I wrote an article for my website about broadhead choices that I want to share here.
I'm not even going to try to cover all of the issues regarding broadheads. This is geared towards the bowhunter who is still asking questions about broadheads, and/or the bowhunter who might not even know what questions to ask concerning broadheads. This is a quick "talking points" guide to introduce people to the basic lines of thought. There is a LOT of information available on this website and others. Here is a little bit more...
You can read the full article at this link, I have provided pictures and two examples of common concerns that aren't always true.
http://rmsgear.com/broadhead_debate.html
To sum up the article - based on the first hand testimonies of the many, many traditional bowhunters that I speak with on a daily basis, there is a place for big three blade broadheads and narrow two blade broadheads depending on the type of game being hunted and the set up being used. I speak about the positives and negatives of different styles of broadheads, marginal hits, broadhead integrity, arrow fight, etc. I tried to cover the minimum amount of information that a bowhunter should be familiar with.
I also give a very general rules of thumb regarding bow speed and arrow weight. Obviously there are thousands of successful examples outside of "my" rules of thumb - but it's a starting place for an inexperienced bowhunter, and just one more opinion.
Personally I don't take a hard stand on what broadheads are the "best". I don't believe that is an answerable question since random variables are constantly thrown into the equation. But I do believe that there are characteristics that make a broadhead "better", be it a two, three or four blade.
Great job! Thanks for taking the time to post that!
Looks like you covered it!
Thanks ! Great read.
Thanks, Tommy.
Excellent article. Solid thinking. I am coming from a long bowhunting experience with compounds and everything is upside down!
I have just discovered that my arrows are way too light, not because they don't shoot well, but because they won't shoot well carrying the broadheads I should be shooting.
I intend to buy both 2- and 3-blades and see which flies best.
looks like you pretty much covered it all. Thank you for sharing that.
Well done!!!
Well done! They need to post this up to remind those who quetion thier broadheads or for the new guys.I think you have done a wonderful job of covering it all.
A good read, very well thought out.
Lots of experience and wisdom in your article Tommy. I agree.....this ought to be stickied or archived for everybody. Thanks for taking the time to put all these considerations together in one well written article.
Nice job. Going to forward to a friend who just got his first trad bow.
Good information, thanks for sharing.
Good read. Not too technical, but still manages to get the important info across. It actually had me critically evaluating my arrow/broadhead setup.
I wish I would have been able to read something like this years ago when I first started. It would have saved me alot of money and fustration. I think you covered it extremely well in an unbiased manner. A very good read - Thank You
Great article Tommy! The arrows you guys have set up for me fly great! I'm comming in to have you set broadheads up now and hear this in person.
Very good. You covered it very well and made good points for each style head anybody that is getting into hunting or questioning there setup could really learn something.
I really enjoyed it. Very thorough!
Great read!! I like the pics and facts that go along with them.
BZ to you. Well done
Excellent article... thanks for posting the link
Great article, however I take exception on the recommendation for the speed range of a 550 gn arrow wt from 180 to 200 fps in order to recommend a 3 blade BH for elk sized game.
** Few bows can hit the nominal 190 fps at 9 gpp. –Not aware of any that can reach 195 -200 fps at 9 gpp. How was this part of the range substantiated? The few bows that qualify would need to have draw wts ~61#'s at 28. A typical bow would take ~65#@28 using a an 8.5 gpp arrow(550 gn) to reach the nominal 190 fps recommendation. From a lengthy list of bow speeds as reported by Blackie, the average of all bows recorded is ~184 fps at 9.0 gpp.
I have no idea what the recommendation should be, but find the previous recommendation clearly off the mark. Many who put faith in this recommendation, with ample fire power, will likely find them restricted to using a 2 blade BH or could end up having a very low gpp set-up in order to qualify. Several may qualify in the very lower part of the range but may lack confidence in choosing a 3 blade due to just exceeding and/or meeting the minimum recommended limits.
My intent is not to push 3 blade BH's, however they do deserve a little clearer and attainable yet lethal recommendation if one is to be provided.
good article, Thanks.
Note: In reference to my previous post
An average 45#@ 28 bow, shooting a 550 gn arrow may likely fall short of the 160 -180 fps 2 blade BH recommendation for elk. The shorter draw guys for sure would be well below the recommendation.
An average 50#@28 bow, shooting a 550 gn arrow will likely fall well below the nominal of the 160 -180 fps / 2 blade BH recommendation for elk. Many of the shorter draw guys may not qualify at all.
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
Great article, however I take exception on the recommendation for the speed range of a 550 gn arrow wt from 180 to 200 fps in order to recommend a 3 blade BH for elk sized game.
The last sentence in the paragraph that you pulled this from acknowledges that arrows well outside of my recommendation have proven their worth. I purposefully wrote that to acknowledge that my recommendation is not gospel and that so nobody would "take exception" with my recommendation. The next sentence acknowledges that there are those who disagree and that my advice errors on the side of caution.
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
An average 45#@ 28 bow, shooting a 550 gn arrow may likely fall short of the 160 -180 fps 2 blade BH recommendation for elk. The shorter draw guys for sure would be well below the recommendation.
I think you read this wrong.
I said that 160-180 is boarderline and that I
usually suggest a two blade for elk or larger. Usually...meaning sometimes I don't. As in times when other penetrating factors are present.
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
My intent is not to push 3 blade BH's, however they do deserve a little clearer and attainable yet lethal recommendation if one is to be provided.
160fps is pretty attainable. If you shoot 160fps with a 550gr arrow - set up with perfect arrow flight and weight forward, with a well built and solid three blade broadhead - then I think you have a deadly elk arrow. That would fall within my recommendation - which was very broad, very short, and purposefully vague.
Take it for what it's worth. Enjoy the 4th! :bigsmyl:
A great read - thanks!