Elk broadheads

[snowplow]

Hey guys, I will likely be going on a dedicated elk hunt this coming year. I was just wondering if you guys use primarily grizzly style 2 blades, what I would consider hybrid heads (Large 2 blades or skinny 3 blades) like Centaur/Simmons/Grizzly Instinct or big 3 blades just like you can on a deer?

I am particularly interested in how you think a simmons safari or centaur big game head would do.

[Daz]

One of the sponsors here-RMS Gear has a great article on their website:

http://www.rmsgear.com/store/pc/broadhead_talking_points.asp

A very well thought out exploration of broadheads and the pros and cons of each, with a particular focus on elk.

[Whitetail Addict]

Thanks for posting the link Daz. I'll probably never hunt elk, but the article offers a lot of good information for hunting other species as well. Thanks again.

Good luck on your hunt snowplow. I hope you shoot a beauty, and have the time of your life doing it.

Bob

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

It depends on your setup. I use the largest Simmons sharks. Sometimes a big snuffer will wander into my quiver also. But I shoot 740 grain arrows, have a super efficient 32" draw, and am pulling 68 lbs at that draw length. The RMS guys (linked by Daz) kill a lot of elk. their opinion is going to be well informed.

[DKdc]

I advocate for two blade. I like single bevel. The argument is that a three blade gives you a bigger hole so more blood. The truth is if you double lung an elk you wont need a blood trail. They fold pretty quick. And remember you have 50 50 chance of hitting bone. Good luck.
Doug

[widow sax]

Actually you only have a 33% chance of hitting a rib   there is one third meat on either side of a rib. I use woodsman elites and love them great Penetration and good blood.     Widow

[widow sax]

Actually you only have a 33% chance of hitting a rib   there is one third meat on either side of a rib. I use woodsman elites and love them great Penetration and good blood.     Widow

[hawkeye n pa]

Thanks for posting the link Daz  X2,

[drewsbow]

I took abowyer brown bears but didn't get a chance to test them

[damascusdave]

As with any game where you hit them is far more important than what you hit them with...a high lung hit with anything is going to give you some tracking issues

DDave

[joe ashton]

I've put 4 elk in the freezer with 55# long bows and:
#1 with 2 blade zwicky
#2 with a  thunder head
#3 and 4 with woodsman and all were down in under
   100 yards...Joe

[Orion]

I've put 4-blade Zwickey deltas through a couple of elk.   Also killed one with a two-blade STOS.  Will probably have one of each in my quiver this fall, along with a single bevel Brown Bear.  I shoot whatever I happen to pull out of the quiver. Just about any head will do if it's sharp and put in the right place.

[screamin]

I've killed a few with Magnus stinger 4 blades and a few with magnus 2's. All but one shot were pass throughs with 535 gr arrows from a 54lb bow. I hit heavy bone twice with the magnus 2 and the tip curled and bounced off the animal. I don't think there is a broadhead on the planet that will go through heavy bone, the thin part of the scapula yes, the heavy section no.

I've done quite a bit of testing with fresh cow shoulder blades, I love to tinker, and have found that skinny shafts out penetrate regular shafts by 2 to 1. The broadhead ferrule must be larger than the shaft diameter. 2 blades and single bevels out penetrate most 3 blades, Nap Razorcaps excluded, it has a very large ferrule... to bad it is discontinued. The wide Simmons was comparable to a regular, not razorcap, 3 blade.

Based on what I found during my cow shoulder tests, I would go with an 1 1/8" wide head, a skinny shaft, and a head with a blade thickness of at least .050 with a hardness of 52 to 54 rockwell.

[black velvet]

Sounds like they all work as long as they are sharp and flying straight. Boils down to whatever you prefer.

[wingnut]

The key is getting an arrow to fly well and have a sharp head on the end.  After that it's hit the spot.  Stay out of the shoulder!  You can't penetrate it with twice the bow you are shooting.
A double lung brings them down quickly and usually leaves a good trail.  Also they are big animals and leave a good trail without blood.

I've killed a bunch of elk over the years and have used magnus 2 blades, grizzly two blades and WW three blades out of selfbows around 55 pounds.  All have done the job and most often have passed through.  My personal preference is the three blade heads because of the large wound path.

Mike

[Friend]

All mentioned will work and all mentioned will not work.

[FerretWYO]

I wrote this a while back might help you some. Honest truth is it is way more important your arrow flies good and is sharp than what is looks like.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=128480;p=1#000000

[old_goat2]

Haven't killed one with a stick bow yet, this year we are using the new one piece single bevel Cutthroat Broadheads designed and sold by the guys at RMSGear! I took a deer with one this past season, it was still sharp enough to shave with when all was said and done. I think that's what Tom took his giant bull with this past season also!

Here are a couple of blog entries on their new broadhead.
http://rmsgear.blogspot.com/?m=1

[PistolPete]

No sense in disregarding the mountains of research that have already been done on large-boned animals and broadheads by Dr. Ashby. He is spot on. If I had read (and heeded) his information earlier I'd have another 2 elk to my name, I'm certain. Shoot long, heavy, SINGLE-BEVEL 2-blade broadheads.

There is no reason not to! More blades might (MAYBE) bleed more, but an exit wound WILL leave more blood on the ground for you to follow. And a quartering-away shot will most likely not exit with any other broadhead. Trust me, I've tried.

On a perfect hit, perfectly broadside, any head will do. But if you happen to hit bone or shoot quartering away, don't you want your best chance of killing (and finding) that elk?

There is no downside to these style heads. And you'll find the best prices at RMS! Get Grizzly's or their Cutthroats when they get more in stock.

Pete

[Tree Killer]

Been using Woodsman's for year on deer and elk, love how they fly and the hole they open up! Still have a bunch of Originals, but used an Elite last fall on my bull elk.