Should I switch broadheads?

[shoota]

I've always used fixed 3 blade thunderheads. With all the new technology, I'm wondering wondering if I should try something new. Fixed or mechanical? I like the sound of the mechanicals, a 1.5-2 inch hole and more accurate, but is it true? I mostly hunt elk in Utah, so what broadheads would you suggest? Appreciate!

 

[Don_K]

If your having great results why switch?

 

[nochawk]

Stay with the Thunderheads.. Elk are tough..

save the mechanicals for deer and small game.

 

[hatrick]

I use 100 gr thunderheads and I'v killed bulls with them. Stay away from mechanicals for elk!!! They loose way to much energy when they expand and like the previous post mentioned... elk are tough-Hatrick

 

[CAelknuts]

I too shoot 100 gr. Thunderheads and have had excellent results with them. I don't understand why you want to consider going with something different. Keep in mind, a wider cutting diameter isn't necessarily better. The wider cutting diameter most often comes at the price of reduced penetration. You're much better off having an entry and EXIT hole to drop blood, than just an entry hole, even if it is a bit bigger. An elk with two holes in his chest is going to drop faster than an elk with one hole, in almost all cases.

You DO NOT need a wider cutting diameter than a 3 blade Thunderhead provides. If you've got them flying straight, and you're using sharp blades, you don't need anything else.

 

[upmuley]

I have used both and switched back to fixed blade. I like the SlickTricks the best.

 

[SLIVER]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-05-08 AT 12:44PM (MST)[p]I disagree, I enjoy using mechanicals for elk. I have killed 2 elk so far with the G5 Tekan II's The tekan is a rearward deploying mechanical head which takes a mere 3lbs of pressure to deploy. I think that it is 2008 and with all the new technological advances, why shouldn't our broadheads be advanced also. The only downside to these heads is that you would need to modify your quiver foam and make a bigger hole for these heads to fit into. Other than that, they have performed flawlessly. Complete pass through on both elk killed.

G5 for life
www.g5outdoors.com/#sec_tekan

}}-SLIVER-->

 

[WapitiBob]

NAP Spitfires have left the best blood trail of all broadheads I've used on Elk over the last 30 years.
That said, use what you are comfortable using. The internet is full of experts ready to tell you what's best for you.

 

[marley]

I have killed 3 elk with 100 grain spitfires. I always think it kind of funny when everyone starts ranting about the loss of penetration with mechanical broadheads. My first elk was at 10 yards quartering toward me, shot him in front of the left shoulder and the broadhead was hanging 6 inches out of him just in front of the right HIND leg. Penetration? The 2nd and 3rd elk were both about 35 yards broadside and both were complete pass throughs. Again, I don't see a penetration problem in that. The farthest any of those elk ran after the shot was about 75 yards. The quartering toward me elk dropped in his tracks.

 

[NMPaul]

I use the grim reaper mechanicals and it killed my bull dead last year. Shot him on the 50 yard pin and he was quartering away. Watched him drop after 40 yards.

Placement 90% Broadhead 10%. imo

 

[averagejoehunter]

nmpaul,
right on the money!! shot placement is a huge factor.grim reaper hades is wicked nasty for elk it is the only broadhead i know of that has a razor edge on all edges!cuts forward and if it stays in.. all sufaces cut...nice! both styles will kill em' but what about a marginal hit? my money is on cut on(quality)cut onimpact fixed blades for elk..its like saying a 22-250 will kill an elk(which it would) but why play games? shoot them with .06' and up.don't forget heavy arrow set ups= penetration! remember all speed and light weight may shoot flatter but penetration will suffer i tend to lean on the slightly heavier side when it comes to big critters like elk..i like my arrow in and out..2 holes make wonerfull bloodtrails.also prctice with your broadheads alot of guys don't shoot their broadheads enough i buy 6 just to practice with..

my 2 coins...

ajoe

 

[Cookie2]

I just gotta weigh in on this one! Why is it that all the rage is in all these new broadheads?? I have been using thunderheads for my ENTIRE bowhunting career(21 years) and see absolutely NO reason to stop. If your broadhead of choice does the job, why does one feel the need to "try" others? IMO you're asking for headaches trying new heads....

