Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Nothing is in my hands yet, and I'm still dealing in the realm of hypotheticals, but let's presume the following:
[ol][*]You have about $80 in un-used gift cards for Cabelas and Gander that will be blown on hunting gear of some kind... You've pretty much already decided that this money will be blown on experimental broadheads.[*]Presuming that you're using a 100 grain head, you have a bow that will be shooting a 270 grain arrow at 340-360 fps. This will be your hunting setup.[*]You already have an entirebox full of Muzzy 100's, but you're bored with that, and you want to try a mechanical head. You want to push the envelope a little bit.[/ol]
I'm looking for expandable broadhead recommendations. Heavy blades and a bone-eating chisel tip are key features to me.

I've got my eye on the Wasp Jak Hammer SST1-3/4" 100 grain3 bladers.


After doing a little homework, it looks like these Wasp heads have a .036" thick blade, which is tops for mechanicals.

I've had bad episodes in the past with mechanical broadheads dissintegrating in heavy bone. A little research revealed that the models that gave me problems had relatively frail, thin blades.

Making the same mistake twice is not an option.

So talk to me about mechanical heads, and why I should/shouldn't use them this season.

Anyone have any personal experience with the Jak Hammers?

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Rocky Mtn Snypers or Rage.

Id only use a re-ward opening blade design.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

You sure you don't have those fps numbers and your arrow weigh numbers transposed?

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

I'm sure the numbers are right. I know, it sounds crazy.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Rocket Sidewinder, .036" blades, 1 1/2" cutting diameter. I don't have any experience w/ the Wasp head you're looking at, but those Rockets are serious heads.

The AfterShock HyperShock has .032" blades, and they are some midevil looking, grim reeper demonic looking sons a guns.....I'm most intrigued by them, but have no experience w/ them.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Wow, Fran.....that's all I can say......

I'm still trying to understand, though, honestly. The 270gr is before (or after)you add the broadhead? I've just never heard of anything like this.

Rob/PA's had good luck with the Rage heads, I think. They deploy rearward and open PRIOR to impact. If I were going to switch (I already have a LOT of Muzzy's though)....that's one I'd give a look.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Ed - I saw that video of the Rage slipcams on their website a couple weeks ago. They look like they'd work pretty good - .030" blades are sturdy. Lots of stuff moving/locking/unlocking going on in those heads.

I'm tempted to call the company and see if they'd mail me one to play with. They remind me of those old punchcutter heads, just heavier.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

I used the Wasp SST several years ago and killed several deer with them with good results. However, I quit when I shot a good buck that was quartering away and the opening of the broadhead made the arrow kick out to the side.It lost all the energy needed for penetrationresulting in an injured deer that would have been dead with a fixed blade head.Impact location was perfect. Since then I have gone back to the Muzzy 100 and have no reason to look at any other head. I have killed a lot of game with them and never had any problems period. I'll never get bored with something that works. If you are set on trying a mechanical I would definitely stay away from any head that folds open in the manner of the SST. Good luck.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

I shot 3 deer with the 2 blade Rages last year. They are nearly perfect in everything I would want in a head. My only suggestion is to at that speed add a rubber band around the blades to make sure they don't open prematurely.

If you had to pick one second head, I would get the rocket steelheads.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Try NAP Spitfires. I killed a doe last year @ 25 yds with one and the broadhead went through the shoulder and out the other side, plus they don't need rubber bands...

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Quick -
They are basically identical to the Rocky Mtn Snypers, only diff is the self locking (snypers use a band instead)

Ive killed a few deer w/ the snypers w/ great succes... freak nasty wounds. I'll keep using them as the mech head of choice. I still like the magnus stingers for my fixed blades.

Youre making me think, I gotta go through all my gear and get organized... I'll be ordering new heads soon!

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

I'm still gun-shy on Rocket...

Got a few deer with the Miniblasters back when they first came out - few features that I didn't like...

One, the blades were darn near impossible to change.
Two, after every shot, I'd swear the blades bent and the blasted thing wouldn't close right.

I never had one cost me a deer or anything, just got sick of having to buy a new head every time I pulled the trigger. Those blades were dogs to change, and I almost cut my fingers off trying to change them.

I agree, though - Steelheads look much stouter than the old Miniblasters.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Fran, when is the Iron Mace with the Speed Pro arrows coming in?;)

Anyway, with those crazy numbers you'd better be looking at mechs because it will be difficult to stabilize a fixed blade head at those speeds.

I am a huge proponent of mechanicals and have used them exclusively for the last 5 years and used them most of my hunting career, such as it is.

With that being said I would recommend avoiding heavy bone if possible because, bottom line they are not as sturdy as fixed blade heads.

However, some good heads for you to try would be the Rage (2 blade) as mentioned, the Grim Reaper with the Trocar tip, Spitfires are always a solid choice, and the Rocket Steelehead is very reliable.

Any of these heads have been proven over time. Some newer heads that I'd like to see some testing on would be the Aftershock heads. They look just plain mean. Also, the Piston Point head is a very interesting concept and should be a tough head by design.

Have fun testing and let us know what you find out.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Mfg called yesterday and said that it should be shipping sometime this week....

I looked at the reapers, and they're a similar design to the Wasps and Steelheads, but they have blades that neck down from .035 to .020 at the tips. Just seems like those will be a little weaker.

The Steelheads have really thin blades at .027. Also smaller cutting diameter too.

I must say, y'all have me looking at these Rage heads pretty seriously. Anyone know if there's a locking mechanism inside that holds them open, or do the blades stay deployed by virtue of the flesh continuing to "push" them open, as they pass through?

I know they have some internal locking system that holds them shut until impact, but what keeps them open?

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

When that thing does come in, we HAVE to get together and shoot, I've got to see how fast a 350 fps arrow looks in real life.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

My luck, my arrow will just bounce off the target and lay there in the grass. It'll be like a bad scene from Napoleon Dynamite.


By the way, for anyone interested, here's a cool slow-movideo of the Rage heads deploying in a foam block target.
http://www.ragebroadheads.com/rage2blade.html

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Reminds me of a buddy who just started bowhunting last year. He was shooting field tips at his little target.....and decided he'd shoot him a broadhead for the first time.

When he called my other buddy.....he told him he'd shot THROUGH the target....THROUGH the side of the barn.....and through both sides of his jon boat sitting under the shed.

Be careful where you point that thing!;)

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Do not want to get off the subject, but purchased new bh for this year, been shootn Muzzy for years. Bought some G5 Montecs anyone have anything to say about them good or bad? Hole new set up for this year everything except my release.

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

Yeah, Fran.....and have ya got any Tiffany lakosky pics????

LOL.....;)

RE: Hypothetically speaking... (broadheads)
 

I used the rage 3-blade last year and had great results. Thise year I am going to the rage 2-blade and Im going to try the new piston point broadheads. There bladess are .039 w/ a 1.5 cutting diameter. 0.55 in flight.

Pics of the piston point