Trad Gang

Hi all,

Was just thinking the other day about the new STOS lineup that is coming out soonish (from all accounts) and I was thinking how the STOS head would look good in a 4 blade.

Your thoughts on the matter please.


ak.   :saywhat:

QuoteSTOS lineup that is coming out soonish

I think we are pushing a year now on those, I keep hearing soon soon. Anyways yeah I'd like to see them do a 4 blade.

A 4 blade head would be good.  When do you get your next break from the fun   :knothead:  ?

Al....here's a perspective from someone that's actually been killing animals with 4 blades for two and a half decades....and hope to be doing so 2 more decades from now.

I think a 4 blade STOS would be a great head...add another blade to a head that is already very well made and stout as an ox with a great angle of attack, and I think it would make a great hog head for sure....and would be good for other big game as well.

There's also a few new 3 blades on the market, and another one coming I hear, soooo....it aint all 2 blades that are coming out.....and, just because a new head does come out, doesn't mean the head of yesterday all of the sudden don't work. If that was the case the head of choice for me would have been out of production 30 years ago, but I keep dropping animals with them....yeah, a 4 blade.

So, Al,...yes, I think a 4 blade STOS would be a dandy head, and I would have no reservations using them on big game at all.  If you've got any pull...get it done and I'll be 1st in line to buy a couple dozen.

Jo-jo, mate in about three odd weeks brother. Freezer is empty too! I gotta get some folding stuff to you for the shafts as well...


Thanks for that Terry. I've always liked the STOS for what it is, a tough two blade head. Just had me thinking if you kept the same style head that is out now and just made it into a 4 blade head it'd have to sell? Why shoot... I'd by a stack for coming up with the idea!

I'll send over an email to the fine folks at STOS HQ and see what maybe on the cards?


ak.

I'm keen on the new, heavy STOS, too.

Great points, Terry. I've read with great interest threads on this topic, especially the one Guru started with such an innocent question! It seems there are many ace bowhunters out there on both sides of the fence, with anecdotes to back them up. I've got anecdotes going both ways. I've been a 2-blade enthusiast, but have also used 3-blades. There're a couple of Aussie pig-killing machines who use BW recurves in the mid-60s in poundage, and they swear by 3-blades even - especially - on the biggest boars. I can't argue with their success.

I really enjoy looking forward to trying out new heads, and many of the newer designs are certainly well thought out (unlike prior eras where most new designs turned out to be flawed).  Having said the above, my money is still on the big snuffer. If you have the steam and are shooting under 220 fps, the big snuffer is the best thing going for anything in north america. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Just my 2 cents

Yeah Al, and I'd like to see the bleeder not defeat the original purpose of the head....and have the bleeder the same angle of attack if possible.

Ben...I've just about gone exclusively to Wensel Woodsmans for hogs...as I don't have to worry about running into  large one with heavy shields and having to change arrows on the string to a different head.  They penetrate as good as a 2 blade, yet leave more blood on the ground....from my experience.

Al, Good for you on the time off bud...best of luck to you filling the freezer    :thumbsup:

Wow...another reminder that I've been shooting the wrong BH's for thirty years now....hard to believe I've actually killed anything with my old bad killing designed Zwickeys, WW, and Snuffers    ;)

I think a 4 blade Stos, like Terry said with the bleeder having the same angle of attack, would be a super broadhead Al

As far as the strength of the ABS heads...maybe this was a fluke, but the only one I've ever seen shot was snapped in half on a TX hog...I hope it was just a fluke....

I really like the bleeder blades that Zephyr makes and that are also used with Eclipse broadheads.  They are brittle and will snap or shear when a hard object is encountered and the rest of the broadhead will continue.  I have a couple of STOS heads at home.  I will see if I can cut a slot in the ferule with the dremel and put some of those bleeders in and see what it looks like.  If I can accomplish that I will post some pictures here.  I have only shot 2 animals with a 4 blade head, 1 Bison in Montana and 1 Basalt boar in Australia, but in both cases pentration was out the far side so using a 4 blade head didn't seem to be a hinderance.  If I make it back to Africa I will also be using 4 blades or 160 grain Snuffers this time.  Did'nt have any penetration problems there with Zephyr Sausquatch and Magnus 1 broadheads.  I think I definetly would have benefitted from a multiblade head on 2 of my animals.  Joseph

