Fixed or mechanical for first broadheads

[Rectifier]

My aim is getting good enough to think about buying some broadheads, just wondering which guys would recommend here, fixed or mechanical...

Since I'm a new hunter this will also be my first time tracking a wounded animal, and I heard fixed leave a better blood trail - is that probably my biggest concern?

Also need something for hunting bunnies and squirrels, should I go judo's or g3 points? I've heard good things about both

Thanks guys!

[Big Lew]

As a new archer and hunter, you should keep your shots to relatively short yardage, well within your comfort zone. As you improve your consistancy in accurate shots from various angles, and a multitude of different situations, then comes confidence in taking longer shots. Modern fixed heads work very well within short yardage and for new hunters and don't need high poundage bows in order to get adequate penetration. Expanding heads were developed for longer shots as they aren't as apt to be bothered by tuning or planing problems, but they need to be propelled with a lot of energy in order for the heads to consistantly open fully, and to get good penetration. Most of us started out with fixed heads and only switched to mechanicals when we progressed to faster bows and longer shots.

[Bowzone_Mikey]

I started out using fixed heads (Rocky Mtn Premieres on the advice of a friend) I have used others since then with mixed results, I switched to Mechanicals(Rocket Steelheads) when I started hunting South western Alberta (the windiest place in North America) I have used others ... right now I have some Rocket Ultimate Steels on my arrows for Bear season and their thick fur that happens early season. For fall Moose and deer I will go back to the Rocket Steelheads Mechanicals or I will Go get some more G-5 Montecs (I had some and loved them but seem to have misplaced the box they are in .... If I ever find that box it will be like Christmas as I have a ton of stuff in there)

For small Game I like Judos or the G5 outdoors SGH (small game head)

here are some links and pictures of heads I would reccomend ...Fixed and Mechanical
Most of these below are availible at any bow or hunting shop ... not typically CDN tire or Wallmart

G5 Outdoors
Montecs
http://www.g5outdoors.com/#sec_montec
tekans
http://www.g5outdoors.com/#sec_tekan
SGH
http://www.g5outdoors.com/#sec_sgh

Rocket Broadheads
I like the steelhead XP and the Ultimate steels
http://www.trophyridge.com/broadheads/

Rocky Mountain Ti-XXX by Barrie Archery
(these are the succesors to the Preimiers ... if you can find the Premiers anymore good one you) I also used these and loved them
http://www.bowhunting.net/NewProducts/2004/Barry-TitaniumBroadhead.html

[mntbowhunter]

Your wrong about CND tire. They sell G5 Montecs and Tekan two blades. However they are way more expensive there than at most pro shops. I was pretty suprised to see them sitting on the racks though

[Bow Walker]

Fixed broadheads - low profile ones like the Slick Tricks - don't wind-plane or fight the fletching during arrow stabilization at all. These 4-bladed little devils cut a large entry wound and leave a good sized exit hole, making blood-trailing a much easier chore than it might be.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Magnum_100gr.jpg

Another good head is the Muzzy MX-3 (or the MX-4) same characteristics as the Slick Tricks. Both are proven heads.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Muzzy_MX-3_100gr.jpg

As for bunnies - I'd go with the Montec SG heads. But for smaller game such as squirrels and/or grouse I'd use the Judo heads.

Just my 2 cents worth, from my own experiences.

[peashooter]

Rage through the cage baby. The vids for these Mechanicals look sick. Fly true, penetrate further. At least on their website.

