BEST MECHANICAL BROADHEADS

[ExCal]

Ok, newbie question here. My Grizzly came with 150 grain field tips on Diablo bolts but I have 100 grain Muzzys from old vert bow. So do I use these or buy something else.

[xcaliber]

You can use them, it puts you near the minimum weight required. I would check accuracy with the heads before hunting, if you like what you get, use them.
Good luck

[amythntr]

Ok, newbie question here. My Grizzly came with 150 grain field tips on Diablo bolts but I have 100 grain Muzzys from old vert bow. So do I use these or buy something else.

....you can use 100g BH...your only concern is to make sure you maintain the minimum arrow weight of 350g...Most people on this forum, although there are some who are speed conscious, shoot arra's that tip the scales at 375-400g...

....reason is less stress on the limbs, better accuracy and higher KE...

....by way of comparison, for my Matrix 380 I shoot:

18" ZSlayers,
92 grain brass insert,
100g Spitfire MAXX,
blazers,
Lumenoks,
Decal Guyz 6" wrap

....and i believe it tips in at around 411g

....absolutely deadly accurate (almost like its laser guided) and it has drawn blood....

Anthony

[robertyb]

All I shoot are 100 grain heads. Never had a problem with them. I shoot them from my Vortex and my M 330. I do use BEEs and Spynal Taps though.

[IronNoggin]

Personally I do not understand the fascination with mechanicals. I've seen my brother in law stick a number of deer with a certain popular brand. All led to dead deer but from what I saw they were not the best kills. I'm kind of shocked by the number of programs I've watched on the sporting channel where the arrows only penetrate about 1/3-2/3's of the length. As a matter of fact, I've not seen a single pass through with a mechanical in the last 3wks of watching.

My personal experience is the Exact Opposite of this.

I have taken quite a few deer with my Excaliburs over the years, and all but those in the first year (so long ago now) have been taken with mechanicals. Specifically the 125 grain Spitfires.

Every single one of those deer expired very quickly, and most did not make 30 yards. Each Easily what I would consider a "Best Kill"

Every single shot was a complete pass through, and that has occurred without fail right out to 60 yards. One particular Mulie Buck at 50+ yards the arrow went through both carotid arteries (near frontal shot) and BLEW the top of the ball joint in the shoulder right out as it exited.

As a consequence, every single shot has left a blood trail a blind man could follow in the dark.

I really like the way the Spitfires fly. We've tested them right out to 90 & 100 yards, and even at that range they fly within MOA of the corresponding weighted field points.

With results like this, I ain't likely to Ever consider changing!

As per amythntr's example, my current recipe:

380 Matrix
18.25" Big John Zombie Slayers
92 grain Brass Fronts
Fluorescent Pink Blazers and Wraps
Luminoks
125 grain Spitfires.

Total weight: Bang On 400 grains. Missiles of Death!

Cheers,
Nog

[Chefrific]

Is there such a thing as too many broadheads?
I have mechs, I have fixed. Like them both!
Now...
What about the "hybrid" heads?
I'm about to try out a hybrid head made here in GA. Called the Bi-Polar broadhead. www.bi-polarbroadheads.com
Looks mean.

Having great results with spitfires, and my vortex shoots the "F.O.C." head with devastating results.
For fixed I'm loving the Ramcats. The ramcat and new spitfire xxx shoot EXACTLY to the same poi from my micro.

[Drew]

>>Ironnoggin, good info there man, thanks! I will say while watching all these deer hunting shows they are not using crossbows but high end compounds. Still I would expect more than 1/3-2/3's of arrow penetration. I wish they would discuss the equipment so we know what they used.


BTW, I'm getting 438gr for your arrow recipe...

Shaft Weight (grains per inch) 9.1
Shaft Length (inches) 18.25"
Nock Weight (grains) 29gr
Number of Vanes 3
Vane Weight per (weight of one vane in grains) 6gr
Point Weight (grains) 125gr
Insert Weight (grains) 92gr
Arrow Wrap/Cresting Weight (grains) 8gr

Your arrow FOC is: 18.46%

Results: Your approx. arrow weight is: 438 grains.

[IronNoggin]

Results: Your approx. arrow weight is: 438 grains.

I must have gotten the insert weight wrong. Weighed a handful just now. Bang On 275 grains sans heads. I'll have to wait until Big John gets back to find out where I erred...

Cheers,
Nog

[galamb]

There is way too many variables to determine a "best" mechanical for YOU.

