tip curls

[southernarcher]

I was just wondering who all has had broadhead tips curl and what the story is. I have sent both STOS and Grizzlies into shoulder “blades” without curl. I drove a grizzly into the offside shoulder/leg joint and it showed no signs of any curl. I know it happens and I imagine usually on larger game?

[Zradix]

Never had one curl....except for a bad shot that hit solid steel....lol

For the most part, a well made broadhead like the ones you listed and many others won't curl much if at all as long as you don't bring them to a needle point.
The tanto type tip I feel really helps curl from happening.

[Sam McMichael]

Only when I hit a rock.

[Wudstix]

Tanto tip really helps.  I have shoot Ribtek into a concrete wall and pulled out almost ready to hunt.  Have used STOS, ACE, Magnus, Magnus Mag II, and Snuffer with good results.  Just tanto the tip a smidge.

[Orion]

I no longer knock off the tip of my Woodsmans, Zwickeys, STOS or any other head I shoot.  I haven't had any curl, but if the tip curls a little bit (or even breaks off at the point) on hard contact with bone, so what.  By that time, it's usually done it's job.  And on an arrow stopping hit like the heavy part of the scapula or spine, the arrow likely isn't going to make it through anyway unless one is shooting a very heavy arrow and poundage.

[southernarcher]

Yeah I’m thinking more along the lines with Orion.  I don’t tanto my STOS, and haven’t had any issues. But, I have been able to stay out of the entry side big bones so far.

[J. Holden]

I had the tip break off on me this fall.  I shot a single bevel thru a bear in the spring.  I was able to recover the broad head out of the bears off side shoulder blade.  I cleaned up the head, resharpened it, and put it back in my quiver.

This fall found me a few yards from a small buck.  I made a poor shot, too far forward, and hit the humorous bone of the deer.  The arrow stuck and the deer ran.  A few yards away the arrow fell out.  I got down and inspected my arrow only to find the tip broken and the rest of the arrow intact.  Very little blood and no deer found.

I'm not sure if the head was weakened from the previous kill or the deers humorous was just that strong.  But I'm hesitant now to reuse a broad head that has killed.  I think I'll retire them and start a collection.  If my success holds true it'll be a small collection!

-Jeremy

[Stinger]

I've got a small coffee can full of old Bear Razorheads that curled up.  Some look like the lid on an old sardine can that was opened up.  Most of those were from hitting rocks or bone on Spanish goats.

[GCook]

I e curled the tips on two Woodsman Elite heads on bone shots.

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[SuperK]

I once had a Woodsman curl like an elf's shoe.  I shot at one doe and (she ducked the arrow) hit the doe behind her at the base of the ear.  The broadhead came out her throat.  I had left the point needle shaped.  The only other COC broadhead I had the tip to curl was a Magnus II 125 grain glue on.  It went through the 8 pointers ribs and buried into his off side shoulder.  It may have bent when he fell on the arrow.  Way back when I shot bows with wheels and used cheap-o replaceable blade broadheads,  I had not only points bend and break but the blades, ferrules, etc.  Most of the broadheads that I have had damaged has been from me trying to remove them from trees!  Like they say, the sun never sets on Zwickey broadheads!

[Todd Cook]

I've curled 2 of the original glue on woodsmans several years ago. But the only reason I know they curled is because I dug them out of bone on 2 very dead deer. I shoot the 160 grizzly now and have never damaged one on an animal.

[bucknut]

I've had several 160 grizzly's curl after shoulder or leg bone hits on deer. Maybe they weren't hardened enough? All of them have been straightened for reuse.

[Eric Krewson]

I curled a magnus on ribs no less, I didn't hit the shoulder.

[Tim Finley]

I hit a wounded deer in the spine the arrow bounced off, the deer got up  and ran away when I picked up my arrow the tip was curled more than a full curl they were Magnus . I shot the rest of the heads (I had 6 ) into some rib cages they all curled . I have shot a lot of deer and other animals with Razorheads and never had one curl yet but I have heard it form others that it happens.

[bigbadjon]

Incidentally this was the first deer I killed with a bow. It was a 58# GN Fireball. I shot her at about 22 yards quartering away from a treestand. The arrow sunk in past my cresting and bounced back out. It cut through 2 ribs and I believe hit her offside legbone. This was when I was first getting started and I doubt my tune was perfect and I was using a light head with a heavy insert but the arrow did weigh 580 grains

[Jason W]

This is a rabbit hole...

Tips curl if the metal is too soft or the hit is an off camber shot.

Yes, rock hits or large more dense bones is when you will see this possible happen

Tanto tips do help.

Ashby’s stance is, it is better to have the tip break clean than curl. A curled tip will loose more penetration over a broken tip.

However, too hard is too hard and can make the broadhead “brittle”
This is a fine line and a balance Broadhead manufactures struggle with all the time.

[bigbadjon]

I disagree a bit with the too hard is brittle stuff. My dad makes broadheads out of his knife steel and heat treats it as such. They are 60 rc and not brittle at all. I just think people start complaing about how difficult it is to sharpen, especially those who use a file to do touch ups.

[Jason W]

Agree. All depends on the steel as well. ALL steel reacts differently to certain hardness.
And you are absolutely right. When you get it hard, it makes it more difficult to sharpen. However, harder steel will hold Han edge better and longer.

[Gdpolk]

I've had a few Magnus Stingers curl or break on me.  Most happened when it hit the ground or a tree behind the animal which didn't bother me.  One head curled on a quartering away shot on a deer that hit rib and another curled and broke off the ferrule against a shoulder bone on a pig.  Those two bothered me.  Magnus replaced them under warranty but I just lost confidence. 

I now shoot Grizzlies and the only thing that has damaged one yet is thwacking a stone after it's passed through.  I think one of the biggest advantages of going from a common 100-125gr head to something much heavier is that the increased mass allows for the edges and tips to be built up sturdier resulting in a stronger and more durable head. Also I went to a tanto tip when I switched to Grizzlies and that probably influenced the durability as well.

[LC]

I've shot lots of critters using Magnus Stingers for the last several years and not had a single tip curl. However I've used a bunch of broad heads through the years with significant tip curl. Most ended up with a dead critter though. But I'd rather not worry about tip curl and continue to use Magnus Stingers for that very reason.