what broadhead?

[paulaboutform]

well, I thought and thought and really was unsure of what broadhead I would use.. so many out there, and so many with good reviews.. I like the idea of the mechanical.. had good luck with them before and with the advancements, thought I would try them again.. I ended up going with the 100 grain rage crossbow X .. really good reviews and I love the large cutting diameter.. will get my crossbow out ( once the darned weather cooperates) and get it dialed in, then take some shots with the practice head and get used to shooting them to determine what the POI is compared to my field tips..

oops...

[xbowrook]

I strongly recommend that you buy some replacement blades for your broadheads or just sacrifice one and actually test shoot the actual broadheads you'll hunt with. DO NOT trust that practice blades will fly the same as the hunting blades. Some may, but some absolutely won't.

Paul[/quote]


well, I made it out today to the range to test my heads and get the axiom sighted in.. literally 3 shots, and I was dead center at 20 yards.. love this bow.. now it gets weird, so to say.. I had a nice 3 bolt group with my 100 grain field tips, not the best but pretty good ( I am thinking the millions of mosquitos that were trying to eat my alive had something to do with it).... so, I tried the 100 grain rage practice head... wow, center line was ok but I was about 2" low.. weird.. I tried an actual rage and it was about 2" low as well.. one heck of a wound channel though.. so I figured what the heck, I already donated 2 quarts of blood to the local mosquito population , why not try something else.. I put my 125 grain field tips on, shot 2 bolts and I was dead on ( like 1/4" low).. not bad.. took 3 shots with my 125 grain muzzy 3 blade's and wow, I was 4" low.. adjusted the scope a couple clicks and bam, put a b/h dead center... I know I could get the rage to hit dead center, but my concern during my shooting was my consistency.. the 100 grain field tips were not very consistent at 20 yards, hate to see them beyond that.. my 125 grain were far more accurate.. when I first put my 125 grain muzzy's in, I shot 2 bolts to make sure they grouped together before making any adjustments.. bolts were , like I say, 4" low but were only 1/4" apart. one adjustment and I hit dead center.. does anyone else have an issue with 100 grain heads ( either f/tips or b/heads) not flying consistent ?? or is this just an issue of me moving around while pulling the trigger?? I am going to go to my buddy's house ( far less mosquitos) and do it over again, just to make sure.. like paul said, going to shoot the actual rage b/h's to make sure.. that darn practice head sucks.. it's loose and the practice heads shake around.. that has to affect the flight pattern for sure.. oh, another thing I noticed... the rage b/h had okay penetration on the target, bolt went it about half way.. the muzzy 125 grain, went up to the fletching on all 3 bolts..

[UPSMAN]

Look back and see who recommended the Muzzys. They work great for me. One thing that I would suggest that you need to do is to shoot from a bench rest. You need to be rock solid when you are zeroing your scope or trying to group heads. Also, shoot the same arrow until you are sighted in. After that, find a couple more arrows that shoot the same and put those in your hunting quiver.

[Normous]

I have never been able to shoot accurate with hundreds of mosquitos bothering me for blood donations either.

[paulaboutform]

Are you shooting the stock arrows with aluminum inserts? If so, I'd stick with a heavier point weight. If you can get your hands on them, try the Slick Trick Crossbow Tricks. They weighs 150gr and you won't go wrong with a slick trick. Another broadhead that I think has been a real sleeper, in that I haven't heard much chatter about it, is the QAD Exodus. I don't know if they come heavier than 125 grains but I can tell you that they fly identically to your fp's and penetrate like the dickens.
My long winded point here is that if you're shooting aluminum inserts, stick with a heavier point, if you're shooting a heavier brass insert you can shoot a lighter point.

Paul

[xcaliber]

Are you shooting the stock arrows with aluminum inserts? If so, I'd stick with a heavier point weight. If you can get your hands on them, try the Slick Trick Crossbow Tricks. They weighs 150gr and you won't go wrong with a slick trick. Another broadhead that I think has been a real sleeper, in that I haven't heard much chatter about it, is the QAD Exodus. I don't know if they come heavier than 125 grains but I can tell you that they fly identically to your fp's and penetrate like the dickens.
My long winded point here is that if you're shooting aluminum inserts, stick with a heavier point, if you're shooting a heavier brass insert you can shoot a lighter point.

Paul

Great advice! Lot of critters been taken with the Bolt Cutters too!

[Big John]

I to have tried many many broadheads thru the years. Never did like mechanicals. Until recent years anyway. For the past while G5 and SlickTricks have been doing all my work.
However from my compound bows it's different. I use Grim Reaper Whitetail Specials and Rage Extremes. And also Hypodermics. But, for crossbows I can only bring myself to use Fixed Blade consistently.
I must add, Boltcutters and G5 Strikers are amazing distance heads and very sharp killers.
That being said; for the last year I have made quite a few arrows for people who want to use FOC Heads. Yes I use aluminum up front for those, all others brass.
But since I took Bellerivercrossbowhunter and Enormous to my Bear camp, and they used FOC Heads, I was amazed at the devastation they did on a very large Bear!!!
The Head was still usable afterwards! And still razor sharp!
So..... I think that if I was going to go mechanical for crossbow in the short future, it would have to be FOC heads!

Big John

For any wondering what was favorite in the distant past for Bear and Deer, "WASP BOSS"!