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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Sean B on March 18, 2017, 03:26:00 PM

Title: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 18, 2017, 03:26:00 PM
What's your experience with STOS heads?i have half a dozen, I found them easy to sharpen, just haven't hunted with them yet.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Ryman Cat on March 18, 2017, 03:35:00 PM
Great head I use them and they are easy to sharpen. I recently bought some 160's haven't tested them on arrows yet though.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Terry Green on March 18, 2017, 03:50:00 PM
I have some....but never killed anything with them as I'm a die hard multiblade shooter....but they are bomb proof let me tell ya....
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: meathead on March 18, 2017, 04:49:00 PM
They are an awful good head. I have killed several deer, turkey and bears with them.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Orion on March 18, 2017, 06:01:00 PM
Very good head.  Easy to get very sharp with tru angle hones.  Not the only head I use; killed an elk and one deer with160 grain STOS.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 18, 2017, 06:13:00 PM
Thanks guys, that's what I was hoping to hear.  Won a pack at the BS banquet.  I want to use them this season and hopefully use them on a blacktail on Kodiak Island in October.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: MnFn on March 18, 2017, 07:54:00 PM
I have used them for one bear, one deer.
I thought they performed well. Complete pass through on the bear with a 53 lb. Blacktail recurve. Complete pass through on the buck with a 50 lb Liberty Chief.

I used a file to sharpen them, no problem at all.

160 grn in both instances.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: YORNOC on March 18, 2017, 08:47:00 PM
My favorite head. Tough as nails.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: fishone on March 18, 2017, 09:41:00 PM
I've shot a lot of deer with them. They are easy to sharpen and easy to tune.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 19, 2017, 07:07:00 AM
Great, my confidence is building!!
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Gooserbat on March 19, 2017, 02:01:00 PM
Good head.  I've killed with them.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Stumpkiller on March 19, 2017, 10:42:00 PM
One of my favorites.  I have taken five whitetail with STOS heads and have no complaints.  One head accounted for two deer.

Easy to sharpen and very rugged.  I switched to STOS when RibTek became unobtainable.

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2648.jpg)  

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/DSCN0667.jpg)
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Gun on March 19, 2017, 11:22:00 PM
Curled the tip on a rib with a young Bull Moose. Got another shot and hit shoulder blade. It curled too. He tipped over soon after. Just glad it wash't a big one. Both were bevel tanto style tip I shaped.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on March 20, 2017, 07:14:00 AM
Hey Sean. I only shot one deer with them. It was my first and only deer with a bow.  I hit the spine with a 45 lb bow and it penetrated completely.  As others said, very easy to sharpen.
I wish I was going with you to Kodak.  That trip looks to be a good one.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: mec lineman on March 20, 2017, 07:16:00 AM
Easy to sharpen,a tad soft. Doesnt think with whitetails it matters though.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Biggamefish on March 20, 2017, 08:40:00 AM
S.T.O.S. I was told it means Slicker Than Owl SH#@.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Russ Clagett on March 20, 2017, 09:50:00 AM
I started with STOS and accidentally missed my target once...the arrow went past the target and shot thru my burn barrel....my metal burn barrel.

It went thru the first side and was sticking out the back of the back side....

No tip damage.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: lone hunter on March 20, 2017, 10:26:00 AM
Shot four elk, a bear, 3 deer and two turkeys with them. Sliced ribs going in and coming out on last bull. Only carry STOS and VPA 3-blade. No complaints.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Missouri Sherpa on March 20, 2017, 11:21:00 AM
I have killed several elk, hogs and deer with STOS heads.   I liked them enough I bought a few dozen of them, probably a lifetime supply for me.  Don't plan to change anytime soon.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: johnnyk71 on March 20, 2017, 11:48:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by MnFn:
I have used them for one bear, one deer.
I thought they performed well. Complete pass through on the bear with a 53 lb. Blacktail recurve. Complete pass through on the buck with a 50 lb Liberty Chief.

I used a file to sharpen them, no problem at all.

160 grn in both instances.
funny, you have two of the same bows I do. Blacktail and Liberty.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sawpilot 75 on March 20, 2017, 12:47:00 PM
That's a good flying head. I had heard they are not in production anymore?
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: SlowBowinMO on March 20, 2017, 01:56:00 PM
The STOS were a very good head.  I still have some I am using on a very low poundage bow set up.

Always flew great and had an exceptional grind, one of the few "traditional" style heads that were pretty much at the touch up stage out of the pack.

The 130's had a reputation for curling on a hard hit.  Application of a tanto helped tremendously but when we carried them the 160 was by far the favorite.

Closest thing to a STOS now is the Zwickey No Mercy.  They cost less but don't have as good of grind out of the pack, and of course are only available at 130 grains, but unlike STOS single bevel and a four blade option are available.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 20, 2017, 06:00:00 PM
Great, from the feed back I'm feeling pretty comfortable taking them into the woods. I've shot Woodsmans since they came out and killed a bunch with them, including 2 bears and 3 whitetail with the same head. But as I've decreased my weight to 55# I figured I'd play around with some 2 blades.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: J-dog on March 21, 2017, 07:37:00 PM
No worries slinging WWs with 55?
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 21, 2017, 08:08:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by J-dog:
No worries slinging WWs with 55?
No, not at all, but I figured I'd play around with the two blades.  Especially if my draw weight will keep getting lighter.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: BowHunterGA on March 22, 2017, 03:33:00 PM
I have taken several whitetails and at least one hog with them. Good head, easy to sharpen and I have found them to be pretty durable.  I usually prefer a wider head like the Magnus Classic but in 3:1 ration heads I have two favorites. Grizzly and STOS.

Here is a video of a whitetail from 2016 I shot with a STOS. Sorry for the quality but POV cameras suck in low light. Recovery was around 40 yards.

 https://vimeo.com/186432369
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Sean B on March 22, 2017, 05:20:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by BowHunterGA:
I have taken several whitetails and at least one hog with them. Good head, easy to sharpen and I have found them to be pretty durable.  I usually prefer a wider head like the Magnus Classic but in 3:1 ration heads I have two favorites. Grizzly and STOS.

Here is a video of a whitetail from 2017 I shot with a STOS. Sorry for the quality but POV cameras suck in low light. Recovery was around 40 yards.

 https://vimeo.com/186432369  
Cool video!!  Thanks. I'm feeling pretty comfortable about using them.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: MEsquivel on March 27, 2017, 01:16:00 PM
Its weird that everyone says they're easy to sharpen. I bought a pack a couple of years ago and I dont use them much since I can't get them as sharp as I like. They are incredibly tough, even with a file. I was thinking on getting a cheap belt sander just for this.
I really like the shape and the size for the 160's. They have excellent flight.
I just cant get them sharp enough.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on March 28, 2017, 07:23:00 AM
MEsquivel, I find myself a bit sharpening challenged. But on the STOS I was able to use a wheel or washer sharpening tool I think made by rada.  After about 15 strokes on each blade putting a little less pressure on each stroke, then stropping the head, I was able to get an edge that impressed me.
Title: Re: STOS
Post by: LostNation_Larry on March 28, 2017, 06:01:00 PM
Too bad STOS isn't in production anymore.  And I like to say they stand for Slice Thru the Other Side.