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Bow Walker
08-06-2007, 01:15 PM
I just read an article in a magazine called "Sportsman's Bowhunting Annual" put out by the Harris Outdoor Group.

The article is titled "Heads of the pack" by Jeff Murray, a contributing archery writer. I'm not going to re-write the whole article here, but a lot of what he says makes sense.

He writes that....."there are three main categories of broadheads....1. Fixed blade broadheads....2. Expanding or Mechanical broadheads......3. Replaceable Blade broadheads....and a 4th emerging group - Hybrid broadheads, a combination of mechanical and cut-on-contact heads."

Examples of each category are, 1. G5's Montec and the Snuffer from Magnus. 2. N.A.P.'s Spitfire and the Steelhead from Rocket. 3. Slick Tricks and the Striker from G5. 4. Gladiator from gold Tip and the Raptor from 2XJ Enterprises. These are just two examples from each category.

The groups of archers/hunters getting the benefits from each category? This is where it gets interesting as what Jeff Murray states makes a lot of sense.

Category 1. - There are two groups of archers who benefit from the Fixed Blade head, first are the "bow-poundage challenged archers (the young, the elderly, and most women) because this group needs to optimize penetration with relatively low poundage setups. Second are the archers with Kinetic Energy to spare - longer draw length and higher poundage shooters. These archers benefit from the cut-on-contact heads and the fact that they are tough heads that can be resharpened easily.

Category 2. - Mechanical or Expanding heads benefit those archers who are in the beginning stages of learning but who have the ability to pull higher poundage or have draw lengths of 28" and up. Also the archer who is after smaller game animals such as turkeys, upland game birds, and smaller-bodied deer. These animals don't require the pass-thru punch of fixed blades. This type of head also flies closest to the flight of field points without a lot of tuning involved. Hence the obvious benefit to the inexperienced.

Category 3. - Replaceable blade broadheads, have obvious benefits to archers who want a razor sharp head that is easily tuned to their setup. American Broadhead's Sonic 100 is a prime example. These smaller profile heads are great for experienced shooters after larger game animals such as Elk, Mule deer, Bears, and Moose. Shot placement is key here (as with all archery hunting). The smaller profile of the Replaceable Blade head does not wind plane on longer yardage shots or in open breezier terrain, yet they deliver a devastating wound channel with lots of blood for easy tracking

So. Which category do you fit into? Or are you like me and can benefit from more than one category suggestion? I hope that any who have a chance to read the whole article - do so. It has a lot of good advice.

Whatever our goal as bowhunters is we need to remember that we owe it to our quarry to kill quickly and efficiently. Toward this end, I would add my .02 cents worth in the I believe that we should strive for the best from our setups, whether we tune them or a pro shop tunes them.

If you build your own arrows I can think of no better money spent than that spent on an ASD (Arrow Squaring Device) from G5 Outdoors. Squaring the end of cut shafts so that the insert sits flush - plus - squaring the insert itself so that the broadhead sits square will only benefit the flight of the arrow.

The ASD assures a square broadhead-to-insert-to arrow shaft connection. This goes a long way in helping with true broadhead flight, and a humane kill.

As always - just one man's opinion.

Kirby
08-06-2007, 01:31 PM
I think the group that benefits from mech heads are those who lack the ability to tune exposed blade heads to shoot right, or those who are happy to shoot field points a couple of times then switch heads and go hunting.

I have plenty of KE to spare, I'm shooting around 74. Thats more than enough to kill anything I'll ever hunt and yet it wasn't enough to keep a mech from turning almost 90 degrees on a shot 2 years ago.

Kirby

brad ferris
08-06-2007, 03:49 PM
i love my g5 montecs.they did fail me this spring however.i made what i beleive was a perfect shot on a huge tom at 30 yards.my arrow passed through and was covered in blood.my hunting partner,my dog and myself searched 4 hours that day and i returned the next day and searched somemore.never recovered that bird.so next spring for turkey i'll be shooting the biggest freaking machanicals i can find.

Clint_S
08-06-2007, 08:28 PM
Any outdoor writer who recomends mech heads for big game especially to a newb hunter, should have one shoved up his arse.

