Broadheads for Africa Plainsgame

[TradAlaska]

I will be taking a half dozen 150 gr. Silverflames with me to Africa this June.  They a good tough looking blade and really are super sharp.  I am looking forward to giving them a good test.   I have taken African game with Magnus two blade, Montec G5, Snuffers, and RazorCaps and Wensel Woodsman.  All served me well.

Cheers from Alaska

[herb haines]

Jeff
they really are the best . Marcus has never said they are the best but i have  .i sold 39 silver Flames to a man going for Cape Buff and he was testing broadheads . his thoughts were if you are after something that wants to kill you and paying for a trip to Africa you should use the best broadhead around . he tested all kinds of heads and sent me a spread sheet of his results .it amazed me that he had crap written after some of the top brands ,they were as much as 20 gr difference in the heads in the same package , some wern't sharp out of the package some cme apart on impact with the shoulder blade of a cow he was shhoting at .
he got his Cape Buff with a Silver Flame and the PH's he had asked him to leave all the 180 gr. he had with him as they were really impressed .
i have way to many repeat customers for this to be a poor product --- herb

[8th Dwarf]

So how does someone get ONE of these heads to test, shoot, and otherwise evaluate?  Never let it be said that a short guy can't be open minded!

Doc...why would you hate to agree with "Pauly B"?  Agreeing with me means that you are SMART!
Disagreeing means STUPIT! he, he, he!

TOOOOOOOOO SHOOOOOORRRRRTTTTTTT

[BTH]

You can get a test kit that has one each of 125, 150, and 180 grain. Personally I like the 210 grain. Nice solid blade with no vents. My wife will be shooting the 100 grain version at plains game out of her mechanical contraption.  

But I'm also an open minded short guy that shoots a Morrison...I have grizzly 160s and 125s, woodsmans, and Magnus 135s that I glue on to various size adapters for my carbon shafts.

The heaviest I can get my arrows with a 210 Silver Flame is 630 grains without adding weight inside the arrow. I can get to 670-680 grains with the grizzly 160s and the Magnus 135s. I agree that the Silver Flames are great, well made, super-scary sharp out of the box ( I've bought my share from Marcus, Herb and Vince). Even Dr. Ashby gives the Silver Flames the #1 rating for it's class...screw in replaceable blade broadhead.

But I can also take a grizz 160 and turn it into a 260 to 285 grain screw in, sharpen it and modify it as directed by the good Doctor, and come up with a deadly sharp broadhead. I can also turn a Magnus 135 into a 260 grain screw in and have a deadly sharp broadhead.

Definately more than one way to skin this cat and with my shaft choice the heavier FOC I can get with either the grizz or the magnus equals better arrow flight and deeper penetration than with the lighter variant of my arrows.

[Slayer]

My wife and I hunted in South Africa for 10 days last June.  I had excellent results with Wensel Woodsmans, she had great results with Razorcaps.  Either of these are deep penetrating 3 blade heads with awesome wound channels.  The 3:1 blade angle is the best!  I'll stand by these over any 2 blade head.  

I was shooting a 600 grain carbon arrow from a 65# Brackenbury bow

[nine]

A friend of mine PH tested Zwikey with a 90 lbs L.B. on a fresh rifle killed buff. All was going well until he hit a rib. The Zwikey broadhed bend 90 °
For him, (and me) best broadhead are STOS   without any compromise  

Nine.......

[Rick McGowan]

I have seen SEVERAL STOS heads curl up on bone like an elf shoe! I do think they are a good head, but I wouldn't use anything, but the 160 grain and then still take off the very tip. I think a head like the STOS, but with thicker steel to make it 190 grain or so would be the perfect head. I personally wouldn't even consider using a head for the biggest animals that weighs less than 160 grains and heavier is better. Using heavy arrows I need a heavy head to balance them and I would rather have the weight making for a stronger head, than just as weight.

