Some broadhead talk......

[SuperK]

Hey Michael, I'm with you...I like talk about broadheads too. In the "for what its worth" department; I agree with ya'll in shooting the biggest bhs that you can consistantly get out the other side.  I use to shoot Bear Razorheads (with bleeder blades) back in the 70's and if I got a passthru (or at least the bh thru), I normally got great bloodtrails (with "proper" hits).  Started using other bhs because I could get them sharper or they came sharper from the package.  Used replaceable blade broadheads and compound bows for a while.  I had problems with blades falling out and breaking off, bending, etc, even with good hits.  When I came too my senses and came back to trad bow hunting, 2 blade Zwickey, Ace, and Magnus  were mostly what I used.  I got great penetration but I noticed that sometimes the bloodtrails were not what I got with the ole Bears with bleeder blades.  Went back to Bear Razorheads (screw-in style with the blue aluminum ferrel).  They bent so bad that I went back to the 2 blades.  After many years, I got some old Bear "greenie" Razorheads.  No bending like the "newer" ones. The difference in bloodtrails was noticeable.  Then I shot a big old doe a few years back.  The bleeder blade bent 90 degrees instead of breaking off.  It was like putting the breaks on.  No exit wound, no blood trail.  Lucky to find her.  Next I tried single bevel Zwickeys with matching fletching on wooden arrows.  Didn't get a deer with one (I did get a vine and an oak tree!) but tried one out on a nice buck a buddy rifle killed.  Shot the deer hanging up by his hind legs at 10 or so yards.  Trying to hit him in the shoulder blade.  Shot a little low and hit it where the leg and shoulder blade meet.  I was able to wiggle the broadhead back and forth and pull it out.  It only penetrated the length of the broadhead.  Oh well....   :rolleyes:    I now shoot Zwickey 4 blade Eskimos, Woodsman or old/new MA-3 broadheads.  I haven't taken a deer with the MA-3 yet, but they fly great and like the Woodsman, they are so easy to sharpen.  (oh, BTW; I've used file sharpened and honed bhs...both have worked great for me).  I only shoot 45 lbs or so and hunt deer from treestands so "finding" the right combo of cutting width and penetration has been a "hunt" of its own.  Thanks for "listen" to me ramble on and on and....    

[Morning Star]

 The bleeder blade bent 90 degrees instead of breaking off. It was like putting the breaks on. No exit wound, no blood trail.

That's one thing that's always made me leary of heads with bleeder blades.   Bent on entry...... I always felt they'd surely have to slow the arrow down.

It's one of the reasons I like the Woodsman head so much, multiple solid blades.
 
These Phantoms have bleeders, but they are a very heavy blade.  Looks like they could be the ticket in that respect.

[Gordon martiniuk]

Have talked to some seasoned bowhunters and they all say the same thing if you get a passthrough its great but if you put a big old snuffer and it does not passthrough they all say the same thing it cuts there insides up and is a just as lethal  especially with a Snuffer that is sharp!!      

[JimB]

Single bevel Zwickeys?

[Bowhuntah]

yup, snufferize em. If it doesn't go all the way through that's fine, it'll keep doin its thing until the pileup. Follow the red leaf road.

[Morning Star]

Follow the red leaf road.
 

:D    

[John3]

Maybe I am resistant to "change",, LOL..

I have used Zwicky Eskimos for years with nothing but positive results. On a new set up I actually tune my arrows shooting the Zwickys. I achieve perfect arrow flight. I spend the time getting them scary sharp. I have never failed to have a pass through shot with Zwickys on bear and deer. I like walking upright down the middle of two blood trails...

What ever broadhead you shoot. Sharpen it until you are afraid of it and get it to fly perfectly.

Good luck to all this coming season.

John III

[doeboy]

Guys,

i love these threads and try to read them all.

How do you guys test your W.Woodsmans to see if they are sharp? I know about the shaving hair test and the rubber band test, but they just never seem as sharp as my 2 blade heads? or i just cant tell. i read another post that the angle makes a diiference on the way the "feel" but i need to make sure they are ready to hunt with. any advive or help on this would be great.

[Morning Star]

How do you guys test your W.Woodsmans to see if they are sharp?  

I've always just used the shave test.  If you can lay a blade on your arm and shave clean without drawing the blade in a cutting fashion......you got it.  You might have to change the angle you hold it, but you can easily feel where it starts to bite when it's truely sharp.

[doeboy]

Thanks Mike

[OS]

I have to admit I'm a huge Snuffer fan myself.  I play with different head but when season starts the big 160 snuffers in my quiver. when you add the full screw in adaptor you get about a 215 grain head.  I have found that when I put on 3 or 4 5.5 shield cut feathers on they Shoot great. I saw it once written "They don't suffer with a snuffer!"

[elkbreath]

If I could get a snuffer as sharp as Ron gets a grizz...I'd likely be shooting one this year.  I get them to cut a rubber band with ease...but theres that next level.   Perhaps for my deer this year.

[mrpenguin]

Just bought the Eclipse 125 gr with 22 gr inserts (about 150 gr head) single bevels for the season... on test flights, they group as well as field points and no noise at all.  Plus they have destroyed my targets!!  That "s-shaped" cut was clearly noticeable on foam and rubber which denotes the continued rotation during penetration.  All the exit holes (and yes some of the arrows passed through the target in weaker areas) displayed that "s-shaped" hole... I think they will be very effective on deer this season!

[frassettor]

Originally posted by elkbreath:
If I could get a snuffer as sharp as Ron gets a grizz...I'd likely be shooting one this year.  I get them to cut a rubber band with ease...but theres that next level.   Perhaps for my deer this year.

I will second that one...Ron really know how to sharpen a Grizzly!! I have a cut on my arm to prove it