Bow Walker
08-06-2007, 08:44 PM
Any outdoor writer who recommends mech heads for big game especially to a newb hunter, should have one shoved up his arse.
Check a little closer Clint.....it doesn't recommend mechs for big game.

BlacktailStalker
08-07-2007, 09:09 PM
Liking these Rocky Mountain Titaniums I picked up this year...
Will have a good report after blacktail and elk hunting this year :)

bochunk2000
08-08-2007, 09:57 AM
I am still a die hard Muzzy fan. Bone crunching pass through performance every time.
Steve.

interceptor
08-08-2007, 03:59 PM
G'day Lads,

I have always shot fixed two bladers, I have been using Outback Supremes (130grains) for the last few years and they are devastating on any and all game that I have used them on from big mud encrusted boars, mean scrub cattle and tuff old bull buffalos. As with any broad head if it ain't shaving sharp then it has no place in a hunting quiver.

To each their own but I enjoy the fail safe reliability of the fixed blades and they fly superbly out of my rig, I can't ask for more than that.

Cheers Noel

jessbennett
08-11-2007, 12:37 PM
well kirby,

i hunt with mechanicals alot of the time, probably 65% of the time. i also know that i have more than enough ability to tune my bow and broad heads. i also am not one to shoot a "few" field points on and then go hunting right away.:roll:. i practice all year long.

ive shot LOTS of game with mechanicals on all sorts of different angles and have NEVER had a problem(knock on wood).

one can have a crappy deflection with a fixed OR mechanical broadhead. kinda like bullets i guess. a new bullet comes out and its the cats a$$, performs well on anything, just an amazing bullet. then you try the bullets and shoot an animal and have one bullet perform sub par and all of the sudden they are $h!t!!! and i know this has happened to most.

just my opinion though. people have their theories and opinions and i can respect that. my biggest theory is shoot what your comfortable and confident in.8)

willhunt
08-12-2007, 11:01 PM
i love my g5 montecs.they did fail me this spring however.i made what i beleive was a perfect shot on a huge tom at 30 yards.my arrow passed through and was covered in blood.my hunting partner,my dog and myself searched 4 hours that day and i returned the next day and searched somemore.never recovered that bird.so next spring for turkey i'll be shooting the biggest freaking machanicals i can find.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/archery-experts_1957_28552200
shoot em in the head with a gobbler guillotine

BlacktailStalker
08-13-2007, 12:53 PM
I would love to decapitate a turkey with one of those, I've seen them on a few shows and it's almost comical when they connect lol!

Bow Walker
08-13-2007, 05:51 PM
I've seen the videos using those Guillotine heads. Wow!. Lottsa floppin around and general "funky chicken" dancing. The bird is dead - right away - though the nerves take a while to get th e message thru to the muscles.

I prefer fixed blade heads myself - but I am a believer of "Whatever Ffluffs Your Kilt, bucko!"

Franko Manini
08-13-2007, 05:55 PM
Any outdoor writer who recomends mech heads for big game especially to a newb hunter, should have one shoved up his arse.


Oh big deal... the thing probably wouldn't even open up.

Bow Walker
08-13-2007, 07:47 PM
Oh big deal... the thing probably wouldn't even open up.

:rolleyes: heh, heh, heh..............

jessbennett
08-13-2007, 09:45 PM
:roll:..........hahahaha..........lol

Bowzone_Mikey
08-20-2007, 09:20 PM
LMAO

Now I use Mechs ... Never had a problem with them ...I posses the knowledge and ability to tune fixed heads ... the only time I never passed thru using Mechs was when I spined a buck. other than that ...short blood trails to a dead critter

those of you burning mech blades ... shoot a quality one and your opinions will change ....theres crappy ones out there granted ...but theres crappy fixed blades as well ....

jessbennett
08-20-2007, 09:46 PM
good point mikey. going to try the tekans in the kootenays and grim reapers maybe. also got some little devil 75 grain ultimate steels i might whump a deer with and see how they do! lol..... the grim reapers are a deadly machine......

