Zwickey No Mercy

[DaveT]

#5593

Hey all and I just started to hunt with the Zwickey No Mercy’s this year. Doc have you done any testing of these and perhaps any tips to get them into Ashby compliance? They seem perhaps a tad wider than some of the others like a Grizzly or the ABS and not as long. They seem very similar to the Deltas but a tad narrower and single bevel. I do like them though and seem to be able to sharpen them easy. I have only shot one animal (bear) so far and was pleased with the way is worked but not enough data yet for me to be able to say for sure. I have Tanto’d the tips and got the bevel as close to 25 degrees as I can. I am shooting these on an AD Trad carbon arrows with 100 gr brass inserts and 100 grain steel adaptors. Total arrow weight is 685 out of a 55lb longbow. The whole set up shoots great. Since No Mercy’s are so new there may not be allot of data yet but wanted to get everyone’s .02.

Thx

[Ed Ashby]

#42499

Dave, yes, I tested the No Mercy in 2008. There will be a detailed report somewhere in the updates, but the BH testing information will be towards the end of the Updates, Probably Part 7 or 8.

In a nutshell, in punishment testing the No Mercy showed the same bend rate as the other Zwickey’s. They did very well on the direct impacts, buy bent some on the angular, heavy-bone impacts. One thing I can say is the the Zwickey heads are consistent. If you look at a side view of every bent Zwickey I have, from the Natal Study onward, ever bend looks exactly the same. None are big bends, just modest bends, but that’s enought to really hurt penetration when it does happen. Every bend, on every bent Zwickey, has occured right where the tip overlay steps down to the main blade.

Now none of that should be taken as harsh judgement. The Zwickey’s are among the better performing of what I consider the ‘standard’ traditional BH’s. There a lot of similar, “traditional” BH’s that don’t hold up that well … but there are also BH’s that are tougher.

Other than a bit harder steel and a stronger (perhaps thicker) main bladade, perhaps the thing that I’d most like to see changed on the No Mercey is the blade angle. If you look close, each edge of the blade has three destinct angles; from tip to heal. That means either sharpening three individual sections along each edge or changing the three steps into one continuous straight line; heal to toe. Sort of hard to describe the shape factor, but I’ve got good photos of it to use in the Update.

You’re right about the length/width ratio. The MA is not as high as with the Grizzly, but is higher than many other broadheads. The main-blade MA I measured on the No Mercy was was 2.11. That’s a MA better than heads like the Ace Standard or Magnus 2, but not as good as any of the Grizzly series.

Ed

[DaveT]

#42549

Thanks Doc and I appreciate the insight. I have always used the Eskimos until this year with good results. However after reading your reports decided to go the single bevel route. I really like the Grizzly also but didn’t want to change all my left wing feathers out:D so went with the No Mercy. Do you happen to know when they will be coming out with the left bevel for Grizzly? Thanks!

Dave

[Ed Ashby]

#42565

Needless to say, I’ve been a bit out of touch of late, but it’s my understanding that the left-bevel Grizzly became available a couple of months ago. I’m sure someone will on the forum know for certain.

Ed

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