160 snuffers for elk?

[Coiloil37]

I'm fairly new to traditional archery but I've had training wheels for about 15 years and I've managed to take 13 elk. I've seen my share of penetration problems and I know a trad bow isn't putting out the same power as my old bow so I thought I would ask for your collective wisdom.
 I'm shooting a pronghorn, [email protected] (my dl) and I'm shooting 670 grain arrows with 275 up front. I've got 160 grain ace, el grandes, snuffers and vpa's and I would like to know what the elk hunters think about using the snuffers? I know the smart thing would be to hedge my bets and shoot the grizzlies or possibly the vpa's and I will probably shoot a couple of deer with the big snuffers before I trust them on an elk but what's YOUR opinion?

[m midd]

With that much bow you should not have penetration problems..im trying to decide if i want to use snuffers on elk this year too.. Im leaning toward 200gr Ace

[Guru]

With your setup. I wouldn't hesitate!

[Tony Sanders]

I am with Guru one this one, just put the arrow where it needs to go, and no problems. Good luck in your endeavor.

  Tony

[overbo]

Poor elk.Those 160 snuffer will leave a nasty mark

[COOCH]

75 @ 29.5 with a 670 gr arrow you can shoot any broadhead that you want.

[meathead]

Ouch that will hurt them.

[Coiloil37]

I'm glad to hear it, they certainly look like they would leave a messy bloodtrail. I've also got a [email protected] three piece slammer, would that be enough bow as well?
 I'm only hesitant because even with a wheel bow I don't shoot heads that big on elk, I've always valued the penetration I get from a 1-1/2" two blade so I know I'm getting an exit wound.

[joe skipp]

Ryan Rothaar took a nice elk last year with his Howard bow and 160 gr Snuffer. I believe his bow wt was around 60#.

Hmmm..wonder why Ryan chose a Snuffer...          

[Gun]

I killed 3 Bulls with Snuffers out of a 65# Recurve. No problems.

[[email protected]]

I have taken a handful of elk with the smaller snuffers.  560 grain arrows, 60 lb, with a B50 string.

You have plenty of horse power to make it work without a second thought...as long as you get to full draw.

Bob

[Steve O]

That setup would crush anything that stepped in its path.  Roger has a real nice elk on his wall that a BIG Snuffer worked well on, I think he was shooting mid 60s.  Go forth and slay critters.

[Coiloil37]

I've got no issues hitting full draw at this weight. I've got another pronghorn that draws 85 lbs at my draw length that I sometimes short draw but I'm not going to attemp hunting with it yet, or possibly ever, the accuracy just isn't there.
 So theses snuffers won't handle bone very well will they? Even at this weight I would want a grizzly or similar if I hit something solid? I've heard the big snuffers are a lot tougher then their smaller siblings but they look to big to ask to punch through a spine or scapula.

[Blaino]

if the grizzly gives you more confidance shoot them.... i bet you'd be suprised to see what thoes snuffers will do to bone. of corse you dont what to hit any..... snuffers have been around for a long time for a reason.  they are good heads!

[capt eddie]

I have shot 5 elk with a 72# recurve.  I did find all of them.  But I did not get an exit wound on any of them.  The distances were 7, 12, 12, 16 , 20 ,24 yards.  Only one was stopped by the opposite side bones.  The 24 yard shot was behind the shoulder, one rib.  stopped inside lungs but no exit.  Yes they are great head, but do not expect an exit hole.  Plenty will come out the entry hole.

[JamesKerr]

With a bow that pulls 75# and a 670 grain arrow you can just about gurantee a passthrought with any of those heads you mentioned.

[Coiloil37]

posted 09 April, 2012 05:10 PM                          
I have shot 5 elk with a 72# recurve. I did find all of them. But I did not get an exit wound on any of them. The distances were 7, 12, 12, 16 , 20 ,24 yards. Only one was stopped by the opposite side bones. The 24 yard shot was behind the shoulder, one rib. stopped inside lungs but no exit. Yes they are great head, but do not expect an exit hole. Plenty will come out the entry hole.


That's what scares me. I've noticed from all the elk I've seen that if you deflate both lungs they don't go very far, if you only get one lung they can travel a long ways. How far did your elk go? Did you manage to deflate both lungs? Bloodtrails were sufficient?
I've never had an arrow stay in an animal before but I've heard they can do a lot of damage while the animals running. I still think I would prefer an exit.
 Maybe I'm better off with a centaur big game?

[Fletcher]

Good arrow flight trumps pretty much all other variables in arrow penetration.  If your arrows tune perfectly with the 160's and they are SHARP, you should have no issues with penetration, IMO.

[sagebrush]

I like penetration myself. I always shoot two bladers. I usually get an exit wound. But I shot two of my elk in the scapula from a tree stand. The arrow went through the scapula and I still killed them. Would a snuffer make it through? I don't know. I also shot one in front of the hip and it came out alongside the neck. I shoot 65 lbs. and a 750 gr. arrow. I've shot seventeen now. Fourteen with a recurve, two with a longbow and one in the late eighties with a compound. I like the look of snuffers but the two bladers have worked so well for me that I just never shot anything with them. And I worry about not getting an exit wound. Another thing I notice is that when people go to hunt african game they always shoot two bladers for the penetration. Now if a two bladers is big enough to kill a cape buffalo with their overlapping ribs why does a smaller animal require a three or four blade? Gary

[Coiloil37]

Sagebrush I know what your saying, I've taken one elk with a two blade, a silverflame. It took him down no problem but the bloodtrail wasn't as heavy as I've seen with multi blade heads. And my opinion on it is if you've got the horsepower to shoot big broadheads through an animal, why not? Now that doesn't cover a guy if he hits bone, but it might save him if he hits liver or gut.
  On one hand I almost believe if I hit bone, I screwed up, if it doesn't penetrate and the animal survives with no long term damage maybe that's ok. However if I hit liver or gut, I probably need more then a 1-1/8" cut to bring him down quickly, especially elk. I hit one once and got guts, liver and the back of one lung. He went a long, long ways before he layed down. I gave him eight hours and he had traveled about a mile before laying up.
  I know it's a compromise on both sides and neither is always right or wrong but it's nice to hear others opinions.
  I know if I hit them right with my setup the snuffer will go through, the question is what happens when the shot isn't perfect, or he's quartering away and I need 3' of penetration, will it provide that?