Bowzone_Mikey
08-20-2007, 11:12 PM
I have been using the Rocket Steelheads with success ... Cody(Jackal) over on Bowzone ..has used the steelhead 100s for 10 years that I know of ... Passed thru each of his 10 elk in those 10 years and always put down his Deer with those heads... Well as you can figger Cody being Cody if something fails once he would never use it again .... every year he shoots at least 3 animals with those heads ....

the only critter hes hunted and never taken down with those are Turkeys ...simply cause he missed each shot hes put on them gobblers

Bow Walker
08-21-2007, 09:18 AM
Seems like whatever works for someone is what gets that someone's stamp of approval and recommendation from then on.

I've tried a lot of expandables, replaceable blades, and fixed blades. For me it is fixed blades. Just my opinion (for what it's worth).

Kirby
08-21-2007, 09:54 AM
those of you burning mech blades ... shoot a quality one and your opinions will change ....theres crappy ones out there granted ...but theres crappy fixed blades as well ....

Been there done that, won't do it again. Spit-fires are considered one of the better heads, and yet I personally have had major issues with it. I know of 2 other guys who have had the identical issue with it.

If your so knowledgeable why wouldn't you just tune fixed blades to fly right:eek::cool:

Kirby

BlacktailStalker
08-21-2007, 10:44 AM
I agree with Kirby.
To each their own but I am no longer a fan of mechanicals after last year, I too had a bad experience with spitfires.
Rocky Mountain Titaniums this year.

Wildfoot
08-21-2007, 08:57 PM
just got a pack of montec 100's. so far im impressed. thick blades, super easy to sharpen, and one piece of metal!

jessbennett
08-21-2007, 11:07 PM
well personally kirby, i know my way around a bow fairly well. im confident in my ability to tune a bow. i have my bow set up with fixed blades right now as we speak. but for the majority i prefer mechanicals. just the way it is.:cool::roll: as far as im concerned you get a good quality broadhead fixed or mechanical, your going to get the job done. spitfires has a piss poor design as their blades are way to far forward in the closed position and on steep angle or quartering shots those blade ends can cause a kickout or tailwhiping action of your arrow. they work great on broadside shots though. seen some killer b-side shots with them. but who gets perfect broadside shots everytime.???


but..... to each thier own. you like fixed?? great shoot em!!!1 i like fixed and mechanicals..... i'm gonna use both...:lol:

anyways good luck on this season....:cool: kootenay bound in 4 days........
elk videos are like watching porn...... lol

Kirby
08-21-2007, 11:55 PM
but who gets perfect broadside shots everytime.???

And that right there is why I stay away from mechs:lol: But as you said to each their own. I am sure there are some great mechs out there, but chances are you won't find me flinging them... personal prefence:wink:

Good luck in the koots, one of these years I'll put off mulies and go down there.

Kirby

Bowzone_Mikey
08-22-2007, 12:29 AM
Kirby the reason I shoot mechanicals is that to get a fixed BH tuned properly you pretty much gotta use larger than 3" Vanes .... Now coming from where I come from ... The windyest place in North America ...South Alberta and Crownest pass area One wants as small profile as possible otherwise drift and planing becomes more a factor. With my Mechs I can use 1.5" vanes to give a smaller inflight profile therfore being more accurate (not having to as much wind drift) and thus being more confident in the shot ....

Now those that have had Mechs skip out ... Probally the same result would have ensued with a fixed head ...because each shot if differant there are never 2 shots identical ..... so one cant say that a fixed head woulda done the job

yote
08-22-2007, 10:07 AM
We had a grim reaper head fail us last year. I was perplexed as I liked the design and wondered why. My brother in law had a perfect broadside on a cow elk from 20 yards and the arrow made a complete passthrough. When we found the arrow, the mechanical never opened up. good thing it was a good shot becuase it was a hands and knees tracking job till we found her dead at 150yrds. My take on it was that the little bleeder blades line up with the blades that open up. I feel they cut a wound channel ahead of the other blades so they never got the pressure needed to open up. That's all I could think of, I was right there watching and it was a picture perfect broadside shot.

That doesn't mean we won't hunt mechanicals again, in fact this year we'll be using the Tekan II's because they have a good rep. so far and I really like the design, bleeders do not line up with the opening blades.

Out of this experience we learned how important a good shot really is, that mature cow fell to a would chanel no thicker than the closed mechanical and only went 150 yrds.

Leaving next Thursday after work to do it all over again...we hope.

Good luck folks.

