Broadhead adapters - Steel vs. Aluminum

[LookMomNoSights]

That right wing tip and info is amazing,  Thank You Terry   I’ve never had an issue with rattling and such with any aluminum or carbon cuz I’ve always used something,  in recent years a tiny dot of blue loc tite,  to prevent that.  What’s amazing to me is that shooting left wing would actually generate enough of what it takes to work on turning the heads loose.  I would have never thought that but makes sense I suppose if your heads aren’t tight enough.  All my jigs revolve around left wing but maybe I should have both now!  Thanks for the pointers guys,  this is something I’d have never given a thought to!   Been shooting only left for probably 37 or so years now.  Funny 

[Terry Green]

Thank you Terry, Ryan and all for the input and tips. I appreciate everyone's experience, knowledge and testing.

Terry, I was really just curious if anyone had success with taking an aluminum adapter and reducing the weight to get to a particular broadhead and adapter weight combo.

I'll get to this later today Sir....

[Terry Green]

Agree with Ryan's last post.  Used to do a lot of ground hog hunting and have ruined many  a arrow.  But only a few screw in adapters.  Had way more aluminum shafts crack, split, etc.  Remember though that rocks, locust fence posts, and old broken farm equipment was  quite often the back stop.   Haven't shot many with carbon arrow's but they have snapped off behind the insert with similar shots.

This is why we foot Carbon with an aluminum sleeve

I have never felt the need to foot my carbons with aluminum as I use radial wrapped carbons, WAY stronger that linear wraps. 

[Terry Green]

Terry, I was really just curious if anyone had success with taking an aluminum adapter and reducing the weight to get to a particular broadhead and adapter weight combo.

Reducing  it to what?  Not trying to be a smart asset, but there are two sizes of aluminum adapters with two weights..... not sure which one you are wanting to reduce but you, nor I, are going to shoot the difference. What EXACTLY are you trying to achieve??????

[supernaut]

Terry, In my original post on this thread I mentioned that I was shooting some 125 grain field points. I can get 125 grain screw in broadheads no problem. I also mentioned that I had some Bear Razorheads glue on without the bleeder blades. I was curious if I could reduce the weight of the aluminum adapter in an effort to get the Razorhead to 125 grains.

I know I can't shoot the difference of 15 or so grains, I was just curious. I'll likely just do some experimenting and see for myself.

[Russell Southerland]

I'm confused also.  You got a 42 grain adapter and a 31 grainer.  What are you trying to achieve?

[supernaut]

My apologies for the confusion.

I appreciate the comments.

[Cory Mattson]

To the original question

YES I have had aluminum fail. Shot aluminum adapters for quite a long time using 2020 aluminum shafts. The failure was a clean break at the exact spot front of shaft / back of broadhead. Found the head in the lungs when field dressing. Arrow had hit far shoulder inside. I consider this an anomaly. Ran that arrow/bow for twenty years averaging ten bowkills a year with no other issues. That’s glue in adapters.

Screw in aluminum we have had a lot more problems with the threads. So much I got off em and stay away.

Steel screw in adapters ZERO problems running at least five years. Indestructible. Easy. Dependable. Threads good. Tapers good. The two weights I’ve used are 70 grains and 110 grains. These weights have been working well.

[LookMomNoSights]

My apologies for the confusion.

I appreciate the comments.

No apologies ..... unless I am confused,  seems to me you are interested in getting your broadhead weight to EXACTLY match your field point wait,  correct?  How important that is is clearly debatable......as has been mentioned,  when you are crunching negligible differences....... but the point is,  you’re trying for exact weight match between the two.......?

[supernaut]

Lookmom, I don't care if the weights between the broadhead and the field point EXACTLY match but I'd like to see if I could get them reasonably close, +/- 5 grains. I know I can buy some very nice, proven broadheads that come already built to screw in at 125 grains. I was really just curious if anyone had taken a glue in head like a Razorhead or an Ace High Speed, etc and got them to (or close to) 125 grains using an aluminum adapter.

Thanks for your response. 

I apologize if I got this thread off track or ruffled anyone's feathers.

[LookMomNoSights]

You may not get a reply from anyone here that has done exactly what you are trying to do with the adapter,  but that doesn't mean for a second that it hasn't be done.....in fact I guarantee it has been done.   Do whatever you gotta do to make things work for you. Good bad or indifferent, it'll be a learning process for ya   

[Terry Green]

No worries supernaut, we are just trying to figure out exactly what you are wanting.  There are lots of different options for weight from titanium, aluminum,  and steel.

The only advice I can give you from here is don't sell yourself too short on hardware.   

[supernaut]

Thanks Lookmom and Terry for your responses and insight.

I'm a SW PA guy that spends my time chasing whitetails, rabbits, squirrels, turkey and ground hogs in the summer. I shoot my bow(s) daily, it's fun but I'm always looking towards hunting.

I'm happy with the 160 grain Ace Standards (125 grain glue ons with aluminum adapter) and may hunt with them this season. I've just been playing with the 125 grain field points and kicking around hunting with a 125 grain broadhead as well. I'm very confident I wouldn't have any trouble killing any of the game I'm chasing with them with shot placement and sharpness always being a given. If I was chasing those hogs down south, I'd opt for at least the 160 Aces and maybe even something a little heavier....someday.

I hope I'm not rambling here and thanks again. 

[last arrow]

The Bear Razorheads weigh about 110 grains.  I doubt you will have enough glueing surface left after you grind 10 grains off a 31 grain adapter to be within 5 grains of 125.  You can try if you would like.  I recommend getting a field tip to match your broad head.  The field point would be easier to ground down to match if needed.

That said I have used steel and aluminum adapters for nearly 50 years and never had a problem on game.  I do as Ryan said and select the adapter that gets the head weight I need. I have only used hot melt glue.

[supernaut]

last arrow, Thank you for the reply sir. I was a bit skeptical getting the Razorheads with modified adapters weight down to 125. I think the Ace High Speed would be a better candidate starting at 100 grains before an adapter was added.

I really like the idea of grinding down the field point to match the final weight of the Razorhead with adapter, thanks for that suggestion.

I just got my 3 pack of Magnus Stingers screw ins  at 125 grains in the mail yesterday but I haven't had a chance to test shoot one yet. Work always gets in the way of fun.

[David McLendon]

Aluminum is strong, I use brass or steel when the additional weight is needed for tune.

[Wudstix]

I'd really like some glue in steel adapters like the aluminum ones, but probably not much market for them.