I was wondering if there was a standard penetration test for bows?  For instance, shooting a phone book? etc..

I've been wondering about this same thing. And what depth in the medium would be required to hunt various big game. Elk, mule deer, whitetails, moose?

yup , get a deer standing broad side and put one through it

Nope.  No such thing exist, i.e., no universally accepted medium.  Folks have used a lot of different stuff, gelatin, dead carcasses, dirt and sand filled containers, etc.

Those that have been hanging around traditional forums far too long will know that the only true test of penetration is done on a dead cow.
If you have to ask, you missed it.

Whip,
You've got them scratching their heads now.

QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
Those that have been hanging around traditional forums far too long will know that the only true test of penetration is done on a dead cow.
If you have to ask, you missed it.

Yea...its still over on the L'wall if ya dig deep enough.

buy a butchered pig and test and then bbq.

My neighbor's Chocolate Lab if I catch it in my garbage again    

Possum Head  

You know I have a sick/twisted since of humor and should have broken ties with me a long time ago!

No i don't believe there is, fresh dead animal would be best but even that has some pitfalls, no two places on itare the same exact density etc.  You just need to go with anecdotal evidence of what works well!

The only true test I know of is repeated success of a BH in the field shooting intended game.  All else is subjective.

Had a good laugh Possum Head. Thanks and I don't think anyone took you seriously. Objective penetration test is like asking what bow shoots best.

Oh man I couldn't find it! Dead cow on *********** had me laughing so hard

For me...i read a post by Bob Morrison many years ago. He was discussing his tests with arrows and where the weight was. He shot two arrows of the same weight. One arrow he used weight tubes which distributed the weight along the shaft. The other he put the weight up front. His conclusion was the the weight up front arrow out penetrated the weight tube arrow significantly. I tried it and found that in hunting situations the heavy FOC worked wonders on game. I use about 200-250 grains up front and am very happy with the results.

See Dr. Ed Ashby Report...

You can go to the local stockyard and get a couple of goats. Let them clean up all your brush before you stick em

Ballistic gel is at least interesting.

I can't remember the three blade model they used, but it actually out-performed everything.

I also saw a three blade head shot through 2 hogs shields  where all of the expandables did not even penetrate the first field.

So, where Ashby showed two blades single bevel was the best, in the ballistic gel test the three blade out-performed everything.

The ballistic gel was interesting because it is a consistent medium. All of the heads tested were cut on contact. I was surprised that a three blade head out penetrated all of the others.

I agree that weight forward or higher FOC aids in penetration.