Abowyer Brown Bears

[Patrick]

#5141

While waiting for my ABS Ashby’s to arrive, I decided to use the ABowyer Brown Bears. My son is also using, and will continue to use the Brown Bears. While mounting them on the adapter, per instructions, to assure they seat properly, I used a wood block and pushed against the arrow/insert/broadhead, while the glue was soft. The tip of one the heads bent! Not exactly inspiring confidence. :-/

Anyway…Do any of you use epoxy for bonding the broadheads to the inserts as opposed to hotmelt glue?

[Steve Sr.]

#37532

That’s …..interesting.

I’m using Brown Bear and Wapiti heads (and others) and pushing very hard at all I push them into any wood I’m using. Even the kitchen table. 😳

I wouldn’t be afraid to contact Abowyer about that one??

I can’t imagine bending one of the ones I have, at least by hand, and would be pretty amazed if one bent shooting it in anything short of a cement wall…at an angle.

But on the hot melt. I just dont have good results with the long steel adapters in heads with hot melt. I don’t know if it’s too close of fit and little glue room is left or what but I use enough that a bit comes out when the head is seated and is then wiped off.

Each and every one I could twist off by hand the next day.

Any epoxy works, as does Bohning Quantum XT if you do it QUICKLY but Powerbond seems to work best for me yet has a long drying time.

Interestingly enough, I have no trouble with aluminum adapters and any heads with hot melt (Ferr-L-Tite) it was only on a lark I happened to twist one on the steel adapter and found I could do so and remove it. I’ve used hot melt so long it never dawned on me I’d experience any problems with it.

It could easily be something IM doing wrong but, it’s been consistant, and I tried several times so I stopped using it for steel adapters that more fully fill the inside of the ferrel. All were well cleaned with acetone before attaching them as always.

Just my 2 cents on what is working for me. Others may not have the same experiences.

Hope this helps a bit.

God Bless
Steve

[David Petersen]

#37742

Patrick — I’m with Steve Sr. in my surprise at your experience with a bent-tip BB. Where did it bend? The very tip of the Tanto, or farther down? Doesn’t seem possible that a wood block could bend 50 rockwell steel. Absolutely not doubting you (is this why you’re dumping your BB’s?), just really surprised. I”d take Steve’s advice and send the offending head back to Abowyer for replacement and explanation.All I can say is that I shot them (along with ABS Ashby, Tusker Concords and others) all summer into a dirt pile that has a lot of big gravel. Not once did I experience any bending from rock contact, and after countless shots all any of the heads needed was a few strokes with a mill file to get ’em ready for the KME and hunting. I also have done a lot of experimental shooting into trees at angles, with no bends or breaks. Mosgt recently I shot through (live, soon to be dead) elk bone with not the slightest dulling. Very strange. Anyhow, I use only 2-tube epoxy on all carbon fittings and have never had a problem with steel adapters, only with brass inserts coming loose. Also, please don’t use aluminum in any way shape or form for carbon or alum shaft fittings — Doc’s well-researched advice. I still say, at this moment and in my admittedly far from complete experience, the ABS Ashby is the strongest and best-build broadhead available today. The Abowyer BB is the best value for the money, while the most head for the least money is the Tusker Concord. Still awaiting the new STOS and Grizzly, alas. d

[Patrick]

#37781

I’m kicking myself for not taking a photo. It was just the very end of the tip. Probably better described as curling. I filed it immediately afterward. I intended to dump them only because I like the idea of the entirely one piece Ashby. I didn’t run into the issue with tip curling until today. It sounds like I just got a bad one. I’ll call them on Monday.

I had read about the issue with aluminum, so I purchased/have the 75 grain steel adapters.

As an aside, I saw a box of Nanooks yesterday. I’m sure it’s the same box the Ashby’s come in. It’s a very nice display box. Surely adds to the cost. I’d prefer something more utilitarian and less for show, to
bring down the cost. I’m not buying them to show off!

[Steve Sr.]

