Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Fixed Blades vs. Expandables?

Rackaddict

Rackaddict

Life Member
I use a Muzzy 100gr. broadhead. I've been tempted to try out an expandable type broadhead but am a little reluctant to try them. I was wondering if some of you use them and what you think of them. Do you get as good of penetration with them? Give me some pros and cons from the field.
 
I use a 100 grain Thunderhead and have had good experience with it. If you want to test different broad heads for penatration, take a bathroom scale and an old taned deer hide. Stand the arrow upright on the scale with the blade pointing up. Put the deer hide on the blade and pull down. Watch the scale to see what the poundage is for each broadhead. I think you will find that the fixed blades will go through with less poundage then the expandable heads.
You might also try Zwicky or Magnus 2 blade cut on impact heads.
 
I had great results with a 125 gr NAP Spitfire last fall, but perhaps would have with any broadhead. Had Muzzy 125's on my "prime" arrows, but was a windy day (15-20) so switched to "backup arrow" fitted with Spitfire specifically because it should be less affected by wind. Muzzy's were true in still air and light wind, hadn't shot them in heavy wind. Shot was at relatively short range, between 10 and 15 yards at an 8-point that came right up under my stand to my grunt call before turning to walk away. Downward shot from behind went through liver, both lungs and clipped heart before lodging in upper leg bone on opposite side. No blood trail since heavy bone prevented pass-through and couldn't bleed from high entry until body cavity would be full, but the buck ran about 40 yards, stopped and wobbled, then fell over within sight. Thoroughly bled out, but internal. Broadhead was intact, carbon arrow broken off about 4" above broadhead at interface between body and leg because of running. Bow at 67 lb, 30" draw, #300 Camo Hunter.

Great results, but no way to know if the Muzzy would have done better. Sort of wonder about the sharp tip of the Spitfire on bone vs the chisel tip of the Muzzy and Rocket Steelheads. I'm carrying Steelheads instead of the Spitfires next year for that reason, tend to think they'll punch through bone rather than into bone the way the sharp tip could. Certainly wouldn't hesitate to use the Spitfires again, though.
 
I've heard good and bad stories. A friend of mine uses mechanical broadheads and he says they leave a blood trial that looks like a highway. On the other hand I talked to a guy that shot a big 13 pointer this fall with his shotgun and while he was field dressing it he found a mechanical broadhead with a pus ball surrounding it inside the deer that didn't expand. Personally I haven't been convinced to use them, I'd rather stick to fixed blades, it's one less thing to worry about.
 
I've shot two deer with rocket expandables. One was a buck at 7 yards (my first deer). The arrow only penetrated about half way. Tore him up real good though...he was droping 4 " pieces of his lung. I switched to rockets with a smaller cutting diamiter, 1 1/4". I shot a doe last fall at 5 yards. I still didn't get a passthrough! Almost, but not quite. She didn't go far, it really cleaned her clock.

I'm shooting a Matthews Ultra Max set at 48 lbs. I'm thinking about switching to Muzzys this year. The arrow stayed in the doe, so she didn't leave much of a blood trail. When I opened her up, she was flooded, but I would like to get pass throughs because I really like blood trails!
 
2years ago I used 100gr Spitfires. They shoot excellent. However, a buddy of mine shot a big 14pt NT and after 3hrs of looking I had a 30 yard broadside shot at him. I stuck him right behind the shoulder and got 3inches of penetration. Now, I shoot a Browning set at 62lbs and have never had that happen. I went back to Muzzy's.
 
I've never shot expandables, but I would think that fixed broadheads would have a much higher passthrough percentage than expandalbe ones. I would think that most of your arrows energy would be spent in the expansion of the blades and not enough would be left over for a good pass through. Just a thought.
 
Muzzy's here, started out with them when I was 10 and am still using them 14 years later. Wicked 'heads. Havn't had any problems with them in high wind though.
 
I've used Muzzy for the last 3 years. 2 years ago, I had a shot on a PY buck, but made a bad shot. The broadhead busted through both back hips and came 1/2 way out the other side. The buck didn't go 50 yards and was done.

I've heard 3 guys from work that used Rockets this year and each shot a doe without having the blades open. Obviously, it's nothing more than a field point if they don't open.

My take on the whole thing is that we have enough things to worry about when a big buck come into range. Why would you want to worry about possibly shooting one with a field point.

Just an opinion.

[This message has been edited by sddeerhunter (edited 03-01-2002).]
 
Rackaddict,

I've shot expandables for 4 years now. I've killed 3 bucks, an adult doe and 2 black bears with them and had a pass through on every one. The shots ranged from 7 to 31 yards. This year's deer (posted in the photo gallery) was shot nearly straight down, through the top of the shoulder blade and exited in front of the back leg on the other side. In other words, excellent penetration. However, it should at only 7 yards, shooting 68 pounds and a 540 grain arrow!! I guess the reason I switched and stay with them is that I believe where you hit them will always be more important than what you hit them with. Most heads shoot pretty true at 0-20 yards, but with my setup (and yes, the bow is tuned well) the fixed blades were planing at 25-30 yards and consistently missed the mark by 3 or 4 inches. This was especially true in a strong head wind. Also, if you spend the money on the proven brands, having a head open too early or not at all isn't an issue...they are very reliable. If I knew that all of my shots were going to be 20 yards and in, I'd still shoot a fixed blade head. However, since I can shoot accurately out to 30 yards, I want to use a head that I know will be in the same spot as my field point. Sorry for the book...but that's my 2 cents worth.

