What's the deal with broadheads

Hello,

Picked up a Hoyt Powermax the other day. It's been about 10 years since I shot archery and I'm curious what kind of broadheads you guys are using? I'm taking this year to get back into the game but will be putting in for tags next year. Any help in what to look for or what to research is much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

The most important thing about broadheads, isn't the broadhead. Most will get the job done, some won't. The best way to make sure a broadhead does it's job is to make sure your bow is tuned. And I don't mean the typical paper tune a lot of shops will perform on initial set up. I mean walk back tuning, yoke tuning, etc. Make sure the arrow is flying perfectly straight. And know mechanical broadheads are NOT a substitute for tuning a bow. I shoot mechanicals. I also shoot Slick Trick 100gr Standard. Couple others to try, VPA, Magnus Stinger 2 Blade (my son shoots those). I do like the Slick Tricks, solid construction, scary sharp blades. The VPA's are nice as they are machined from one piece and can be easily resharpened.

Again, tuning is the key to broadhead performance.

 

Some guys like mech. broadheads I have friends that use them and say the shoot great, but they have also had malfunctions that resulted in injured game or animals we had to track the next day that wind up being coyote food.
I use fixed broadheads i always know they are gong to work. i make sure they are razor sharp. Practice with the same arrows and broadheads you are going to hunt with. Make sure your bow is tuned and your sighted in with your hunting arrows. Shoot alot you have to be confident you will make the shot or you don't belong out there yet.

 

Thanks for the reply's! Definitely a good stating point and everything you guys have said reiterates what I have been reading. I take no enjoyment from injuring an animal so I agree with you that confidence in the shot is a must.

I've been reading mixed reviews on mechanical broadheads but I'm sure there are also people who are brand loyal. Is the flight of the arrow any different vs a fixed? Also, when shooting into those rubber targets, about how often do you sharpen the blades?

 

I think most broadheads come with practice blades you can change out..

 

Most (if not all) issues with current mechanicals on the market stem not from the head itself, but shot choice, placement, and poor tuning. I shot Rocket Sidewinders for year and killed a ton of deer with them. That was my go to broadhead. I switched to Slick Tricks in 2011 when Rocket's quality went to sh!t. My current choice of broadheads are Slick Tricks and Wasp Jak-Hammers. With a well tuned bow there is no difference between fixed or mechanical. My bows shoot fixed and mech's out to fifty yards (length of my back yard) POI is the same for field points and broadheads. Read up all you can on tuning, find a good pro shop that will spend time with you tuning your bow.

As far as shooting into 3D targets, I usually set aside several heads for practice. With mech's just use some dental floss to tie the blades down.

 

i have a set of broadheads i use for practice and a set for hunting. some have replacement blades so you can swap them out. My broadheads don't shoot the same as field points so my bow is sighted in for broadheads the field points hit a little high when i shoot them. I shoot often and now where to hold for field points

 

Depends on what state you live in also mechanical broadheads can be illegal. Such as in Idaho, so I use Muzzy broadheads Ive killed deer and I killed on cow elk with them. Again shot placement is key. The elk cow ran about 20yds and expired.

 

The same broadheads you used 10 years ago still work. Nothing has drastically changed except the price tags.

I still use some 30 year old wasp broadheads on one of my bows. Found some in closeout at a store so almost a lifetime supply considering the ones I already had back in the 80's.

I use Muzzy 4 blade on some other setups.100's and 130's.
I use mechs on a couple of other bows..they had those 10 years ago hell the ones I'm still using are at least 12 years old.

Man I should get rid of some bows..

 

I took my Mathews bow to get it restrung a while back and the guy says, thats a nice OLDER bow...lol its maybe 8 or 9 yrs old...I bought it brand new and its still killing stuff. Although I didnt kill anything last year with it.

 

I shoot and OLDER bow too!!! Mathews DXT. The new bows are crazy expensive too. No need for the latest and greatest. Just shoot often and take good shots. I know a few guys with bows that were 2k and still haven't got a single deer with them. I'm not buying a new bow unless mine breaks!

 

My "newest" bow is a 2006 Mathews LX. 62#, 28-1/2" draw, smooth as can be, and a tack driver. Fits me like a glove. My backup bow is a 2000 Mathews Feathermax. No quite as smooth as the LX, but light, fast, and bad medicine on whitetails. Was looking at the new Elites....but with needing new tires on my Tacoma, tires for the wifey's Tribute and a water heater. Discretionary $$ is a little short.

 

Even if this one breaks which I doubt since I take good care of it. Im not paying 2K for a bow...I saw a bowtech with a $1200 price tag and just laughed. I think with everything my bow was around $850 at the highest.

Thats the funny thing some of these amateur guys think a 2K bow will help them shoot better.

 

I've been lookin for another DXT in good condition just in case something happens to mine. I know my bow so well I wouldn't think of getting rid of it. I think I would use my recurve for my primary bow if my DXT.

 

Another OLDER BOW brother. Welcome!
I shot a bunch of new bows at the outdoor show. IMO they're not worth the money.

 

apparently my 2009 bow is "older" now...lol It shoots great for me and still lethal.

 

mine too bro! Hahahaha I wonder how many guys on here shoot "OLDER BOWS" hahahaha

 

I havent even shot it since I put a new string on it Im thinking about popping a nice doe this season then get a second tag and get a big buck during rifle season.

 

that sounds like a good plan!

 

I went out during Elk season a couple times but didnt see anything. I had a bobcat I think growl at me right at dusk and spooked a few deer in the area. I know they didnt wind me because it was going the opposite direction of where the deer were.