Expandable Broadheads

[washelkhunter]

I'd certainly like to give them a try before making a judgement.

I hear wolf season is open in Stevens county. No tag reqd.

[fair-chase]

Why would almost every pro out there be using some sort of mechanical broadhead if they didn't work?   

That's easy, because they get paid to!!!

[RadSav]

Its an old law written when the early expandables were unreliable. Early designs were weak and only forward opening. They required up to 30% of a leagal arrows energy to open, and had the tip reccest to far towards the bades causing them to cartwheel on quartering shots. Todays mechs are much better but still not on par with a good fixed blade. That being said I've seen plenty of fixed blades that are crap and only designed to seperate you from your wallet. State law says a 40# bow and a 300grn arrow is the minimum requirement and you won't see mechs here until that changes. Plus this is washington, land of big roosevelt elk, blacktail and mulies not german sheperd sized whitetail. The state wants you to build an arrow for when everything goes wrong, not for when everything goes right!

Wow, That saved me a bunch of typing.  Thank you

[Jonathan_S]

Its an old law written when the early expandables were unreliable. Early designs were weak and only forward opening. They required up to 30% of a leagal arrows energy to open, and had the tip reccest to far towards the bades causing them to cartwheel on quartering shots. Todays mechs are much better but still not on par with a good fixed blade. That being said I've seen plenty of fixed blades that are crap and only designed to seperate you from your wallet. State law says a 40# bow and a 300grn arrow is the minimum requirement and you won't see mechs here until that changes. Plus this is washington, land of big roosevelt elk, blacktail and mulies not german sheperd sized whitetail. The state wants you to build an arrow for when everything goes wrong, not for when everything goes right!

Wow, That saved me a bunch of typing.  Thank you

Aww, c'mon Rad!  I've been watching this thread, waiting for you to chime in!

[D-Rock425]

I'm a little disappointed myself.

[RadSav]

I would venture to say that if the Rage broadhead was available in the 80's they would be legal.  Punch Cutter, Puckett's Bloodbucket, Rocket and many other expandables of the day were so prone to failure the state was almost forced to make them illegal.

Aww, c'mon Rad!  I've been watching this thread, waiting for you to chime in!

Maybe I'll try to add something more substantial later   Got money to make right now!

[Jellymon]

Here's a guy that tested a bunch of heads for penetration, sharpness, durability, sharp before impact, and sharp after categories. Look where most of the expendables ended up.

Results- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AgJEvQwzfDRZdGxzdC15R0JIZDJGQ1J4bVpGV1pTWHc

Info- http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1790525

[Come Get Some]

Even with the new designs on the market, even though better than previous designs they will loose KE upon impact. 99% of the states that use them shoot small whiteTail deer. Although anything is possible as far as penetration the mechanical broadhead would not be as effective on larger game such as elk,Moose. Some guys  already take shots that are marginal, Expandables would in my opinion increae the amount of wounded game in Washington.

[bullfisher]

Here's a guy that tested a bunch of heads for penetration, sharpness, durability, sharp before impact, and sharp after categories. Look where most of the expendables ended up.

Results- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AgJEvQwzfDRZdGxzdC15R0JIZDJGQ1J4bVpGV1pTWHc

Info- http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1790525

I remember that thread. It was a good test and yes the fixed out performed most of the mechs. My only problem with the test was the range and target position. I've never shot an animal inside of 20yds with its body perfectly broadside and parallel to where I was shooting. Set the target at 40yds at a slight angle and I think you would see even greater seperation in performance.

[Jellymon]

I believe he did those tests at 30yds. It would be interesting to throw a few variables in the mix.

[huntnnw]

I shoot Shuttle T's, but a Rage 2 blade is devastating! I have seen what these do

[bullfisher]

I believe he did those tests at 30yds. It would be interesting to throw a few variables in the mix.

20yds page 3.
I noticed in some of the test pics the gel is towards the front of the target box and some pics towards the rear, hard to get even results like that. I don't think the tester was prepared for that thread to blow up like that. I can tell you from experience,  testing archery equipment gets EXPENSIVE!

[irishevox]

The swacker isn't considered an expandable. b/c they are held together by a rubber band you can shoot them either way open or closed. on impact if in closed position, they open.

[D-Rock425]

The swacker isn't considered an expandable. b/c they are held together by a rubber band you can shoot them either way open or closed. on impact if in closed position, they open.

the swacker is an expandable.

[RadSav]

The swacker isn't considered an expandable. b/c they are held together by a rubber band you can shoot them either way open or closed. on impact if in closed position, they open.

Good luck getting a gamie to go along with that one