Clearing rabbits out of the garden and decided to try a G5 small game head ( similar to a judo but one solid piece with bladed tines) and was really disappointed with its performance.  I made what I thought was a really solid shot to the vitals of the rabbit, and while I knocked the rabbit for a loop it jumped up and dove into the briar thicket.  I tried my best to go after it and saw a small amount of blood and fur.  I feel really bad for wounding an animal without a clean kill.  I know the hit was solid but the head did not seem to really get any penetration. Am I off base in my shot placement?  Head suggestions?

My buddy uses wing nuts screwed into the inserts.Then he grinds a edge on them.A lot cheaper and he's knocks the heck out of small game with that set up.

I CAN tell you these fly perfect, weigh 98-102 grains, are very durable, & extremely cheap to put together. I CAN'T tell how they do on critters yet, because I've yet to connect.    

cubs,  those are not designed for penetration, but rather a really powerful whack and some cutting blades to boot.

Where did you hit,  and what bow weight / arrow weight are you shooting ?

One fault I find with that and the judo is . .  with the arms sticking out, they tend to catch on grass and brush on the way to the rabbit.  Unless the animal is in the wide open, I have issues with that.  Hex heads, or even old nutters are my choice for bunnies and skwerls.

Also,  you need to hit them in the front. .   head, neck, front of chest.
ChuckC

Talons from Red Feather Archery are mean little heads.    

I gave up on judos too for small game after a couple injured squirrels.    

Take a hint from ChuckC. For most effective performance from any "blunt type" head you've got to be shooting some steam.

Under 50-55 lbs. an old broadhead will be a much better choice.

Talons

Check this thread out Terry makes a great small game head.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000055

I love judos but they are not my first choice for small game because of clearance problems as stated above.

I have had good results with regular rubber blunts slipped over light metal blunts. However, I shoot over 70#.

I use them mainly for grouse, etc. although I have shot several snowshoe hares.

However, I believe Terry's modified broadheads would be the most efficient for animals the size of rabbits and up (including geese).

I like the Ace Hex blunt.
Frank

One time I shot a cottontail with one of those
g5 small game heads from 5yds with a 55#longbow and the arrow bounced off of it!      

That's why now I shoot broadheads,hex heads,
vpa small game thumpers, or hammers from 3 rivers.    

Steel blunt 45 pound Bear.

 

 Steel blunt 48# Hill
     

steel blunt same Hill

 

Steel blunt Hill again

 

Steel blunt Hill one more

 

I use judos, which are very similar to the G5's as you have already said.  I would not use judo's with my lower poundage bows.  However, I have found a similar alternative.  I have found that muzzy grasshoppers behind a feild tip out penetrate judos but still provide plenty of shock to take down critters with the lower poundage bows.

I've had good experience with the g5's, but definitely shoot for the head. a body shot will almost never produce a kill with a lower poundage bow.

Nice shooting James!!    

i really like the hammers from 3 rivers. they pack one hell of a punch.

Ace Hex or a blunt with a bleeder blade. The blunt route is really cheap and easy to make..

I love the Ace Hex Heads, that is how I took the goose in my avatar. Instant dispatch to the head.  Cheapest way I have found is to glue a .38/.357 to the end of shaft.

A Saunders screw in plastic blunt works great on rabbits. Not a chance on squirrels. Ripforce told me he bounced a judo right off a squirrel's back at 15 yards with a 50lb bow. I don't use those anymore.

I actually just bought some 8/32nd screws and some wingnuts and am going to sharpen them up and try Wingnut's idea. I've got a 50g brass insert behind them and they are around 150g. For $1.30 total, you can't beat that.

I haven't connected with a steel blunt. I tried dull Zwickey Eskimos once and that didn't work out well either. They just burrow into the ground or get stuck in logs. Maybe for rabbits - not for squirrels.