Well, I finally got around to updating the broadhead scoring system. I only made two changes. I will now use the total cutting surface of a broadhead instead of a cutting diameter score. I have also eliminated a score for the number of blades and replaced it with a point total for blade sharpness. Below is a link to the new scoring system. After you read that check out the new heads, mechanical and fixed blade head pages. You can see all heads have a lower number score, but it is eaiser to see the minor differences in each head. I think this new system gives more credit to the overall size of the head as well as rewarding penetration. You will notice that the blade sharpness scores are small, the reason for this is that blade sharpness is something we can change with some work, but heads that come ready to shoot should get more credit than those that do not. Let me know what you think, I know it will make some unhappy and others will like it. Overall though I am pleased with the results.
http://www.broadheadtests.com/RATING.html

Don't take this the wrong way.I think that any sharpbroadhead mounted correctly in front of a properly spined arrow,that is launched from a correctly tuned arrow, and is launched from a hopefully tuned archer,placed into the viatals of a animal will result in sausage for the family.And it don't cost me money to figure that out.JMHO

Newman, we as humans make mistakes! We don't always put the arrow into the perfect spot due to various reasons. Like I told a buddy at work who just started bowhunting and is a great shot on the course and in the range, he also got a little cocky because of his shooting prowess.....it just ain't the same as shooting at a deer. He found out it isn't.

word, specially with exploding arrows.

Thanks for the hard work and sharing with us 5shot. How do you figure the cutting surface? Is that total sqare inches? How does the blade thickness get rated or is that generally not a difference maker? Guess those are questions you'd rather not answer. [8D]

To figure the cutting surface I take the cutting diameter and divide it by two, then multiply the number of blades by that figure. I then add in any cut on contact tips or blades that are not full size. The blade thickness issue generaly comes out in the testing. thicker blades tend to hold up better and not break in the plywood, tire and drum.

i sure appreciate you 5 shot. i'm a member of your site and always review your findings before picking broadheads.

Yep. If it hadn't been for 5 Shot's review on Rocky Mtn. Turbos I never would have tried them. I really like them and took a doe with one last season.

This is hardly a "cutting surfacee" figure you come up with at the end. It's simply a different way to give it some arbitrary figure. I guess it's OK if you do the all the same, but it's hardly CUTTING SURFACE. The major contributor to this total is number of blades. I guess it works, but I can see it giving false hope. For example, the old Rocky Mountain Razorbacs with the 5 blades. Through it all it's a ho hum broadhead.... but 5 blades really boost the number in a misleading way. In fact, it's really a crappy broadhead. Too small a cutting diameter that leaves terrible blood trails. I think I shot probably a dozen deer with them before I decided they did it every time.

Hey Newman.... I've killed a lot more deer than I have barrels and probably used a dozen different broadheads in the process. What will you pay me for my test results.[8D][8D][8D] Field tested .....Blue Undies guaranteed.

Not a damn thing.