[jessbennett]

Rage through the cage baby. The vids for these Mechanicals look sick. Fly true, penetrate further. At least on their website.


x2 for the rage!! but also as mikey has said. rocket steelheads are an amazing broadhead. and also i believe the rocket wolverine. rocket make dam tough broadheads. i mean TOUGH. and razor razor sharp.

without this turning into a huge debate on mechanicals or fixed, i can honestly tell you if you get yourself a quality mechanical head you will have nothing to worry about. rage, rocket, g5 tekans, and so on.
if you going to go with mechanical, try and get a broadhead that doesnt have swept forward blades that require a rubber band to hold them. blades that sweep back or are compression closed are the way to go. (exception being again the rockets). rubber bands and blades that have to fold way back to be deployed can expend alot of kinetic energy.Yes the rockets are held with bands and swept forward but i can assure you there is no problems with penetration or blood trails with the steelhead or wolverine.
the saying you get what you pay for is definately the case here. whether it be fixed or mechanical.
with that being said, with todays mechanical broadheads, you cant go wrong with either mechanical or fixed. basically 6 on one hand half dozen the other.

[xtremearchery]

Fixed broadheads - low profile ones like the Slick Tricks - don't wind-plane or fight the fletching during arrow stabilization at all. These 4-bladed little devils cut a large entry wound and leave a good sized exit hole, making blood-trailing a much easier chore than it might be.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Magnum_100gr.jpg

Another good head is the Muzzy MX-3 (or the MX-4) same characteristics as the Slick Tricks. Both are proven heads.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Muzzy_MX-3_100gr.jpg

As for bunnies - I'd go with the Montec SG heads. But for smaller game such as squirrels and/or grouse I'd use the Judo heads.

Just my 2 cents worth, from my own experiences.

x-2 kinda..lol love the slick trick 85 gr. Best flying fixed blade out there. Expandable, I use Grimm Reapers 85 gr. I wish Rage came in a 85 gr... I'd use that for sure. Before I turned my bow down and lightened my arrow, all i used was the Rage 3 blade. What a hole!! Couldn't miss the blood trails. I have had the same luck with Grimm Reapers. At the end of the day, you should shoot what best matches your bow. Don't rely on what you read, get out and try a bunch. Alot of broadhead companies advertise that their heads fly the same as field points..... In a factory, everything shoots perfect. Don't take my word for it or theirs. Get out and make your own conclusion.

[hardnocks]

I like fixed myself but my cousin has taken almost ever big game animal in the prov. with an arrow and he has dun it all with a mechanical. so it just a matter of what one likes.

[Bow Walker]

I've heard both pro and con for the Rage heads. BUT. As jesse says, the way a mechanical deploys can work for you or against you. It does take a certain amount of energy to deploy those blades the have to flip nearly 180 degrees to be "opened". Energy that could well be used on penetrating the animals hide and/or bone to get to the vitals.

The Rage have a different design that works for them on opening/delpoyment...give this a look to see how it works.

http://www.ragebroadheads.com/Products/3-Blade-Broadhead.php

Most mechanical broadheads will give you huge entry and exit holes, thus leaving plenty of room for the blood to flow - it's a function of their blade size. It's a rare mechanical that cuts a hole less than an inch-and-a-half, as opposed to fixed heads that usually only cut holes about an inch-and-an-eight wide.

Jesse and extreme are right when they say that you can't go wrong by buying quality heads. Either mechanical or fixed/replaceable blade broadheads. It's just a matter of what flies right for you, and that takes testing.

[Bowzone_Mikey]

Your wrong about CND tire. They sell G5 Montecs and Tekan two blades. However they are way more expensive there than at most pro shops. I was pretty suprised to see them sitting on the racks though

I said not typically ... I know PG stores dont have em ... But have seen them at the CDN tire on Mcleod trail in Calgary

[mntbowhunter]

PG is actually where I seen them on the shelves, weird. In my opinion there are so many good broadheads out there these days. The technology is great. Put a good blade on the end and hit it in the lungs and you will be fine. My brother is a big rage fan and they undoubtfully cut great wound channels. Its actually pretty impressive. However I had them in my quiver for a while and I had a problem with the blades popping out from the tucked position all the time. when I felt it was time to knock an arrow it seemed as though I always had to tuck the blades back in. It kind of anoyed me. Me and my hunting partner use NAP spitfires and have had great success. I think its a matter of personal preference and there are a ton of good choices out there