Broadheads?!

[BOWn Hunter]

I am currently using the Muzzy MX-3 broadhead and have had pretty good luck with it. But was wondering if the MX-4 would be a better option or if there was something better to use. I am very sceptical on using mechanical broadheads for the fact of the room for mechanical error. I have had a couple buddies use these (RAGE) and they have failed to open properly and they never had luck locating where the deer went. I understand it all depends on where you hit it but I would just rather stick to fixed blades when possible.

[bowhunterjohn]

not sure how a Rage does not open ? Shot over 40 deer with them, had not one not open.. in fact they make HUGE holes.. Now the new o-ring locking system they can't not open.

I think people use that as an excuse, not trying to start anything, just because the blades are closed when you find it doesn't mean they didnt' open.

Funny when they first came out people said they would never stay closed. LOL

I love my Rages, I do agree a fixed blade is better penetrating and might be better on solid bone hit ( which isn't good anytime).

I've put three Rages through spines with only one broken blade.

When I used Muzzy I did use the 3 blades

[antiwheeze]

I had some nice blood trails with the m4's but went back to the 3's because the interlock design makes them more likely to be reusable. Just don't think the 4 blade design is as durable.

[Genesis 27:3]

Magnus Stinger Buzzcut 4 blades for me. 100 grain. Used Muzzy with great success also

[bigbuckd]

Rage Hyperdermic 125g. 5 deer down with them all dropped inside of 40yards.

[esshup]

Never had a mechanical problem with the mechanical broadheads.

[mkfrench]

Shoot what shoots best out of YOUR bow. If you hit the "spot" you will find your your deer regardless of your broad head.

[dbd870]

I used MX3's when I was shooting my compound; never had a problem. I would leave well enough alone.

[36fan]

I have seen Rage's make marginal to bad hits lethal because of the size of the blade, but I've also seen deer lost because of bad shots with Rage's.

Personally I use G5 T3s and I check the metal clips when I get to the stand and nock an arrow; however, I have a couple of 3 blade Muzzys in my quiver for squirrels, coyotes, etc... If a deer comes through while I'm playing with a smaller critter, I am confidant the Muzzy will still do its job, as long as I do mine.

[scrub-buster]

I always used the Muzzy 3 blades when I shot a compound. Never had a failure, easy to replace the blades, and they would bust through bone. Since I switched to primitive bow hunting I have learned that hitting them where it counts is more important than the type of broadhead. I have killed a deer with a stone point and a point made from a used bandsaw blade. Both deer dropped within 50 yards.

[trapperdave]

its all in shot placement.




with mechs.....its not IF they fail, its WHEN they fail. my .02

Dont substitute proper bow tuning with a mech head. Too many people do that nowadays then wonder why their miracle heads only got six inches of penetration.

[tynimiller]

Facts of broadheads:

FACT #1 - Any broadhead will expire it's game very quickly if you hit both lungs or heart.

FACT #2 - Mechanicals while lack in penetration power by nature, they are more forgiving with gut/organ type shots "hitting the deer back". **Edit: This is due to the mere cutting diameter and potential for more mass cutting of organs and stomach.

FACT #3 - Fixed while "usually" lacking the overall cutting diameter, they penetrate more and are better at busting through ribs, legs and yes the shoulder.


FACT #4 - There is no "best" at killing broadhead. All do their job if the hunter does theirs...there are advantages to both and to some it is one to others a different one.


IMO, I'm a fixed guy all the way. I dabbled in mechanicals, but I want my chances of pass throughs (penetration needed) to be the highest it can be for obvious reasons. Hence why I shoot fixed and a heavier and high FOC arrow.

[woody1071]

While I am a fixed broadhead guy myself and agree with most of what you say. Particularly #1 & #4, 2 & 3 are opinions or observations & not facts. They could possibly be facts but you should really have something to back those facts up. #3 would be really hard to prove as a fact. #3 obviously been plenty of studies about penetration of these 2 types of heads but as you state there are variables with arrow choices that can affect that.

[woody1071]

Haha, my 1st #3 should have been #2 not sure if auto correct got me or what.

[tynimiller]

Oct 15, 2014 13:10:45 GMT -5 woody1071 said:

While I am a fixed broadhead guy myself and agree with most of what you say. Particularly #1 & #4, 2 & 3 are opinions or observations & not facts. They could possibly be facts but you should really have something to back those facts up. #3 would be really hard to prove as a fact. #3 obviously been plenty of studies about penetration of these 2 types of heads but as you state there are variables with arrow choices that can affect that.

Those are true if all things are equal outside of just the head design (weight of head is the same). Mechanicals naturally by design must exert or lose some energy (albeit minimal) when deploying, while fixed by nature/design do not have this loss. Some feel this difference is so small it isn't worth worrying about...others feel it is even more reason to use fixed.

Far too many studies have been done by bias and non bias, professional and non-professional to back up the stripped down facts listed. I understand some view them as non-factual, in my opinion enough studies and real life experiences have been done to back them, but I 100% understand the points you raised and see why one may hold them.

[steve46511]

A simple test for anyone thinking their head penetrates "easily".

Take a GREEN deer hide and manually try to push it through JUST that deer hide....by hand.

One particular type / size will do so readily and have hunt with them 99 percent of the time (over 5 dozen deer) without complaint. I've tried others, but always went back.

The laws of physics ARE constants and DO apply, always.

That said, out of today's bows with any kind of decent arrow mass all is moot FOR DEER. (unless you try the head's I tried last year LOL. NEVER will I live that one down NOR make that mistake again. )

Which "kills" better MAY be discussable, but not penetrates more readily, in ALL mediums.

Rule 1 is the most important and applies too. (EITHER heart or lungs....not both necessarily.)

God Bless

PS.....TODAY's Rage heads must be an improved design. I see them used successfully many times a year out of extremely high energy set ups <----. When they first came out? nope. I dug many out of a deer on the far side with nothing much more than a bullet hole between entrance and ending point.

[M4Madness]

I can tell you guys that in my personal experience, I shot 10 deer with Rage 2-blade broadheads, and only got one pass-through. One of those ten deer was a buck that I put two arrows in, and still didn't recover it. It was hit by a car two months later, and still had the stub of one of my arrows and a Rage in it when I examined it on the roadside.

Those 8 other deer without pass-throughs all fell on my arrows and broke them when they expired. I got tired of buying new arrows and went to a fixed broadhead instead. I'm using Slick Tricks now, and they blow through the deer just fine.

[woody1071]

I shoot Slick Tricks as well. Super happy with them. Never a doubt that it will do it's job.

[BOWn Hunter]

You all have been great help! Learned some new things on both types of broadheads. I'll take all the input I can get!

[Woody Williams]

If I was going to shoot fixed blade broadheads I would shoot the Slick Tricks.

BUT - I hunt with a TenPoint Stealth SS crossbow that launches a 425 grain arrow at close to 340 fps. The KE is about 106 foot pounds. So I have enough KE AND momentum to shoot mechanicals and still get pass throughs. I choose to shoot the NAP Spitfires. Big holes and lots of blood..

YMMV....