Okay, here is the pictures of a STOS with a bleeder blade installed,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/PICT0833.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/PICT0834.jpg)
I cut the slot in the ferule free hand using a dremel tool with a cutoff disc.  You would probably want to be a little more precise for hunting purposes to ensure that the bleeder ends up perpindicular to the main blade unlike this one but this is for display purposes only.  I think this would be a big improvement over a regular STOS.  Joseph

Very nice Joseph.  I too would like to see a "long, lean and mean" 4 blade head.

Thanks Joseph.....I'd wouldn't be afraid to use that head on any hog I came in contact with.

Great bomb-proof head and sleek penetraiting design....with the smaller bleeders to negate shaft pinch and leave a hole rather than a slit for better blood letting.

The slots I cut in this one extend down to the back edge of the bleeder blade.  I think it would be better to cut the slot farther forward so the bleeder came to a stop at the bottom of the slot.  A dremmel cut off disc is just the right thickness for the Zephyr bleeders and I don't think it would be hard to come up with a simple jig so you could cut the slot in the right place and properly aligned every time.

I used alot of the stos but I have a question,,,, I just recieved the 140gr stos 2-blades with the 42gr aluminum long adaptors and they don't fit together good or like they should (I've bought this same set-up in the past) with 3 of them wobbling so bad I couldn't get them to spin perfect????  I did spin test the adaptors while on the arrows and they looked perfect and its not them so I'm thinking its the STOS broadhead and something up with the ferral OR the tolerance is different now somehow with one or the other.

has anyone encountered this with any recent STOS broadheads???

I like it Joseph   :thumbsup:

I have also made up one with bleeders but have not used it yet.I for one would love a 4 blade model of the Stos.Great head but a little small for me.The added bleeders would be a great upgrade for us guys that prefer more cut.

Tajue 17, I have never mounted one on anything but a wood shaft but on the 2 I have the ferrules do not look as round as the ferrules on my Zephyrs, Snuffers, or Eclipse broadheads.  I know when wood gets hot it will soften and mold a little to the shape you are pushing it into.  Aluminium won't do that.

That franken-head looks right deadly. Might have to go that route.

Cheers Jo-Jo on the pics of the "Up armoured" STOS 4 blade. That is just what I'm talking about right there. I'll send this page to the crew over at STOS and see what comes of it.

No doubt they've already thought this plan through some but it's worth a try.


ak.

I've been a fan of the double bevel STOS for many years. Man do they slip through a critter!

I've hacked up a few like you Joseph but never killed anything with them. I used spare Simmons bleeders and some superglue gel to keep it from rocking around. I did have to slot the insert to get the bleeder in but with the right designed bleeder I think the STOS guys could do very well with it.

The most logical way to build it in the STOS is the punch out like the Zwickeys but I prefer a spring steel "Bear head" type bleeder.

Alex, remind me to give you one with a bleeder when you're here in June. Since I've switched to 300gr heads it's hard for me to get the STOS to that weight.

Thanks, Joe. I really like this idea. Hope it materializes. It'll probably materialize in my garage if Stos doesn't do it before August.

Good point in regards to to the Zwickeys and their bleeder blades JC... that would be a strong head right there.


ak.

Hi again all.

Well I emailed Todd from the STOS operation the other day and here is his reply (rather speedy too I might add, well done that man!) and I quote after his permission:


"Hello Al,

Yes, I agree with all of you about a 4 blade STOS.  Long, lean, with a nice brittle bleeder positioned so as to allow enough wood in the ferrule, would be awesome.  I have given it quite a bit of thought.  When we started with the MP (the new single bevel head), it was either going to be that or a 4 blade.  The problem is that it really takes a new die to do it right from the start (punch a slot for the bleeder).  We decided on the completely new single bevel head.  

I feel eventually we will have a 4 blade, but that is down the road a ways.

Keep em sharp.

