Broadheads...

[Kahuna]

What do you guys think? ###Mechanical seem easier to dial in, but do they have as much punch behind them. ###Think they would be effective for hog AND whitetail?

[jayber]

Mechanicals can work on whitetails.....don't know much about using them on hogs though. ###I personally use fixed 3-blades, tuned to my arrow. ###I want to guarantee the blade is open and cutting on impact. ###As far as mechanicals not opening, I go by the motto: ###'If it's likely that it could fail, it will'. ###But it's a matter of personal preference.

[Kahuna]

cant argue with that theory Jayber! ###Now if using fixed broadheads, currently I have some Muzzy 3 blades, the blades need to line up with the vanes, right?

[Grey Taylor]

Just out of curiousity, why would you think that the blades need to line up with the fletching?

[Tominator]

Boy Kahuna, you sure picked a touchy subject here! Regardless of how this situation deteriorates just remember that we're all buds and wounds heal *LOL*. I swear by Rocket Aerohead mechanicals but their's guys on here that have had some bad experiences with them. I've never had a problem with them and have always had an awesome bloodtrail to follow. I have made textbook double lung shots from 20 yds with Muzzy 115's and found the deer 75-100 yds away without the first drop of blood being found. It's all about confidence, try different heads till you find what YOU like and stick with it.
Tominator

[Kahuna]

Well Grey actually I thought I read that somewhere. ###Hopefully Im wrong, because thats one less thing I have try to figure out how to do right! :) ###I thought I read that the big advantage to the mechanical heads was that you can just slap them on and go, and they would react just like practicing with field points. ###

Im sure that when the dust settles Tominator, we will all be smiling.

[Grey Taylor]

Thanks, Kahuna. ###I was just curious.

I can't really contribute anything to your original question since I shoot traditional tackle and mechanicals aren't recommended for that type of bow. ###Besides, those heads aren't legal in my state.

I see a lot of questions in trad circles on how to orient fixed two blade broadheads. ###There's a legend out there that the Indians used a horizontal head for war arrows and a vertical placement for hunting arrows. ###The theory being that the head would slip between the ribs of the intended target easier. ###Well, the Indians knew as well as we do that arrows spin in flight.

Personally, I attach my heads vertically so they don't block any of my view but it's all personal preference as they fly exactly the same. ###I can't see lining up a three blade head with the vanes making any difference one way or another. ###I think you'd need a wind tunnel and some good computers to see any differences.

[nobuckkev]

Any broadhead will kill a deer. I just don't think it is possible to get as much penetration on an animal when it is stuck in any position other than dead broadside. For example, if you have to shoot a quartering away shot, one side of the broadhead will hit first ands starts to open before the other blade does. grant it, it is a split second difference but can seriously cut down the kinetic energy your arrow has. I read about that on the Muzzy web site and that is wht they refuse to make any mechanical broadheads. I would not recommend a mechanical head on a 300lb boar. i have seen videos where the sharpest broadheads moving at 250FPS only penetrate about 6-8 inches into the animal. That's enough to catch a lung.
### ### As for lining up broadheads and tuning them, I do not line my Muzzy's up with the vanes and they fly fine. If your bow is tuned properly, any broadhead will fly just like a field point. I take my bow to the shop at least twice a year and get it tuned up for whatever hunt I am doing. If you don't have a lot of experience dealing with tuning bows , I say don't waste your time and let the pros do it for you. I also shoot about 3 times a week all year long. A lot of hunters will use mechanical heads just for the reason that their bow is not tuned right and the mechanicals fly like field points. to each his own though. i wouldn't worry about deer , but, the hogs might be a problem. I am going hog stickin this weekend out here in California and I will ask some of the guys what they think and have seen and let you know next week. In fact, my shop Pro is taking us and I am sure he will have some insight for ya'. he hates mechanical but he shoots both compound and recurve. I say' Muzzy's are Bad to the Bone". That is all I shoot.

[widgnwhacker]

100gr. Thunderheads kills em all DEAD!! ###NUFF said !!


WW

[Passthru]

###I think the theory is that lining up the blades with the fletches will allow the both of them to plane equally together instead of trying to fight each other in flight,i dont know and dont line mine up.
###I will not use open on impact (mechanical) broadheads,i dont care what is said about them,i dont care about all the tests in the world,i use fixed blade and when it gets to its intended target i Know the blades are out where they will do the work needed,no ifs ands or buts.
###

[rutnduck]

I've shot NAP Spitfires for 2 years now, killed 8 deer with them, all passthrough except one. ###2 were quartering away, 1 slight 1/4 to me, 4 broadside, and the nonpassthru was sharply quartering away and I hit him in the shoulder bone, I pulled when I released, the broadhead broke the bone clean and entered the chest cavity.(btw he weighed 240#'s live weight)
I would NOT recommend them on hogs unless you've got upwards of 70 lbs of KE.

Nobuckkev is right about reduced penetration (and arrow turn on impact) though...it is reduced when using a mechanical, BUT you've got to recognize that most of today's technologically enhanced bows have enough KE to spare even with the loss due to the mechanical.

