Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: pintail_drake2004 on February 01, 2007, 05:24:00 PM
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Hey yall, I was wondering if any of you experts could help me out. After I lost my second deer using spitfire expandable broadheads I have decides to go back to fixed blades. This little incident cost my the buck of a lifetime :scared:
I used to shoot muzzy's but I never liked putting the damn things together. I seemed to always cut my thumb on the 3-blades. But I do like their 4-blade 125gr. I am use to shooting 100gr but that should not be a big difference. I was wondering about the G5 series of fixed blades? Are they worth the money; how do they shoot; do they hold up as well as the muzzy's?
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I have no experience with the G5, but I'd sure consider Muzzy's traditional offering... the Phantom. It's a good, solid, cut on contact, 4 blade in stainless steel that comes in a number of weights. :thumbsup:
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By the way guys... lets not go on a rant about expandables. That ain't cool here. :thumbsup:
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G5s aren't sharp out of the pack and if my sharpening guru Hoodoo Arrow has trouble sharpening them, I wouldnt have a prayer.....Charlie's recommendation is a good one.
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Fixed 2-blades, like the Zwickie, Eclipse, STOS and several other good ones, are as easy to sharpen as a knife and will provide the highest odds of pass-through on all game and in all circumstances. But I'm guessing you're using aluminum shafts? Some of these are available in screw-in. The best component head I used back in my aluminum days was the Thunderhead 125 3-blade. Killed deer real good, but had a couple of tragedies with elk. Whatever you switch to, it will be an improvement! Good luck.
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Mr. Drake,
I'll throw a twist into the discussion....I've used 160 grain Snuffers for years and years (20??) They don't wear out, but I loose one now and again on a shoot through.
Lobo in West Virginia
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I'll second Charlie on the Phantoms. They are one of two bh's that I really like. The other is the Razorcaps....a really great three blade head that is stainless, comes in weights from 100-200 in 25 grain increments and they take an edge second to none and are very tough. I shot two deer with them this year and neither of them made it more than 25 yards. My experience with the Phantom is similar but I do not think that they are as tough but I do not hesitate to use either if that is what is on the arrows I want to hunt with.
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Look at a G5 from the rear - 1 inch wide. Not worth shooting at any price.
Bowmania
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Magnus makes some good 2 and 4 blade heads. STOS or good. Ribtek is the best for the money. I personally like 145-160 grain heads or heavier.
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If your sharpening challenged go with the razorcaps, just change out the blade catridge, simply unsrew it off the ferrule.
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2CTS IN FOR BEAR RAZ. great ,solid head, and tough ! come in 100gr,125gr, and 145gr all screw-in heads ! Use as 2 bld. or 4 bld. with Raz. >>>------>RIVERWOLF
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howdy yall, im pintails bro...he aint sharping challenged...he could put a razor edge on a spoon !!!....i use the stinger magnus 2 blades, and although i have never been able to shoot a deer yet with them, on paper and targets, they are great. they take an edge easy and hold one for a long time.
i guess he is just gonna have to try a few out to see which he likes best....
thanks for yalls in-put
mallard and pintail
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I ain't sayin' nuthin' :biglaugh: :biglaugh: ...Van
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Van, you did. :saywhat:
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STOS
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Slicker Than Owl S#@!
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Razorcaps, Woodsman, or muzzy phantoms are all good heads. Even the G5's are good heads, mine were sharp out of the box. Easy to sharpen too. If you can sharpen a fixed 3 blade you can sharpen a G5 that will shave hair. I'm not a big fan of 2 blade heads. If the arrow blast through your target that's good enough for me. I think most would agree the blood trails from a 3 balde head are better than a 2 blade.
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I would have to vote for the zwikies 4 blades. I have had good luck with them and they are tough. I have yet to damage one. I wont spend more than four dollars on a broadhead. They can be tough to sharpen, but once you get the hang of it they get sharp and stay sharp with little effort.
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I too tried expandables as a part of my broadhead testing. Even though I was sure I understood them I felt it necessary to confirm the expected results. I however used a single cam bow to improve my chances. I was successful in my persuits but the results confirmed you've made a good decision to leave them behind.
There are a couple of choices for Traditional hunters that I think can never be viewed as a mistake. If you want three blade broadheads the woodsman or woodsman type heads are a great choice. In two blade designs I think you find Zwickey and Magnus proven designs.
I pretty much agree with all the other post though. Almost any fixed blade cut on impact traditional broadhead will work great on deer. pick one that floats your boat and keep them sharp. It's all grins after that!
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One clarification, only the 85 gr. Montec broadheads are the 1" diameter. The 125 and the 140 gr. have a diameter of 1 1/8".
I haven't used the G5 Montecs, but I have a friend who has done well with them. With a lower weight 50 recurve, has had success with whitetails and hogs. BTW, the ones I saw were sharp, and could be touched up like Woodsmans and Snuffers.
The one thing that seems to be less than optimum is the steep angle of approach on the blades, but then again the 125 and 140 gr. heads look better than the lighter ones.
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Magnus Stingers for a 100 grain head that is all you could need.
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If you want a screw in head that razor sharp out of the package go with the PHANTOMS as Charlie suggested. You can shoot em 2 bladed without the bleeders in or four bladed - bleeders in. They are super easy to resharpen with most cheap carbide type sharpeners and are one of the thickest and strongest stainless screw in heads around. If you want the best and money is no object look at the Silver Flames by German Kinetics - second to only the bullet!
