Here is one review about slick trick broadheads, quote €This is for slick trick fans, let me take this opportunity to relay a bit of information. I am asked about this broadhead test or that broadhead test, so let me give an answer here for all at once. As far as specific tests, I have pretty much stopped reading them. Most have problems with Validity and Reliability and some seem they might be just a bit biased. Pretty much what can be tested to give some meaningful results by somebody is flight and strength. Some discount plywood and steel drums, but if you notice if a head is damaged on those, on animals you will hear a greater number of episodes where the same thing happens.

As to reliability, that mostly comes into play with mechanicals and even there testing opening or deflection you would need to first penetrate hide to see what a head does on an animal. The same goes for the penetration. Testing on animal parts doesn't compare well because you can't shoot the same spot with another head, and only a fraction of an inch can give you completely different results. Foam isn't a great medium for penetration. However, I have got to say that it is better than ballistic gel. It was made to show bullet expansion and it does that well. But it sucks for cutting. If you have butchered an animal, you know that flesh and muscle has structure unlike gel, and has lubrication where gel doesn't. Don't read many tests but scanned one recently and the penetration winner was a head that was completely dull being mis manufactured.

That should tell you something about ballistic gel and how well it replicates flesh that would never happen on an animal. But of course you must have already noticed the ads with large diameter mechanicals out penetrating fixed blades, and you know that isn't what is reported on animals either. The greatest factor in limiting penetration is diameter. Bottom line is you can take gel with a grain of salt. Actually hide and flesh aren't much of a challenge, its hard bone that is most important in penetration. Failing to get to the vitals or get a pass through for a blood trail can lead to a loss of an animal. And physics can't be broken the head that cuts the most will never penetrate better than lesser cutting heads. The broadhead test that is best and really counts is actual performance on animals. That tells you that there are no if ands or buts as to what a head is capable of.