Broadhead Questions

[IronNoggin]

Following this season's successful hunts, I find myself now searching for a new broadhead. In short, I was rather unimpressed by the Boltcutters this season. Yes, they fly extremely close to my field tips of equivalent weight, and that I do Enjoy...

But...

My Hunting Partner uses a 175 lb 10-Point Bow vs my 225 lb ExoMax.
We had near identical shots on relaxed animals, near identical ranges, and near identical hits.

His animals collapsed with 30 yards on every occasion, and left a HUGE blood trail (to me important especially when there is no snow) from point of impact to where the animal laid.

On two occasions, the animals I took ran in excess of 100 yards. It made tracking difficult, time consuming, and without many years of experience in doing so, they may have been lost.

All were double lung hits.

The only difference beyond the bows is that I was using Boltcutters and he was using 125 grain 4-Blade slick Tricks.

I have thought about the Slick Tricks, but believe I have decided on going with the Larger Cutting Surface Mechanicals can provide.

I have read and heard about both Shwackers and Spitfire Maxx broadheads. But having never shot any mechanicals, I am at a bit of a loss in which direction to go...

So I ask each of you that might use either what your thoughts on these two choices are? Pro's? Cons?

One of my biggest concerns is that they do NOT deploy upon the explosive acceleration from the Exomax. And of course performance on game at all ranges.

I will be looking at 125 grain heads in whichever I choose. And I am sincerely hoping I will find some informed and sage advice here as to just what that choice may be...

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!!

Looking Forward to your replies...

Cheers,
Nog

[awshucks]

Can't help on the mech's but if your buddy had such good luck w/ the Slicks.............

[wabi]

I tried the Shwackers this fall, but shot only one deer with them. I use a Phoenix and there was no problems, they worked as advertized. I have had problems with mechanicals in the past (O-ring type), but the heat shrink tubing used to hold the Shwacker blades seems to be an improvement.
I had a good double lung hit and a great blood trail, but the deer went as far as all the other deer I have shot in years past using a "Wac'Em Exit" broadhead (a 4 blade fixed blade broadhead very similar to the Slick Trick in design).

I would try the Slick Trick first. If it shoots accurately from you bow there's little doubt it will get the job done, and there's no chance of deployment problems with a fixed blade.

One thing to consider is the fletching on your arrows. I did have problems when I first tried Slick Tricks some years ago. They grouped great - but NOT with my field points. Everyone else on the forum was getting "field point accuracy" with the Slicks, but not me? I finally tried a more radical helical (went from 4º offset to 8º helical) and problem solved. The 8º helical had them grouping right with field points.

[Riflemanz]

I like the spitfires better than the shwackers.

[bob watkins]

i think the two best mech. are grimreaper &spitfires ihave shot 14 animals in the last 2 years ihad to look hard for one i did shoot a small deer with a swacker hit a little high at a going away angle top of shoulder through the neck dropped right there . iwill try swackers again it left a good hole . 3 of these kills were bears spitfires dropped in 30 yards. ialso shot a bear with abc sonic fix blade it went 35 yds this was to date the best fixed i have shot i do test a lot of bhs i have others on my list for this year i hope this will help you

[Cossack]

Spitfires don't deploy prematurely, that from personal experience.
By the same token, Slick trick are one of the toughest 'heads I've used.
It's either one of the other for me.

[papa bear1]

I use the swhacker 125 grn. 2 1/4 inch cut, and killed 1 deer with it, huge exit wound, enormeous blood trail, easy to follow,,, "BUT" I didn't have to trail it as I watched it go down in sight, at 20 yds. But i am thinking of switching to Xact,with brass inserts, to get more weight farword, to shoot out of my Equinox,but before i do that i will do some research here on the forum.

Dave

P.S. the reason for switching is I don't like to mess with the bands.

[IronNoggin]

Thanks for the responses thus far folks! Appreciated!

As noted, I did consider the Slick Tricks simply because my Partner enjoyed such success with them. And I do believe they will fly fine from the Exomax given the 6 degree helical Big John was so kind as to install the blazer vanes with. That said, I recognize that the mechanicals offer a MUCH larger diameter cutting surface, and I am rather interested in that parameter. Larger hole should equal more damage and better blood trail... Not?

Here is my understanding at this point:

While the Shwackers appear to perform very well, there is the issue of dealing with the bands. I am of the Old School mentality wherein the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Rule very much applies. Don't much like the idea of fiddling with the bands and would greatly prefer some type of set-up that avoids this issue.