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I've got G5's. Good solid heads. Sharp outta the package. You can buy the practice heads, so you don't shoot your hunting edges off.
The only thing I'll complain about is , if you buy their diamond sharpener; it changes the edge angle and takes a bit of patience to get them sharp again. BUT, when they get sharp , they stay sharp!
Only shot one deer with a 'wheelie' and G5's. 30 yards, pass thru one rib, still sharp...Hope it helps.
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for now i will be using screw in's but i will prolly switch when i go to all trad gear. I really appreciate the help yall. I was kinda afraid to try something new because there can be alot of money tied up in bh's.
Now the next question: would you go with 3 blades or 4 blades? I was planning on 4 blades but now im just not sure.
Thanks for all the Help
Pintail
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Mr Pin: no broadhead will work if you cannot hit the right place on the target. You lost a couple deer; where did you hit them; and why were they lost?
Sharp is the ticket with broadheads; if you buy a factory sharpened head and shoot it for practice- you HAVE to resharpen the head. Magnus are pretty easy heads to sharpen and more so: are Zwickey 2 blade heads.
The Zwickey 4 blade heads are worth the extra effort- but are they really 4 blade heads? The extra 2 blades made from the 2 blade zwickey to make it a 4 blade are just tabs- not enough alone to be a legal broadhead - where that is defined.
What the tabs do when sharpened: is they relieve preasure or tension on the arrow shaft; allowing better penetration; and cutting just a little more.
If I were you I would stick with 2 blade zwickeys- until you can sharpen them to shaving- in a very short time with confidance; and then going to 4 blade zwickeys... if by that time you think you need them. I do find they leave a little better blood trail than a 2 blade- on elk that travel further with the same size broadhead wound as a deer would have.
Other than that: I stick to 2 blade heads.
If your just hunting deer and bear; use a woodsman if you think you need more than 2 blades.
If you cannot sharpen blades - and you should practice with the broadhead you intend to shoot with- so you NEED to be able to sharpen the head- stick with easy to sharpen heads like the 2 blade zwickey......
You cannot make up for bad shots by only changing your broadheads.
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Mr. Krebs: I MISSED the does for stupid mistakes on my behalf (mis-judged distance, hit a twig, etc)not my equiptment, and Hit the buck broad side and stuck his shoulder blade when he stepped back trying to dodge the arrow. I do sharpen all of my blades to the point they will shave. This is the second deer i have lost using spitfires: the first was a doe in 2002, the broadhead opened on the inside which does not leave a good blood trail. I found her the next day in the combine with yotes cleaning up the bones (with my arrow still in her).
I have had several friends use spitfires and they work great until you hit a shoulder, then they are not strong enough to penetrate (in our experence). With the chisel or Cut on Contact, they would have blown thought he shoulder.
My bro used magnus stingers, and i am anxious to see how they hold up. I would prefer 4 blades, but I also like 3 blades.
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MR Pintail: no offense intended. On tv shows it is quite common to see a person with a compound draw back as the deer approaches; and then make a bleating noise when they are ready to shoot to make the deer stop- with traditional bows that's is pretty hard to do - and a rare thing- but can lead to bad shots. I was wondering if something like that had added to the misses- so that we could all learn from it.
I have made my share of bad shots; bad timing; twigs in the way and just excitement taking over logic. Not dissing you; and I apologise if you took it that way.
On deer the scapula is pretty tough; but on elk- its even worse! And elk leg bones will stop any broadhead.
I am curious as to why you want 4 or 3 blade heads? What makes you not consider 2 blade heads ?
:campfire:
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Mr Pintail, I am curious,are your friends,also shooting, Trad Bows with spitfires. this Question is not to debate spitfires or anthing elese. but I would like to know, before I post a suggestion. Thank You
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Dank: none of us (my bro and I included) shoot trad bows...yet. all compound Mostly PSE, and Matthews.
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Mr Krebs-no offence taken, I was just assuring yall that my missing was do to my faults not my equiptment. I hunt from a tree stand aprox 38' high, they have no clue Im even there, so making a noise to get them to stop when they are close just makes them look up, now grunting, bleating, etc from a distance has no ill effect.
As for the 3 or 4 blades I prefer a large entrance/exit hole: bigger hole = more blood = easier tracking.
When I do switch over to Trad gear this is going to be my biggest concern, but if I can get some bleeder blades for some 2 blades, that will do the trick, just something to allow a little bit more flow.
Any of yall use bleeder blades on you 2blades?
Pintail
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I recently "coached" a compound shooter into tuning his bow for, and sharpening his own 2 blade heads. He isn't looking back.
Dang it Charlie, my rant was all revved up too...;0)
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Pintail, after reading your thread a few times, I kind of thought that, and thats fine no problem with me. but I thought at first, you were talking about a Trad bow. And all of the suggestions above are good one if you were shooting Trad. I would stick with rocky mt, or muzzy, or the G5s with the compound. If you had a trad bow I had a few BHs I could of sent you to try. Good Luck JMO
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Dank, I appreciate that very much but I am just getting started on buiding my first bow now, and it wont be done till spring break im guessing. Then I will start on my arrows...thats going to be fun.
Pintail
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That's Great. again Good luck to you
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I just traded for some Magnus Mag I heads. 2 and 4 blade 160 grains. I think the hogs are in trouble, these things fly perfect and cut a great hole.
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i sure would like to hunt hogs. Before too long they are gonna be up here. They are already here around cairo IL. It would be a blast to hunt them w/ trad gear.