4 blade Zwickeys OK for deer with 45 lb recurve?

[riser]

Synopsis: 45# and "heavy" 4-bladed Zwickey's ok or not for deer?

For those who have USED THEM, successfully or not, how will a Zwickey screw-in 4-bladed broadhead (and I'm thinking either the Eskimo or Delta 4-bladed, screw-in configuration at ~ 160-170 grain)  perform on deer from a recurve with 45+# at my 29.5" draw length?  

Okay, already know they should be as sharp as possible, accuracy is key, keep your shots close. yada, yada.

BUT, will the bleeder blades, even when sharp, have too much drag a deer's internals, to make 45+# draw weight  problematic?  Arrow: 2016 aluminum XX75 full length-32" at 10.6, g/inch; shaft = ~ 340 grams + insert + ~160-170 grain broadhead for 500-520 grain projectile.

45 lb draw and 4-bladed Zwickey ok or not for deer?

[kevsuperg]

I'm sure they would be fine,. Plenty of weight behind it.
 If the 1 1/8" wide 3" long blade doesn't drag on the internals I'm pretty sure the sharp little bleeders won't either.
 Besides a deer is only so wide, by the time the bleeders would cause enough drag to stop the arrow it should be sticking out the other side. ( Broad side shot)
 I don't believe drag ( from a properly sharpened BH) will sufficiently reduce penetration as much as poor shot placement or striking bone.

[mark Willoughby]

X2 screw them on and go hunting    

[Charlie Lamb]

Personally I'd pick the 4 blade Eskimo.

[Terry Green]

What Charlie said or the No Mercy 4 blade.

Don't worry about the bleeders...just get them sharp and let them do their job.  

Best of luck and hope to see some highlights!!!

[SuperK]

I have used them off and on for years at 45 lbs. or less.  If you can get them sharp, good to go.  Stick with the Eskimos.

[Tim Finley]

I don't think a two blade Eskimo will penetrate any farther then the four blade they will both stop when they hit bone and if they don't you will get more than adequate penetration. It will be a good setup for your bow . It will cut !

[Gdpolk]

The Eskimo's be just fine.  I used to use them on my 50lb longbow and never had any issue.  My bow wasn't the most efficient out there so there likely wasn't a significant difference in arrow speed/cast between it and a 45lb bow, especially on a thin skinned deer.

[riser]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the 4-bladers are a "go" with a 45# draw weight

What is the LOWEST draw weight would you say is "borderline" / "iffy" for deer and 4-blader broadheads?  40#? other?

[kevsuperg]

I think you worry too much.
 I've been a delta user forever. It's not so much the broadhead as it is the archer.
 Just pick one YOU like and go with it.
 I stick with zwickeys because they are dependable and easy to sharpen but I like bear razorheads for the nostalgia.

[woodchucker]

Food for thought... The old Bear Razorheads were designed with bleeder blades, designed to break away if encountering heavy bone. The rationality being, you had an entrance "hole" instead of a "slit" reducing any pinch on the shaft, that could possibly retard penetration. Without hitting bone, you would get an entrance "hole" AND an exit "hole". If bone was encountered... You would get an entrance "hole" as the broadhead pierced the initial skin & meat, the bleeders blade would break away, and the arrow penetrating the other side, leaving an exit "slit". If by chance, the arrow encountered heavy bone, STOPPING penetration, you would still have a large entrance "hole" resulting in a "sucking chest wound" resulting in the rapid deflation/collapsing of the lungs. HOPEFULLY leading to a short recovery!!!
The Zwickeys do not have "break away" bleeder blades. In fact, they are VERY STRONG!!! What they do have though, is a proven track record, over MANY YEARS, as a very reliable broadhead with countless successful kills!!!!!
Whichever Zwickey 4blade you choose is up to you? They will all work just fine out of a 45# bow!!!

[riser]

I WAS leaning toward the 4-blade Eskimo at the start, but now I am curious about the 4-blade No Mercy, based on Terry's feedback. Might try both.

Keep the Zwickey 4-blade broadhead feedback info coming in.  Thanks.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Just make sure they are Sharp you will be fine.

[Terry Green]

The No Mercy came about a couple of years or so after Charlie Lamb and I were talking about a combo of the Delta and Eskimo here on TradGang.

We we chatting about a head in between that had the length of the Delta with the width of the Eskimo...

Then one day the No Mercy showed up on the market...

The 10 grains aint going to matter unless you are severely borderline spine...

Just get em sharp...

[JohnV]

If you are shooting 45# I think you will be better off shooting a good cut on contact 2 blade head.  It will penetrate better and you really want/need an exit hole to aid in blood trailing.  Yes, a 4 blade will work with your bow weight but a bit risky in my opinion.

[SuperK]

I have used them off and on for years at 45 lbs. or less.  If you can get them sharp, good to go.  Stick with the Eskimos.

[achigan]

My four-blade Eskimo did just fine on the 200#+- Indiana buck. Through the chest cavity and stopped by the off-side shoulder. 60 yard blood trail.