Crowbow questions 10 years later

[genenc]

I looking at a Parker Bushwhacker with Red Hot bolts & have lots of 85 GR Thunderheads left. That would put me over the 400gr min. by 10 grs. I'm shooting 285 fps A 150 lbs.

1: Should I go to a heaver broadhead to increase the energy?
2: If so I need to buy new broadheads. Do I have enough energy to use expandables? I would like some in field results from someone.
3: Do expandables come with practice broadheads? On fixed broadheads I just grind off the sharp edges & practice with what I hunt with.

One More please:

I can spend $100 more and get the next model Parker, and that only gets me camo & 15 FPS more. I'm thinking it's not worth it.

I'm pretty much sold on the Parker. I can **** it with the rope (I'm disabled), and it's way better in the weight & noise dept. over the 10 point I had for half the money, plus the lifetime warranty.

thanks

Gene

[Cossack]

Originally Posted by genenc

I looking at a Parker Bushwhacker with Red Hot bolts & have lots of 85 GR Thunderheads left. That would put me over the 400gr min. by 10 grs. I'm shooting 285 fps A 150 lbs.

1: Should I go to a heaver broadhead to increase the energy?
2: If so I need to buy new broadheads. Do I have enough energy to use expandables? I would like some in field results from someone.
3: Do expandables come with practice broadheads? On fixed broadheads I just grind off the sharp edges & practice with what I hunt with.

One More please:

I can spend $100 more and get the next model Parker, and that only gets me camo & 15 FPS more. I'm thinking it's not worth it.

I'm pretty much sold on the Parker. I can **** it with the rope (I'm disabled), and it's way better in the weight & noise dept. over the 10 point I had for half the money, plus the lifetime warranty.

thanks

Gene

While the overall weight is adequate for your bow (which by the way is more than adequate for deer) I'd focus on FOC and broadhead size/shape. My crossbows prefer arrows that are relatviely high in FOC (like 18-20%), tipped with heads that are low profile (short) and 4-bladed and fletched with 2" Blazer vanes.
Specifically: Gold Tip Lazer II with 110 brass inserts, Blazers and 100 gr Slick Trick or 100 Spitfire, if using mechanicals. Both fly so much like field points that I don't bother to practice using broadheads.
This setup weighs 405 grs and has FOC over 18%.
Large heads (like the original Thunderheads) tended to plane for me (when used in my 150 lb Terminator) when used on low FOC arrows. Large vanes helped some but then caused the back of the arrow to twirl wildly and be susceptible to crosswind..

[J Pike]

Gene I use the Red Hot arrows as well, I choose to use 100 Gr. Slick Trick magnum broadheads (even though I have used Thunder Heads for decades with my compound) because Parker recommends using 100 Gr. broadheads with the Red Hot arrows. Pike

[genenc]

Good info folks. I had Spitfires on my 10 Pt. Never shot a deer though. They look to be well made. I'm so used to the surgical sharpness of the Thunderheads that the mechanicals all look "dull" to me.

Sure wish I was able to shoot my Mathews, but I just have to face facts and accept the crossbow for what it is if i'm to archery hunt.