Pros cons of carbon vs stainless steel on broad heads

[Montanawidower]

I currently shoot Abowyer brown bears in the carbon steel.   I've been shooting them for about 6 years and love them... I"ve killed deer, elk, and antelope with them.  I'm down to my last three and was going to order more.  

The fact that they corrode so easily is kind of a nuisance...  Bow season out here seems to bring a lot of moisture.  What are the pros and cons of the two different metals.  

Jeff

[Earl Jeff]

That's really the only difference. The corrosion resistance. Some claim carbon holds a edge better but since there only used for one shot at a time no difference to me.

I use only SS German Kinetic or Magnus Stingers, and I can't find a downside to either one of them. I know I don't want a head that will rust.

In the end, they are all great heads, and it is your confidence in any one of them that makes them the best head for you.

Bisch

[tomsm44]

Carbon steel is more "traditional".  

[Pat B]

I've always preferred carbon steel for anything that cuts. I have an easier time getting a good edge on carbon steel.
 I read an article years ago by a knife maker. He suggested that stainless steel was made for ball bearings, not knives or other cutting tools. I liked his thinking.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The difference between carbon steel vs stainless is the ease of sharpening for me.  The rust factor is something that can be easily remedied using vaseline or silicone spray..... i have a tough time getting stainless steel broadheads as sharp as i'd like them to be.

I have knives like that too, and prefer the ease of bringing that edge right back to surgically sharp with a few strokes on a stone. Oh sure... the blades aren't as purdy as those shinny stainless blades, but they are more practical.

Hey Pat.... your post came in before mine... Great minds, and all that eh?

[NY Yankee]

Ive always found carbon steel heads were easier for me to sharpen and get a sharper edge faster than SS. What I do is take some Cap stick and rub some on my fingers, then rub the entire head between your fingers. Just rub the edges going away and you just need a thin film. I have never had much of any rust on any blades that way. Really never had any, even the ones that stay in the quiver foam. Do a couple coatings and slide the heads in an out of the slot in the foam and the wax builds up in there, protecting the heads. All my broadheads are stripped and so I treat them all like this.

[Pat B]

That's not rust, it's the patina!    

[Montanawidower]

Thanks for the input... Seems logical regarding the corrosion.  I oil my shotguns to prevent rust... Why not my broad heads.

[M60gunner]

If I could afford or justify the knife sharing system I saw demoed last year it would not make a diff what material. It was a Sorby system using a sanding belt. Really made to sharpen tool steel wood turning tools. But the attachments for knives and siccors would do for broadheads.
A $500 investment plus the jigs.

[old_goat2]

Carbon I'd easier to sharpen but rusts easier, stainless is vice versa and probably holds an edge a little better because it doesn't oxidize.

[Bjorn]

I have Brown Bears in SS and carbon. Carbon touches up easily and I dip them in vaseline while warm. The SS holds an edge better but is harder to sharpen. I prefer the SS.

[Nuctech]

Yep I like carbon when it comes to sharpening. I mainly shoot grizzly broadheads and a little oil on them after sharpening and they are good to go. Used them on a high country elk hunt, rained every day and no rust.

Gabe