broadheads

[littlekitch]

does anyone still use napa spitfire mechanicals?i think i had one open before impact last year.

[vixenmaster]

I am having to band mine now, had one open in flight n hit back in the tick toters paunch. Lost the tick toter as no blood trail. I am double banding n then when i have used mine up. I won't buy anymore of them nor anymore NAP products

[rmb721]

I use the spitfires with bands and so far have not had any open up early.

The bands I use are the multi colored bands I got on E-bay.

After going through a deer, the bands are usually back against the fletching. They are pretty tough. I do not use them a second time.

[DuckHunt]

I am having to band mine now, had one open in flight n hit back in the tick toters paunch.

I had the same happen out of an Exomax about twelve years ago so I started banding them. I even shot some Spitfire Maxx and Spitfire XXX w/2" cut out of a Micro 335. When banded, they flew great. I did find that I wasn't consistently getting pass throughs with bands and the large cut. Some of that may have been due to me shooting a lighter weight arrow (<400gr) and having a tendency to bury them in the opposite shoulder. I killed deer with them and they work great when you put them on target correctly.

To me there are plenty of other broadhead alternatives out there where you don't have to give up something to get something. Banding them generally means a smaller entrance hole and it if doesn't exit, then limited blood trails. With the violent launch from the Micro series bows, I've completely gotten away from the broadhead style that folds back to deploy. At the very least, you are giving up penetration and there are options where you don't have to give up anything.

[longbow joe]

I shot the spitfires for years loved em when they were made in USA now they are junk.
If you are looking for a good mechanical broadhead that doesn't need bands look no further than the excalibur xact cut broadhead its just as wide and the locking mechanism locks up like a vault no bands.
A tad pricey but you get a quality product that isn't junk.
The xact cut and the swat A-4 are my favorites now l lean towards the swat because of the devastating cut it has.

[Normous]

Always use fresh out the the pouch dental bands before hunting season starts.

Dental bands are not FOREVER BANDS and degrade significantly after the hunting season is over.

My tip....DON'T buy a 1000 at a time trying to save money because once you open the package degradation starts.


Swap to FRESH bands before every season if your using them.

As noted above, SWAT heads is the only mechanical I use and I have been using mechanicals heads since they came out in the early 90's and learned a few things about them.

SWAT mechanical heads check all the boxes for me since their introduction 5 years ago.
US made by Veterans.

SWAT does use a heavy duty specific Mil Strap band that lasts about 8x longer than a simple dental band has has significantly more holding strength.

The SWAT head is designed to cut the mill strap on impact.

I've personally tested them not to open at 550.fps.

[janesy]

This answers all questions. I've been fortunate to take 2 bears in two years with a Swat MOAB since their release. And it definitely lives up to its name. They are deflated and spread blood like a leaking bucket. No tracking required.

Always use fresh out the the pouch dental bands before hunting season starts.

Dental bands are not FOREVER BANDS and degrade significantly after the hunting season is over.

My tip....DON'T buy a 1000 at a time trying to save money because once you open the package degradation starts.


Swap to FRESH bands before every season if your using them.

As noted above, SWAT heads is the only mechanical I use and I have been using mechanicals heads since they came out in the early 90's and learned a few things about them.

SWAT mechanical heads check all the boxes for me since their introduction 5 years ago.
US made by Veterans.

SWAT does use a heavy duty specific Mil Strap band that lasts about 8x longer than a simple dental band has has significantly more holding strength.

The SWAT head is designed to cut the mill strap on impact.

I've personally tested them not to open at 550.fps.

[IronNoggin]

I shot the spitfires for years loved em when they were made in USA now they are junk.

Same here. I tried the offshore ones, they are crap. Period.

I was lucky enough to find just over 20 of the US ones, and several blade replacement kits.
Be a few years before I run out methinks.

Even with these I band them.

Cheers,
Nog

[robertyb]

Always use fresh out the the pouch dental bands before hunting season starts.

Dental bands are not FOREVER BANDS and degrade significantly after the hunting season is over.

My tip....DON'T buy a 1000 at a time trying to save money because once you open the package degradation starts.


Swap to FRESH bands before every season if your using them.

As noted above, SWAT heads is the only mechanical I use and I have been using mechanicals heads since they came out in the early 90's and learned a few things about them.

SWAT mechanical heads check all the boxes for me since their introduction 5 years ago.
US made by Veterans.

SWAT does use a heavy duty specific Mil Strap band that lasts about 8x longer than a simple dental band has has significantly more holding strength.

The SWAT head is designed to cut the mill strap on impact.

I've personally tested them not to open at 550.fps.

Good post Norm. I am pretty much a fanatic about banding my heads now but after shooting a coyote one day last week and a buck the following day I pulled out a broadhead that still had a band on it from last season to use. When screwing it onto the arrow (same arrow used on both kills) I slightly rolled the band with my fingers and it fell apart in 3 sections and was completely dry rotted. It got a new band installed immediately.

[nchunterkw]

Fix it all and just shoot a fixed head.

[ODH]

Fix it all and just shoot a fixed head.

X2

[Normous]

Fix it all and just shoot a fixed head.

I can't deny the performance of a good mechanical.
Here is a tresspasser I arrowed this morning at 10 y.

Coyote just stood there and didn't know what to do after the 2" x 1.75 "SWAT XMAG viscerated him and cut the leg off at the shoulder.
1 y recovery


Never had a deer or bear go more than 45 y using SWATS
12 taken thus far.

[Bcxbow]

Fix it all and just shoot a fixed head.

I can't deny the performance of a good mechanical.
Here is a tresspasser I arrowed this morning at 10 y.

Coyote just stood there and didn't know what to do after the 2" x 1.75 "SWAT XMAG viscerated him and cut the leg off at the shoulder.
1 y recovery


Never had a deer or bear go more than 45 y using SWATS
12 taken thus far.

Congrats Norm, That is devastating

[xcaliber]

That’s devastation right there! Good job Norm!

[Hatchet]

Excellent work Norm. Another good coyote!
Take care
Corey