Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: Jordanskylery on August 13, 2012, 03:14:46 AM

Title: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: Jordanskylery on August 13, 2012, 03:14:46 AM: Just wondering what everyones favorite choice for broad heads are for deer and elk?

In the past I have been shooting 100 grain Montec G5 1 1/8". Only took deer with them. They are very durable and sharp but I was wondering if there is a better choice for elk. I know any broad head will kill an animal with a well placed shot.

Also I like the idea of having the largest cutting surface as possible. Any thoughts on negatives of using a larger broad head? And from what I've seen 1 3/16" is the largest fixed blade I can find. Is this the biggest one made?

Thanks
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: RadSav on August 13, 2012, 03:55:07 AM: G5 Striker Magnum is 1.5". There are a number of heads out there that are 1.25"

Takes a good bit of fletching to get most of those large heads to fly well under all weather conditions.

First order of business regardless of what animal you are shooting is to hit them in the right spot. Smaller heads make that task easier in most cases. Minimum legal size is still sizeably larger than the bore of a 10 gauge shotgun. So the industry standard of 1.125" really is quite large. Combine this with the ease of achieving good flight and their great penetration characteristics they are fine choices. As long as they are kept super SHARP!!!

Shoot a head you feel confident in and can keep sharper than scaple sharp. If that is 1" in diameter or 1.5" in diameter you be the judge.

Myself, over the past 25+ years, I have shot many animals with 1.5", 1.375", 1.25", 1.187", 1.125", 1" and .875", two, three, four and five blades. Except for a few failures with two blade designs I have seen no over whelming evidence for one over the other in regards to distance of recovery. Though even in the days of shooting 80# and heavy 2219's the 1.5" heads were a challenge to get to fly well in all weather conditions. And penetration often left me disappointed.

Your most reliable heads, in my opinion, will be those between 1" and 1.187". My exception being in the traditional two blade configuration. In that scenario I have seen my best results with the 1.375" Zwickey Black Diamond Delta.
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: huntnnw on August 13, 2012, 04:34:36 AM: I tend to stay on the smaller diameter end on larger game, because you will get better penetration. I also would be more worried about shooting your chosen head well, placement and sharp blades! I use the Shuttle T heads and love them
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: Button Nubbs on August 13, 2012, 04:39:57 AM: Shuttle-t and slick tricks seem to get the nod from most guys. Of course you have some that like wasp too. :chuckle: magnus has a lifetime warranty which is kinda cool. I've shot animals with slick tricks and shuttle-t's. I had a blade break on a slick trick on my elk last year. I have seen quite a few animals shot with shuttle-t's and none of them went over 100 yards. They do damage period.
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: RadSav on August 13, 2012, 05:23:39 AM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on August 13, 2012, 04:39:57 AM
I had a blade break on a slick trick on my elk last year. I have seen quite a few animals shot with shuttle-t's and none of them went over 100 yards. They do damage period.

It's a balancing game with stainless blades between hard enough to hold an edge well and soft enough to avoid being brittle. Slick Trick has walked that edge quite well. That is the first I've heard of a blade breakage with them.

If I have an animal travel over 60 yards I consider it a shot or broadhead failure. I hear guys all the time say, "I shot my elk through both lungs and he only went 150 yards and was done". If I shot an elk through both lungs and it went 100 yards I would never shoot that broadhead again - period. Not sure if I have ever shot an elk through both lungs that went more than 50. Make a bad shot and they can be extremely tough. Take out both lungs and it always amazes me how fast they go down. Regardless of broadhead size.
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: windygorge on August 13, 2012, 05:25:29 AM: here we go again. opening a thread like this on a forum like this becomes as vicious as a political debate.. :chuckle:

i agree as usual with what rad says. he's the arrow king :tup:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 13, 2012, 05:59:09 AM: :chuckle: I am a wake now after hiking my butt off yesterday but this whole broadhead thing is never going to end ... I will admit that Radsav does know his *censored* about broaheads and arrows ...I have posted up my success with Wasp many of time sand the only reason is ,is because I have used them since I was twelve and now I am now 45 ...So do the math :dunno: :chuckle: I think I posted around 30 kill shots ( ARROWS I RETRIEVED ) and not one broken blade or a blade missing ....Thats not evening counting my Dad or my brother ...well over 100 kill shots using Wasp ... This is why I whorship them so much and now they came out with the Boss and they flat out lay some sheet out ...Slick Trick is close to the same design and i may someday try them ...like i said one other time I hunted with a recurve most of my younger days and it was wooden arrows and the old bear hear with a bleeder blade and I had no trouble killing anything ...Just like many of us aged bowhunters ...its all good ...shoot what you want until you feel it is not for you and keep going until you figure out whats best for you...i am just try to save you time and money :dunno: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: THATS ALL ! :tup:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: RadSav on August 13, 2012, 06:08:55 AM: BOWHUNTER45 - I'm going to make you switch this next year after I complete Del Delmastro's new signature head. We will be finalizing the design in WY antelope camp this next week. The aluminum ferruled version will be very similar to the Boss, but with the Madman's twist. The Titanium version is already anchored down and it is way cool! Heck, I might even have to shoot it :tup:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 13, 2012, 06:16:12 AM: pLEASE kill me something before I go nutz :chuckle: :chuckle: I will try anything once ...but whats that saying ?? Once you go black you never go back !! :chuckle: OUPS !
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: RadSav on August 13, 2012, 06:21:12 AM: Quote from: BOWHUNTER45 on August 13, 2012, 06:16:12 AM
pLEASE kill me something before I go nutz :chuckle: :chuckle: I will try anything once ...but whats that saying ?? Once you go black you never go back !! :chuckle: OUPS !

I know you were trying to say something. :dunno: What that was...I have absolutely no idea :chuckle:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: Battle Ready on August 19, 2012, 06:37:27 PM: I seen the mastros antelope kill....the head is a success it looks like it to me anyway...When RADSAV gets back..he will have pics to share ... :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: BowBender87 on August 19, 2012, 10:51:58 PM: muzzy 4-blade! :tup:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: windygorge on August 20, 2012, 05:02:45 AM: Quote from: Battle Ready on August 19, 2012, 06:37:27 PM
I seen the mastros antelope kill....the head is a success it looks like it to me anyway...When RADSAV gets back..he will have pics to share ... :IBCOOL:

nice :tup:
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: RadSav on August 20, 2012, 10:22:23 AM: Del is under contract w muzzy until 2013. So that was not a Savora kill. He used the 75 grain MX3 with our 38grain brass insert
Tried to post pic with my phone. No luck.
Title: Re: Preferences on broad heads
Post by: Battle Ready on August 20, 2012, 11:07:07 AM: oops...yah..sorry...muzzy kill. :bash: