I did a penetration test with my #86 Hill Big Five, four lams of Bamboo and my #78 JD Berry Vixen four lams of Black locust. Both bows are 68" and using the same arrow, a 95/100 spine @ 30 1/2 long, 967 grains total weight, with a 300 grain Tuffhead brass feild point, breast tapered 11/32 Hickory shaft with Three five inch,left wing feathers. My draw length is 28 1/2 inches. All shot from ten yards. I shot the Hill bow first getting total penetration. Then I shot the JD Berry and got total Penetration but the arrow passed even further thru the book than the Hill. So I shot the Hill again and it still did not penetrate as deep as the Berry Bow. The FOC was 14.75%. I dont think the FOC really mattered here.
I did shoot these two bows with 225 grain Tuffhead brass points and the Hill with a 100/105 shaft and it only made it to page 949. total arrow weight was 889 grains. While the Berry bow with a 225 grain Tuffhead brass point 95/100 shaft, total arrow weight was 888 grains, penetrated the two inch book. The phone book is 989 pags thick. I shot both bows two times each with the 225 grn arrows to be sure my release was not jacked up just to be fair.
Now we all know Cape Buffalo have ribs like body armor and are probably the meanest and tuffest animal walking the planet. I did this test because I am going to Africa this June and wanted to see how well I might fair against the all to unpredictable Cape buffalo, and yes I will be on the ground stalking the Buff not hiding in a blind or a tree stand.
I purchased the Hill off of Tradgang from Joseph Garvon and I was given the opportunity to build my Vixen with the guiding hand of JD Berry.
I know what bow I am going to hunt with and hands down its the JD Berry Vixen (aka) The Dark Lord. If I can't make the shot on the Buff I will just have to beat it to death with my Vixen. Yeah right !
Guys I did an honest test here and to see the penetration I got, there is no doubt the Vixen will be busting some Cape Buff ribs come June.