I'll continue to use the Spitfire until something better comes along. ###Make sure whatever you decide you have confidence.

[BOHUNTER]

Ok here is ya some proof of ......awesome NAP spitfire 125s..........mechanical

http://wizard.jpg.com/jpegwizard/new/image...0151AM58710.jpg (http://wizard.jpg.com/jpegwizard/new/imagefiles/6230230151AM58710.jpg)

http://wizard.jpg.com/jpegwizard/new/image...1506AM99350.jpg (http://wizard.jpg.com/jpegwizard/new/imagefiles/6230231506AM99350.jpg)

This buck weighed 265lbs on the hoof. He was quartering away to the right at 23 yards. He was down and hammer dead in 10 seconds....yup 10 seconds.....the arrow lodged into his chest with the chisel tip touching the skin in the font chest area. The shot was right behind the last rib, straight up the left lung and missed the heart but stopped in the right front lobe.....he had no chance after that.....the arrow was 28" 3 inches is all ya see.......DDW (dead deer walking) oh yea e scores 150 7/8 Pope and Young points....yahooo old pearson spoiler "wheel" bow, w 2 inch over draw.

good huntin ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### steve



oops forgot the darn pic....:O)

(Edited by BOHUNTER at 1:53 am on June 23, 2002)


(Edited by BOHUNTER at 1:56 am on June 23, 2002)


(Edited by BOHUNTER at 1:58 am on June 23, 2002)

[Oregon Archer]

if properly tuned any sharp broadhead if placed into the vital areas will kill any animal. but the key is still shot placement and having them tuned before you go out and shoot at an animal. a lot of people have the misconception that mech. heads "fly" just like field points and they can just screw em on and take off hunting without tuning them first. then when they fail on them they blame the head which is a bunch of crap to cover their stupidity. so no matter what type of head you choose as long as you practice shot placement from all angles and tune the broadhead of your choice properly you can kill any animal alive with either type of head. its just personal choice as to which style you choose and if they are legal in your hunting area.

[rutnduck]

bohunter...NICE ONE! ###That doesn't look like a FL deer.

[Scotty]

I agree with rutnduck.

Nice!

But, I don't think you dragged that big boy out of the Green Swamp.

Scotty

[nobuckkev]

Just for the record, you should never just screw on any broadhead and hit the field. I spin my Muzzy's everytime I put them on to see if they are seated right. You will find that some wobble even being brand new out of the pack. So always check them out before nocking them. After going on my pig hunt last month, I strongly recommend that no one use a mechanical on pigs. They are like tanks and even the guys working the ranch said they are not a good idea. Just something to think about from the field.

[Swampman]

Lining up vains to the broadhead does not matter, as was proven to me by a fellow hunter. HE SPINS THE BROADHEAD AN LOOKS FOR WOBBLES. If it wobbles he turns the broadhead and spins it again until it quits. After he spun my broadheads they hit where I aimed every time.

[thehairlessone]

No one is going to convince me that mech. dont work! I shot two deer with a wasp jakhammer and I was incredibly impressed!

I will use a fixed blade IF i hunt somewhere where they are not allowed such as the hog hunt i am going on in jan. but besides that it is jakhammers for me ONLY!

rick

[m57jager]

I'm with you hairlessone. ###Started out on mechanicals and haven't had a problem yet. ###I suppose if I do, I'll have to think about it then. ###But in the mean time, if it aint broke why fix it.

By the way, I shoot Mar-Den Vortex 100gr. ###On an angled away shot at 40 yards I had a complete pass through taking out both lungs and slicing the liver.

[Lv2hnt]

Let my .02 be short > for animals bigger tougher than deeror, mechanicals may not be the better choice. We'll continue to hear examples from both sides why their blade of choice is the one to use. For a very good article comparing the two broadheads, see if you can round up an Oct. 2001 copy of Bow & Arrow Hunting magazine --- I think you'll find it worth the effort! Chuck Adams and Warren Strickland debate the issue thoroughly, approaching it from all angles. The article doesn't make the choice for you, but gives you some insightful things to consider ...

Lv2hnt

[hunthog]

Hey m57jager,

I notice you're from California. ###Do you use mechanicals in California? ###Better make sure they are 7/8" BEFORE they leave the bow or they are not legal for use in California. ###If you don't believe me, call the DFG. ###I was thinking of going to mechanicals but, after extensive research, I discovered that most of them available are not 7/8" thus not legal in California. ###A couple are but I figured you lose much of the accuracy advantage of them if the blades must be 7/8" anyway. ###Besides, I hunt Elk in Oregon and they are completely illegal there under any circumstances.

hunthog

[phantom]

I prefer mechanical...i have had very good luck with all of my kills...Just pick one and stay with it..i use the mini max

[fadetoblack76]

i use 100gr. muzzys. three blade.(non-mechanical) never shot a deer YET but I have no fear that from 40 yards and below that the broadhead will work as good as a mechanical. the mechanicals are just a pain in the *ss. too many reports of people forgetting to pull back thier "guide" finger and severely severing it.

