Crossbow: Field Point/Arrow Tuning Tip to Swhacker Broadheads

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I love my Swhacker 125g Broadheads and Practice Broadheads. 

However, now I use my 125g field points in my Big Shot target to replicate the broadhead impact at bear hunting distances. How?

My field points normally hit 2 to 3 inches higher than my Swhackers at 20 yards. Perhaps minor aerodynamics account for the impact shift up. 

Accordingly,  I have tuned the arrow/fieldpoint with 5 grain brass arrow washers added to the field point and now have identical impact at that distance.

I do this to relieve the constant use of my broadhead target and make pulling field points from my Big Shot target so much easier.

I shot both the 125g practice broadhead and extra weighted 135g field point at 30 yards and they both grouped within 2 inches of each other. Wow!

Three Rivers Archery sells the brass washers by arrow diameter. Give them a try…

 

Good Hunting!

Swhacker Broadhead Science

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I am interested in the science of Swhacker Broadheads for my Alberta Crossbow black bear hunt. I am hunting with my Ten Point Turbo S1 which shoots 350 fps with Swhacker 231 broadheads and whopping KE of 140 ft-lbs at 20 yards.

 

I recently shot the Swhacker 231 practice heads out to 50 yards like field points with supreme accuracy. Wow!

Note: A separate practice head used to come with the package of three hunting broadheads but practice heads are now sold separately. 

Remember, when shooting broadheads of any kind, “it is accuracy that kills” provided the blades are sharp.

There are several models of Swhackers but each follow the same concept of saving the rear deployed razor sharp blades for cutting internal organs and not the hide and bone on entry.

 

Made in USA.

Good Hunting

 

The Most Important Part of Broadheads – Accuracy

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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

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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

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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!!

Choosing A Basic Hunting Laser Rangefinder

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There are dozens of basic hunting laser rangefinders out there. Most rangefinders accomplish both close range e.g 4 or 5 yards to the furthest rating of the model you are interested in. All at a cost from 50 dollars to many hundreds. My criteria is simple. Compact, reliable, battery operated, handles angle distance, cost effective.

If you are going to spend thousands on hunts in far off lands, you need quality and reliability. 

Usually that means a brand name like Leupold, Nikon and SIG for example among many. As a bow and rifle hunter consider the following criteria;

Good customer ratings. e.g Amazon.

Ease of use

Light weight

Reliable measurements

Angle compensation

Display in a bright color

Some magnification

Battery operated

Water resistant

A lanyard for carry around neck

Carry case.

Warranty

You can accomplish all of this today for under $200. Seek to find youtube video reviews to narrow your choices like below.

 

 

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Travel with My 10 Point Turbo S1 Crossbow, Arrows/Bolts and Broadheads

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Perhaps you are considering a crossbow hunt and need to fly to your destination like me.  I have booked a 2025 trophy spring black bear rifle/crossbow hunt in Alberta, Canada.  I will bring my 10 Point Turbo S1 Crossbow along. Hunters in Alberta are allowed two bears.

I went online to look for a hard crossbow case.  This case below is said to fit all 10 Point Crossbows since 2019. The cost was $250, a bit high. However, the case was designed for specific 10 Point crossbows. The internal dimensions allow similar crossbows with varying fit quality like mine. 

 

 

 Ten Point says the case is hard enough for air travel, as a checked bag, but must have TSA airline approved locks. The case does come with some protective foam. I have added more. The case also has some exterior connection points for strapping to an ATV. 

Some air-traveling  crossbow hunters suggest to keep arrows and broadheads separate in other checked luggage. We shall see. I purchased a broadhead case from Muzzy below for $10.50. Keep those blades razor sharp. 

Fly Safe.

 

 

 

 

 

October Scouting New Hampshire Deer Sign – Finding Medicinal Birch Polypores

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Well, I found a few deer tracks but not rubs or scrapes in a new area. On the way back to my truck, I found a few new birch polypores, a mushroom like fungus growing on dead birch trees.  As a kid, I called them steak mushrooms. They are easy to identify correctly as they have no look alikes.

As it turns out humans have been using birch polypores across Europe and North America as medicine for centuries. Most famously, Otzi the Iceman of 3300 BC used polypores for whipworms he had in his gut and carried pieces of the polypore on his necklace. One species for medicine and the other for firemaking called a tinder fungus.

They look like a radial fan growing on dead birch trees. A tawny brown color, like deer fur color on top and white on the bottom.

 

The birch polypore is a wonder of nature. It is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory etc.. And when fresh and sliced thin can be a bandaid applied to a cut or scrape it can aid in healing minor wounds. As a tea it has several medicinal qualities.

 

https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/birch-polypore.html

 

Check it Out!