[Tilzbow]

Regarding the Silver Flame head; I've always been proud of my ability to sharpen a broadhead and can get most sharp enough to shave hair. When I bought a tuning pack of the Silver Flames last fall I learned what sharp really was; these things are scary sharp! By that I mean you're scared to handle them without leather gloves and even then you worry you might drop one on your foot and cut off your big toe! The hair seems to jump off the skin just getting the head close. The most impressive thing is the ability of the head to maintain an edge. I shot one test head into a foam broadhead target about 10 times with my longbow then screwed into one of my compound arrows and took a half dozen shots with a 560 grain arrow traveling at 265 FPS. After about 18 shots between both bows the Silver Flame was still sharp enough to cut hair. Although I wouldn't say it was shaving sharp at this point it would still do the job it was intended for. I've never seen a head that would maintain an edge like this. I was extremely impressed and I have to believe this head would be deadly on all game. I bought my tuning pack last year after the seasons were over so I haven't had the opportunity to shoot an animal but that day will soon be here and this head will be in my quiver for my next trip to Africa in 2009.

[crane]

I was final testing 18 hunting arrows for an upcoming trip I used one 180 Silver Flame on all the shafts, shooting each 1-3 times into a foam taget. When done I unscewed the head to put it back in the case they come in as I think they are TOO SHARP to transport any other way. that head was still so sharp I had to mark it as a "practice" with a waterproof marker. And, by the way, Herb is a good guy to do business with.

[Jacob Goodwin]

I've only hunted Africa with modern gear, but I've always used Zwickey 2 blade heads. I've used them across the gamut of species from cape buff to duikers.

They're tough, fly well and easy to sharped.

Just my two cents

[J-dog]

First off no great experience in BHs pretty set in my ways. But Stuart at Melorani said he loved seeing a bg snuffer on the end of an arrow. I shot muzzys.

Later

J

shoot phantoms now and like em.

[J-dog]

Really thiink the phantom is  a 4 blade STOS

[BUFF]

I bought a dozen 1-1/8" cut to take with me to Africa this summer. I liked them so well I bought a dozen 1-7/8" heads to hunt with here in Texas.

[8th Dwarf]

MAGNUS!  I would highly recommend the 135 grain, wide Magnus!  DO NOT USE BLEEDER BLADES...USE TWO BLADE ONLY!

I have hunted there 16 times since 1978 and have spent a total time hunting of 16 months between all my trips.  Trust me...I know whereof I speak!  Get your arrow weight up to at least 600 grains, including head, and go with the wide Magnus.

If you have other questions you would like to ask, just email me at [email protected] and I would be happy to offer whatever help I can.

Too Short (Paul Brunner)

[tradtusker]

i agree with paul on the 135gr magnus, very good head for plains game!

[8th Dwarf]

Dang, that is so nice when someone agrees with me.  I have been doing "Honey-do" chores all day with my wife and NO ONE has agreed with me yet today.  Tradtusker, THANK YOU!!!!!!

Too F. Short

[aromakr]

Paul:
I almost stopped by this morning taking my son to the airport, but figured you would be hunting with the rut in full swing.
Bob

[8th Dwarf]

Ha!  Color me no buck tags left!  Just hunting does now with a new (gorgeous)self bow and stone points.  I went out this morning, but there was 10 inches of snow and it was coming down like crazy...no deer moving.  Maybe this afternoon.

I did grunt in a super 5 x 5 yesterday...came right to a mock scrape and ripped it up.  There he was broadside at 15 yards, no clue I was there, and I couldn't take him.

They should give short bowhunters 12 buck tags here in Montana.  We deserve it for taking all the flack about being perfect (short).

Hasta la Pasta

Too Short

[AK stick-n-string]

For the utmost in confidence, The Ashby reports are all you need for this question in my opinion. I like science when its avialable not anecdotal evidence personally. I havnt looked around much but I cant imagine anyone has shot more game and taken anywhere near the scientific and thorough approach at analyzing broadheads that he has. If they did they would probably end up with the same results anyway. THE ASHBY REPORTS RIGHT HERE ON TRADGANG!
Have a great trip. I envy you.
Jeff