CG, I'm not going to rag on you for the head and neck shot choices because they are exactly that, your choice. Personally, I disagree with those shots even if they are on "only a coyote" which is a mentality I also disagree with despite hating them, but that's me. When you originally mentioned your findings about the Snyper I didn't find it that hard to believe since I have used them, checked out their design, and it slammed into the rib of an elk. The one that bent in the neck of the coyote though does concern me. If it did not encounter any bone and bent as you said it did I believe there is either a serious design concern or the batch you got belonged in the trash heap not the store shelf. If you could, please post a pic so we can see what happened.

Personally, I use Snypers for deer and have had success with them on 4 straight animals with varying shots. My shots and results have been as follows:
1. Slightly quartering away shot arrow entered right behind the front shoulder and smashed through the far shoulder blade catching both lungs. Not a complete pass through. The arrow sheared off and the deer went about 60 yards.
2. Broadside shot pass through embedded 6 inches in the ground on the other side of the deer. Double lung hit and the deer dropped within 40 yards.
3. Broadside shot deer tried to jump the string and the arrow caught the spine. It went through to the other side and the deer dropped in that spot.
4. Hard quartering away shot with the arrow entering behind the ribs passing through the liver and diaphragm and catching one lung. The arrow poked through the far side and eventually broke off and fell out. The deer went less than 100 yards.

The heads were recovered on all but the last mentioned and all just needed new blades to be used again. None of mine bent despite encountering heavy bone.

I have had better success than you, but I am seriously considering changing because what if the one failure I have is on my next shot and not on the practice bail.

As far as the Gold Tip head goes I wonder if the blades slung forward when they hit the far rib and came to a sudden stop. NAP has said that can happen with their heads. Just food for thought. Good luck.

Edited by - huntingbry on 10/03/2002 08:16:18