Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Crossbow Hunting

Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude

User avatar
racking up points
Posts: 1608
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:41 pm
Location: Windsor, ON

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by racking up points »

Great thread, thanks for all the info. I’ll add that I’ve been using FOC’s out of my Matrix 410 for 5 seasons and I have yet to get an open entrance wound and I almost always get pass-thru’s with a 3” gaping hole. I double band them as close to the tip as possible. Furthest recovery was 70y, all DRT’s. But what made me switch to the SWAT’s was the lack of blood trails my FOCs produced on shots that didn’t pass thru. I haven’t tested the SWATs on a live animal yet, but I can’t wait to see what they do.
Leupold Optics
Boo Custom Strings
Black Eagle Arrows
Ti64.com Fastener Kits
xcaliber
Posts: 12821
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 7:35 pm
Location: NW Indiana

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by xcaliber »

racking up points wrote:
Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:46 pm
Great thread, thanks for all the info. I’ll add that I’ve been using FOC’s out of my Matrix 410 for 5 seasons and I have yet to get an open entrance wound and I almost always get pass-thru’s with a 3” gaping hole. I double band them as close to the tip as possible. Furthest recovery was 70y, all DRT’s. But what made me switch to the SWAT’s was the lack of blood trails my FOCs produced on shots that didn’t pass thru. I haven’t tested the SWATs on a live animal yet, but I can’t wait to see what they do.
I too tried them, but only had one shot, a small 4 point. Anyway, I got them specifically for the Axe. Went with the A4-Mini, and have shot them to 40 yards, very accurate, leaves nice entry hole, but it's got the follow up blades as well. I can't wait to get one through something!
It’s not the way you rock, it’s the way that you roll!
Ankh
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:44 am
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by Ankh »

Once again, thanks for all of your testing. I would send you a swacker, but PA just shut all non life sustaining businesses for 14 days (so far) and I'm hoarding my last 3 heads (I was going to try the new excal. ones this year) in case I need to use on the neighborhood deer.
Micro 335 nightmare, Axiom
Swhacker 150 grain, zombie slayers
Wants: micro ultra lite, adj. stock, take down, good trigger, good scope , low 300 speed to keep "cockable" w/out crank
Riflemanz
Posts: 2759
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:12 am
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by Riflemanz »

I shoot the rocket hammerhead 3 blade 2” cut heads double banded out of my matrix 355 with no problems.
Team Matrix 355
Matrix 355 The Crusher
TT 2 stage trigger
Executioner arrows
Easton XX75 magnums 2219
Xcaliber custom string
Boo Custom String
Vixenmaster Custom string
8ptbuk string
Rocket 3 blade 2" cut
Slick tricks
HSS Vest 30' lifeline
paulaboutform
Posts: 4970
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:32 pm
Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by paulaboutform »

Wow, absolutely fantastic!!! Thanks for all your time testing and posting. Great info! :thumbup:

Paul
You're only paranoid if everyone isn't out to get you.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
My enemy's friend is also my enemy.
drywallerdave1
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:18 pm

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by drywallerdave1 »

Thanks again. I use swat broadheads and was hoping that they would test well. And they did!!! Mine shoot exactly as my field points.
Normous
Posts: 8239
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:04 pm
Location: Windsor, Ontario.

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by Normous »

DuckHunt,

The Blob is a well performing broadhead target but hard on mechanical BH's. I use the softer/self healing Morrell High Roller target which I am pleased to mention has not damaged any of my mechanical s to date , not even a bent blade.
Even more impressive the M. High Roller target stops arrows with BH's before burying the fletching, even at 490 fps.
I unscrew the BH before removal.

THANK YOU KINDLY for your testing!
Cheers!
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
User avatar
janesy
Posts: 4721
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:20 pm
Location: Beavertown. Ont

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by janesy »

Normous wrote:
Sat Mar 21, 2020 10:13 am
DuckHunt,

The Blob is a well performing broadhead target but hard on mechanical BH's. I use the softer/self healing Morrell High Roller target which I am pleased to mention has not damaged any of my mechanical s to date , not even a bent blade.
Even more impressive the M. High Roller target stops arrows with BH's before burying the fletching, even at 490 fps.
I unscrew the BH before removal.

THANK YOU KINDLY for your testing!
Cheers!
Norm is dead on, my Reinhart is harder on mechanicals than anything. Any mechanical I put into the Reinhart becomes a practice head pretty much right away.
Blackout BD-Axe "Hatchet340"
Suppressor 400TD
Assassin 400Extreme
User avatar
xpert1111
Posts: 124
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:43 am
Location: Monmouth County, NJ

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by xpert1111 »

Without video documentation is this actually an accurate test?
Normous
Posts: 8239
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:04 pm
Location: Windsor, Ontario.

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by Normous »

Pictures are worth a thousand words.
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
doegirl
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 9:18 pm
Location: NW Ohio

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by doegirl »

I'm sorry, but I don't think these tests prove a thing. The NAP Spitfire was tested with bows as little as 4lbs to ensure the broadhead will open. So what actually opened these broadheads, the inertia of the shot or, most likely, hitting the sheet of paper? The only way to be 100% sure is with slow motion footage.
"Those who desire to give up Freedom in order to gain Security, will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."
-Thomas Jefferson
User avatar
janesy
Posts: 4721
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:20 pm
Location: Beavertown. Ont

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by janesy »

doegirl wrote:
Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:14 pm
I'm sorry, but I don't think these tests prove a thing. The NAP Spitfire was tested with bows as little as 4lbs to ensure the broadhead will open. So what actually opened these broadheads, the inertia of the shot or, most likely, hitting the sheet of paper? The only way to be 100% sure is with slow motion footage.
You think the banded spitfire opened on paper too? Proper slow motion footage would certainly be a deciding source, but not everyone has access to that gear. Regardless the paper test has been used for years to test a mechanical broadhead during flight. I don't think the OP was going for a super scientific result here. But he achieve what I would consider to be some interesting results from a relatively untested bow(by the public).
Blackout BD-Axe "Hatchet340"
Suppressor 400TD
Assassin 400Extreme
xcaliber
Posts: 12821
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 7:35 pm
Location: NW Indiana

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by xcaliber »

I have always done my testing to verify the blades opened! I figured they stayed closed because the accuracy proved that. :eusa-think: I think a picture is worth it to prove the theory. :eusa-popcorn:
It’s not the way you rock, it’s the way that you roll!
User avatar
Boo
Posts: 14299
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: Newtonville, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by Boo »

I am.very appreciative of the OP's efforts, time and willingness to share.
Thank you!l Jeff!
Some people just like stepping on rakes
User avatar
robertyb
Posts: 2845
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: Mechanical head premature opening test (Graphic heavy)

Post by robertyb »

If you are shooting 30 yards or more and getting good accuracy with your broadheads and they are opening in flight then what is the problem? I had one that I suspected would open in flight and shot it at 30 yards anyway and it flew about 20" high over the top of the target. Now I suspect in that case only one blade opened which made it fly erratically but if both blades pop open in flight and the head flies true I would never know it had happened. I do now put either one or two dental bands over my blades depending on which bow I am shooting but I consider that to be extra insurance only.
Wildlife Population Control Specialist
Post Reply