Oh and to the OP, if something just feels weird about expanding heads then why use them?
I just felt for some reason like they weren't reliable, but I heard some good things about them and figured I'd look into it.
It took me awhile to get past the VS part of this debate. I have long been a proponent of fixed blade heads and was initially not planning to shoot anything mechanical even after they became legal. So many articles,advertisements, and nearly every discussion around a campfire or forum is based around the question, Which one is better? In reality I think very few guys actually objectivly look at what they need out of a head and make a decision based on those needs. Rather than the "test" results that have been ran by "experts".
Heres my
, based on only my experiences and some (very) rudimentary tests done with several different heads, I ulitmately decided to go with both. 3-1 split Savora Ti-Con and Grim Reaper SS. The Savora spins stupid good, is razer sharp and flys like a dart. Attributes I found with a couple other heads as well including the Savora Van Dykes and my beloved stryker head. The blade locking system, blade angles, and they spun better out of package than my Stryker is what gave them the nod. It will be my go to elk and out of state head. The Reaper, is also very sharp, cuts a bit bigger hole and flys extremely well also. Not surprisingly perhaps, but I found that finding mechanicals that spun well out of package was a bit of a chore. I had heard good things about the Ulmer, but couldnt get my hands on any easily, so tried rage, schwacker, and reaper. the Reaper was by far the best spinning for me, but also surprisingly it didnt seem to affect flight the way that it can with fixed heads. I am shooting a decent FOC with some helical and not high speed, so getting most BH to fly is not usually tough perhaps thats why, or maybe it is because the lowere profile creates less drag. Not sure which. The reaper also seemed sharpest and more of a preference than anything I like 3 blade holes.
All of them impact with my field tips at 80 yards. The Reaper was noticeably less affected by cross wind at that range, but under forty it would take a strong wind to make the difference apparent. One big advantage that I see for the reaper(or mechanical in general) and dont hear talked about alot, is less exposed area on tight shots. I think on late season deer hunts this may be one of the main advantages! after setting up several targest in tight areas, slipping arrows past those pesky vine maple limbs was much easier with mechanical head. Although I never seem to see the one that gets me anyhow
Whatever you decide good luck!