#38203

You’re not buying enough to share with us????????? 😯

CRAP! 😆

I’ll end up with 3 myself. I do feel I should check the cost of the GPS hoohickeys you can have put in your beloved pets for the arrow though. 😀

I wonder how heavy they are? Will they take a beating? If they weigh 75-100 grains……HMMMMM!

(Kidding!)

I wanted three before now but…..it seems time is only short for those waiting for things to get done, not those doing them. Speaking of personal things in the works, not ABS but do have to wonder. Are they having trouble GETTING them or do they sell THAT WELL?

I’ve a lot of patience with Dewey, my kids, some SELECT friends but waiting for an order is NOT my strong point and I haven’t been able to order them yet. Drat. Scratch one season to use them.

Price considered and all, I attempted to find some USED that someone would sell. No bites.

That says something at least. Those that have them, wont let go of them. 8)

I do like the Abowyers but I can’t help but drool looking at the Ashby head. Besides, I’ll be the only person probably on the planet that has more money invested (and it IS an investment, IMHO) in a half dozen arrows and heads than what he paid for his truck!! :lol::lol::lol:

God Bless!!
Steve Sr.

[Patrick]

#38517

The problem with the Ashby broadhead is that it is, apparently, a very complex broadhead to make. The first guy was doing a good job, but wasn’t making enough, due to time/effort put into it, so he quit. The new guy is having a tough time making it to ABS’s stringent standards. They’ve acquired the assistance of a metalurgist. Says alot about ABS, and I’m hoping they get things worked out soon.

I can’t help but consider the same thing you jest about (a GPS in the arrow). The arrow, with fletching, wraps, and Ashby broadhead is an EXTREMELY expensive piece of equipment, and I might freak out if I lose one. THAT, by itself, is a good reason to hunt from a tree stand (easier
to find your arrow). Lol!

[Ed Ashby]

#38622

Patrick, I’ve not yet tested any of this ‘new crop’ of Abowyer BH’s, but did a lot of testing with the earlier ones. They performed well, although I had some skip-angle problems with them, especially the wide 190 grain vesrion. That’s a big reason they got redesigned. I never had any steel-quality problems with the ones tested. It sounds like a tempering problem, and I’d darned sure contact them about it.

Yep, it’s a shame you didn’t get a photo … but, even after all these years of trying to pay attention and collect information that JUST MIGHT be of use sometime, I still find myself making the same mistake; failing to photograph something I SHOULD have taken a photo of. Must be some secret curse … or (he says with dread in his voice) the onset of ‘Old Timers Disease’!

Ed

[Patrick]

#41415

I called ABowyer, and they didn’t seem to think it was out of scope for the very tip to curl like it did. As he mentioned, the tip is VERY thin and is prone to curling (relatively speaking). It was an intentional decision to choose the Rockwell hardness lending itself to curling as opposed to breaking. He offered to send me a new one, and have me send it back. Since he felt there’s nothing wrong with the head, I declined, as there was no sense in replacing it. If I recall (don’t quote me), he mentioned Javelina as an example of a head with a thicker tip that would be less prone to curling, but also less likely to penetrate as far as the Brown Bear.

Still waiting for the ABS Ashby’s. Anxious to see if they’re worth the $$$!

EDIT: I was just reading Dr Ashby’s Broadhead Study research material and came upon this:

“Breaking before bending: If a broadhead reaches a point in
resistance force where it must either bend or break, I want
the head to break. The studies show that a head which breaks
will have less negative impact upon arrow penetration than one
which bends; breaking becomes the better of the two options,
neither of which is desirable.”

[Patrick]

#14453

I thought it would be good to update you all on how things have been going with these broadheads. I have practiced a lot with them. I have to say that, despite the companies stance, I think the slight tip roll I experienced was a fluke. I’ve not had any other similar results and have put them through materials much more likely to cause the tip to roll, especially after multiple shots.

I’m starting to like these broadheads and the longer it takes for those Ashby’s to arrive, the less I’m willing to change.

I will say, I’m having a HELL of a time re-sharpening them though. Hopefully a KME Sharpening Kit will soon resolve that problem!

[Author]

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