Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

I have been using expandables since I restarted bow hunting 3 years ago. I am aware that the advantage to expandables is suppose to be improved flight and longer range accuracy versus fixed broadheads. I also realize that fixed broadheads have better pentration. What are other pros and cons of each, as I am debating going to fixed broadheads. Thanks ahead of time.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

if you goto fixed i would highly recommend the g5 montec. i have been useing them for 3 years now and they are just awesome. they fly just like a field tip and you get great penetration. i have not lost a deer in the three years that i have been useing them...

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

if you want to get good penitration just get some rocket steelheads ive shot through both shoulders of quite a few deer and have gotten total pass throughs every time except two straight down spine shots where i got more then half the arrow through the spine and into the lungs.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

Mechanical Pros:
Usually fly like field points.
Larger cutting diameter - better blood trails

Mechanical Cons:
Moving parts = potential for failure (Blades don't always open)
Thinner, unsupported blades break easier
Penetration my suffer if Kinetic Energy is less than 60 ft lbs KE
The ones with the rubber band are a pain to practice with.

Fixed Pros:
More reliable - blades are always open (piece of mind)
Stronger - more durable, especially on bone hits.

Fixed Cons:
Often don't fly like field points especially if your bow is not well tuned

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

Wrap dental floss around the broadhead a half dozen times, or so,and tie it off tight. Works slick.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

I use both.3 arrow quiver- 2 nap spitfires- 1 rocky mt. premier the spitfires are my first choice,bigger cutting dia. bleed the deer out,he will die faster.For shots involving grass,leaves,pine needles,or anything that may cause the blade to open in flight I will use the fixed blade

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

Bottom line-are you completely happy with the performance of your current heads? If you are then why change? Ever hear the quote-if it ain't broke,don't fix it ?

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

mechinical heads, you must shoot behind shoulder or neck..they are not good if you hit bone or take shot in back etc..i would not even thinking of using them unless behind shoulder..some dont open and deer is wounded

fixed blades will do eveything well, cut, and dont glance off deer..they fly just as well as the mechinicals as long as you tune your bow etc..

i have both but the fix blade is best..many deer are being wounded with mechinical blades because hunters think they can hit deer anywhere..

if they hit bone ,they may not open..i never had that happen because i always shoot behind shoulder..

i heard of many deer found deer do to bad shots with mechinical heads..

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

I'm not going to agree or disagree but I will show my example. If you look closely at this photo, you'll see the entry point of my broadhead.

I used the Rage 2-Blade expandable.

I don't have the rest of the photos but the broadhead hit the left shoulder bone and shreaded the bottom muscle, broke a rib on her left side and broke another rib on the opposite side upon exit and stuck in the ground.

I shoot a mathews xt, 29" draw with 28 ¼ inch carbon express maxima arrows. My draw weight is around 67-68lbs. I do not know what my speed is. When I tried to chronograph it, one arrow would be 300 but the next would be 220, then 255, etc. They were all over the place so I disregarded the info.

I'll post another comment with a closer pic of the entry wound.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

entry

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

I have been using expandables since I restarted bow hunting 3 years ago. I am aware that the advantage to expandables is suppose to be improved flight and longer range accuracy versus fixed broadheads. I also realize that fixed broadheads have better pentration. What are other pros and cons of each, as I am debating going to fixed broadheads. Thanks ahead of time.

That about says it. I use fixed blades for the simplicity/toughness issue. There's nothing that can go wrong. If you tune them correctly, you can get excellent accuracy from fixed blades. I can shoot almost as well with my Thunderheads as with my field points. Thunderheads or Muzzy's are my broadhead of choice. You won't go wrong with them.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

sproul is not always right..i was big follower of fred bear in 1960.. THEN CHUCK ADAMS from then on..i still have BEAR KODIACK recurve..i was bow shooting and bow hunting nuts..

i lived it everyday,i was addicted..i still use my bear hunting points from that time..i use wooden arrows and 40pd martin hunter recurvenow..

back then and up until, oh, about 15 years ago, expandables were junk..i agree, they are better now ,thats great..

so, they may be better each year..i have NAP 125 spitfire..i dont use them to much ,but never lost deer with them..

why, i put arrow thru HEART..

thats the whole thing with expandable..you must put it in heart and hope it opens..

to me, thats another worry in woods..with FIXED BLADES,hey, you can shoot from many different angles..

i saw EXPANDABLES glance off deer when they jump string..with fixed points, that would not happen..

also now i see terrible hunters shooting at 50 yds because they have EXPANDABLE points on..

i like the new points but if i am only shooting at 30 yds or less,fix point is as accurate as the expandable..farther than that, expoandable is better butits nasty to shoot past 30 yds on deer..

if expandable hits a bone and does not go thru,those blades will not open and i seen arrows deflect with those points..a good heavy fix blade like MUZZY,could go thru bone..

if you are good shot and put expandable behind shoulder,it should do fine..but if deer jumps string, a fix blade could be a better choice..

if we all had clear shooting lanes with no limbs or twigs,which never happens with me, the EXPANDABLE would be fine but if limb is there, that fixed blade could go right thru it and get a kill for you..

i seen fix blades glance off limb also..

you look at most of the top archery hunters in magazines etc..most will use a FIXED BLADE,chuck adams hated those mechinical blades...

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

I have noticed that most fixed blade heads fly to the same spot all have 1 1/8" cutting dia. or 1" cutting dia.
the mechanicals offer much more (all most 3 inch cutting dia. in some cases) cutting diameter and fly like feild points. good name brand heads will work every time so long as you clean'em really good after every shoot. espechially if they take a nose dive into loose soil. keep the blades sharp, keep the iner workings clean and the will serve us well. I was told this by a hunter/small archery store owner this once and he turned out to be right. todays mechanicals are not junk in most cases. for instance I got a few of NAP's mechanicals (both spitfire and the other) they were onsale at wal-mart (only 10 bux for 6 a pack so I grabed all the had) and they both work really well. there is another brand that was even cheaper (eastman outfitters I think was the name) and they worked great on the squirel I shot. they cut 1 3/4 inch so it might have been a tad over kill but what the hey.

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

they have new arrow point out called RAGE..it opens before it hits hide of deer..that could be answer to some not opening..

again, fix point i would not have problem with taking a ANGLE shot on deer but no way will, sproul EVER take shot on a deer that is not broadside with a mechinical point..

30 yds is my max with both..i see people shooting 50 yds with those mechinical points..or farther..

this is why we are finding dead deer from arrow shots..

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

ditto on the Rage broadheads,the pictures he showed I feel thatdeer got off easy compared to the 3 I have shot with them so far this year.I have had 2 broadside and 1 qtr away shot and the deer drop like flys and leave a blood trail a blind person could follow

RE: Expandables versus fixed broadheads
 

WHAT? So if a deer comes up to you while on stand and suddenly walks behind some grass....do you have to re-nock an arrow? You might have an easier time jumping from the stand withyour knife.