Swhacker Broadheads - Stay Away

[Jarhead Chase]

I used a Swhacker broadhead yesterday for the first time, and I hate them. I put a 100gr Swhacker on a 300 spine Ted Nugent Gold Tip at 10.1gpi cut to 30 inches and launched it from a Bowtech Instigator set at 65lbs. My shot was good and penetrated both lungs, but I am fairly certain the broadhead failed to open. She jumped in some brush about 40 yards away, and I went and checked my arrow. I found very little blood on the arrow, but I figured some of it must have come off when it skidded through the grass. I watched her come crashing out of the brush with a coyote in hot pursuit and just keep running. I couldn't get a second arrow in her, and she just kept going. My biggest problem was that there was absolutely no blood. When she ran by I could see where I had hit her, and it was just above the scapula. She should have been pouring blood if the broadhead had opened internally as designed. No such luck. I ended up not being able to track at all (deer shot at 6:15 am, searched until 10:30). Moral of the story, Swhacker broadheads will never be on my arrows again. Good luck all, and I hope this helps.

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[MtnMuley]

You definitely didn't double lung her then. Sounds like you found the "void". A field point will kill one with a doubly lung pass through.

[bowhunterforever]

You definitely didn't double lung her then. Sounds like you found the "void". A field point will kill one with a doubly lung pass through.

[Jarhead Chase]

You definitely didn't double lung her then. Sounds like you found the "void". A field point will kill one with a doubly lung pass through.

You are probably right. Judging by where it looked like the exit wound was, it looked like it should have been through both lungs. She was in a full sprint when I saw her, so I can't be entirely certain, but it looked good, and the shot felt good too. Even through the "void" I would expect some blood if the broadhead functions I would think. Or am I off on that? Honest question.

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[MtnMuley]

No arteries on main vessels to get much blood in the void, hence the name. Never seen one bleed much if any if hit there. Good thing is, the deer should be fine.

[Jarhead Chase]

Well I am happy about that then. Thanks for the info. Never had that happen.

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[biggfish]

If your going to stick with mechanicals, I've spent countless hours reading consumer reviews before picking grim reaper. I won't go near swhackers or g5 way to many failures to roll the dice. Rage and Grim Reaper had the best consumer reviews and in my opinion after watching product testing videos online reapers were the way to go. Most companies test their product on wood for penetration tests, Grim Reaper uses steel drums backed by wood boards and ballistic gel. They stand behind their product too.

[Jarhead Chase]

If your going to stick with mechanicals, I've spent countless hours reading consumer reviews before picking grim reaper. I won't go near swhackers or g5 way to many failures to roll the dice. Rage and Grim Reaper had the best consumer reviews and in my opinion after watching product testing videos online reapers were the way to go. Most companies test their product on wood for penetration tests, Grim Reaper uses steel drums backed by wood boards and ballistic gel. They stand behind their product too.

I think I am going to switch back to fixed blades. I like the idea of mechanicals, but I don't want failures to open.

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[solomtnhunter]

Ehhhh not of fan of swhackers either.  Tried em on turkeys once with little success.  Thing about mechanicals is some guys swear by em, while others had no luck.   I only trust Muzzys & Montecs.

[grundy53]

You definitely didn't double lung her then. Sounds like you found the "void". A field point will kill one with a doubly lung pass through.

Agreed

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[grundy53]

You definitely didn't double lung her then. Sounds like you found the "void". A field point will kill one with a doubly lung pass through.

You are probably right. Judging by where it looked like the exit wound was, it looked like it should have been through both lungs. She was in a full sprint when I saw her, so I can't be entirely certain, but it looked good, and the shot felt good too. Even through the "void" I would expect some blood if the broadhead functions I would think. Or am I off on that? Honest question.

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I hit a big whitetail buck in the "void" a couple years ago. 200 grain Accubond from my .300 Win Mag. Very little blood, luckily there was snow.  I tracked him for a long time. He went right back to chasing a doe.

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[rtspring]

One word.  SAVORA.  And never look back. 

[blacktailcody]

 

[Jarhead Chase]

I picked up some Muzzy MX-4's. I just need to get a chance to stick them into something.

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[Lucky1]

Schwacker worked good on this little buck!

[Jarhead Chase]

Schwacker worked good on this little buck!

Outstanding. I am jealous. I ate the last of my spike from last year a few days ago, and I am ready to fill the freezer back up.

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[Blacktail Sniper]

No arteries on main vessels to get much blood in the void, hence the name. Never seen one bleed much if any if hit there. Good thing is, the deer should be fine.

The coyote may have some influence on that...


Question: Was the head expanded properly when you recovered it?

[lokidog]

Having just had a high shot on a deer this season, you can double lung a deer and have little to no blood on the ground.  My deer ran fifty yards across a lawn and did not leave a drop of blood that I could find.  Once we did find some, it was still less than a half teaspoon. It completely filled the chest cavity, but stayed there.

Also, last year, I hit a deer in about the same location as you did, although I was shooting uphill a little.  I never found the deer but there was some blood for 80-100 yards. I think I hit above the lungs, but I will likely never know.

[Thefisherman83]

I've had good luck with the Rage Hypodermic's.  You could follow the blood trail by smell if you needed to lol.  Watched 2 of the 3 critters I hit with em die within a few yds.  My bull this year only went about 10 yds and face planted. 

[Jarhead Chase]

No arteries on main vessels to get much blood in the void, hence the name. Never seen one bleed much if any if hit there. Good thing is, the deer should be fine.

The coyote may have some influence on that...


Question: Was the head expanded properly when you recovered it?

It was. It was a clean pass through, so the arrow had also hit the ground after.