On the other hand, the Spitfire Maxx does not require bands to hold the deploying blades in place - a positive in my mind's eye. The possible negatives I see with this one is that they do not fully deploy the blades on contact, rather AFTER they have entered the target (opening as they go through, not completely deploying on impact). My understanding is that the results would be a smallish entry wound with a much larger exit (and given the power of the Exomax and the ranges I shoot I believe pass-throughs would be the predominant result). To me this suggests very little blood loss from the entry wound, and the distinct possibility of lung (or other) material blocking the larger exit hole, again providing for little in the way of blood loss for trailing. All fine of course, unless the critter bolts a hundred yards and then I'm back to square one - something I am hoping to avoid by doing my research now...

I also like the look of Excalibur's X-Act mechanical. Wish it came in a 125 grain option as I wish to stick with that weight as my minimum (LOVE the FOC and arrow flight accuracy as a consequence of that with my set-up).

Perhaps I am over-analyzing this? I understand that most modern broadheads will get the job done. Yet that little voice inside my head keeps telling me there simply HAS to be a "Perfect" broadhead out there for my set-up. One that is reasonably simple, will provide for Massive Damage and Good Blood Trails for those less-than-ideal tracking conditions we sometimes encounter...

Y'all have got me thinking HARD on this matter and I sincerely appreciate the advice to date. Please keep the comments coming as I struggle along trying to make up my mind on this matter...

Cheers,
Nog

[vixenmaster]

I use 2 BH's & like them very much. RazorTrick & Spitfire 1 1/2dia but not the max

[IronNoggin]

Thanks VixenMaster. Given your most excellent results that is good advice.

Had another suggest Grim Reapers and insists they are "the only way to go".

Getting Information Overloaded at this point...
Making it tough for me to sort this one out!!

Cheers,
Nog

[robertyb]

This is the result of shooting a doe with the 100 grain 2" cut Swacker. She dropped in sight within 20 yards of the impact site.

Entrance hole:



Exit hole:



What fiddling do you have to do with the bands? I simply sharpened mine back up and slipped on a new band and it is ready to shoot again.

[wayne]

For us, it's the X-acts, I tried testing many mech's BH's over a year ago, found none more durable in testing, & POI was same as target tips out of our bows.
As for deer, last year the wife shot a 4 point, using a Ibex, was not the best hit, center of deer, in the liver, exit hole opened it up like a zipper, blood trail was not the best I seen, but was ez to follow, deer when about 70 yards.
This year with my Vortex, I first shot a 5 point at 25 yards, it was a shot that I should not have taken, was trying to put the arrow in front of the right shoulder & exit behind the left,(going for the heart), in the ferns or my old eyes I did not see the front leg out in front, the X-act hit & went though the front leg, arrow broke (all but 5" of arrow laying on top of ground with hair & blood on only 2" of broken shaft) & after about 10 yards blood all over the ground, very ez tracking (took no skill) deer went about 75 yards, the 5" of arrow when into the chest broke 2 ribs & hit the heart, the X-act on exit hit & broke a other rib & just the the BH was sticking out with the 5" of broken arrow still in the chest, after all of that the blades were not even bent.
2nd buck this year with the vortex, X-act, was a very nice 8 point, 33 yards, both lungs center of deer, blood & lots of it was right were deer was hit, & for the 60 yards it went, & as with the 5 pointer, took no skill to track, gound was covered with blood. So I must say, I am very much sold on the X-act's, no rubber bands, very durable, same POI as target tips, no muss or fuss, just a big mess on the ground, that I did not even need my trifolcals to follow, LOL I am sold on them.

[Masboy]

I,ve shot a lot of broadheads over the years and practice a lot with them and so far the slicktricks fly as good as any I,ve tested and are the only ones I have not bent and can just stick in new blades and spin test and be ready to hunt again with the same head I,ve shot many a time. My preference for an expandable is a rocket steelhead . one tough little super accurate head that is second to none for me for penetration and making nice holes in both sides of deer.

[randy rickmon]

Slick-Trick mags, 100 gr. for fixed. Grim Reaper Crossbow for mechanicals. 110 gr. brass inserts (Thanks Awshucks).

[sumner4991]

There are a lot of broadheads that you can use successfully.

The more cutting surface you have, then the more likely you are to have a short tracking job.

We kill via blood loss, you just got to determine how you are going to draw the most blood. Simple answer is, open up the biggest wound.

If all other variables are the exactly the same, then the broadhead with the most cutting surface will be the most successful. More cutting = more blood loss.

The reason I use the Stricknines is for the big time cutting. I've made a couple of bad hits that turned out OK . . .a gut shot that went 25 yards. A couple of double lungs that just sat down and expired.

I had a solid hit go about 100 yards this season . . .it happens. All downhill . . .hit both lungs and broke a leg, can not explain it. Sometimes, crappy things happen.

Anyway, my strong belief is to use a broadhead that your bow can easily put all the way through a deer and has the LARGEST cutting surface available.

There are other advantages to shooting a mechanical, especially in hunting conditions. The Slick Trick is a good choice and I keep some of them in my quiver . . .but, the larger cutting mechanicals are my first choice for hunting deer.