[South]

Read where Mitch Rompola once killed a deer with a field point when he was a kid(accidentally I might add, dont want to start any more Rompola bashing)...Proper shot placement and sharp blades are the key...

[Passthru]

I know a guy who always told me "never had any trouble from Mechanicals yet,they are great" then 2 years ago he shot a nice buck slightly quartering away,blades opened but did not penetrate,just bounced off,he now uses fixed blades,Snuffers to be exact.
I dont use mechanicals,but i dont have anything agianst them either,i just feel better with fixed blades,The big reason is,im 100% certian they are open and ready to do bussiness no matter what.
This is just another thing that comes down to what works best for each individual person.

[wmidbrook]

I've only archery hunted this season with another archery rookie. He's shot a deer (arrow passthru) at 30 yds with a 125 gr. Steel Force broad head and shot it again at 50 yds--the broadhead passed thru (not whole arrow) on the last shot. His bow is at 60 lbs.

I shot a pig with 100 gr. Innerlocs at 30 yds and it did not pass thru but killed the pig ok with a 63 pound bow. I just wasn't willing to crawl thru a ton of brush after after a wounded pig in the dark without a pistol and no blood trail--the pig was found later (hit liver and 1 lung and arrow was fully buried in the carcas) but it was too late to salvage the meat. Also the pig was running with a herd of 20 or so pigs.

Both broadheads fly where the fieldtips flew. They both are well designed aerodynamically from everything I've read and seen on them. The innerlocs rate about 4 out of 5 in terms of sharpness out-of-the-box. Those steel force broadheads are sharp too. Although my innerlocs tended to pass thru a target more often than my buddies steel force broadheads. Both broadheads are extremely tough and have taken many elk/pig according to several shop owners I've talked to.

I prefer to keep as much potenitial mechanical failure out of the picture as possible.

[GIVEMTHEBLADE]

I shoot muzzy 3 blade, 125's!!!! I once found a doe that was dead and there was a mechanical broadhead on an arrow next to her it looked like the blades never expanded, maybe led to a long and drawn out blood trail so the hunter that was searching for his game couldn't find his game. But maybe not, maybe it was lazyness on the hunter part wont ever know!!! I know if I hit game I want to find it and muzzy has always done the job for me, the most a deer has ever run that I have hit w/ a muzzy is 80 yard and it was a hell of a blood trail!!!

[Ericnavy24]

Just to add a little info to the few that are bashing the MECH broadheads. As many have said proper shot placement with any arrow/broadhead will kill any game you are after. Key to the whole matter is making sure the arrow and bow are set up properly for the bigger game ie: elk,caribou,bear> that so many have mentioned that they would not be willing to use MECH heads on. Just last week a buddy of mine went to Canada and harvested a 1200lb 6x6 363inch bull elk with a spitfire head. The arrow did not pass thru but made it the fletching.
I am not here to stir the pot but just add to the debate but the biggest key to anyones success is being confident in your setup. I have lost a P&Y buck in ILL and I took out part of the liver and lung and never found him and I was shooting muzzy 100s did that make me change????? no It just goes to show you that S*it happens. The only thing you can do is go on lol
Its all in confidence and in personal choice. Just like some people drive fords and others chevy's lol
Weather you are a MECHhead shooter or a Fixed I wish you and yours a safe archery season. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[the hairless one]

the thing that bothers me when people say they had mech. heads fail is they
never mention which one it was! There are good ones and bad ones just like
anything!

If you buy the cheapest one there is it is probly not going to work too good! I
use the wasp jakhammers and I LOVE THEM! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-bowdown-purple.gif

Here is a pic to show you what they can do!

Done by a jakhammer! (http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/thehairlessone/2doe1999.jpg)

she didnt go 80 yds! Perfect hit and my first deer.

rick


http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[swampfox]

I agree thunderheads 100 gr. will always do the trick,but i recently started using magnus 2 blade broadheads. no tuning,no broken blades during practice and they can be resharpened in two seconds . and above all, when you shoot an animal,the bloodtrail looks like a homicide scene. try them out you wont be sorry!!! my .02 cents http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-chainsaw-left.gif

[Garfield]

Let&#39;s just think about it for a minute. If a mechanical does work let&#39;s say 5 times out of 6 that&#39;s good right. Well would you like to be the #6 that had to run off and slowly die 2 day&#39;s from now. I have seen it happen time and time again. The mechanical will work good and then there is that time when it just didn&#39;t do as it was supposed to. Fixed are open all the time every time....................Leon

[slyder]

Ive used NAP Spitfires on all kinds of game without any problems. But i switched rests to a MBG trapdoor so i can shoot 4 fletch arrows and fixed blade heads. With mechanicals there is always a little doubt if they will open or break. Fixed blades just make me more confident.

[Sask Hunter]

I http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-bowdown-purple.gif to rockets,they get the job done with lots of damage and incredible blood trails.Just my .02cents.