what lb does it take to open mechanical broadhead

Nov 04, 2010

Using an Easton Bow Forcefulness Mapper tool, I attempted to measure the pressure required to open rear-deploying heads like the Rage 2-Blade (top left) and Trophy Ridge Undertaker (bottom left), and over-the-height mechanicals like the NAP Spitfire XP Pro (acme right), Cherry-red Talon Blackness Mamba (center right), and Eastman Outfi-tters FirstCut Tri-Force (bottom right).

What makes the subject particularly contentious is the lack of real-globe testing. No method exists -- nor volition i ever -- for effective, realistic testing of broadhead functioning. Even if you could line up 30 deer and shoot each 1 with a dissimilar broadhead, a multitude of variables would render the experiment useless.

Countless unscientific tests have been performed on broadheads from shooting them through plywood, tires, cream targets, beef rib cages, and cement blocks to high-tech ballistic gel. But until someone finds a moving, reactive target with thick fur and rubberband pare wrapped around a cage of os and filled with mushy organs and viscous lubricating fluids, results of penetration tests will remain more than supposition than science.

That doesn't mean all broadhead testing is pointless. Durability tests tin can reveal weaknesses in structure, and bones practice will betrayal flying problems.

When bowhunting, good shot placement is always highest priority, and good placement is bodacious only when your bow is tuned, your aim is true, and your chosen broadhead flies well. Sharpness follows close behind. To exercise their intended piece of work, broadheads must be scary sharp. If yours are non, either learn to acuminate them or go new ones.

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Now, let's tackle the toughest question of all: How much kinetic energy does the deployment of the blades on a mechanical broadhead eat?

Using a digital scale, Easton'southward Bow Strength Mapper, I attempted to measure out only the force necessary to deploy the blades on various mechanical broadheads.

With the scale rigged to a loop at the nock end of an arrow shaft, and a ferrule-sized hole precut in paper-thin, I attempted to forcefulness each broadhead through until the blades fully deployed.

Admittedly, this is a very crude experiment, valid only for comparison, and even and then it's rife with issues, ane of which popped up when testing so-called "over-the-top" broadheads -- those with forward-facing blades that scissor backward into the open position upon contact with an fauna. Because cardboard has no requite, equally live fur and skin do, the blades would not deploy. Rather, the tips of the blades only penetrated the cardboard. I repeated the test using soft, tanned blue wildebeest hide with a pigsty in it and still could not deploy the blades with any of the over-the-top broadheads. At to the lowest degree not with pressure I could safely measure out.

The just exception was Aftershock Archery's Hypershock caput. This is a "tweener" design considering it'southward over-the-tiptop only designed to open up after penetrating the skin. I measured the force needed to deploy the Hypershock 100'south blades at 4.5 pounds.

This isn't to say over-the-pinnacle mechanical broadheads are not deadly; they are. I just haven't devised a good way to mensurate the energy needed to deploy the blades.

However, my test method worked very well on heads with rear-deploying blades. For example, my digital calibration showed that it took iii.2 pounds of pressure level to deploy the blades on a Rage 2-bract broadhead. Tru-Burn'due south new Switch Bract required 1.eight pounds of force, and the G5 Outdoors Tekan's blades popped open with merely one.ii pounds of pressure.

Curiously, the Bays Ridge Undertaker required xiv.5 pounds of force to open up the blades, but that'south deceiving. The stretching of a condom band that captures the dorsum edge of the three blades is what required that much forcefulness. The rubber band slides off at impact, and without information technology, the blades open with less than a half-pound of pressure.

While the corporeality of free energy needed to open mechanical heads varies co-ordinate to design, a more pregnant cistron in existent-globe penetration is the larger cut diameters of many mechanical heads. Long, sweeping blades cut huge wound channels but besides create drag, which tin can slow penetration.

Here's my bespeak: If you plan to drive a three-blade head with a 13⁄4-inch cutting bore through a balderdash moose and expect an exit pigsty, you lot'll demand serious kinetic energy, regardless of whether your broadhead'due south blades are stock-still or mechanical.

I doubtfulness my crude experiment and observations will settle whatsoever broadhead arguments. When bad things happen, poor shot placement is normally the culprit, but the broadhead ofttimes gets the arraign.

Of form, the greatest advantage of mechanical broadheads is their depression profile, which contributes to exceptional flight and precise shot placement. Throw piece of cake-opening blades and massive cut diameters into the equation, and fifty-fifty diehard fixed-blade advocates are taking a 2nd look at mechanical broadheads.

Here's a rundown of some mechanicals that have survived the broadhead wars -- and some probable to start new ones.

OVER-THE-TOP HEADS
Crimson Talon
The Crimson Talon Black Mamba features a Spiral Kut Tip, as well as a spiral pattern built into the over-the-top blades, which take a 11⁄16-inch cutting bore. The Crimson Raptor is a four-blade head with a large, nasty-looking cut-on-contact stock-still-blade tip. The offset mechanical blades create a total cut diameter of 11⁄2 inches. A technology chosen "Inertia Trigger Cam" releases the blades on im-pact and so they deploy without friction.

