Some SPECIFIC broadhead questions

[Brian Stewart]

First off, I apologize for even asking about broadheads, as I've read every post on hear and there is a lot of good advice already.  However, I still can't decide what to get.  I have some very specific questions that maybe some of you more experienced hunters can answer.  But first, I will tell you my set up so you have a reference point:

I am shooting a Quinn Stallion that measures 51 pounds at my 28.5" draw length.  I shoot 2016s with 145gn points that weight right around 500gns total.  The chronograph at the range says these arrows fly right around 170fps.

Also, for reference, I hunt whitetails in Minnesota.  I hunt from Sept. through Dec.

Oh, one more thing...I'm primarily interested in GLUE-ON heads.  

Questions:

-When looking at 2 blade heads, should I be concerned with WIDTH?  This is the thing I think about most.  My thoughts are that wider would be better, but might give me flight issues if too wide (Zwickey Delta).

-I really like what I read about Simmons heads...exept that they may be harder to sharpen, especially in the field.  Should I be concerned about the sharpen-ability of these heads?

-Will the Simmons fly better than the Delta's, or is that primarily a question of tuning?

-I really want to use Snuffers, as I like the idea of a large head with a lot of cutting surface.  However, I'm not sure if my rig has enough energy to get killing penetration.  Thoughts?

-What do you upper midwest deer hunters use for broadheads?

-Finally:  I'm overthinking this, aren't I?

Thanks,

Brian Stewart

[James on laptop]

The Simmons fly better than most any head in there size class because of there design.They are wide but have less surface area to plane in the wind.

[robslifts]

use the magnus 145gr 2blade they fly great out of my almost exact setup as yours and have not had a problem with penetration  and once you get them sharp they hold an edge really well

jmo

[Rick McGowan]

No you aren't overthinking it, most guys don't give it enough thought and just use heads, based on what their buddy uses, whats on sale, what some famous guy endorses etc.. I believe we should pick our heads based on our bow and arrow set-up and what the largest animal we are likly to get a shot at. You have it pretty easy, since you are only using one set-up and know exactly what animals you are going to shoot. Ideally your arrow would get full penetration and just fall out the farside with the biggest hole possible. If your arrow is burying itself two feet in the ground on the farside, that is just wasted energy, if it isn't giving an exit wound than it isn't giving enough penetration. ANY broadhead will fly fine, IF it is on straight AND the arrow is tuned for good flight. Yes you should be concerned with width, the wider the head, the more it cuts, BUT also the more resistance to penetration, the angle of the blades also figures in, the sharper the angle, the more resistance also. Straight edges on broadheads are the easiest to sharpen and two blades are easier than three. Snuffers are great heads, they cut a huge hole, but they also have a lot of resistance to penetration, due to; being very wide, having three blades, the blades are at a sharp angle and it is vented. Vented heads tend not to penetrate as well as nonvente ones. I personally wouldn't use the Snuffers with your setup. I have killed a lot on animals with the two and four blade Zwickey Deltas and wouldn't hesitate to recommend either one. The two blades are much easier to sharpen.

[ChuckC]

I think any of the better brand named two blades would work fine for you.  Magnus and Zwickey are two that I have used and think highly of.  If you want a three blade, don't be afraid to look at the Woodsman.  I have used it a bit this past year and like the way it flies and the way it cuts.  They penetrate well.   I think the wider heads could cause more flight difficulty if you do not tune the arrows and bow well.  I have personally seen some take off during my early years, but that was then.

I would try some Simmons heads myself if they didn't cost so darned much.  There have been a ton of deer killed with all kinds of heads for years and years.  There is not one out there that is so much better than the rest as to make it a "must have " item.  My opinion.....

ChuckC

[MikeC]

Yep...Your over thinking it...LOL

I have tried many heads and weights throughout the years and have taken Whitetails with all of them, most being two blade 125 grain heads.  All my bows have been between 58-lbs and 41-lbs at 26 inches, with the last two taken with the 41@26 setup.  Any sharp two blade that flies straight with your release/arrow setup, placed in the right spot will take game.  I wouldn't worry about the width.  

last year I used a 100 grain 4 blade Muzzy and both were pass throughs at 12 and 18 yards.  This upcoming season I plan to use the 145 grain 4 blade Muzzy.

From my experience's with Whitetails, shot placement is the most important factor given a head is sharp.

[Dustin Waters]

im here to tell you that the tusker concorde is your broadhead.  They are the easiest to sharpen once you get the bevel ground on the head.  They are super performers, and you can get them in a heavier head if need be.  I will be shooting the tusker concorde for sure this season.

[NY Yankee]

First off, Just because a head is wider than another or vented or whatever design, doesn't mean it's going to "wind plane" or not. You can shoot Delta's or Magnus 1 and have it shoot like a field point if the setup is tuned and the point spins true. If it's windy when you are shooting, any head will be affected. Shoot what you can tune for, get them good and sharp, and go hunt.

