The Most Important Part of Broadheads – Accuracy

An accurate, sharp, big game broadhead shot from your bow is essential. Years back, when I was shooting new arrows out of my compound, I would paper tune the shafts with and without fletching. Then tune with broadheads with the intended fletching.

I’ve always liked feathers on my arrows as they are more forgiving than vanes. The downside of feathers in the hunting woods is rain. They lay flat and no longer steer the broadhead well.

Today, many new bowhunters have bypassed paper tuning by going for mechanicals that fly like field points. It is a shortcut that can create a less informed archer about his/her equipment and more reliance on mechanicals to forgive poor bow tuning. 

In my crossbow, vanes make more sense. I advocate spin to all arrows. It’s like rifling in a rifle. The spin creates stability, and allows rotating broadhead blades from steering the short crossbow arrow.  I like offset vanes.  A slight helical may work too. Experiment! Experiment! Experiment!

When all your tweaking comes together you should have some understanding of your setup and limitations. As for me, my crossbow limitations with fixed blade heads end at 25 yards. I like muzzy 1 1/8 3 and 4 blade heads. 

Muzzy 225 Bowhunting 100 Grain, 3 Blade Broadhead, 1-3/16" Cutting Diameter, 6 Pack,MULTI

Big blades tend to plane, avoid them.

Accordingly, for me, a mechanical head like the Swhacker 125g 231 is a great choice for longer and accurate shots provided you have the delivered KE and lethality for the shot and shot angle.

 

One thing you may want in your bag of tuning tricks are brass arrow washers to add some weight to a broadhead or a field point. Three Rivers sells them. They are 5 grains each.

Good Hunting!

My Christmas Swhacker Stocking Stuffer and 10 Point Arrow Puller

My new 10 Point Arrow Puller works great so I don’t damage my vanes when pulling my crossbow arrows

 

Swhacker Practice broadheads for hunting.  Just tested them today at 20 and 30 yards. They fly like a field point and don’t drift. More tests at 40 yards soon. The trocar tips are cut-on-contact.

Swhacker 125g broadheads open to 2.25 inches .

I am shooting 350 fps out of my 10 Point Turbo Crossbow with my pro Elite 400 arrows. With the 125 grain heads the arrow and head weigh in at 535 grains. I calculated Kinetic Energy at 20 yards at 140 ft-lbs, at 40 yards Im still shooting a terminal energy of 134 ft lbs. More than enough energy for Black Bear, Moose and Elk. The broadhead was designed by a NASA Engineer. The head on left has two blades that cut a one inch hole and when inside game, it opens to 2.25 inches. Swhackers have been in the field for many years and proving their worth day after day. Yup, Amazon sells them!! I will make a video at some point.

Good Hunting!

The Slick Trick Crossbow Broadhead vs Muzzy MX-4 Broadhead

I am testing the 100g Slick Trick Crossbow 4-blade broadhead against the 100g Muzzy MX-4  Broadhead.

 

Both are 1 1/8 cutting diameter. Both are hunting broadheads for use with any Crossbow, Compound, Recurve or Longbow say the manufacturer.

 

Slick Trick Crossbow 4-Blade Broadhead 4=Pack. Cost $45 or $12.50 per broadhead Unassembled

 

Test Observation

Assembly: Requires assembly, no tools provided.

Extreme care needed to avoid getting cut. Needs threaded arrow insert to hold the broadhead blades together.

Tip – Steel 4 edge align with blades. Not true cut-on-contact

Blades: 4 stainless

Blade thickness 0.035″

Weight: 100 grains

Cut on contact tip edges not cutting sharp

grouping  – 4.5 inch drop from field points and 2.5 inch right at 25 yards

Reuse – Yes 

Made in USA

Notes: The Slick Trick ferrule is made of steel. This is needed as the wider slot cuts for .035″ blades would significantly weaken an aircraft aluminum ferrule. Small metal ring to hold blades in place. Don’t lose them. 

 

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Muzzy MX-4 Blade 100g Broadhead 3-Pack Cost 29.99. Cost $9.99 per broadhead Assembled. 

Test Observation

Assembly: None needed.

Trocar Tip – Hardened Steel 3 trocar edge with true cut-on-contact

Blades: 4 stainless

Blade thickness 0.025″

Weight: 100 grains

grouping  – yes but 4.5 inch drop from field points, zero lateral drift at 25 yards.

reuse- Yes

Made in USA

Conclusion

Both broadheads work but fell 4.5 inches below field point. I prefer cut-on-contact tips and lower cost and ready assembled Muzzy. Slick Tricks were a headache to assemble and fall apart if not screwed into an arrow. Looked like Slick Trick tips would be cut-on-contact but not so. They are not cutting sharp.

 

Clear Winner: Muzzy MX-4

 

Cut-On-Contact Thoughts

Why do some hunters believe cut-on-contact broadheads are so important?

 I believe, for example, like using an ultra sharp laboratory needle to draw patient blood, the pain nerve signal was never sent to the brain as it was cleanly severed on needle contact and the patient rarely feels much. 

However, a really dull needle used to draw your blood; Imagine that for a moment!! The patient or deer will scream and adrenaline along with coagulants will rush like an ambulance to the wound site. And your trail to recover game will be much longer. 

Big Game Animals have those same nerves. Cutting-nerves on contact (on game) before the pain signal is sent. VERY SMART!!

Good Hunting!!