Orion, is there a test that proves vents clog?
"But, all other things equal, a wider head won't penetrate as well as a narrower one." I don't have problems penetrating animals, with multi blades or wide heads, and neither do those I that I've hunted with with such heads. Unless I peg the off shoulder/leg bone, which in that case the animal is dead in short order, pass throughs are a cinch. Now I have to admit, I never did measure that old adage of how much dirt I penetrated after the pass through. I have a hard time figuring out how so many have trouble penetrating animals, or are scared to death that they aren't.
"Never a free lunch"... on most hunts I've been on those that use narrow heads don't get lunch very often, but the coyotes do.
"Maximize one aspect of a broad head and lose something somewhere else."
Yes, that why I maximize my chances since 90% of the time animals take a step forward rather than backward. My broadhead choice maximizes my chances dramatically, as has an overwhelming number of hunters that make the same choice as I whice I experience 1st hand. Now what do I lose? The very slim chance of the animal stepping backward and hitting the ball joint. Which BTW a narrow 2 blade doesn't guarantee success on those hits either.
I have also found solidly that pass throughs on ground angles, rather than shots from an elevated position, are the true test for both a quick death and blood on the ground depending on the head.
My test are not from propped up dead animals, but living-breathing-bleeding animals that can move while the arrow is in route, either naturally or in fear, and are no doubt about to carry the mail wide open.
Shot placement seems to be an argument way too often that isn't really relevant a lot of the time. It's up to all of us to be the best shots we can be, and take high percentage shots. However, shot placement is NOT always up to us. The animals will dictate that very often. You shot can be dead on when you release, yet at that point you are not in control of the arrow anymore. Hence my head choice based on all of the above.
I also have some comments on the vented heads 'clogging', but want to know if there is a test available other than my own real life ones.
Great discussion guys.......