Single Bevel Hype and The Missing Blood trails

[DarkTimber]

I don't think single bevel heads are hype as much as some people's expectations of what they'll do are unrealistic. To me it's all about choosing the right tool for the job.  I don't have a favorite broadhead that I shoot for everything.

I know with the poundage I shoot and my arrow weight there's really only one bone in a whitetail's body that I may not penetrate and get two holes with a large 3 blade broadhead.  Compare the surface area of that one bone to all the other surface area outside that bone and my odds of recovery are just better if the poo poo hits the fan with a big 3 blade.   On elk, I know I have to get through much thicker hair and hide then break two much larger ribs and get through about 20 inches of body cavity to get 2 holes....so I'm more confident with either a narrow 3 blade or a stout single bevel 2 blade.  Each person should choose based on their own personal bow / arrow setup, the animal they're hunting and their experience.         

[Kevin Dill]

I'll hazard a guess that the average width of 'traditional' broadheads being used today falls between 1-1/8 and 1-3/8 inches. Obviously a number of people shoot 1-1/2” and larger widths, but I'm certain a majority do not. I'll also wager the vast majority are using conventional 2-bevel broadheads, no matter how many blades they have. There is nothing wrong with any of this, as it's worked well for many decades.

Keep in mind that today's single-bevel heads are available in widths up to 1.5” and maybe beyond. I own and do hunt with 1.5” single-bevel heads...a couple different models. There is no need to think 'single bevel head' is synonymous with 'narrow, skinny head'. Narrow heads in double-bevel configuration have been around forever, too. If you shoot a typical width broadhead, you've got plenty of choices in both single and double bevel heads.

Blood trails: I don't see a difference in single versus double bevel wounds, assuming identical hits and penetration. I've seen magnificent blood trails from both head types, and I've seen nonexistent trails too. The best blood trail is the one I don't need: the animal is down in sight. Next best is the shortest possible trail because every extra yard I need to follow blood means more chances to lose it.

Incidentally, the widest Zwickey available (Delta) is 1-3/8” which is more than enough to kill anything walking that bleeds. My preferred 'big' game head is also 1-3/8”, but it's thicker and heavier in weight. Definitely not a skinny head.

[pavan]

I believe that the type of metal and the size and shape of a head can have an effect on what sharpening method works best for a blood trail with that particular head.  some heads get a nice edge with a RADA others they seem to get to much edge shatter.  Some heads like my single bevel from a blank take on a a terrific Tom Mussato style edge or a buffed edge.  I think Zwickeys hold more of a cutting edge after going through a deer with a filed edge, even though they can be easily honed to shaving sharpness.   Not sure if there is one method that is the one and only method for all heads and all people. 

[Doug_K]

I don't have a lot of experience with single bevels. That said, I've been shooting Grizzly SB's for a year now, killed one whitetail with them last season. Clean pass thru, tons of blood. Very simple for me to sharpen, I just clean up the bevels with a fine grit belt grinder and strop, scary sharp in about a minute a broad head. The edge holds well in the quiver. They fly perfect. Personally, i'll give up a quarter inch of hole for an arrow that flies like I expect it to every time.

Also, for what it's worth, I target practice with broadheads year round, and I feel there's a lot to be said for durable broadheads. A year into them I'm still using the original 3 broadheads I designated for target use. No damage other than small nicks in the edges where they've hit each other. I don't think I've used any other broadhead that lasted more than a month on the targets, and I've had a few fail miserably in deer.

[HartHeart]

I've often wondered upon the small diameter of many popular single bevel broad heads, for example grizzlies, Cutthroats, etc...which have a cut diameter of 1"-1 1/8". Seems like an awful small slit to me. I use single bevels for the main reason that the animals that I shoot at have bones. That is the beauty of single bevels, when you hit nothing but flesh they'll penetrate very similarly to a double bevel; but when you hit bone, well, that's when we separate the men from the boys. Also, I think that the rotation of a single bevel is dependent on the density of the medium. So, if you hit nothing but skin you may not even see rotation. But when that head encounters resistance, meat, gristle, bone, the good stuff, it will rotate. IMHO, the ideal broadhead for North American big game will be a single bevel, two blade, with a 1 1/4"-1 1/2" cut diameter. Which, btw, are not real numerous...the majority seem to be below 1 1/4" cut diameter. Now all that I just said is presupposing a 50#+ bow....and a 500+ grain arrow

[HartHeart]

...oh, and a straight flying arrow...

[Herdbull]

This is a good discussion. Like golfers choose different clubs for different shots, I like to choose heads based on game. I've had good luck with the narrow Tuffhead for moose (penetration on a big animal that tends not to jump the string), but like the three blades for deer or bear (they can react to the shot sound or have heavy fat and fur). I am brobably at a disadvantage pairing the 1 inch broadhead to a large diameter shaft like 2219 aluminum. I guess its just confidence and preference. Mike

[GCook]

Speaking of keeping them sharp in the quiver.  Does anyone know of a hip quiver that has double arrow grips instead of having to stick your heads in foam?  I'm thinking of buying a regular bow quiver set up that way and crafting a mount for hip carry to get what I want.