Ddog
08-22-2007, 04:25 PM
i am very surprised at a few peoples responses on mechanical broadheads.
i am a bowhunter, i have no problems tuning a bow to a broadhead, i use mechanicals, SPITFIRE XP to be exact, and before the XP'S came out SPITFIRE and in my opinion they are simply the best. never had one fail after 40 big game animals down with these broadheads including elk,deer bear and every small game in there aswell do you think i will ever change?
people who comment on mechanicals without actually trying them in the field are as ignorant as they come.
On all the animals i have put down with these broadheads i can not remember one that wasn't a pass through, including an elk at 20yards right through the shoulder blade and out the other side.
I was shooting a Martin Fury set at 62lbs, now i shoot a Hoyt Magnatec set at 68 lbs.

diggerpax
10-04-2007, 01:07 AM
Lets face it, if you land a well placed shot with a pointy rock, it's going to be lethal. My biggest concern with mechanicals is that shot that doesn't land exactly on mark- jumping the string, nerves, whatever the cause. The risk of the mechanical not locking-out is considerable- then the blade is no longer cutting as the animal runs away. The blades may open, but when the animal moves, they can then close. I've taken 81 big game animals with a bow, my name is in the book many times, and I have used more BH than I can count, including mechanicals. I think if all your shots are 20 yards broadside then use your whisker biscuit and mechanicals. For those of us that consider bowhunting more than hobby, fill half a dozen tags every year, and are killing out past 60 yards- mechanicals are not likely to be found in our quivers. When I go on a serious hunt, I always revert back to a muzzy. They may take more effort to tune, but I'll be damned if I've ever heard of one failing.

Will
01-19-2008, 04:11 PM
Lets face it, if you land a well placed shot with a pointy rock, it's going to be lethal. My biggest concern with mechanicals is that shot that doesn't land exactly on mark- jumping the string, nerves, whatever the cause. The risk of the mechanical not locking-out is considerable- then the blade is no longer cutting as the animal runs away. The blades may open, but when the animal moves, they can then close. I've taken 81 big game animals with a bow, my name is in the book many times, and I have used more BH than I can count, including mechanicals. I think if all your shots are 20 yards broadside then use your whisker biscuit and mechanicals. For those of us that consider bowhunting more than hobby, fill half a dozen tags every year, and are killing out past 60 yards- mechanicals are not likely to be found in our quivers. When I go on a serious hunt, I always revert back to a muzzy. They may take more effort to tune, but I'll be damned if I've ever heard of one failing.
Well that kinda ended this thread didn't it.......:lol:

bc sportsman
03-05-2008, 01:02 AM
I use NAP Crossfires. Fixed three blade that free spins...shoots with little need to fine tune after sighting in with field points. Worked great this season on a fine whitetail.

Bow Walker
03-05-2008, 10:27 AM
My favorite from NAP is their HellRazor. It is a takeoff from the Razorcap (they bought the company out) but it looks stronger. I still have a dozen Razorcaps that I'm using and liking.

Ron.C
03-05-2008, 10:33 AM
personally, I don't see the need for mechanicals. With a little effort, you can easily tune fixed braodheads to shoot as consistent as any other arrow. I shoot muzzy's, and have had great success as has my hunting partner. It all comes to personal choice. Personally, But I think shot placement probable accounts for more wounded game then braodhead choice.

pupper
03-05-2008, 11:01 AM
just got a pack of montec 100's. so far im impressed. thick blades, super easy to sharpen, and one piece of metal!

Im with you, Montecs tune and fly great, and the one peice design make it strong, here is a review on them I wrote after shooting a blackbear (http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/www.huntingtipsandtricks.com/a/Black_Bear_Hunting_Tips_And_Tricks) with it: http://www.huntingtipsandtricks.com/a/G5_Montec_Broadheads

rollingrock
03-06-2008, 02:21 PM
So how sharp is sharp enough?

pupper
03-06-2008, 02:27 PM
you should be able to shave the hair on your arm, or cut a stretched elastic band with one swipe/touch. the blades should be sticky sharp.

Bow Walker
03-06-2008, 10:11 PM
As sharp as you can possibly make them. Soft, gentle strokes at the end of the sharpening process, making sure that the number of strokes is even for each side of the blade.