrows with broadheads and field tips, step back to 30 or 40 yards and shoot / adjust arrow length until they group together and fly clean. Job done.

[Overspined]

Arrowbuster, I actually tune my arrows with broadheads, because I can really see what's going on. If you are RH, it's definitely too weak. I figure you'll need a 55/60 or 65 # spine shaft, depending on length and broadhead. Heavier head, go 65# and start with a long shaft, cutting it shorter.  Hill style will tune in nicely when you get there.  Also, you shouldn't need a really high nock.  Try nocking over a nock point, I can shoot a little wider spine range by nocking over and it reduces some of the downward torque on the arrow.

[Cavscout9753]

My Vixen is 50# @ 27". I draw 27. HP string, split finger. I have found excellent success with 50-55, 28" BOP, and 160 up front. Ensuring a well mounted head that spins true and a straight woody produces better results with my vixen  than it seems to matter with any of my other bows, FWIW.

[antler chaser]

I have a bad habit of picking my head up to watch the arrows fly when I'm playing with different  arrows,and I notice when I do I shoot left a lot, if I can just stay in the shot and keep my head down life is good. I don't know if this will help you? but good luck it sounds like you are almost there.

[Bernd]

Oops, I did it.
Just ordered a classic from Steve Turay.
~48*@28" yew and bamboo combination in the limbs, bubinga handle.
I've always been drawn to the looks and simplicity of a hill-style bow, but after reading through more than 1000 pages of HH Bug posts, I was convinced that this design is exactly what I want.
So I'm really looking forward to August 2015... .