Slick Trick Test - Phase 2

[bowtech]

First impressions:

Outstanding upgrades

Blades went from .30" to .35" for a nearly 20% improvement on something that was good already

The front section of the Ferrel is longer overall and the dia. seems to be marginally larger although I did not Mic. it.

This just seems to be a stronger head from a hands on inspection when having the older version to compair it too.
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Flight :
(Done with a Reflex Grizzly in de-tuned state)


The Reflex can group arrows together in near robin hood style but there is a tuning flaw put in that will pick up flight problems in a head.

* Note: Nobody should be hunting with a un-tuned bow but it happens (alot) and I do this to show what can happen - not what will happen.

50 arrows were shot for warm up before shooting for Pics below.
Below are pics of the results at 30yrds.


([blue]arrow to right is 100gr. Slick Trick equipped[/blue])


([blue]arrow to right is Slick Trick equipped[/blue])

Notice the grouping ....very good and very tunable.
I expect no problems out of a tuned bow
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For the sharpness test this head took top honors by inflicting 28 shots on target before being brought to the state of having a lacking edge.

Just outstanding! and lets keep in mind that this is a .35 blade which is going to have an uphill battle compared to thiner blades on getting a good edge to begin with.

The starting edge was not the best I have ever seen (most are not)but very good and certainly good enough to get a thumbs up from myself.

After warming up and getting the second stage ready it was back out into the cold (Need to get a heated range up ) for the BK2 test.

As I expected , the flight was flawless when shot out of a tuned bow


([blue]The feather arrow is the Slick Trick Head[/blue])

Now it was time to pound the snot out of these things and see what the new design had to show

The plate was set over the boar shoulder (about a 225# pig)and the distance was a standard of 30yrds.

Once again the first shot brought a wonderful CRUNCH back to my ears ;D

The arrow was cocked and nock down @ 5 O'clock when I retrieved the shoulder and took it back to the kitchen for dissection.

The wife is finally over the shrill speak that she hits me with (I think), actually just chuckled and walked out saying "I just dont get it" ;D

As you can see , the arrow did not make good penetration.


[blue]notice the lack of arrow to the left[/blue]


[blue]this is the tip on the opposite side of the inside shoulder[/blue]

The damage to the shoulder would have had the pig on three legs for the rest of his days but he would have had the rest of his days to work on it
( save infection )

A lesser bone would have yielded to the head but a shoulder joint or spine would not as evidenced.
This is for the most part , the draw back with multi blade heads and as you add blades you drop penetration.

Simple as that and this fact should not be held against a head when comparing a 4blade to a 3 or 2 blade head.

Here are some of the Pics of the super job the head did do on the shoulder joint.







The Head?.....a slight bend in one blade and it was so slight that I had to look very carefully to find it but I may have one pick that shows it.


[blue] Notice the bend on the center blade (facing camera)[/blue]
Another thing is the blades after they were extracted.
They were in great shape

I MEAN SHARP!!!......I MEAN CUT MYSELF WASHING THEM SHARP!

I give the New Blades a thumbs up so far

Here are some shots after the shot






Do you see any blade damage?....me either

And finally there is the board test

This was a first for any head in as much as the head made the pass through from 30yrds. out and the blades survived not only w/o damage but in sharp condition.

I mean sharp!

I really wish that I could send you all a blade so that you could be as amazed as I am (cause you would be I am sure)

Look at the following Pics and tell me you wouldn't expect some blade damage in some form


[blue]Note the marks left by the blades as they entered the wood[/blue]


[blue]is this awesome or what?![/blue]


And here are some pics after the wood chips were removed


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Alright guys and gals....here is my final verdict on the S.T. heads.

Thumbs up!

For a 4blade design they have exceeded all others and now stand as the all time champs.

I am glad that The man behind the head took the time to correct previous flaws and my hat is certainly off to him for his efforts.

A point was brought to my attention that needed addressing.

I did assume that the Slick Trick would pass based on the knuckle joint being split.
Being such a hard area to penetrate I did not hold this against the test results.

It had just never happened before

So....I went back out and shot it again and then went further and shot the scapula 12 times with the same head (after the first Pics)
to see what these blades really had in them.

The impact shattered the bone better than anything (to date) and carrying the shoulder back to the house was like juggling a water balloon ;D

I do wish now that I had not taken a free pack from the manufacturer
Although it certainly had no ability to soften my view , it does make me wonder if I couldn't have found more to P&M about had I not

Anyway....here are the pics




This is the head that broke the Boar


AND THE FLIP SIDE OF THE SAME HEAD



HERE IS A PIC OF A HEAD THAT TOOK THE SCAPULA TILL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO HIT ;D



As you can see , there are a few scares on the scapula hatchet but hardly what I would call bad damage.

Two of the blades still carried a good edge after a dozen shots.

OUTSTANDING!


I am really sorry about a couple of these Pics people...its hard to get a good Pic and be close enough to see anything worth seeing

[admin]

Sounds like you are pleased with the upgrades, looking forward to hearing the rest over the weekend.

[ScottC]

Thanks for the review.

[michihunter]

Just a question for ya BT. You normally grade on an all or nothing pass/fail grade. With the limited penetration on the shoulder joint, you would still passs this head? Isn't that unusual for you?

[bowtech]

Thats certainly a fair question Michi

Due to the limited penetration of the 4blade design I have to give some exceptions to certain rules.

For example....if the flight were not on par with a three or two blade , that really wouldnt matter since the number of blades is irrelivant to a design that has to hit on spot.

Penetration does matter but it has to be relivant to comparism to the last/next head.

In prior tests the Knuckle joint was not hit.

Since this is the largest/densist area of bone mass and the head did completely split the knuckle it is very fair to assume that a lesser bone would have easily yeilded.

On top of that , the head (overall) was well beyond very good condition after taking on that higher mass

None the less....The forward shoulder is in the cooler and I have one good head left and tomarrow is another day.

I will re-shoot to verify my beliefs on this point.

Good point Michi

([blue]DONE[/blue])

[admin]

Excellent review BT, I enjoyed reading it.

[lockmaster]

Well done BT. From the pics and the condition of the head and blades "after the fact", this head IMO is a major
contender in the broad head market. I didn't see any problem with the penetration in such a dense and solid area of the shoulder considering it is a 4 blade head. Imagine the penetration and damage in a more penetrate-able area!! Looks like it may one of the "tops".

[bowtech]

The blades were (to me ) the most impressive aspect of the broadhead.

It took so much abuse it was just stupid

I am not sure how a .35" blade stood up this well but it did.

my assumption is that it is the metal itself but whatever...it is top shelf