Eastman Outfitters
Eastman Outfitters' FirstCut line of mechanical broadheads features varying sizes of fixed, cutting-on-contact tips followed by over-the-top mechanical blades. The FirstCut ST-3 Titanium sports a lead bract 7⁄xvi inches wide, and the three mechanical blades open for a 11⁄ii-inch cut. Information technology can be converted from 85 to 100 grains. The FirstCut EXP 100 has two blades that open to 11⁄4 inches, and the three-blade Tri-Force cuts a hole 11⁄two inches broad.

Grim Reaper
The Grim Reaper Razortip is less decumbent to "kick-outs" cheers to the total 5⁄8-inch altitude from the tip to the leading edge of the blades. The tip penetrates deep enough that the cutting path is established before the blades make contact and de-ploy. Tiny blades on the tip start the cut and, in one case opened, the main blades follow the same path. These 100-grain broadheads cut a swath 13⁄8 inches in bore.

Innerloc
The Innerloc EXP is a versatile 100-grain mechanical broadhead that gives two cutting-bore options -- 11⁄8 or 17⁄16 inches. By reversing the Stop Collar, you conform how far the blades open, changing the cut bore. A Cliploc sys-tem keeps the blades in place without prophylactic bands, and they snap into place, either open up or airtight. Blades are easily replaced, and integrated do blades are available, as is a two-blade model.

NAP
The Spitfire XP Pro from New Archery Products is the latest version of this popular mechanical caput. The Spitfire XP Pro features a replaceable cutting-on-contact tip bract. It's bachelor in 100 and 125-grain models, both with .030-inch-thick blades that cutting a 11⁄2-inch wound channel. The blades are Diamized for extreme sharpness. No o-rings or rubber bands are needed. This caput is compatible with Easton'due south Hidden Insert Technology.

WASP
The WASP Jak-Hammer SST is a 100-grain, 3-blade head that has been around a long time -- and for proficient reason. This over-the-top broadhead features an extremely sharp tip and stainless steel, .036-inch-thick blades that cut a wound channel 13⁄4 inches in bore. It's likewise available in a 11⁄4-inch cut.

REAR-DEPLOYING HEADS
Aftershock Archery
The Hypershock broadheads from Aftershock Archery are a different brood. They're actually designed to open after they've penetrated the creature's skin, thus saving kinetic energy for penetration rather than cut hair and hide.

Two curved blades open to cut dia-meters ranging from 13⁄8 to 23⁄iv inches, and they're available in eighty, 100, and 125-grain models. This blueprint is not susceptible to kick-outs on angled shots, just it does not create a large entrance pigsty equally some designs do.

G5 Outdoors
G5 Outdoors has redesigned the Tekan, a 100-grain mechanical with a large cutting tip on a one-piece ferrule. The visitor has reduced the cutting width of the tip to 1⁄two-inch and increased the total cutting diameter from 15⁄16 inches to 11⁄2 inches. The leading border of the me-chanical bract is serrated to assist deployment, the o-ring retention system has been improved, and a new all-black finish completes the facelift.

Rage
The SlipCam Rear Blade Deployment System of the Rage Broadhead has been a hot topic in broadhead discussions. The blades open completely upon affect, creating a massive entrance hole. The two-Bract Rage is only 3⁄4-inch in diameter in flight, yet expands to 2 total inches upon impact. A stainless-steel blade at the tip starts the cutting, and two .035-inch-thick blades slip backwards into position, eliminating the run a risk of a deflection. The o-rings accept been improved and a 3-blade, 11⁄2-inch cut model is available.

Trophy Ridge
Trophy Ridge, now owned by Comport Archery, offers two exceptional mechanical broadheads. The Rocket Aerohead Steelhead is a long-time killer broadhead that comes in a 100-grain version with a 11⁄8-inch cut or a 125-grain model with a 11⁄4-inch cutting. Both have iii blades and a very low profile for outstanding flight.

A new broadhead called the Nether-taker uses "Piston-Hammer" technology to ensure full pre-entry blade deployment. Upon bear on, the piston-like ferrule drives forward, forcing all three blades into a 11⁄2-inch cutting diameter. This head is very low-profile in flight -- only .55-inch in bore -- so information technology flies with precision.

Tru-Fire
Better known as a release-assistance company, Tru-Fire entered the broadhead market this yr with the 100-grain Switch Blade. A unique Oversized Tip Applied science -- OT2 -- clears the path and ensures blade deployment upon affect when the tip is driven back, causing the three blades to fly open to a 13⁄8-inch cut diameter. No o-rings or safe bands are needed to go along this head in a very depression-contour configuration.

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Source: https://www.bowhunter.com/editorial/newproducts_bw_mechanicallyspeak_200806/182103

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