I've killed about 12 deer with jackhammers.At firstI thought they wereone of the best inventions.However,I soon realized that Icracked ferules almost everytime,either losing blades or having them just hangingthere by a thread.Penetration usually wasn't an issue because I shoot way more than enough KE.My opinion changed in 2004.I shot a nice 9 point at 18yards the first week of october.The shot looked good at first but when he turned to run,I saw almost the whole arrow sticking out of him.I left him go over night and the next morning I found my arrow broken off at the insert without a drop of blood on the arrow.I won't make any excuse for the shot but 1 inch of penetration isunexceptable with my set-up.The story has a happy ending though.I bought a pack of slick tricks that year and used them for the rest of the season.On the last thursday of our season,5 weeks later,I rattled in and killed that same buck with a slicktrick.He has a slight limp but he came in looking for a fight.

I blame the shot more than the broadhead but I have no doubt thatI would have killed that buck with a good fixed blade.A shoulder shot is bad but I've penetrated them 3 other times and killed the deer.That isn't even what bothers me the most.A bad shot is a bad shot but broken blades are inexcusable in my book.Since that year,I've killed 11 deer with slicktricks and never had a deer run out of sight and I never damaged a broadhead.I have a collection of jackhammers and Rockets that have gone through deer.Almost all of themare severly damaged.i'd be more than glad to mail someone a picture to post.

I just see no use for any wide mechanical.Anysharp broadhead will kill a deer in short order if hit well.From my experience a 4 blade fixed head will cause every bit as much damage as a wider 3 blade mechanical.A mechanical may have a slight edge with a gut shot but they lose out when you hit heavy bone.So what really do you gain?

Inever lost a deer for good withany broadhead.However,I just don't see any advantage to a mechanical what so ever.I agree they work if you put them in the right place but so does any head.I just fail to see what you gain.