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[Bisch]

This is a good discussion. Like golfers choose different clubs for different shots, I like to choose heads based on game. I've had good luck with the narrow Tuffhead for moose (penetration on a big animal that tends not to jump the string), but like the three blades for deer or bear (they can react to the shot sound or have heavy fat and fur). I am brobably at a disadvantage pairing the 1 inch broadhead to a large diameter shaft like 2219 aluminum. I guess its just confidence and preference. Mike

I would venture to say that any animal you are hunting is the one at the disadvantage!!!!

Bisch

[STICKBENDER98]

This has been very educational, and informative to me.  Just before this thread started I was thinking about which, or what type of broadhead to shoot out of my 42# Java Man Elkheart.  I'm still not exactly sure since everyone has raised many pros, and cons as to which one works best.  The two main things that keep coming up is sharpness, and placement, both of which I try to achieve, (unfortunately my towards sometimes is a little off  ).  Thanks to all who have passed along their experiences, and knowledge.

Jason

[pavan]

Grizzly also has the double bevel.  Just for a comparison of the long narrow heads.  I have never had any trouble finding a hit deer shot with file sharpened Schulz Hunter's Heads, some of them as well were barely an inch wide when they did their work.  I have lost a number of them due to pass throughs, but i was surprised every time how deadly they can be on deer.   I would like to say that is an obvious huge difference between those, my single bevel Hills to single bevel Grizzlies to the wide Deadheads, but the differences seem to be more related to hit location than anything when it comes to blood on the ground and the distance the deer covered after the hit.  As for penetration, through the animal is through the animal when deer is the medium.  A buffalo would would certainly show different results, I think, maybe.

[Bisch]

but the differences seem to be more related to hit location than anything when it comes to blood on the ground and the distance the deer covered after the hit. 

While I will agree with you that shot location has a LOT to do with distance covered after the hit, I have to disagree with you that it has a lot to do with blood on the ground!

This deer only went 40yds, and there was not a drop of blood on the ground between where I shot her, and where she died!





I thought for a while I was not going to find her because it was so thick!

After using many different broadheads over the years, I am convinced it is narrow 2-blade broadheads that consistently have poorer blood trails on the ground than wider 2-blades or 3 or 4 blade heads.

Bisch



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[Hermon]

After using many different broadheads over the years, I am convinced it is narrow 2-blade broadheads that consistently have poorer blood trails on the ground than wider 2-blades or 3 or 4 blade heads.

Bisch

What is your definition of the line between narrow and wide?  Just curious.

[WESTBROOK]

Dang Bisch, thats pretty amazing!

As is Mike Yancey's..with a 3 blade!

2 money shots with no blood!

This has been a really good thread and some eye-opening experiences for sure...things that make a guy scratch is head for sure. Thanks to everyone for their info and contributions.

A couple years ago, when Grizzly was talking about a new head, I was hoping it would be a nice wide 1 3/8"+ single bevel...but alas...it wasnt.

I'm not a single bevel devotee...I like them and believe they offer benefits over the same size double bevel and they are they easiest thing in the world to sharpen plus they get insanely sharp.

Probably stick with my Grizzly 3 bld or woodsmans...its just a harder hole to plug up.

[Bisch]

After using many different broadheads over the years, I am convinced it is narrow 2-blade broadheads that consistently have poorer blood trails on the ground than wider 2-blades or 3 or 4 blade heads.

Bisch

What is your definition of the line between narrow and wide?  Just curious.

All I know is 1 1/8” 2-blades consistently yield much poorer blood trails than 1 1/2” 2-blades. Those are the ones I have the most experience with.

Bisch

[GCook]

I agree.

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[bigbadjon]

I don't necassarily believe that penetration has to come at the expense of cutting diameter, but tip integrity has become a high priority for me. This Simmons was shot at a doe at about 12 yards quartering away. The arrow hit her opposing shoulder blade and bounced all the way back out of the deer. There was blood on the ground where the shot hit but not a drop for the 60 yards she traveled. I luckily saw her drop but without a pass through combined with a high angle no blood hit the ground.

[pdk25]

Crap.  That it the first Simmons head that I have ever seen bent like that.  Guessing you found the arrow much later?

[bigbadjon]

I seem to recall leaving it by my treestand and my Uncle retrieved it a little later when he hunted there. It looks all rusty because I never cleaned the blood off. It sits on my shelf as a conversation piece. Simmons discontinued this model so I'm guessing it had similar failures elsewhere.

[J-dog]

There are no magic bullets/broadheads - seems we chase our tails looking for one all the time. When I go fishing I carry a myriad of lures with me yet I only use a certain five!? why I have confidence in them. Same goes with all equipment - Use what you have confidence in and you will hunt better/harder - maybe confidence IS the magic bullet???

J