Expandables VS Fixed Blades for Elk

rackman · May 8, 2010

Hi Guy's

I wanted to get everyones opinion on Expandables VS Fixed Blade Broadheads. I have used Muzzy 90 grain fixed blades for deer and they have worked well for me, this year I was lucky enough to draw an elk tag, and was thinking about getting into expandables. The reason for this is I feal that the muzzys do not have a big enough cutting dia. for elk. The expandables I am leaning towards are the 100 grain Grim Reapers with the 1 3/4 cutting dia. What are your thoughts on this idea of mine?

hoyt1cam2002 · May 8, 2010

It's all about personal preference. I like fixed blades myself and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the muzzy's you shoot now. As far as cutting diameter, that muzzy broadhead has more than enough edge to bring down an elk. Shoot whatever you feel comfortable with, shot placement will determine how far that animal goes, not the broadhead.

RaghornHS · May 8, 2010

+1 on personal preference. Just be sure the additional weight (from 90 to 100 grains) doesn't change the required spine of the arrow!

Good luck this year!

Raghorn Hunting Services
www.raghornhuntingservices.com
[email protected]
http://raghornhs.blogspot.com

theox · May 8, 2010

i personally dont feel there is a need for expandables on big game. many fixed blades shot as good as feild tips such as wac'ems and many many more high end broadheads.
i just like the comfort of knwoing my broad head is already open and ready to do damage. i know expanables are much more dependable now but still makes me nervous.
i dont think expandables are neccessary but thats my opinion.

WapitiBob · May 8, 2010

I prefer to use an expandable because it repeatedly produces better blood trails and quicker kills than the fixed heads I've used over the last 35 years.
Last 4 bulls:

2006, Spitfire
2007, Slick Trick
2008, Spitfire
2009, F15

Use what you have confidence in.

buckshot · May 8, 2010

LAST EDITED ON May-08-10 AT 09:14PM (MST)[p]I shot Wac'ems and they are on the smaller size. Have taken 2 bulls on the general hunt and both have died in my sight.

ktowncamo · May 8, 2010

>I prefer to use an expandable
>because it repeatedly produces better
>blood trails and quicker kills
>than the fixed heads I've
>used over the last 35
>years.
>Last 4 bulls:
>
>2006, Spitfire
>2007, Slick Trick
>2008, Spitfire
>2009, F15
>
>Use what you have confidence in.
>

I shot the F15 last year and although I missed my only shot on a bull (misjudged distance without time to use the rangefinder) did your kill have as wide of an entry/exit as Carbon Express touts? How about flight - as good as field tip?

Lastly, do you plan on using the F15 again this year?

Thanks for your reply on these questions.

WapitiBob · May 9, 2010

LAST EDITED ON May-09-10 AT 09:35AM (MST)[p]KTown, the F15 flew fine though I have no idea how they compare to field points, as I only shoot a cpl FP's to get on the bale, then switch to BH's and sight in.
The entrance hole was small as one would expect from a cut on contact head. Cutting it's way in rather than stretching then cutting.
I don't remember anything special about the exit hole.
The arrow zipped thru him like butter. Only the 3rd pass threw in 35 years. The other 2 were with Spitfires.

The F15 is a narrow head and that worried me. The 2 bleeders did cut the "slot" as advertised. It just didn't make an entrance "hole". My Spitfires don't make a "hole" either but seem to do more internal damage.

I really don't like todays small heads. I'm an "old days" guy that remembers when 1 3/6", 4 blade was the norm. These new 1 1/8 heads seem small, like the new bows seem short, if you can relate.

I am leaning towards Shuttle T's this year. Those or back to Spitfires.

marley · May 9, 2010

I have killed 3 elk with the spitfires and the entrance wound has always looked like the exit wound, big and nasty. 2 of the 3 were complete pass throughs and the 3rd one stuck in the opposite shoulder so deep that I had to unscrew the arrow to get it out of the elk and then retrieved my spitfire when I quartered it. All 3 elk died within sight and the last one only went about 25 yards and I walked up to it within 30 seconds and he was out for the count. I also killed a deer at a severe quartering away shot and the spitfire performed great, big entrance hole and exit.

longshooter338 · May 9, 2010

I have been shooting reapers for years and have loved them i took a large chocolate phase black bear with a grim and he ran 15 feet and climbed 10 feet up a tree and was spraying blood the whole way took about 30 -45 seconds and he was done my outfitter said he has never seen more blood on a bear.

mathewsman · May 9, 2010

If you're going to shoot an expandable, you can't do better than a grim reaper. They are very well designed and proven. The only thing I would add is the 1" 3/4 version will take ALOT of kinetic energy to fully open and penetrate. I hope you are shooting a heavy arrow (420 grain minimum) at least 280 f.p.s. I shoot the 1" 3/8 and they
fly great and penetrate like crazy.

ktowncamo · May 9, 2010

WapitiBob - thanks for the reply about the F15. Great insights and I feel more confident to continue to shoot them this year.

I wonder - did you remove the blades for target practice? I ended up bending a blade from repeated target shooting and had to replace one.

WapitiBob · May 10, 2010

I used 3 heads for practice and saved 3 for hunting. I experienced no problems with the heads and my block target.

REDDOG · May 10, 2010

LAST EDITED ON May-10-10 AT 02:14PM (MST)[p]

I no longer trust expandables. I had (what I believe happened) a spitfire hit a quartering away pronghorn, and fail to open/cut on impact. It gave him a hair cut as it slid along the side of him, finally sticking him in the neck (he was turning)..after testing qtring away shots on fairly hard surface targets, I was able to duplicate several deflections with expandables, while fixed blades stuck every time...use what you want, I loved them up until that incident..whether I'm correct in what happened or not, such things leave an impression.

I've been using wac'ems ever since, I really like them so far.

westelkman · May 10, 2010

I don't like the "Kerplunk" and violent animal reactions with Mech heads. Rarely even know they are hit with a coc head.

If you do use mech heads use a heavy arrow [like 500 gr] to pound them in there.

"In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences"
Robert Green Ingersoll