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[Jarhead Chase]

I've had good luck with the Rage Hypodermic's.  You could follow the blood trail by smell if you needed to lol.  Watched 2 of the 3 critters I hit with em die within a few yds.  My bull this year only went about 10 yds and face planted.

I had a few teammates with TFO tell me the same. Those Hypodermics are apparently amazing.

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[TheHunt]

Here is the problem with expandables in the West side. You shot through a very little brush and the expandable will open up and get hooked on another twig.  I tried it on a target and if you have any expandable you should never shoot through brush. 

I have two types of broad heads in my quiver...
The farthest two arrows in the quivers are expandable's
The three nearest are Shuttle T-Locks which will blow through brush. 

I do this for the simple reason of blood trail...  I love the expandable blood trails.  Most animals do not go beyond 75 yards after you put an arrow in their lungs.  But it is nice to follow a blood trail quickly to the animal. 

Anyway, Just my opinion... 

[Jarhead Chase]

Here is the problem with expandables in the West side. You shot through a very little brush and the expandable will open up and get hooked on another twig.  I tried it on a target and if you have any expandable you should never shoot through brush. 

I have two types of broad heads in my quiver...
The farthest two arrows in the quivers are expandable's
The three nearest are Shuttle T-Locks which will blow through brush. 

I do this for the simple reason of blood trail...  I love the expandable blood trails.  Most animals do not go beyond 75 yards after you put an arrow in their lungs.  But it is nice to follow a blood trail quickly to the animal. 

Anyway, Just my opinion...

I have considered doing the same thing. This is only my second season bow hunting, so there has been a steep learning curve. It is highly addictive, but can be equally frustrating. I already can't wait to launch more arrows. My current goal is to get good enough with my Fred Bear Montana longbow to use that regularly. I think another season or two will pass using my compound before that becomes an option.

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[Duckslayer89]

Here is the problem with expandables in the West side. You shot through a very little brush and the expandable will open up and get hooked on another twig.  I tried it on a target and if you have any expandable you should never shoot through brush. 

I have two types of broad heads in my quiver...
The farthest two arrows in the quivers are expandable's
The three nearest are Shuttle T-Locks which will blow through brush. 

I do this for the simple reason of blood trail...  I love the expandable blood trails.  Most animals do not go beyond 75 yards after you put an arrow in their lungs.  But it is nice to follow a blood trail quickly to the animal. 

Anyway, Just my opinion...

IMO no arrow should ever go through brush. Slows it down and will kick it every which way possible with a slight brush of a branch. No way.

[Lucky1]

Here is the problem with expandables in the West side. You shot through a very little brush and the expandable will open up and get hooked on another twig.  I tried it on a target and if you have any expandable you should never shoot through brush. 

I have two types of broad heads in my quiver...
The farthest two arrows in the quivers are expandable's
The three nearest are Shuttle T-Locks which will blow through brush. 

I do this for the simple reason of blood trail...  I love the expandable blood trails.  Most animals do not go beyond 75 yards after you put an arrow in their lungs.  But it is nice to follow a blood trail quickly to the animal. 

Anyway, Just my opinion...

I do the same thing. I have two Shuttle T Locks, two schwacker, and a rubber blunt for stump shooting and grouse. I will use the shuttle Ts on elk.

[TheHunt]

Here is the problem with expandables in the West side. You shot through a very little brush and the expandable will open up and get hooked on another twig.  I tried it on a target and if you have any expandable you should never shoot through brush. 

I have two types of broad heads in my quiver...
The farthest two arrows in the quivers are expandable's
The three nearest are Shuttle T-Locks which will blow through brush. 

I do this for the simple reason of blood trail...  I love the expandable blood trails.  Most animals do not go beyond 75 yards after you put an arrow in their lungs.  But it is nice to follow a blood trail quickly to the animal. 

Anyway, Just my opinion...

IMO no arrow should ever go through brush. Slows it down and will kick it every which way possible with a slight brush of a branch. No way.

I understand your comment is your opinion.  My comment is my opinion and my results as I have killed at least three elk blowing through brush to hit a kill shot on an elk.  I have tested the arrow on different types of brush.  If the brush are ferns...  No deflection within 3 feet of the target.  Huckleberry bush at most a 3 inch deflection.  Still worth accurate...   If it is thick brush and dead fur bows...  I don't take the shot.  If in Jack Firs that is 12 feet high the deflection is about 3 - 4 inch. 

If your target is the lungs of an elk ...  That is a huge target.  Those deflections are not going to amount to enough to wound the elk in my opinion using fix blades like Shuttle T-Locks.  I would never use an expandable through any type of brush.  That is why I have the expandables and the fix blades in my quiver.

Again this is my opinion and how I do it...

[bowtechian]

One word.  SAVORA.  And never look back.

Yes sir well put o only SAVORA'S go in my quiver

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[Lucky1]

Schwacker worked good on this little buck too. The shot hit high but caught the top of both lungs. DRT.
I am still ambivalent about whether I would shoot an elk with a schwacker.

[E35alex]

Shot a doe at 20 yards with the Swhacker 100g. Made it about 15 yards before expiring. I'm sold.

[Come Get Some]

You can kill most anything with a sharp stick if it is placed in the right spot. I shoot Shuttle T broad heads. They go clear thru both shoulders of elk and keep going. No blade damage and fly like a field point. The entrance hole is huge and what ever you hit sprays blood immediately if hit in the vitals. I don't believe in expandable s , especially for large animals. You can never completely be sure the animal wont duck,step or flinch on the shot. Anything that has to mechanically open will take away from the delivered kinetic energy worsening penetration. I have seen it many time s from other hunters trying to take down large game. It can be done but in MY OPINION not a high percentage option.