fixed vs. expandable
 

I am currently shooting fixed broadheads and was thinking about switching to expandable. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for waht kind of expandables to get.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I did a bunch of research on what brand to get also. I decided on the New Archery Products (NAP) Spitfire. Here are the reasons why:

1) They don't require o-rings to keep blades retracted during flight.
2) They offer practice blades so you can practice with the actual component you will be hunting with.
3) No more worrying about your point of impact changing from practice days to hunting days.
4) Solid company with well designed products
5) NAP has great customer service and technical service if you ever need it.
6) 1.5 inch cutting diameter from a 100 grain tip.

I believe they offer the best mechanical broadheads on the market. Here is the link to the product. http://www.newarchery.com/broadheads/spitfire.asp

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Pick one and go kill a deer, they all work on deer.
I bought some cheap ones this year from wal-mart, the brand, Eastmon Archery.
10 bucks for 3, they did a wonderfull job this year.
Ive used the wasp jack hammers in the past with great success also.
but really they all work and work good.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Of the mechanicals that I tried already, I give the Rocket brand two thumbs up. I'm currently trying out the Rocky Mtn Snypers, and I hate them already!! Way to flimsy!! Come next year, I'm going to give the Slick-Trick heads a serious try!!!;)

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Hey Swanny......I see you had some trouble on your last two deer, so be careful on why you want to change to mechanicals.(I'm asuming you want a bigger blood trial) Shot placement isstill by far the most important aspect in whether a broadhead works. You need to be carefull with mechanicals. First, does your bow set-up have enough KEto handle a large mechanical (1 3/8" or bigger). I shoot mechanicals. Your shot placement is even more crucial then with fixed heads. Mechanicals and bone don't mix well, compared to fixed heads. Next, I really try to stay away fromany odd angle shots.....you needpatientice for good abroadside shots or let'm walk. Fixed heads will get better penetration than a large Mechanical. There are many shots I wouldn't take withMechanical that I would take with a fixed head. If you have enough KE....its dosen't matter. I thinka 60 KE is the least to shoot a large mechanical.

So why do I shoot a mechanical?.......I like big blood trails and I have a KE of 66. I shoot 11/2" or 1 3/4" mechanicals. I wait for very good broadside shots where my arrow will penetrate both sides of the chest cavity....lungs. If you shoot 'm there, fixed or mechanical really dosen't matter! But it is fun following a big blood trail.

Good Luck!

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Thank you for the advice i talked to one of the guys i hunt with and he suggested 4 blade muzzy and with what you said cloud 9 i think i might try those.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I think im also gonna look into the spitfires though.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

http://www.broadheadtests.com/index.html
Follow my link it should help you decide.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I have been shooting the rocket steelhead for 3 years. I am exteremly pleased with there performance. Pass through on every shot.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I am using the Vortex Mini Max 3 100gr head. Shot a doe with it this year and she only went 35 yards. I saw her lay down at about 15 yards but got up and walked anther 20 yards and she was done. Love this mechanical. It also has a 2 inch cutting diameter. Just make sure before using this head you have enough KE to shoot through a deer.

Brian

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Vortex Mini Max 3 with a 2 inch cutting diameter. I love this mechanical

As for fixed I love the steelforce head. Sharpest head I have ever felt right out of the box.

Both will do the job.

Brian

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

This debate fixed vs mech will go on and on forever but there are some great choices in either catagory that once selected, thhey will serve you extremely well forever. My own personal choice is the Rocket Steelhead! These mech b-heads as any search or b-head test will tell ya, are as good as ANY b-head in the industry. For exceptional accuracy and nearly unmatched penetration..... the Steelhead is as wicked as they get. Certainly something you will want to take a serious look at! Good luck and good huntin'

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I too, was thinking about switching to expandables, but I heard that you need to pull back a certain poundage so there is enough force for the blades to open when it contacts the deer. Is this true? And I was planning to bow-hunt turkeys this spring with expandables, any suggestions on ones for turkeys?

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

MidWI, any bow on the market these days will have enough energy to "open' any mechanical broadhead on impact, BUT getting full, or at least good, penetration is/can be an issue if your set-up doesn't have high KE energy. If your set-up is questionable forgood enough KE, then it's best to stear away from mechanical for big game.
Now for turkey, mechanical is the way to go. You want a lot of cutting surface to kill them quickly, and the required KE doesn't need to be nearly as high, and it's best(IMO) if your arrowpenetrates fully, but doesn't pass through a turkey!

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

My suggestion would be to stay with a quality fixed broadhead like the NAP Thunderhead or Muzzy. Expandable or mechanical broadheads were created for those who can’t or will not take the time to tune their set up. Miss matched equipment or the need for speed is more important to some that a tuned, forgiving bow. On broadside shots a mechanical is marginal at best and on quartering away shots, well good luck. Will the blades open how much energy will I loose and what if I hit bone are all questions you have to ask when shooting mechanicals. If you spend a lot of time scouting, practice and thought for stand placement, the last thing you want to do is shoot a broadhead that MAY work when you have the opportunity for a shot.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

Sniper then what the heck is this about... http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1226283&mpage=1