[NY Yankee]

P.S., over thinking things is what got us to the moon and back.

[Charlie Lamb]

Questions:

-When looking at 2 blade heads, should I be concerned with WIDTH? This is the thing I think about most. My thoughts are that wider would be better, but might give me flight issues if too wide (Zwickey Delta).

-I really like what I read about Simmons heads...exept that they may be harder to sharpen, especially in the field. Should I be concerned about the sharpen-ability of these heads?

-Will the Simmons fly better than the Delta's, or is that primarily a question of tuning?

-I really want to use Snuffers, as I like the idea of a large head with a lot of cutting surface. However, I'm not sure if my rig has enough energy to get killing penetration. Thoughts

Wider IS better. The Magnus I or Zwickey Delta are great, big, double hole producing heads when used in a perfectly tuned bow and arrow.

Sharpenability is important stuff. There are several methods of getting the Simmons heads razor sharp.

Perfectly tuned equiptment is always the key to accurate shooting and deep penetration.

If all you presently intend to shoot is deer,then stick a 125 grain Snuffer on the end of your arrows and have at it. I'd rather have one big hole than two little slits anyday.

[bm22]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:

Questions:

If all you presently intend to shoot is deer,then stick a 125 grain Snuffer on the end of your arrows and have at it. I'd rather have one big hole than two little slits anyday. [/b]

that one would depend on wether you hunt from a tree or ground
from the ground 1 big hole on the side of the animal is fine but if you are hunting from a tree 1 hole in the top of the back isn't going to do you very much good, it would be dead but wether you found it or not is the problem.

with that said i bet the snuffer should do you fine. and you with good tuning and arrow flight you probably would get 2 holes more times than not.
now if you want to go conservative i would shoot the wensels. or the razorcaps either one is perfect for deer.
if you still want to shoot a 2 blade i would use something with bleeders. like a zwickey, magnus stinger or phantom.
i am going to try to shoot a big sasquatch this year, its a wide stainless two blade but still has bleeders. i am hoping it will give me the best of both worlds, two big holes.

[MikeC]

Originally posted by NY Yankee:
P.S., over thinking things is what got us to the moon and back.

Yea...But this isn't rocket science.  More animals have been killed with stone points than metal I would bet.

[Mudfeather]

Charlie,

How did I KNOW you were gonna say those words??  

[Brian Stewart]

Thanks for the advice thus far, I appreciate it greatly.

I've heard the "one big hole" theory before, and it makes sense to me.

I've been hunting from the ground only since I took up the bow.  Last season I saw quite a few deer within my range, but the shot just never presented itself.  I even have my father, a diehard treestand hunter, going nuts building groundblinds all over his property.  He saw a huge buck on his farm while sitting on the ground.

So, I really don't have the desire to climb trees at this point.  I've really been enjoying still hunting and hunting from groundblinds.

Again, thanks for the great advice.  I will take it under consideration and look forward to any other insights any of you have.

Brian Stewart

[dan ferguson]

Brian, for what my opinion is worth, I have shot 2 blades for a long time over 30 years, they will work fine, but this year I put a 2 blade through a deer, both lungs, went out the other side, It was a nice mule deer, 6x4 In the evening he really took off didn,t mess with him left and went a got my brother to help pack him out, came back with lights found my cedar arrow he was in praire grass, no blood what so ever we looked until late that night, My brother found him at 1:00 the next day already bloated, I was sick lost all confidence with 2 blades where as last was the first I ever lost, Bought some snuffers the last one I shot with the snuffer you didn,t have to worry about a blood trail, am I afraid of the two blades, no I think it was a freak deal, that deer went over 1/2 mile with both lungs shot, The blood trail is what bothered me. Go with the snuffers and you should be fine.

[Naphtali]

Have you read Ed Ashby's test reports, found on this forum? You asked what time it is, and he has told you how the watch works.

[Rick McGowan]

I've tracked a lot of animals, shot with two blades, two blades with bleeders, three blades and four blade heads, I've seen excellent to non-exsistant blood trails with all of them. The most important thing is a very sharp head in the right place. The next most important thing is getting an exit hole, two blood trails are much easier to follow than one and in the case of treestand or downhill shots, the exit wound may be the ONLY blood trail. The nest important thing is the wound channel, the bigger it is the more blood vessels cut, the least important thing is the number of blades, some big two blades have just as much cutting surface as some of the smaller three and four blade heads.

[James Wrenn]

I agree with Rick.Two holes is always better and the bigger you can make them is best.     I shoot the Simmons because it gives me two holes on pare with a snuffer and I can do it with a lot less horsepower.I would not shoot a smaller two blade unless I was hunting something pretty tough.The woodsman works as well as most of the small ones and puts a bit more blood on the ground when you are just shooting deer and hogs.

[Brian Stewart]

Well, I might have to scrounge up the money to buy a couple different style heads and try them both!

Much appreciated advice, Thanks.

Brian Stewart