Two Blade Benefits

[KentuckyTJ]

I am not wanting to start an argument here but am just passing on my findings and thoughts of those findings. Please think before you post.

Well for the past couple seasons I have decided that a two blade is the head for me. Out of my 50 lb bows I have witnessed their benefits over a three bladed head and I have shot plenty of them with three blades. The deer I killed yesterday is a perfect example of why.

The shot was perfect as the deer was quartering away and a steep 8 yard shot angle with me about 15' above. It entered high of center at the ninth rib.

   

Excited the rib cage low at the fourth rib.

   

Then the head passed right through the deers left elbow breaking the leg. It was flopping as it ran off.

   

   

After passing through all that and the leg bone my arrow was laying on the ground on the opposite side of the deer.

   

I have shot enough deer with a three blade to know if I were shooting one here I would have most likely been watching my fletchings bounding down through the woods with the arrow plugging both holes.

Now there is no doubt the three blade would have killed the deer. But If I I were to have been a touch lower and only hit one lung for some reason I may not have recovered this deer at all or at the least not had near as good of a blood trail.

For anyone shooting at 50 lbs or less like I am with my 27" draw and trying to decide of which way to go let this simply be food for thought.

[Archer Dave]

Thanks for the info. I have been looking at two blade broadheads to hunt with this fall. Debating between the single bevel like you are using and a double bevel like the Ace Standard.

[KentuckyTJ]

Dave, there are many point of views on single or double but mine is that I can get singles much sharper and here is why. To sharpen an edge you must work on one side of a blade at the time to work up the micro thin rolled over edge of metal you can feel with your fingernail.

With a three blade you can't work on one side of the blade at once. When its laying flat on the stone you are creating that raised edge of metal on one of the blades but the other blade that edge is being removed at the same time and since it takes many more strokes to raise the edge than to remove it and hone it you are simply fighting against getting them as sharp as they could be all the time. If that makes sense.

[T Folts]

TJ what head do you have there. Also what is the specs of your arrow.
Good info.

[Bernie B.]

You certainly make a valid "point'' for a two blade broadhead.  I don't think anyone can find fault with them, especially with lower weight bows.  I've had a lot of success with a two blade Bear or a two blade Magnus with  similar weight  bows like yours.

Bernie

[ron w]

A two blade head has been doing the job very well for a long, long time.  

[KentuckyTJ]

Terry,

2016 aluminum Arrow/insert weight is 407 grains, and 230 grain single bevel Grizzly broad head (head 185, adapter 45). 637 total grains.

[Jwilliam]

Those Grizzly broadheads sure do a nice job !!! Very good information as usual Tom    


Bill

[Steve Jr]

Good info, I have had the same results this year. All pass through.

I shoot 50# with a 29.5" DL, and I love my 2-blades!

Bisch

[tracker12]

I thick that 637 grains helped.

[Dave Lay]

I have mainly shot 2 blades or at times 2 blade with a bleeder (zwickey deltas)for 40 years, im one if I find something that works I wont wander far, still shootin zwickeys and ole 2020 xx75's  . I have shot several animals where the arrow went between ribs in and out with little impact trauma, and usually a shorter run..  a couple even went back feeding after being shot but bled out very quickly.I do like the thoughts of a big hole that a big 3 blade makes, but I haven't have a single failure or lost animal that I can blame on the 2 blade heads ive been shooting for years.

[Wudstix]

For bows of around the weight I have to agree that two blades mostly perform better.  Just switched to Grizzly Instinct heads and have a hog hunt wnd of February, will let you know how they do if I draw blood.

[Paul Cousineau]

I completely agree. I'm getting rid of all my 3 and 4 blade heads. I can't really see any advantages to having more than 2 blades.

[buckracks7]

That's cool, shoot what you are confidant with. I am convinced I get better blood trails with 3 blades.

[Stumpkiller]

All the deer I've ever killed have been with two edged heads - Magnus II, Rib-Teks (narrow & wide versions), Stos.  All excellent heads.  One of my Stos heads has killed three deer and is still on the "lead arrow" for that bow.  Broke the shaft each time but the head just needed resharpening.  

This last season I tried a three edge (Modoc Dot) but no shots were presented.  I've always gone for penetration and wood shafts of around 600 to 620 grains.  Eager to see what a three blade will do.

Just need an obliging deer.

[fnshtr]

I've killed deer with both, including; snuffers, woodsmans, zwickeys, magnus, ace.

The two blades are what I am currently shooting with great success. Two deer this year with the same arrow and BH.

Keep 'em sharp!

[Tim]

Hey Tom,

I'm fortunate to live in a very "deer rich" area, that provides many opportunities each year for broad head testing.  Here's what I've found.  

2, 3 and 4 blade heads all "can" provide great blood trails, however I've also experienced poor trails with each one of these.  If we put any of these heads through both lungs we will almost always see the deer go down.  

Where some of the larger 2 blade heads and multi blade heads shine is with the less than perfect hits, especially hits too far back.  If we do hit too far back the big heads will put more sign on the ground.   On the other hand bigger heads with more blades do tend to penetrate less as a result of their design.

Like Tom I only shoot 50 lbs.  I've found the skinny Axis arrows help in penetration, so that's a free lunch for me.  I prefer the one piece heads over heads that need an insert.....inserts do break and must be aligned.  2 blade heads by design get sharper and hold an edge better, especially the stainless blades (     - my opinion).   Getting very sharp and staying sharp is very important!  I hunt a lot and in and out of the quiver dulls a head quickly.

Here's my top heads.

Magnus Stingers for sharpness and staying sharp
VPA 3 blade for toughness
Simmons heads for insane blood trails

I stopped trying to decide which design is better a few years ago.  Shoot which one flys the best and you can get the sharpest.

         

[KentuckyTJ]

Good post Tim, I would like to try some thinner shafts some time. I still have witnessed many three blade shots through the ribs that haven't passed through with my bows. The deer have tensed or twisted in trying to run from the shot and I think that pinches the shaft stopping it quicker. That doesn't happen near as much with a two blade head for me.

I do agree if shot through the guts it may be better with a three blade but I shot my buck this year there and he went 80 yards and laid down. We found him there the next morning.

I still think the pluses of the two blade out weigh any other option with our lower poundage bows.

I do agree that you should use the head you can get the sharpest. Another much often overlooked piece of the puzzle is shooting a bow that you can get tuned the best. Arrow flight is a major key in penetration. If an arrow is still in paradox and hasn't stabilized when it hits a deer it will greatly decrease penetration.

[Tim]

You know Tom, many folks don't spend enough time shooting their broad heads prior to hunting.  Not all broad heads fly well and many do not shoot the same as their field tips.  

I'm a tuning nut and I will spend hours doing everything I can to get perfect arrow flight.  Once I get it I will shoot my broad heads.  Some will fly the same, others will not.  You're dealing with a longer tip and wind/blade issues.  I can't emphasize enough the importance of making sure your broad heads fly where you are looking.

I spend the last two weeks of August narrowing down what broad head shoots best out of my current setup. I shoot them at 30 yards over and over for days. After several dozen shots you will find some heads are more forgiving, some dive, some rise and some do circles.

I really believe the decision to choose a 2 blade or a multi blade should be based on consistent and "perfect" arrow flight. Once you achieve this with a few different style heads, than you can pick which one will best meet your needs.