Wow. No need for new companies to do new testing? Thank God that research doctors haven't adopted that philosophy.
Ashby's research is now over 10 years old. Howard Hill's (that Ashby cited) is over 50 years old. Blade steel research is constantly evolving.
Much of life and much of design engineering involves compromise in order to achieve the best outcome. Over optimize for one factor and you may find that other important factors suffer.
I think we can all agree that optimal broadhead performance for hunting is derived from multiple parameters.
Penetration- In 1956, Howard Hill's research book "Hunting Arrows" indicated that a 3:1 length/width ratio optimized penetration. In 2007 Ashby cited and concurred with Hill, that a ratio of approx 3:1 provided good penetration.
Accuracy/Precision- Bill V., design engineer at Iron Will Broadheads, found that broadheads design based on a 3:1 length/width ratio were prone to planing, thus sacrificing repeatable accuracy and precision. I note that Hill's original testing (later cited by Ashby) was done in the 1950's and Ashby's research was done in 2007. Compound bows weren't around in the 1950's and compound bows have gotten faster since Ashby's 2007 testing. Speed creates planing issues that were not an issue in the 1950's. It has been a while since I read all of Ashby's research, but I do not recall that he tested for repeatable accuracy and precision with his shot groups using bows that shoot 330-350+ fps.
Accuracy- Repeatable, reliable accuracy is paramount for bow hunters.
Bill at Iron Will found that he was able to minimize wind planing and still achieve excellent penetration with a more compact length/width ratio broadhead design.
Structural Integrity-- Bill at Iron Will also found that superior blade steel, heat treated and cryo treated to a combination of high hardness and strength would retain structural integrity and stay wicked sharp for the duration of animal penetration-- thus providing superior penetration.
Ashby found that THE SINGLE most important factor related to penetration was structural integrity of the broadhead.
Per Ashby: "Structural Integrity of the entire arrow system is the most important factor. It applies to every aspect of the arrow, from the broadhead's tip and edge strength to the nock. Even a tiny tip-bend results in an average penetration loss of
14%."
Iron Will broadheads are built with the best possible steel, hardened, heat treated and cryo treated to a Rockwell hardness of approx R60. Even the Grizzly broadheads Ashby tested back 10 years ago were only R53.
Give me a broadhead shape that offers a strong point and ability to penetrate, made from the toughest, hardest blade steel available with the toughest, hardest ferrule available.
While some posters may feel that "marketing" may "sell anything these days", I find it best not to stick my head in the sand with regard to the potential improvements that new testing, new steel and new designs may yield.
Best,
JL
Ashby's research is now over 10 years old. Howard Hill's (that Ashby cited) is over 50 years old. Blade steel research is constantly evolving.
Much of life and much of design engineering involves compromise in order to achieve the best outcome. Over optimize for one factor and you may find that other important factors suffer.
I think we can all agree that optimal broadhead performance for hunting is derived from multiple parameters.
Penetration- In 1956, Howard Hill's research book "Hunting Arrows" indicated that a 3:1 length/width ratio optimized penetration. In 2007 Ashby cited and concurred with Hill, that a ratio of approx 3:1 provided good penetration.
Accuracy/Precision- Bill V., design engineer at Iron Will Broadheads, found that broadheads design based on a 3:1 length/width ratio were prone to planing, thus sacrificing repeatable accuracy and precision. I note that Hill's original testing (later cited by Ashby) was done in the 1950's and Ashby's research was done in 2007. Compound bows weren't around in the 1950's and compound bows have gotten faster since Ashby's 2007 testing. Speed creates planing issues that were not an issue in the 1950's. It has been a while since I read all of Ashby's research, but I do not recall that he tested for repeatable accuracy and precision with his shot groups using bows that shoot 330-350+ fps.
Accuracy- Repeatable, reliable accuracy is paramount for bow hunters.
Bill at Iron Will found that he was able to minimize wind planing and still achieve excellent penetration with a more compact length/width ratio broadhead design.
Structural Integrity-- Bill at Iron Will also found that superior blade steel, heat treated and cryo treated to a combination of high hardness and strength would retain structural integrity and stay wicked sharp for the duration of animal penetration-- thus providing superior penetration.
Ashby found that THE SINGLE most important factor related to penetration was structural integrity of the broadhead.
Per Ashby: "Structural Integrity of the entire arrow system is the most important factor. It applies to every aspect of the arrow, from the broadhead's tip and edge strength to the nock. Even a tiny tip-bend results in an average penetration loss of
14%."
Iron Will broadheads are built with the best possible steel, hardened, heat treated and cryo treated to a Rockwell hardness of approx R60. Even the Grizzly broadheads Ashby tested back 10 years ago were only R53.
Give me a broadhead shape that offers a strong point and ability to penetrate, made from the toughest, hardest blade steel available with the toughest, hardest ferrule available.
While some posters may feel that "marketing" may "sell anything these days", I find it best not to stick my head in the sand with regard to the potential improvements that new testing, new steel and new designs may yield.
Best,
JL
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