Thanks.
Todd"

So... that sounds good but I had a question in regards to just what the bleeder blade would look like and again with Todd's permission here is his reply:

"The bottom line is that it is a good idea.  When it will happen I cannot say at this point.
Premature to say about design, but would make more sence to me to have a slot for a replaceable bleeder.  

I am always open to advice and suggestions from Traditional Bowhunters.

Take care.

Todd"


So there you have it...the good oil on the 4 blade situation from STOS. Myself I'd rather a solid 4 blade very much like the Zwickey over the slide in model with a small slit cut into the head.

Anyhow post away your thoughts on the matter.


ak.

I grew up using 4 blade bear b'heads and they sure did leave a good  blood trail. since going back to shooting Hills and pretty much using a back quiver i've been limited pretty much to two blade heads and can't complain about their performance. having said that last year i carried my arrows in a side quiver and used some three and four blades. best blood trail went to a three blade snuffer on a good sized hog, without offside penetration. not far behind was a zwickey w/bleeder blades...with complete offside penetration. give me a STOS with bleeder's and i'd be very interested.

cheers

ben

No word on when the single bevels will be ready?

I personally think they should have gone the other way with their decision and gone with the 4 bl. But SB's are all the rage now     :rolleyes:    

I think they'd be helping a lot more folks out with an easy to sharpen, replaceable bleeder,blood dumping, 4 bl....

My thoughts are that as more people start using sb's and find out they're not as easy to sharpen(for the majority,and folks not willing to buy and carry specialty sharpeners with them all the time), that a lot will be going back to a regular 'ol, time tested, easy to sharpen, db heads.

Just some thought's, we'll see how it plays out...

My thoughts exactly Curt... but I do understand the economics of his decision. The ferrule die is a very expensive proposition. A grind change is pretty cheap.

I agree 100% with Guru.The Stos is a great easy to sharpen head that would be super with the zwicky bleeders.There is enough broadhead makers jumping on the single bevel thing that those few that will use them have plenty of options when buying.The 4 blade Stos would fill a spot for a great penitrating head with some extra cut to  put more blood on the ground.It would most likly be the only head that would make me comfortable changing from my larger Simmons.  :)

Thanks for the updates...No worries,  4 blades Zwickeys and WWs are certainly getting the job done for me.  I still think that would be a dandy head for most any North American game.

QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
My thoughts exactly Curt... but I do understand the economics of his decision. The ferrule die is a very expensive proposition. A grind change is pretty cheap.

I thought the same thing. I seem to remember someone telling me that dies can cost something like $20k(?). That's a lot of broadheads just to break even.

But it shure would be a nasty little 4-blade head.   :eek:

QuoteI thought the same thing. I seem to remember someone telling me that dies can cost something like $20k(?). That's a lot of broadheads just to break even.

I looked into having high speed injection molds made one time for a fly fishing idea I had. I was quoted 10K-15K, there went that idea. And that was 12+ years ago. Couple years later someone else did it.
 

If and when STOS do a solid 4 blade like the Zwicky I'll give up all other heads...peroid! I'd even offer to test and sell back home in Aussie.


ak.

any new about STOS???

i like it, iv been shooting the Magnus 1 4 blade and love them for softer game like deer and pigs, a 4 blade stos would be a great head!

Yes I would like to see how they look,if they are been delivered.The slim design makes them for great penetration and the bleaders just add more blood trail and tissue damage.

For what it's worth... I made up a couple of wildcat STOS heads with a Magnus bleeder this past year.

Looks really cool and though not a great test I did put one through the ribs of a doe whitetail. Thought I'd missed at first.
I guess that's not the best scenario for a broadhead test, but the arrow did go through real fast.

Blood trail was acceptable even though my light went dead in the middle of tracking.

If I was shooting lighter equipment, it would be a natural choice for me. Not to hard to make them either.

Wouldn't the Zwickey No Mercy 4 blade have similar dimensions to a STOS 4 blade? Seems like pretty much the same thing to me, albeit lower quality steel perhaps.

Craig

I suppose that if the original thread starter had asked for "substitutes" for the STOS the Zwickey would be a candidate.

However, that is not what this thread is about.