Trad Broadhead length..short vs.long

[Rocky Reimer]

I am interested in some thoughts, opinions and actual kills on the difference of penetration between a shorter version vs. a longer version of the same broad....same model and same cutting diameter???? (just difference inn actual broadhead length) Thanks!
Rocky

[Blackhawk]

I can't speak of personal experience in your thoughts on the heads, but after reading the work of Dr. Ashby, it would be hard to argue with his "ideal' 3:1 ratio of length to width.

BTW, what broadhead are you referring to would have both a short and long version?

[smokin joe]

A longer broadhead would have a more advantaged "slice angle" than a short broadhead of the same width.

Try this for a demonstration of slice angle:

Try pushing a razor sharp knife through a piece of meat just by pressing down at a 90 degree angle. Now move the knife through the meat with a slicing motion. The slicing motion cuts better doesn't it. That is an example of a slicing angle.

The forward motion of the arrow and the long angle of the broadhead provides a more efficient (and easier moving) slicing angle than the angle made by a shorter broadhead (imagine a broad head so short that the blade is at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the target and it is obvious that won't penetrate well at all). All other things being absolutely equal, the better slicing angle will provide better penetration.

Longer broad heads will slice better and thus will penetrate farther -- again, with all other things being equal. But, getting the broadhead razor sharp remains really vital to its performance.

[WESTBROOK]

^^^What Joe said^^^

[Terry Green]

Longer length equals a better angle of attack

[Michael Arnette]

 
Lol

[ChuckC]

There will be lots of good answers and thoughts.  Add this one,  if a short wide one goes thru a deer, and a long narrow one goes thru a deer, which went thru better ?  

We all want "the best" but the best changes, depending upon needs at that moment.  Sometimes the best is "better" but the worst is still good enough (to go clear thru), meaning we are sometimes making our heads hurt over not a lot.

ChuckC

[Shadowhnter]

I prefer a longer broadhead.

[monterey]

I have put 125 Magnus and 145 ace into deer with excellent results, but for larger game I want heavy and long.  But, my experience on larger animals is near nil so take it FWIW.

It's kinda like the old discussion on a .22 rimfire being able to kill a deer.  There are other things that will do it more reliably.

As far as angle of attack or mechanical advantage is concerned, the picture that comes to mind is some of the videos of compound shooters hitting deer with mechanical heads and getting poor penetration.  Very poor mechanical advantage.

[Rocky Reimer]

Thanks for almost all of the positive info..of course there is always a "knucklehead" in the mix!...I have been bowhunting for 47 years and it is always good to hear and listen to other opinions and bowhunting thoughts!