3 to 1 Broadhead Ratio?

[Centex]

Can someone's explain the reasoning behind the three to one ratio for traditional braodheads? What would make a COC short blade larger diameter BH not be effective?

[TxAg]

It has an optimum mechanical advantage. It's the angle.....makes penetration easier

[brent.westbrook]

Does and axe or a needle penetrate easier? 3:1 is just what researchers believe to be the best penetration and blood channel while maintaining strength by not becoming too brittle like the needle with bone.

[rubydog]

And they fly better...

[fletcherfor2]

It has to do with the magic number Pi.

[Breeze430]

Pi-..I love pi specially banana cream...

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

Maximum BH flight, Maximum cutting wound channel,maximum Momentum,Maximum Broadhead Penetration. *There might be another factor thrown in it's been a while since I read it*

All these factors considered 3:1 was the best (read simplest to achieved ratio) for broadheads to be built.

Muzzy disagrees, as does Land shark, Red Fury and a few others. All this is discussed in Dr Ed Ashby's Broadhead test study. I read it on the way to Texas one year, made the 7.5 hour trip go by real quick.

In every phase of the report, the 2 blade head Out-performed any 3 blade tested.

[TallTexan]

3:1 ratio for what?

[Cropduster]

3 inches long to 1 inch wide. Or approximately 3.1416 to l. That is how the great structures of Greece were constructed. It is call Pi., the ratio of the diameter of a circle to the circumference. Also it is the ratio used in the construction of the pyramids, a very useful ratio.

[SAM STEPHENS]

Throw the axe in the right spot and it will go plenty deep or poke the needle in the wrong spot and get good penetration. Either way they will both fly great or they do out of my bows anyway , field point or 3 to 1 or TreeShark. If you put them in the ribs they will go down in short order Just a lot shorter with a TreeShark. Im sure the 3 to 1 will go in deeper than my big TreeSharks but I have yet to loose anything shot with one yet.What I just said did not answer the question one bit so pick the head you feel the best about keep it razor sharp and put it in the ribs and be happy.............
,,,,,,,,Sam,,,,,,,,,

[rubydog]

3:1 ratio for what?

Crown Royal Reserve to 7 Up is what I got figured. I never knew that Crown went with Pi so well.

[Centex]

This is about to get really dorky. What brought this question up is reading old trad literature (you don't know where you are going if you do not know where you have been kinda thing). PI keeps getting referenced but some are getting PI confused with PHI, which is the golden ratio. PHI is ratio used to describe and design the pyramids, the human body, and most naturally occurring objects. When PI is used in a non circular circumstance it is justified through relating it back to PHI with some crazy Trigonometry. A lot of the larger heads I see you guys using fit into the PHI ratio which is 1.61:1, not the 3:1. I guess I was wondering how much of 3:1 was tradition and not mechanical engineering?

Btw my first drink is made @3:1 but my second and third go to 1.16:1.

[Breeze430]

I do think alot of it is tradition. I say that knowing I risk being stoned..(biblically speaking) Engineering is not my forte. I was a business major. But I do recall the 16:1 ratio of the pyramids.

I'm a fan of staying @ 3:1 while mixing..it works faster

Breeze

[muzzlebrake]

Paper airplanes. It's an aerodynamics thing. Make a paper airplane that is 3:1 length to width and another that is 1.5:1 and see which one flies farther, faster and has the straightest course.
Maybe not scientific but????????????
OK, I done now

[Centex]

Was reading Bisch's Africa thread and noticed GK Silver Flame.

Went to website and found the following interesting.


Blade length (Cutting surface)

The decade-old opinion about the penetrative superiority of a long and narrow blade is physically correct but must be related however concerning the structural integrity of a practicable broadhead.
The accepted length width relationship of 3 : 1, which was publicized at that time by people such as Howard Hill, has quite its authorization, as long as one regards only the narrow blade angle.
The large disadvantage of such a long blade is clearly the "elastically deformation" or "Flexing".
So some bowhunters often have been dismayed at the resulting unsatisfactory penetration of their hunting arrows, although this, when late investigation, was perfectly intact including the broadhead?
The reason for the most part high amounts of energy and momentum, which is used by a very long broadhead at hard hits during the flexible deformation. Also the material choice for the blade is important here. Some manufacturers of very long blades use spring steel, which naturally still supports the flexing effect.
Especially on penetrating harder materials (bones) longer blades (broadheads) have to deal with more friction than shorter ones, too.
An efficient blade construction consists of an adequate combination of cutting length and resistance ability against the flexing, thus as a high amount of the arrow's force for the forward movement (impulse direction) through the game's body as possible will remain intact.
We are most confident that with the SilverFlame Broadheads, we have indeed developed an outstanding and effective combination.