muzzy vs. shockwave

[hillrunner]

I have spent a lot of time the last couple years trying to get broadheads to fly perfecly with my field points. I had most recently been using ultimate steels by Rocket. They flew ok, but not quite what I was looking for. I came home today with a set of muzzys to try, and also for the 1st time, I brought home an expandable.
Much to my delight, they both fly awesome, better than I really excpected. Now I am trying to determine which to put to use this fall. The only real difference in performance I can see is that the muzzy, even with the practice blades on, penetrates a good 8 inches further at 30 yds than the shockwave.I have never used an expandable before and am not sure what is normal for penetration vs fixed, but the cutting diameter looks pretty sweet.Ive heard the horror stories of expandables bouncing off and am wondering if there is any truth to it.

 

[Shredder]

For years I shot the jak hammers, wasp's version of the expandable. why I ever went to anything different, I'm not sure but after 2 years of fixed blades, I put the expandables back on. Are they superior to the regular fixed blades, I'm not sure but in my set up they shoot better and I have never had a problem with penetration. 40 plus deer in 7 total years of the jak hammers, I never had one bounce off and I had never lost one regardless of angle until I went back to fixed blades. Give them a try early season on the antlerless deer and see what you think.

 

[150 Class]

Ah yes, the mechanical vs. fixed debate. Here are a few of my thoughts.

• A properly placed broadhead of almost any make or style will do the job.

• A bad hit is still a bad hit.

• The mechanical will usually have larger cutting diameter. Is this a good thing or bad? This takes more energy due to the extra tissue cut and will result in loss of penetration. Again, properly placed and especially on whitetail sized animals, it will make little difference. Improperly placed, it might cut more tissue and help or it might cut more tissue and stop the penetration short.

• Many people will blame the broadhead when something else went wrong.

• For every negative experience, there are probably 10 positives for any broadhead. My favorite has been around for a very long time but I am sure that more than one person has had a negative experience using them.

• A poorly tuned bow, wrong arrow spine, the shot, the shooter, an unseen twig, the reaction of the animal at the shot are all common hunting problems. Don’t blame the broadhead on these things.

• Mechanicals are easier than fixed to get grouping out of some bows (but not all) while fixed will hardly ever be easier. Many times, each will do the same as you suggested that yours did. But, a poorly tuned bow is still poorly tuned. The fixed amplifies the problem. Shoot your mechanical out of there and it won’t look as bad but the bow could still be out of tune.

• Mechanicals use energy to open. Don’t use mechanicals out of low speed, low poundage bows.

I really think there is no right or wrong answer to your question. I shoot fixed but would not hesitate to switch to mechanical if I had a hard to tune bow or other problem that prevented my fixed blade heads from getting acceptable groupings.

Click here to see what a poll said about what was being used. It is a couple years old so there could be more or less people using one or the other today.

 

[TimberPig]

That was an excellent post 150!

 

[hillrunner]

thanks for the responses guys,Im still not 100% sure what Im gonna use, but Ill probably do as suggested and experiment early taking a couple of does. I also agree, that if I do my job on shot placement, either will do the job.

 

[Steve-O]

If you shoot over 300 fps like I do. Who cares what you use

I personally use the Slick Tricks 4 blade fixed. Awesome blade. I use both and did not care for the penetration I received from Nap Spitfires. So switched to Rocket Mtn Steelheads and they got the job done. Just prefer fixed I guess.
Steve

 

[KSQ2]

My only advice would be to use a three-blade if using fixed. Like was said above, a very well-tuned bow will shoot anything good. I'm of the type though that the bow will not be perfect, close, but not perfect -- I paper-tune myself...

With my experience, three blades fly much straighter than four -- no opposite planing surfaces.

 

[LoessHillsArcher]

honestly I've shot both and I guess this year I switched to fixed just for the idea that if I make a marginal shot and hit the shoulder blade or leg bone or spine I have more bone penetrating power, I may be wrong but whatever makes me worry less. Heck I'm an archery and I can never be satisfied with my setup, always changing something!! As for the fix blades I tried this summer..I shot Montecs, Muzzy MX4s, Muzzy 3 blades, Sonic, and none of these flew like my field points out of my finely tuned bow....then I grabbed a pack of Slick Tricks and talk about AMAZING! They fly and impact just like my field points out to 40 yards, I'm yet to try them beyond that but I imagine the results are similar. They are a 4 blade and fly GREAT! I would try a few fixed blades and I bet you can find one that flys great for your setup..one suggestion though is tey the more compact styles of fixed blades like the Slick Tricks or new G5 Strikers...good luck and put one in the boiler room!

 

[PYseeker]

I've shot deer with both the shockwaves and three bladed muzzy's and I will say they both do the job. the buck in my avatar was shot with a shockwave. My opinion is this if the accuracy you are getting are equal with both heads, I'd pick the fixed blade hands down. My reasoning is this Mechanical heads are just that, mechanical. There is always a chance of them failing to do the job. A fixed blade will always have it's cutting surface exposed reguardless of the situation. I shoot 3 bladed muzzy's now and have for the last three seasons. A marginal hit with a shockwave caused me to switch. The deer still died but I wasn't happy with the performance. just my 2 cents

 

[bpul2113]

i have probably killed over 50-60 deer with the rocket steelheads the question really becomes where you put the head a sharp pencil will kill them if placed properly remeber that hit the deer in the lungs and it doesnt matter so the bottom line becomes place the head in the right spot mechenical is more accurate by far

 

[Buck Ballz]

I am a firm believer in the shockwave broad head. I've taken whitetail, elk, bear, and turkey with them. You guys are right, it's all about the shot placement. Although, a well placed shot with an arrow tiped with a shockwave puts them down quick.