eightwgt

I want to share something I came accross a long time ago with everyone. In my opinion it may very well be the best study of broahead performance in the history of this sport. It is a LOT of information - a lot of good information based on REAL FIELD DATA, and tests on actual animals with real equipment.

The links I will post are in order. I say my friends it is a LOT of reading but worth every minute and it very much changed my thought s on the matter. A lot of you will scream 'hogwash'....as did I at first until I really read it, twice, and thought about what he says and is trying to say, "What is it".. This information, or these reports are from Dr. Ed Ashby, a bow hunter who has spent more time on this study than a lot of people have spent in the woods. His reports I have linked to have actually spawned some new broadheads....

Read my friends and take it as you will. It's a great read...I decided to post this because I have mentioned these articles to so many people I just thought Id start a thread finally....


Here you go in order of read :

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2004update1.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2004update2.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/single...broadheads.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007updatepart1.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update2b1.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update3.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update4.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update5.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update6.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update7.pdf

http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/2007update8.pdf

GMMAT

Is this REALLY "that" difficult to grasp (which BH to use)?

What can we learn from the studies that isn't common sense? If I ht you hard with a heavy stick it's gonna leave a mark. If I hit you harder with a lighter stick, it's probably gonna leave a similar mark.

I take a few things from reading his reports:

1. He sure loves to hear himself talk.
2. Put a BH where it should go.....with enough energy behind it....and you'll likely recover your animal in short order.
3. Just what is he a "Dr." of?
4. We have among the bowhunting community.....WAY TOO MANY hunters shooting mechanicals for ALL the wrong reasons.
5. KE still trumps momentum for what most archers can comprehend.

So did these reports really help you narrow your choice down to a single BH?

eightwgt

Yes they did my friend. I actually used to shoot a few of the more popular heads we all talked about on this forum (magnus,muzzy,etc..)
Perhaps it is common sense, perhaps it is not. I figure it must not be because there is so much junk on the market (broadheads) that someone missed the mark. Seriously though, theresa a lOT of good stuff out there too. My post was not meant to sound like the gospel... or stir the pot, just provide people with information they may not have found I personally learned a lot about KE, and momentum, and the differances, it simply made me think outside of my 'comfort zone' which is good for a lot of us.

I seem to have hit a nerve with you with this post and sorry if I did in some way...

BTW - I have no idea what type of Dr Mr. Ashby is.... none at all - I read the reports and whether he is a doctor or a plumber - it's good information...

GMMAT

You didn't touch a nerve. I apologize if I came across like you did.

What I see a LOT of is "Which BH is best" threads EVERYWHERE. I don't get it. I think we do owe it to the quarry to KNOW whether or not we're employing the proper BH or not, though. But it really isn't that hard to comprehend. If you're not pushing over 60FP/KE....you have NO BUSINESS (IMO) shooting a large cutting surface mechanical. My opinion is based on shooting them for two seasons.....and by the results of others I know who also shoot them.

If your arrow isn't sticking in the ground on the off-side of your quarry.....you need to re-think your BH choice OR.....OR your bow's capabilities. Being off on one is as bad as the other.

I don't think there are many "bad" BH's. I think there are MANY ill-informed hunters picking the wrong ones for all the wrong reasons. My opinion.

EVERYONE ought to read those reports, though. At least then.....you can't claim ignorance.

MeanV2

Put a Razor blade on the end of them sticks and things change a bit. Penetration potential is key with some setups (Trad gear, low poundage, etc.) but with the modern Compound bow, hunting Whitetails it is hardly an issue. I only shoot 60# at 28" draw and I can't remember not blowing through everything I've hit in the last several years.

I even got a complete pass through on a 450# Bear. I want a Head that flys great, is super tough, and inflicts major damage without having to mortgage the house to buy them.

I've always preferred 3 or 4 blade heads over 2 blades for the extra cutting. Last time I shot a 2 blade head I was using Trad gear.

Dan

eightwgt

I went to the 2 blade head after reading those AND a bad incedent with a Magnus Stinger. I shoot a recurve and a compound again and will still shoot the 2 blade head types mentioned in his reports. Why ? As you mentioned - with todays compounds, and good heads there are a LOT of combo's that will drop a deer dead - this we all know, and they will do it easily. What I learned or should say was left with after reading these was the perfect shot will kill a deer with almost ANY head...period...it's the shots we make that are not perfect that we need help with... I have my own story on that one, but I can say that after reading those reports and thinking back to the hunt .... I was left thinkin , "what if" LOL.... It was a bad hit that my 'current setup' may have had 150% better results with...

Thanks GMMAT, I didnt mean to 'jump on you' either buddy.....

I am glad I posted this, and hope everyone can take something away from it..

stealthycat II

its an excellent study that compounders will do everything they can to devalue it

why?

they love their speed, light arrows and mechanical broadheads - to hear their equipment is anti-hunting material makes the compounders bristle.

its human nature, sorry compounders, truth hurts. when I shot compounds I was wrapped up in it all too, I've been there, done that and have since dropped the compound and discovered real bowhunting

MeanV2

This is the biggest problem in Hunting period. Infighting amongst ourselves.

Trad vs. compound

Crossbow vs. Trad vs. compound

Gun vs. bow

etc. etc. etc.

Just because one person prefers to hunt one way does not mean it's the only way to hunt. Optimum setups vary with exact equipment used. As long as you Hunt ethical and legal I'm all for you.

I definitely don't think hunting with a compound is the only way to go, but that doesn't mean I should shoot the same arrow/head combination out of my compound that a trad hunter does just because it's best for him.

The Elitist attitudes amongst Hunters needs to go. It's actually pretty sad!

Dan

stealthycat II

MeanV2I bet you shoot a compound and I bet you're against crossbows in archery season aren't you ?

MeanV2

I do shoot a compound but I shot Trad gear for several years, even went back to trad gearafter compounds for a while.

I am in No way against Crossbows in Bow Season. I share 80 acres with 2 crossbow hunters. They hunt the same way I do from a Treestand.

Dan