Sounds like you been hanging out with an old school hunter who doesn't like or accept the technology advances on the market. The kind of guy who won't try to learn how to use a computer. This same guy probably got frustrated trying to get his fat fingers to change out the blades on these mechanicals and threw the entire thing accross the room. :DThen went back to his good old basic broadhead that he has been using for years.
Nothing wrong with standard broadheads, but you make these new mechanicals sound like they are junk. I believe if you have the right kenitic energy they have their purpose. Just my opinion so don't go jumping up and down.[:-]

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

anyone shooting the steelhead xp's they are some awsome looking heads that is what i will be shooting next year along side my ti-100's from rocky mt.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I'v used grin reapers & Tekans, both mechs this year & they killed deer, used thunderheads & cabellas lazer supremes before & they killed deer. The biggest thing is shot placement regardless of the head. They sure seem just as dead with mechs as they do with fixed. Only difference I noticed is they react more with the mechanicals. I think the fixed blade heads zip thru easier causing less pain than the mechs upon impact. Put a big hole thru both lungs tho & they dont go far wether or not they realize they've been shot.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I've killed a bunch of deer with several different brands of mechanicals. My choice for the last several seasons have been the Wasp Jackhammer. It has the hardest tip I've found and does the job FAST on even the biggest whitetails. If you hit them where you are supposed to any mechanical will do the job as well or better than a fixed blade head.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

MilDot, My point couldn’t be more defined than with a picture like this. Without reading the comments on the picture it’s not difficult to see what happened on this shot. This was not a pass through, but a quartering away shot with one blade of an expandable opening on impact with a rib. When the tip impacted it glanced off the rib and one blade cut from back to front. If this is the kind of performance and damage you expect from your broadhead, you stick with the mechanicals because you will see more and more examples just like this. If you want a clean kill with all the energy being expanded on the entire surface of the broad then use a quality fixed broadhead. Now you tell me what advantage there is to using a mechanical broadhead other than a short cut to tuning your setup?

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

2 advantages are 1) better accuracy and 2) larger wound channel.

Twothings cause the mechanicals not to produce the results people dream of.1) poor shot placement which can happen with any broadheadand 2) inadequate KE to push the larger diameter cutting surface through thedeer.

Please note: Taking short cuts is not and never has been my style. You don't need to be concerned if my bow isin tune or not. I have that covered very well thank you.:D

Your statement above is as ignorant as me telling you that you use standard broadheads to make up for your poor shot placement and lack of practice. Another ignorant idea is to think that there is only 1 best size/diameter broadhead. Each person has to match their equipment to there cutting diameter; just like matching arrow spine witharrow length and draw weight. You can't say that a 1 inch cutting diameter in a bow of 55 ft pounds of KE is the perfect choice for a bow with 74 or even 91 ft pounds of KE. That's why earlier I stated KE plays a role in using mechanical broadheads.

I currently have 74 ft pounds of KE on my bow and it is practically at "idle" right now at 62 pounds draw weight. When I crank my bow up to 70-72 pounds draw weight, I will be at 91 ft pounds of KE.I'm not going to waste all that good, hard to find KE on a 7/8 or 1 inch hole/wound channel. What good is it to have my arrow stick 2 feet in the dirt after a complete pass through? I choose to take all that energy and have it transfered as much as possible into the animal and still be able to reach both lungs. This energy transfer can only happen with a larger wound channel and that can only be given with a larger cutting surface that my mechanical broadheads offer.

Your foolish guessat how an arrow may have traveled through the pictures posted above will never convince me to use astandard broadhead with a smaller cutting diameter. I don't really understand why you are complaining about the dead deer in the photo anyway. The deer was shot, recovered and is hanging dead as dead can be. That's the entire goal, so no matter what path you think the mechanical traveled...the deer is still dead and that broadhead did it's job very well, even with an improperly placed shot. :DKeep trying harder, you have allot more work to do to change my mind.

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

I'd rather be shooting than tuning! Last 9 deer I've killed (Including 4 book bucks), I've smoked with a Mechanical and haven't had to track any of them over 80 yards, any of them. Most fell within sight. I'm not really into challenging myself in the art of tracking. I like to start tracking my deer before I get down from the stand. Blood spraying 3' out of a deer as they run away is what get's me excited!

I've never clean missed a deer, and haven't wounded one in 5+ years (knocking on wood). How's your record with Fixed heads? Be honest!

There is absolutely no replacement for arrow placement! You must put it in the spot, that is the bottom line! Todays bows (65 lbs.+) have enough energy to do the trick with even the largest cutting diameters! Just don't shoot them in the shoulder or heavy bone! If you do, it really doesn't matter what's on the end of your arrow, you just had a bad shot!

RE: fixed vs. expandable
 

If you tune your set up:
Fixed heads- fly just as good as field points, have increased penetration
Mechanical- fly just as good as field points, have less pentration, increased cutting dia.

Good hits with both heads- dead deer within 100 yards, deer shot with mechanical falls 3 steps closer than deer shot with fixed head.

Bad hit on a BIG deer, not a pissy 4 pointer- Fixed heads, with the increase penetration will perform better, perhaps enough to find the poorly hit animal. Mechanical head without the good penetration less violent wound, less likely to find the deer.

Un-tuned bow
Shot placement is the most important aspect to bow hunting. If you have to use mechanicals to get the accuracy I say go for it. They are a quick semi fix to poorly tuned bows.