Slim VS Wide

[mnbearbaiter]

Im sure there are alot of hunters who use the same broadhead/arrow setup for everything they hunt, im sure there are also many others like me who tend to shy away from the "One Trick pony" mentality and cater setup to the animal they pursue! For years it was the 160 Snuffer for turkey, deer, and bear! Even with the heavy arrow i shoot i would never use it for elk, moose, or other big critters! What im gettin at is, how much is to be gained from a slender head like a STOS or Grizzly over say a Snuffer, MagnusI, or the bigger Simmons Sharks on tougher animals like the elk or moose?

[whitetail_downer100]

Depends on the weight you are shooting, arrow speed, and arrow composition (grains per inch, FOC weighting, and the like).  Slender heads can go around or through big ribs easier than wider counterparts but do not cause the wider wound channels.  If you need the slender head for penetration use it; if not a wider head makes a bigger hole and quicker kill.  As always accuracy is another overriding factor that must be considered.

[Stumpkiller]

Older methods used to call for smaller heads when hunting larger animals.  Penetration being the goal.

I like the RibTek 125 Slim and the Magnus II 125 gr on deer sized game.  I have just sharpened up a bunch of Stos 125 gr heads to try this fall on whitetail (and possibly a boar if the stars align just so).  I have had excellent results with the Magnus II & RibTek on our 160 to 200 lb local whitetail - knock wood having a 100% recovery rate with two holes in the chest so far on four consecutive deer even after splitting a rib.  My cedar arrows run about 580 to 600 grains and my fir arrows around 640 grains out of 55 to 60# bows.

   

I had a lost buck with a relatively wide Zephyr Sasquatch - an extremely well made head and I blame myself for a bad angle (almost straight down) but I traded away the rest of those heads as I had lost confidence in them.  I could see half the shaft above the deer after a 12 foot away downward shot!

   

[mnbearbaiter]

I was leaning towards the Ace Express, its kind or a middle of the road head as far as cutting width, its at 1 5/16", maybe a little less when fully sharpened! Ive been shooting this head out of my #55 Bear Montana mounted on KK German Mountain Pine shafts, total arrow weight of 680gr w/160gr point! Kinda like to stick with this setup for the year, turkey, elk, and deer as well!

For years I used wide heads Zwickey Deltas, 160 grain Magnus, and the large Deadheads. The one thing I noticed that some times the broadhead did not track straight through the dear.  The first deer I shot with the standard right wing 160 Grizzly, I was mounted on a left wing tapered cedar with 5.5" feathers and it was file sharpened with a serrated edge.  With a 64 pound Schulz I got a straight tracking pass through that blew through the scapula with an entrance cut that was 2.5" wide. I do not know if that would have happened with the shaving sharp Deadhead, but it would have still taken down the deer in short order.  I did have a deflection off a high rib with the Deadhead from a steep downhill shot once that shocked me a bit.  I would say if in doubt, error on the side of good penetration.

[sawtoothscream]

i plan on using magnus stnger 2 blades for deer and might give the snuffer a try for turkey idk yet

[Rooselk]

I've been using 125 grain Magnus II broadheads but was also giving serious thought to trying  Eclipse broadheads. However, I have also been looking at STOS heads as of late. I sure like the looks of the STOS heads and the more I read and hear, the more I want to try them.

[mnbearbaiter]

Im also looking closely at the STOS, the 160gr gets alot of attention from elk hunting guys! Its nice and streamlined, and it cuts 1 1/8" i believe! 2 holes being better than 1 is a great theory that should be achievable with a STOS!

[JimB]

Those STOS heads are a quality head.Good steel but easy to sharpen and maybe one of the truest ferrules I've seen.I glued 4 of them onto steel adapters awhile back and when I put them on my spin tester,all spun perfect without any tweaking whatsoever.I was impressed.I haven't used the Eclipse but hear nothing but good about them.

[Rooselk]

Yeah, it's elk specifically that I have in mind when looking at those STOS heads. They definitely look like a great broadhead for elk.

[hvyhitter]

Unless you are hunting rhino hide elk the 160 snuffers will work just fine. If they fly great with your set up you cant beat the blood trails.

[Thunderhorn25]

I only shoot 47# so I like slim

[Bowwild]

I'd give up width for weight and heavier gauge blade.

For instance, instead of going with a 150 grain, wider broadhead, I'm going with 125 grains (same thickness of blade as 150) with 100 grain brass insert instead of 75.

[Birdbow]

Used a Zwickey No Mercy SB in '09 to kill a Maine moose, est. @ 1200 lbs. 6 yd. shot, buried to the fletch and down almost in my lap in about 15 seconds!

[reddust]

Try a Woodsman BH,alittle narrower than Snuffers,You cant beat the bloodtrails 3-blade heads leave.

[Carbonkiller]

i like the magnus II. they sharpen well and fly great! if i want a tad wider i have some tusker delta 200gr. heads. once you get them shapened they are downright scary to handle.

[WESTBROOK]

I'd stick with the 3 blade, but slim it down to 1 1/8" VPA.

Eric