Is there a big difference? I've always liked my snuffers but I hear and read good things about the woodsmans as well. Has anyone field-tested both enough to see where one performs better than the other?
Thanks,
Rusty
I can tell you the woodsmans shoot quieter for me than snuffers. Their lower and longer profile should improve penetration in theory; a concern for me as I've dropped from 50# to 42# for whitetails.
I have never shot a snuffer but I really like the woodsman especially the new elite versions.
The Woodman should/will theoretically improve penetration and are possibly quieter in theory, but MY GOSH the holes those Snuffers leave!!! If you shoot a heavy enough bow, bigger is better IMO.
They're both very good broadheads. In the end, like everything else, it will just come down to personal preference.
In the 125gn range, I'll take Woodsmans over Snuffers any day.
I've had a coupleof failures with the light weight Snuffers, but never a one with Woodsmans (I'm talking the Originals here, not the new Elites)
For heavier points, I prefer the 160 Snuffer, but as awbowman says, you need a little more 'umph' behind it.
As far as 3-blade heads go, I think that for smaller, light skinned game (Whitetail, Black Bear & Antelope) the big Snuffers are tough to beat. For anything bigger I'd lean towards the Woodsman (Or one of it's derivitives)
Woodsman is a great broadhead for women and children. Men shoot Snuffers. LOL.
Bowmania
Shot the Snuffer SS for years and really like the heads. Did some penetration testing (shooting into phone books). All things equal, the WW Elite penetrated a full inch deeper.
I read that they're both being produced by Magnus? Not sure if there's any truth to that?
Shooting a 46# recurve, the Woodsman is now in my quiver. Better penetration with the same 3-blade hole.
I like them both for deer; penetration (WW) vs. larger hole, ie. better blood trail (Snuffer) - take your pick. I prefer the Snuffers on turkey though.
Snuffers are pretty studley.
My quiver for elk this fall will hold 2 VPA's and one Snuffer. If that bull is broadside the Snuffer is on the string...
I agree with Rob - if you want light heads I'd recommend the Woodsmans (Woodsmen?) - the Snuffers were designed to be the full sized heads (160 gr without adaptor) and to make them smaller they just grind more off. The 145 gr heads (without the adaptor) are OK, but I REALLY don't like the 125 grain Snuffers - they took too much metal off. I thought guys talking about failures with Snuffers were full of BS....'till I saw some of the 125's...Now I understand that. You won't wreck the 160's, the 125's, I ain't so sure.
As far as penetration goes...theories are great, but for whitetails, bears, etc. if you are at 50 lbs or above with a reasonably performing bow, penetration comparison is a non-issue, as far as I'm concerned. When I was in high school I shot thru several deer and bears with full sized Snuffers out of 52-53 lb bows, no problem. That was before "broadhead lethality tests" and the Internet though, so maybe the animals are tougher now.....
Ryan
FYI - Magnus was making both the Snuffer and original Woodsman - the Woodsman is made using Snuffer ferrules, wouldn't be possible without them. Magnus is no longer making them, it is an outfit in Louisiana or Mississippi now, I think.
Snuffer "SS"s and "Woodsman Elite" are nothing like the original heads of either species. A totally different animal.
Ryan
Ha! Ha! Ryan! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: The Internet has made the animals tougher good one!
I love both heads to be honest. I think every shot has many factors to take into account, so it's hard for me to compare penetration on game. I've shot through animals with both and vice versa. The one area I think the snuffer shines is wound size. The hole that thing leaves in an animal is ridiculous.
having hunted and shot hogs with both, i prefer the longer and leaner woodsman - better penetration for me with lighter holding weight bows (50-55#).
The Woodsman Elite is a VPA product. No doubt!! Have to say I think it's a cut above.
I was shooting Snuffers, and liked them a lot, up until this year. I'm going with the VPA 3 blade Terminators. I can't say enough about how easy the VPA heads sharpen. Just a few light strokes with a small file and they didn't just take off some arm hair, they shaved off a LOT of hair! I would either check out the Terminators or go with the Woodsman Elites, since they will be made with the same material and high standards as the Terminators. Just my two cents, which in today's economy is really only worth a half penny.
For me it totally boils down to bow weight and performance. A low poundage bow and short draw length I would go with the Woodsman. a bit more umph and I would shoot the big snuffer. Bigger the hole the better in my opinion.RC
Thanks all for the input. I'm currently shooting the 125 snuffers with 100gr inserts from my 50# Samick. The same broadheads with the "light" inserts out of my 55# hunter punched through deer well enough and hardly slowed through a jave at 12 yds (through the gristle behind the shoulder). I like the look and "beefyness" of the two. I was just thinking I might try the WWs when it comes time to replace my broadheads. I may give them a go.
Thanks again, Gang. As always, your info is invaluable. :thumbsup:
I am able to get the Snuffers sharper.......
I have killed a pile of stuff with the 160 Snuffers.
I have also killed stuff with the woodsman as well as with the woodsman elite. I will be trying VPAs this fall for moose.
The 160 Snuffer is still my favorite so far for black bears.
They are all very good for different setups for different game.
Unless you are shooting a really lightweight bow and you want the slimmest three blade, it's hard to go wrong with any of those quality broadheads.
I was down at Roger's last year with my wife visting and we went with him on the tour of the property. Showed me one of his spots where he arrowed a huge buck, probably live weight like 260 if memory serves me well. The deer only went about 40 to 50 yards a typical Rothhaar shot, then he told me because of a shoulder injury he was shootting like 42 lbs. I looked at him and said holy cow thats incredible, then I got that typical Rothhaar grin....yea I get it another hits the dirt.
I swear the man is magical.
George
Smaller broadheads for smaller bows.
Larger broadheads for larger bows.
It's as simple as that.
Just match your broadhead to your equipment, that's the recipe for success.
Now, about the lethality of strong three-blade broadheads, this was just one of five or so of these I found between where my strong three-blade broadhead struck and where the bull piled up a few seconds later. . .
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt252/Rikhinton/This_is_interesting.jpg)
The weight of my bow or my broadheads doesn't matter---only the results. If you want great results, match your equipment well. After that, the fun begins!
QuoteYou won't wreck the 160's
Even if you are trying...
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/FMJ1-2.jpg)
I was really tring to see how tough the FMJ shafts were along with my JB Weld, but the first shot split the Judo, then I screwed on the Snuffer and again shot the steel plate at 10 yards from my 55# recurve. Then I picked that arrow up off the ground and shot it into one of our 20 yard sand pits...perfect flight even with the broadhead mushed up as it was.
I've not had any issues with Woodsmen either, but have not shot any of them into the plate!