if you had to choose between one of the following  two broadheads,   which would it be:

1.  Silver Flame XL 180 grain (1.5" width)
2.  Silver Flame Regular 210 grain (1 1/8" width)

I will be shooting a 56# at 30" recurve drawn to 30" and will be using Axis Nano arrows with 3 five inch feathers.  Total arrow weight with XL's is 470 grains.  Total arrow weight with Regular Silver Flames is 500 grains.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Personally, I'd use the regular ones.

Not a lot of difference, but I'd go with the heavier one. A bad hit (heaven forbid) with the XL won't be any better with an extra 3/8" in my opinion.

Use the ones you can get the sharpest!

I prefer the larger width provided the poundage of your bow is 55# or more and your arrow is close to 10 grains per pound of bow weight. From personal experience with a 60# bow and close to 600 grain arrow I have had complete penetration on shots from deer, to bear and elk and large African antelope with the 1.5" - 180 grain Silver Flame.

Thanks for the feedback.  Both broadheads are unbelievably sharp.  I am asking because I think I am always a little biased towards using a wider head.  However, I have never hunted anything as large as a moose and I an nervous that the wider cut will impede penetration.  A guy from Texas (Buff) just killed a cape buffalo with the 210 grain regular Silver Flame -- I am not sure why I am worried about killing a moose with one.  

Jason:  What type of head did you use on your moose?

Just make sure it's sharp. The tough part will be getting within range of the moose.

I used the widest ribtek made in Arica. It was 145 grain instead if the heavier 160 grain head and I didn't reget it it a bit.

I think you are ok with either one.....you may want to look at going to the next stiffer axis and using the 100 gr insert to get your total weight up.

I would stick with the 1-1/8" cut. A moose is a big critter.

Either silverflame will work fine. Placement will make more of a difference than a choice between the heads. Good thing is the boiler room on a Moose is the size of a garbage can!

I'd go with the heavier, regular width.  I got a moose years ago with a narrow 3:1 Hunter's Head.  It cut ribs on both sides AND lodged in the opposite shoulder blade.  If not for that it probably would have been a complete pass through.

50# longbow, 25-30 yard shot, 500 grain cedar arrow.

(I'd use a heavier mass weight set-up now that I know more about EFOC and the such.)

Hope that helps...  todd

210 grain.

Allan

I think either will work fine given your recurve is a decent performer.  The 30" draw will make even an average performer a better than average performer...  

All else being equal, and both heads fly perfectly out of your rig, I'd probably go with the 210 grain for the extra little bit of overall weight in the arrow...

Buff shoots really heavy bows and heavy arrows to kill stuff with that wide head, i would put a 50 brass insert to increase your foc and arrow weight to 550 then shoot the lighter head.

Well, Silverflames are good heads and really sharp.  Being as both heads are the same brand and equally sharp, I'd probably go with the narrow, heavy one as the narrower head will have a slight edge in penetration.  

However, since there is a weight difference, you may have flight issues due to different spine requirements.  If the wider (lighter) head flew better due to it being better matched in weight to your arrows and bow, I'd shoot it instead.  

If both shot equally well, I'd be back to choosing the narrower head for that little extra penetration edge.