Broadhead test

[Ehunter]

I did change a few things up, but believe it's still a valid test. All shot were from 20 yards. All heads are 100 gr. except where noted.
Bow: 65# Alien X
Arrow: Easton 2216 Lite @ 399.4 gr.
Target: Cow ribs (all within .15 thickness) in front of a Block target
Arrow speed calculated at 249 fps
KE calculated at 69 ft/lbs

Penetration Depth:
1. Shuttle T Locks
2. Magnus Buzzcut
3. Wasp Bullet
4. Thunderhead (85 gr.) (lost one blade)
5. ABC Sonic Pro (85 gr.)
6. Rage 2 Blade
7. Swhacker
8. Slick Trick Magnum (no penetration past blades)

Durability:

1. Magnus Buzzcut ( dulled blades, no visible damage)
2. Shuttle T Lock (dulled blades, slight nick in blade,)
3. Wasp Boss Bullet (dulled blades, edge bent over on one blade)
4. Thunderhead (lost one blade, others dulled)
5. ABC Sonic Pro (dulled blades, edges bent, tip folded over"
6. Rage 2 Blade (dulled blades, badly bent blades"
7. Slick Trick Magnum (dulled blades, edges bent over, blades bent in towards each other losing the "X" pattern)
8. Swhacker (totally demolished, ferrule badly bent, blades bent, only one blade deployed due to damage)

Overall Performance:
1. Shuttle T Locks
2. Magnus Buzzcut (very close to #1)
3. Wasp Boss Bullet
4. Thunderhead
5. ABC Sonic Pro
6. Rage 2 Blade
7. Swhacker
8. Slick Trick Magnum

The top 3 heads are all basically a toss up on which performed best. Slightly better penetration was the deciding factor in the overall. Had the Thunderhead not lost a blade, it would have been in the same running. The big suprises to me were failure of the Slick Trick Magnums (I have taken several deer with them and like them), the lack of damage to even the bleeder blades on the Magnus Buzzcut, and the total failure of the Swhacker.
Pics are in the next post. Feel free to ask me anything about the test.

[Ehunter]

[Ehunter]

As you can clearly see, the Swhacker was destroyed. The Slick Trick Magnum, Rage, And ABC Sonic Pro were all pretty badly damaged. While the Thunderhead lost one blade, the others were still relatively sharp, and locked in place. The Wasp, Magnus, and T Lock all sustained minor damage, and still retained a decent or better edge on the blades. If not for the glancing blow on the T Lock, it's blades could have been resharpened, and the head reused. The Magnus simply needed resharpened. It was the most durable, but had less penetration than the Shuttle T Lock. The Wasp and Thunderhead needed one blade replaced, and the others sharpened. All other heads needed all the blades replaced, or the head thrown away. Hope this helps someone in deciding what heads to use. If nothing else, it was kinda fun (but expensive) to do. lol

[Skbengal]

Ehunter, wow, those are some suprising results! Especially the mechanicals. So can we assume you've made your choice of broadhead for your upcoming moose hunt?

[Ehunter]

Sk, it'll be a toss up between the Shuttle T Locks and the Magnus for sure. Just depends on which one flies best with the bow I decide to take. Been a big fan of the T Locks since I started shooting them a few years ago. Watched on old g/f make a quartering to shot on a buck at 23 yards. Complete pass through with a 40 pound draw weight. Not a huge buck, but a good 160 pound'er. That was impressive enough for me. lol As far as the Magnus, I was very impressed that the tip didn't try to curl or deform at all on impact. I like the way they have it shaped into more of a chisel than a straight edge. That has to add alot of strength. I think either head will be as effective on anything a person would hunt.

[Spiker]

Your test dont suprise me but then - I've been shooting Magnus since about '92.
I am curious tho - did the Buzzcut stop when the bleeder blades were stuck in the bone?

[Ehunter]

The buzzcut literally snapped the rib in half, and just kept going. It had a good 12-13 inches of penetration into the Block target after destroying the rib. Honestly, the head is still as sharp as some I've seen in people's quivers. Sharper than some of the other heads came from the factory.

[Spiker]

Thanks.
I usually use the 100gn 2-blades for deer and elk and the 4-blades for turkey and antelope.
May try the 4-blade for deer this year.
They are tough tho. I've shot them into a bunch of different things and the only one I've really broken was shot at a good shovel from about
5yds...

[Ehunter]

To make Spiker smile, I did another quick test this afternoon. It's 103 outside, so it was a quick test. lol Shot the top 2 heads through matching (same cow) shoulder bones roughly 1/2 inch thick. The Shuttle T lock had 13 inches of penetration, one small flat spot on one blade, blades were slightly dulled, and the tip was slightly out of shape, but repairable. The Magnus had no damage to the main blades, other than a slight dulling, but the bleeder blades had the cutting edges rolled over and needed replaced. It had 12 1/4 inches of penetration. Penetration was into a Block target behind the shoulder bones for both shots. Both heads are 1 1/8th inch cut. These two heads have impressed the hell out of me.

[Spiker]

Thats why I shoot the 2-blades. The bleeder blades slow 'em down when they hit something substantial.
I've shot them a bunch thru 55 gallon steel barrels and the fletching is what stops the arrow.
Now on a live critter - that probably isn't so. They give a bit more than steel...
A buzzcut on a bareshaft blows thru a steel drum .