Bowhunting.net
Field Evaluation: InnerLoc Stainless Extreme
By Dave Conrad
Jul 23, 2006, 00:39
Visit the web site of InnerLoc
The importance of bow tuning and broadhead characteristics over the
past few years has risen to the forefront. What good is it to
have a broadhead with sharp blades and strong characteristics if it
doesn't fly worth a darn? Seen from the other
extreme, you could have the best flying broadhead on the planet but
what good will it do if it is frail and disintegrates when contact with
a rib or bone.
Innerloc is a manufacturer aware of what it takes
to design a broadhead with characteristics crucial to a hunters
success. That has never been more evident than with the
Innerloc's Premier Broadhead knows as the Stainless Extreme.
The Stainless Extreme broadhead
starts out with inner strength. What I mean is that at the core
to this broadhead is a solid inner shaft of stainless steel. This
shaft is the centerpiece of Innerloc's CLS™ (Center Locking System) as
it serves several purposes. Its patented cut-on-impact tip
delivers a bone smashing punch. The matching bevels at the base
of the tip and ferrule create very tight tolerances that insure all
parts align when assembled. As the shaft screws into the base,
each piece as well as the blades are aligned and locked into place
performing like one solid structure. The three blades are
L-shaped at the base and are curved to anchor against the round inner
shaft. The L-shape also gives the blade a higher strength similar
to the likes of angle iron. And most important, upon impact the
shaft, blades and ferrule are in contact over the entire surface for
unparalleled strength.
Initial Inspection
I
really liked the looks of the head as I opened the package containing
three heads. The Stainless Extreme cried quality throughout as I
disassembled the 100 grain head. The interlocking design of the
blade, ferrule and inner shaft showed tight tolerances and no blade
movement whatsoever as pressure was applied.
Focusing my
attention to the blade edge, each was sharp and requires no sharpening
straight out of the package. I had to be careful, as with all
broadheads, when reassembling. A little effort was needed to
start the blades into the ferrule but with practice I had the procedure
down pat. I like the fact that each blade is designed with a
flanged edge that envelops the shaft. This flange also increases
strength of the .020 thickness blade by up to 700 percent more than a
flat blade according to Innerloc.
Although not a true cut
on impact tip, the chisel point head is designed to smash through bone
allowing the angle of the sharp blades to create efficient hemorrhaging
channels. The overall cutting diameter isn't the largest in the
industry but a very respectable 1 1/16" cut.
The design of the
Stainless Extreme starts out with the correct materials as Innerloc has
chosen stainless steel. The ferrule and shaft are machined and
then each piece, including the blades are heat treated to add to the
toughness as well as durability.
Replacement tips and blades
are available for the Stainless Extreme as well as for all Innerloc
fixed blade broadheads. If the 100 grain isn't your preference
this particular broadhead is also available in 125 grain.
Testing
My
first test with the Stainless Extreme was to see how accurate it could
be launched from my hunting rig. Now at this time I am testing
several broadheads looking for a quality head to add to my quiver for a
September 2006 elk hunt.
The Stainless Extreme was
screwed into an Easton ACC 3-60 Aluminum Carbon Arrow bringing the
total weight of the head to 410 grains. The bow of choice was a
2006 Bowtech Allegiance utilizing a QAD drop away rest. The rig
is tuned and launched the 300 fps plus arrow at an American Whitetail
Broadhead target at a distance of 20 yards. The result was the
Stainless Extreme matched the accuracy of my fieldpoint tips with
groups fewer than 2 inches. I then moved on to a ¾ "piece of
treated 2x10 and switched to an Easton Epic arrow. It was
launched at a distance of 12 feet and hit its mark with a loud
thud. The arrow impact was so great that it actually drove the
insert backward into the arrow splintering the carbon arrow.
However the Stainless Extreme suffered no damage other than a slight
bend in one blade. That is exceptional when you think that it
completely penetrated into a treated piece of lumber. I have had
other broadheads in which the blades have completely separated from the
ferrule. I believe the stainless construction and blade design
are a big plus when it comes to overall strength in a broadhead.
In Conclusion
I am definitely going to have the Stainless Extreme in my quiver this fall as I hit the west in search of elk.
Design 9.0 of 10
- The Stainless Extreme is the best design when it comes to an
assembled broadhead. Each piece interlocks to form a very rigid
quality broadhead. The blade design locks into the ferrule with
the inner shaft design. The only detail that I see keeping it
from a perfect score is that the tip edges do not line up with the
blades. This may help in penetration.
Quality 9.5 of 10
- This broadhead is quality through and through. From the blade
sharpness to the all stainless steel machined design it if first class.
For the entire line go: InnerLoc
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