If you are shooting a 380 or a 405 every mechanical on the market is capable of completely passing through a deer if your shot placement is good and you don't try for some insane distance.

So at 50 yards or less, with the power of either of those bows, all of the mechanicals from the major producers are "more than sufficient".

So your choices come down to 1) budget 2) durability 3) appeal of the broadhead to you (if YOU "think" it looks cool and deadly you will naturally shoot with more confidence - and that is almost as important as the kit you choose to use).

If you don't mind dropping 50 bucks or more on three broadheads then it's tough to beat a head like the T3 (3 blade) or Havoc (2 blade) from G5 Outdoors. Steel ferrules (many are aluminum), rear deploying blades that are held in place with metal collars or spider clips. They usually finish in the top three when tested for penetration (all else being equal) and they are made in the US (and contrary to many claims, over 90% of all "American" broadheads are made in China) and they will absolutely not deploy no matter how much force is used to launch them.

The entire Rage line is also suitable for 380/405's. They do have penetration issues in lower poundage bows - and I "stress" penetration in comparison to almost everything else out there - lethal, yes, tons of anecdotal info from guys that use them but when observed under test conditions they just plain "suck" compared to most other mechanicals out there. With the 380/405's all that excess (and un-necessary) power overcomes the shortfalls of many heads.

Then there is Meak Seekers (Trophy Ridge - I loved these heads - penetrated well but the durability sucked and a 10 to 15 dollar head should not be a "single use" item), Swhackers (both the two blade that looks like a airplane and the three blade) the Grim Reapers (numerous models) and just as many models from NAP, Wasp and a couple models from Slick Trick.

Then, for a bit of insurance you have the "hybrid" mechanicals. They have a small fixed blade, of varying descriptions, out front, with deployable blades to give you the "wide cuts".

Axe/Antler insanity has kinda been the leader in that style for a few years now (I personally shoot Axe Battle Axe's after testing more than two dozen mechanicals) but the Grave Digger line from No Limit Archery has some "cool" looking heads that I'm just going to have to try - they are more of a true "hybrid" in that the forward blades equal the size of most fixed blade heads, plus they have gigantic deploying blades.

Sorry, got long winded, but the BEST mechanical for your bow is the one you can get to go where you want AND looks the DEADLIEST to YOU. When you are impacting Bambi with over 100 pounds of KE, even a judo point is likely to "pass thru"...

[Livtahunt]

Swhackers. Like them more than Slick Tricks

[xpert1111]

Spitfire 100g MAXX!


....all kidding aside...you must try a bunch to see what works and what your rig likes!!!!

Anthony

Right on Anthony but I use 125's. I use mechanical's because I do not want to compensate for fixed BH's that do not fly as field points do as others have stated previously. Besides the damage the NAP Spitfire Maxx did to my buck's spine at 62 yards was incredible. Never thought a mechanical would stand up to that.

[DuckHunt]

There is no single answer to this question. I shoot 100gr mechanical heads exclusively because I have never found a 1.5" cut or greater fixed head that I can shoot as accurately as a mechanical.

The four arrows in my two bows have a Spitfire Maxx XXX, a Hammerhead, a Sidewinder and a small game head. I double band the banded ones. I've killed deer with every type of mechanical head I have ever purchased. Some I purchase again and some I don't. With the exception of a couple spine hits everything passes through with an ExoMax even with a 2" cut and arrows on the lighter side (<360gr).

DuckHunt

[Buddyshort]

I like Swhackers 100 grn 2 inch cut on BEE,s with my matrix 355. Always a big hole and short trail

[timbikeride]

I used the older model 100 grain Rocket Steelhead. Not that I feel they are the best, or even better than any other head, but I have a truckload of them and they seem to fly good. I think a lot of broadhead magic is marketing to get us to keep buying new and "improved" broadheads in search of the magic bullet.

[drkeenan]

Spitfire 100g MAXX!


....all kidding aside...you must try a bunch to see what works and what your rig likes!!!!

Anthony

Right on Anthony but I use 125's. I use mechanical's because I do not want to compensate for fixed BH's that do not fly as field points do as others have stated previously. Besides the damage the NAP Spitfire Maxx did to my buck's spine at 62 yards was incredible. Never thought a mechanical would stand up to that.

Big fan of the Spitfire but might try the MAXX after I've used up my replacement blades. That said, I've had success with Rages as well as Montec and Muzzy fixed blade.

I think you should SHOOT WHAT YOU ARE CONFORTABLE WITH!!