NWBuck
 
Rackaddict,
I love them for turkeys (they do a tremendous amount of damage) but am not ready to use them on deer. I have no doubt at all that they work, however, until my current setup fails I am not going to switch. I want to, being the "gear freak" I am but for some reason I just don't put one on the string when I am in the deer stand.

------------------
Go Early, Stay Late... Limb Chicken


[This message has been edited by Limb Chicken (edited 03-04-2002).]
 
I have only had one experience with expandable broadheads and that was about 8 years ago, one of my buddies was shooting them and had a shot at a nice little eight point buck it was a pretty severe quartering away shot and the broadhead when in unber the skin then just traveled along between the skin and the ribs. I know because he was shot the next moring and the arrow was still in his side. ( same guy shot him with expandable broadhead but was perfectly broadside) I'm sure they have made a lot of advancements since then, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I personally shoot 100 gr muzzy's and love them. I was sold on them when a guy brought in a section of a deer's backbone with a 100 gr muzzy broadhead buried in the bone and was still totally intact. It was very impressive to say the least.

[This message has been edited by micah3553 (edited 03-01-2002).]
 
Thanks for all the input. Like I said I use 100 gr. Muzzys now but was curious about the expandables. You know the itch you get to try new stuff. "Limb Chicken", I like what you had to say about using them on the Turkeys. That was the next thing I was going to ask. I'll probably go that route and stick with what works for me on Deer. I'd like to add that I've sure enjoyed this site, I'm becoming addicted to it as well. Thanks to everyone!! ---Rackaddict
 
I have tried both types of tips and I personally like fixed blades better. I have shot several bucks with expanding blades, but have never been happy with the penetration I got from them. My largest buck to date, 170's net, was shot with a 125 grain rocket steelhead. At 11 yards it went thru one shoulder blade and pierced one lung. It didn't pass clear thru however. I like the way expandables will open up a deer, but you can't beat a Muzzy's penetration. I also think that exp's fly a little truer than Muzzy's, so there is a trade off between the two. Also, from past experiences and experiences of others, I know that at longer distances expanding broadheads won't penetrate nearly as well as fixed. My brother took a 40 yard shot at a 170 class last fall with a steelhead. The shot looked perfect, he waited 30 minutes to get out of the tree. When he found the arrow his excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he found that he only got about an inch of penetration. I know if he had been shooting a muzzy, that buck would have been on the wall. So, I have tried both types, have had success with both, but I am sticking to Muzzy's fixed blades.
 
2years ago I had a standing broadside shot at a real nice 10 pointer,he was right at 30 paces.I was using a mechanical broadhead the same model that I had been using for target shooting during the summer. When I triggered my release I heard a loud pop and the arrow planed down missing the deer by a good 3 feet.Near as I can figure the broadhead prematurely opened up.I went back to the old 125gr. sattelite after that.Maybe I am not adventurous enough to keep trying the mechanicals.When the 30second window that you wait 365 days for is slammed shut by a mechanical failure you revert back to the old tried and true.
 
I have used nothing but mechanicals for 5 or 6 years. I shoot 2 or 3 animals a year and have not had any failures. Some hits blades break off but other than that no problems. Most shots pass through or go into the animal to the fletching. Only one shot that I can remember didnt get good penetration. It was a long shot on a pronghorn that only went in about 10 inches but he dropped in his tracks.I have used several types but Wasp Jackhammers seem to work best.
 
I have been using 100gr spitfire broadheads for the last four years. I have had complete passthroughs every time. I have shot 4 bucks and 1 button buck (doe tag) The damage they do is incredible. 4 of the 5 animals went down within 25 yards. I shoot a 30" draw at #69. I will say all my shots have been at about 20 yards or less, but I agree with NWBUCK I can shoot effectively out to 40 and fixed blade heads just wont shoot the same. I also feel shot placement is very important. To those who are afraid of useing new technology, I bet your using a compound bow not the stick and string.
 
I've bowhunted for many years, killed over 40 deer,bucks & does. Started with bear razorheads,then Thunderheads, & now Rocket minniblaster 85 grain. I shoot a Mathews Feather Max at 65lbs.,Gold Tip arrows,minniblaster 3L or 4L heads,at 300fps.
I've probably taken 15 deer with this setup and every one was a passthrough. Blades will bend,they are designed to, they fly well,open a large hole,leave a good bloodtrail,& do a great job. Remember one thing:if you shoot over 280fps mechanicals are recomended.You will probably experience inconsistent flight with a fixed head at these higher speeds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom