Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on a broadhead for my setup. I'm shooting about 49# at my 29" DL, 500gr carbons. I would like to use my NAP Thunderheads, which are a 3 blade, opposed to a 2 blade head. Is a 2 blade always recomended for a lighter setup like mine? Thanks!
It is generally agreed "cut on impact" heads way better than those chisel points for penetration. I shoot 2 blades on anything bigger than a turkey.
you will blow thru deer with no problem and be VERY happy with the blood trails but, like stated above, you'd be a LOT better off with a cut on contact head.
you're gonna get LOT'S of opinions so here's mine. there will never be a 2-blade head in my quiver for anything bigger than small game.
isn't that the joy of it??? everybody likes something different AND, what they like works for them.
i use either a 3 blade vpa or a 2 blade silverflame xl from my 49 @ 27. Both work fine, and i'm sure yours will too.
I'll put in my two cents, I have shot one turkey with a 3-blade snuffer and did not get full penetration. I have shot 4 deer with a 2 blade single-bevel ultra sharp Tuffhead, weighing 225 grains. See the "Me, my Whip and dem deers" thread on the 2012 highlights forum for pics about the penetration. Unbelievable but pictures prove it. I have used the NAP thunderhead with a compound but was disappointed with the blood trails so I switched to the Montec because it has a cut on contact tip which is an advantage that I think is necessary with trad gear. Minimize the resistance to the broadhead any way you can. I personally will never use a replaceable blade head because of damage to the head that might occur on heavy bone hits if the shot doesn't hit exactly where you want it to. Use the most durable broadhead you can find, cut on contact and deadly sharp. The Tuffhead saved me on a few hits that contacted heavy bone but still killed the deer within 80 yards. That's my experience and my opinion. Dr. Ed. Ashby has done lots of broadhead testing, read some of the information available and decide which way to go.
Killed 30 plus deer with a 50 lb hickory selfbow and Snuffers 480 to 520 grain total never an issue blew right through them. I did use a Zwicky Delta on the selfbow elk. Love them Suffers and them Tiger Sharks as long as good steel and cut on contact cant go wrong if SHARP!
I used 29.5 beman mfx with a 100 grain insert and and 125 grain thunderhead on a doe, I was using a 50@28 short recurve made by Dan Toelke. I had a pass thru.
My wife shoots 44# @ 26" and shoots 502 grain Axis 500 shafts with 3 blade Razorcaps. Shoots 2 holes in everything so far.
I like vpa three blade myself
Deer I'm assuming? Thunderheads should be fine. As the others said I'd switch to a more cut on contact head when you run out but don't see those being a problem. 2-3 blade is your choice just choose wisely.
if you shoot a 2 blade id shoot something like a big simmons and not a smaller 2 blade head. if you just cut a small slit and not a hole your not gonna have much blood. if your hunting in snow no big deal but down here we get no snow and its thick as hair on a dogs back. always need a good blood trail unless you love grid searching cutovers and briar thickets high as your head.
Your thunderheads will work fine so dont give it a second thought. They are the head I suggest to those lacking mad sharpening skills as the new blades are always scary sharp. I shoot 160 snuffers out of everything myself and got two holes in a fat doe with a 40# longbow and 450gr 2014s just to prove a point.......
Cut on contact two or four blade heads. Zwickey Delta's or Eskimo's in two blade and if you're not comfortable with two blades go with the fours. Or you can have a replaceable blade option with Magnus Stingers, but I prefer to just sharpen them. If you bust one up send it back to them and they'll send you another one.
I like the stos 2 blade heads and the VPA 3 blades.
Get it sharp and put it where it needs to be and either will be fine.
For deer 2- or 3-blade should be fine. I would advise cut-on-contact, but lots of deer are killed with Thunderhead-type tips. For elk and other big stuff, I'd say definitely go with 2-blade, cut-on-contact.
For deer or any other light boned big game your thunderheads will work fine. However as has been said above you would be better off going with a cut on contact head. I would go with a long 3 blade like the heavier vpa's. They penetrate just as good and sometimes better than two blades and leave great bloodtrails. As a bonus they are totally indestructible
Sorry guys, I should have said this is for deer. I do have some 2 blade Zwickeys, and they are very hard steel. How course of a stone would be good for these? The ones that came with my KME aren't enough.
Two or three blade will work fine but like said above i would go to a cut on contact. JMO
QuoteOriginally posted by Sirius Black:
Sorry guys, I should have said this is for deer. I do have some 2 blade Zwickeys, and they are very hard steel. How course of a stone would be good for these? The ones that came with my KME aren't enough.
Give KME a call he will lead you through the process and get them scary sharp.
I shoot about the same pounds and only a 27" draw. I shoot big broadheads. Never a problem with penetration with snuffers Simmons Woodsmans..etc. Almost all the deer is easy to shoot through. If you hit shoulder your in trouble regardless. As George sez"shootem in softer spots".lol.RC
Those Zwickey's sharpen up just fine with a good file. You can finish them up with a ceramic stick and strop. I'm to the point where i can get em where I want em with just a file. If you're "sharpening challenged" an AccuSharp does a wonderful job on them.
49@29 is like 52@28.....no worries on deer with what you have...BUT, WW or VPA(Cut on Contact) would be better if you want to stick with 3 blades.
Deer are nothing but a bag of shaving cream with a few tinker toys thrown in and one ball joint. Just stay away from the ball joint, no guarantee any head will always blow through that.
Heck...it if were my set up....I'd shoot 4 blades out of it.
With that setup on deer you can shoot about anything but mechanicals. I always shoot two blade heads but I hunt elk a lot and don't switch heads for smaller stuff. Gary
Forgot to mention. Whatever you shoot makes sure your arrow is flying perfect. Otherwise you will lose a lot of penetration. Gary
I would think point weight is the important factor. As long as your arrow is flying straight you shouldn't have any problems. This is just me thinking aloud though.