Broadhead Penetration Test

Bowhunting North America, LLC wishes to welcome Rocket Aeroheads as one of our newest sponsors.  I had heard good things about their line of broadheads, but I was still skeptical about trying and using them.  I have always been a fixed blade fan.  Muzzy and Steelforce broadheads flew great, and their penetration on game is well known.  Back in the mid 90’s when mechanicals were first starting to make their appearance, I was in Illinois field testing a new mechanical.  I was shooting a 70 lb bow and carbon arrows, generating about 65 ft lbs of kinetic energy.  Midway through the hunt, I had an opportunity at a solid 150 class ten point, at a mere 17 yards.  At the shot, I heard a loud “Whack” and the deer jumped and ran.  When I reached the spot, I found my arrow where the deer had been.  It had penetrated only about 4 inches.  To my dismay, I discovered that the broadhead’s ferrule had broken where the blades hinged.  I vowed never to shoot another mechanical again. 

Well, you can guess my reaction when I learned that BNA was now sponsored Rocket Aeroheads.  I did as much research as I could on the line of heads, and saw several tests and testimonials that praised the mechanicals.  But I still had my doubts.  I needed to see for myself.   

The test I performed was very simple.  I knew the heads would penetrate fine in soft tissue. Most modern broadheads can do that.  What I wanted to see was, how would these broadheads stand up to impacting something hard, like heavy bone.  I looked around the house and found some excess shelf material in my shed.  Told you my test was simple.  The shelf material was a piece of ¾” compressed particle board that had been primed and painted.  I figured that, next to the steel drum test, this was about as hard a material as I could find.

I took four of the styles of broadheads that I have used in the past, Muzzy, Steelforce, Magnus Stinger, and Gold Tip Gladiator.  Then I took one of Rocket’s models, the Steelhead 125.  I used my Mathews Q2.  At 72 lbs, it fires my 500 grain Carbon Express Terminator Hunters at around 260 ft/sec.  This setup generates about 75 ft/lbs of kinetic energy.  The shots were all taken from 15 yards.

The results were as follows:

Steelforce 100 grain Premium

The broadhead penetrated up to the bleeder blades and stopped in the ¾” particle board.  The tip and the ferrule were not damaged, but I could not inspect the bleeder blades.

Magnus Stinger 100 grain 4-blade

The broadhead penetrated up to the bleeder blades and stopped in the ¾” particle board.  The tip and the ferrule were not damaged.  Again, I could not inspect the bleeder blades.

Gold Tip Galdiator 100 grain 4-blade

The broadhead penetrated about halfway through the board.  The broadhead had no damage to the tip or ferrule.  But it did lose one of the blades in the board.

Muzzy 100 Grain 3-blade

The broadhead performed as I expected.  The head blasted through the ¾” particle board and the shaft penetrated about 11” into the board.  The broadhead had no damage to the tip, ferrule or blades.  

Rocket Steelhead 100 grain 3-blade

This test totally shocked me!  The broadhead has a solid machined ferrule with replaceable deployed blades.  The blades are held inside the ferrule with a rubber o-ring that slides down the shaft or is torn off upon impact.  The head blasted through the ¾” particle board and the shaft penetrated 14” before stopping in a 2x6 that is part of my fence.  The broadhead had no damage to the tip, ferrule or blades.  In fact, I shot the same broadhead through the board a second time with similar results.  I’m amazed at how tough a head it is.

Well, so much for me never shooting a mechanical head again.  The Steelhead shoots in the same holes as my field points, and is tough as nails.  At this time I am planning on giving it the ultimate test.  I cannot wait to harvest an animal with it.  I WILL be shooting the Steelhead the next time I chase big hogs, and I will be using it on a bison hunt later this spring. 

Tom Dade

Advertising and Marketing Director

Bowhunting North America, LLC

This hunt was made possible in part by our sponsors: 

Mathews, Inc. Bushlan Camouflage, Carbon Express,

The Gean-Edwards Company, Rynoskin, Trophy Ridge, VMASS, North Starr Tree Stands, 

Shed Hunter Co., Fieldline, DoskoSport, Lumenok, Tru Fire Corp., Rocket Aeroheads, Quake Industries, Limbsaver

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