 

[averagejoehunter]

cookie2
"if it ain't broke don't fix it" nicely said..as long as a guys heads are flying like darts and don't "come apart" stick with them. me ,i am a muzzy guy always have been'in and out" but i have to tell ya i like the sound of the reaper "hades" i just watched a dvd where most of the popular heads where shot from a "bow shooting machine" into various mediums..balistic gelitaine,gelitine with deer shoulder blades and that "hades" pot penetrated them all????
ajoe

 

[NMHUNTNUTTG]

I've used both but also feel that mechanicals really are not the best choice for elk. Yes I agree that they have made todays mechanical heads better than 10 years ago but the fact that they still reduce kenetic energy is the one main factor that leads me to stay away from them one bigger boned elk.

I changed broadheads after years of shooting. I shot Ultimate Steel 100s' for years and said I'd never change , but I did. Not for poor performance of the ultimate steel . I'm yet to kill a big game animal with the new heads but I have no worry about them either and they fly just like my field points, I just had to raise my bracket up....

 

[CAelknuts]

I always wonder why the mechanical shooters get so defensive when guys who prefer fixed blade heads talk about penetration. I've shot mechanicals, really just because I wanted to do something different. I've used them on deer and pronghorn hunts, and turkeys too. I still wouldn't use them on elk. That said, my hunting partner shoots NAP spitfire 100s and he's killed three bulls with them, and none of them have gone far. He shoots a heavy poundage bow that is fast, and the only reason he went to mechanicals was that he couldn't get good arrow flight with his satellite fixed heads. I suggested he tune his bow better, but he chose the other route and has had good results.

I prefer to tune the heck out of my bow and get my fixed blade heads to shoot very cleanly, and to hit the same point of impact as my field points, out to at least 50 yards. If you do that, you don't need the crutch of using anything else.

 

[pete37901]

Broad Heads are a personal choice but my personal choice is a broad head that does exactly as advertised. Well it does for me..Some my differ, I use 3 blade Liberty Heads. They fly like field points and have the deepest penetration I have ever used. But like I said they work for me. Shooting 30' draw at 71.8# 275 fps and haven't had any plaining problems and don't have to re-tune when switching from fields to broads. My groupings are the same.

 

[carbonnation]

All you need to know for broadheads is one name....WAC EM. If I am not mistaken, they are a local product (payson utah) I have shot them for the last 4-5 years. I've killed elk and muledeer. I've hit bones, made good shots, and bad shots and they have never let me down. I have had 100% pass threw and to top it all off they group with my field points. I don't have to touch my sights (I always checkem' anyway)

 

[Silentstalker]

I have shot Thunderheads all my life but switched last year to the G5 Montecs. I am sold. Cut on contact, sharp, and the result was the largest bull elk I have ever killed died in the shortest blood trail yet. Don't be afraid to change. How many of you are still shooting the same Bow from 10-15 years ago? IF I was to look at expandables, I would look at the Rage 2 blade, or the Tekan. Both seem to be solid heads! Good luck in your search!

Chad

 

[CAelknuts]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-07-08 AT 08:41AM (MST)[p]Well Chad, I am still shooting the same bow from more than ten years ago, and same broadheads too. I've thought about/wanted a new bow for a long time, but my old Browning ballistic 6T6 shoots very well so I just haven't gotten around to buying a new one yet. It's heavier than I'd like, and I get "only" 256 fps with it at 65 pounds, so I know it isn't as state of the art as some of the new short, light bows; but every time I shoot something with it, they still die quickly when I put a sharp broadhead in the right spot. Even with elk, I usually have to go find the arrow somewhere on the far side after it passed through.

 

[Silentstalker]

Point well taken Caelk,

The point I was trying to make was that over time things seem to improve, especially in archery/bowhunting. It never hurts to give up the slower heavier bows, or shoot a "better" "different" broadhead. Slow and old definately kills. Bottom line is hit the animal in the vitals and it is going down regardless of bow/broadhead type! Have a great day!

Chad

 

[2pointer]

I have always used 125 grain Thunderheads. I started using them when I was 17 years old. The first doe I ever shot with an arrow, I shot right through both shoulder blades. I recovered the arrow, sharpened the blades and killed the next years two point with the same arrow and broadhead.

I have had great success with Thunderheads and do not see myself trying something else. I would like to sometimes but I can not afford to try things out. What if I do not like them as much? I just waisted my money. I know I will not beat the performance of a Thunderhead.

2pointer

 

[DEVILTINE]

RAGE 2-BLADE.

 

[mbklmann]

if it aint broke, dont fix it

 

[coolarrow1]

I would stay with the mechanical broadheads..