What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

We all know the differences between the two but I'm still trying to figure ti out...

I've thought about this for quite a while and just wonder what you guys think. If you are shooting a well tuned bow, properly spined arrow, etc... Then what exactly is the advantage of shooting a mechanical head for big game animals (not turkey).

Unfortunately mech's are used frequently to mask tuning errors, so let's take that out of the equation. If your bow is properly set up then bh's and fieldpoints will fly the same, so there is no advantage there. Fixed heads don't require the KE of a mech, no advantage. There's always the "possibility" that they don't open too. The only real advantage that I can think of is that you can get them in a large cutting diameter. I guess fixed blades will magnify imperfections in shooting form as well.

Am I wrong and overlooking a bunch of issues or what?

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I know, i am still wondering why but i think it it along the lines of bigger cutting diameters and maybe they pack alittle bigger punch?

i still stick to fixed for big game

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

the only reason would be larger cut to cover bad hits. but you also loose penetration with mechs, not all of them by desighn i know, but most of them. dustin, you and me both have shot enough hogs and deer to know a tuned bow with fixed blade heads offer a better chnce for a pass thru and produce better blood trails.... dont change man!!! slick tricks forever man

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

well, personally, i shoot a mathews set at 72 lbs. and have shot out to 30 yards at deer and have never had an arrow not pass through. i am sure that if i tuned my bow, i could shoot my bow with anybroadhead accurately.

i shoot mechanicals because it is simply easier and i dont have to worry about the planing of the broadheads. my mechanicals shoot exactly the same as my field points. so when i go to shoot on the weekends wit my friend, my field points hit the mckensie hit the same spot that my mechanicals would. i have never had one not open or cause a deflection when shooting on an angle.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

http://www.broadheadtests.com/MECHANICALVSFIXED.html

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I like those 2" holes thru both lungs. Not to mention the heart.They don't go far like that, and are easy to follow.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I have never used any mechanical broadheads ever since I was cutting up a deer and got sliced by a blade that was stuck in the shoulder of a deer. After digging around some more,we found the restof the head. Thehead never opened fully. I still have that head as a reminderof what to watch out for. Ihave neverfound afixed blade in a deer and I have been butchering deersince 1993. Did it for a living for a few years nowI do it only for family.Over the years I have recovered more than 30 mechanicalheads in deer. Keep in mindmore than 75% ofthese deer were all shot during thegun season and had mechanic heads stuck in them. Im sure that when a shot is placed right with a mechanical head the damage is devistating. But they are just another thing to go wrong on that buck of a life time. Just ask a friend of mine who lost a 200 class buck a couple years ago because the mechanical head never opened. Just my two cents. Im sure they have imporved some over the years, but again, still another thing to go wrong in my book.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I don't care how well tuned your bow is, in windy situations, a fixed blade WILL be affected more than a mechanical .....

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Donny, I'm definitely not switching... no worries about that. Other than a huge cutting diameter I really don't see the advantage. On turkey's it's totally different.

No disrespect PT, but a fixed blade MAY be more affected, that's dependant upon a ton of variables. The arrow you are shooting has just as much to do with wind deflection as the BF. You can't tell me that a 2-blade stinger is going to drift substantially more than a mech. And in the event that it's and extreme wind, we should be questioning whether or not to shoot at all.

That's pretty much exactly my thoughts. Thanks 5 shot.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Here is a pretty good video of how mechanicals stack up against fixed heads at a distance from a perfectly tuned bow shot by a shooting machine. The mechs definitely hit closer at greater distances.

The video is at the bottom left of the screen.

http://www.prorelease.com/xring.aspx

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Aside from a couple of huge fixed blade heads not a single one impacted the same spot as field tips and all broadheads seemed to hit low and left 1-2 inchesregardless of what style head they are.

This indicates to me that just a little bit of fine tuning could have been done to bring most all of the broadheads to impact the same place as the field tips.

Then they shoot a 125 grain tip against all the other 100 grain heads which would have weakened the spine of the arrow as compared to the arrows with the 100 grain heads. If you are going to introduce variables like thatwhat good it the test?

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Inside 40 yds, on the average whitetail shot with aproperly tuned bow, not a lot of advantages to a mechanical. Fixed for me.

When you get down to it how straight does a shaft need to be? How perfect does fletching need to be? Our equipment is much more accurate and consistent than we are.

But Broadhead flight. That can be something out of our control as mentioned earlierwith windetc. I guess I will stick with fixed blades. If I get to where I can shoot a broadhead at an animal at 50-60 yds. I may consider mechanicals after shooting both.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I agree that shooting 125 grain heads with the 100 grain heads out of a bow tuned for a 100 grain head tipped arrow and on an arrow that is spined for a 100 grain head makes no sense. I kind of threw that test out of the equation.

However, with the 100 grain heads they were shooting it from a bow that put the arrow in the same hole over and over at 35 yards. You can't get any better tuned than that. I know there is tuning to the broadhead, which is a very effective tool, but this test was to look at how broadheads flew beyond 20 yards from a perfectly tuned bow. Some were very close, some were not. None were dead on.

What I took from this was that there is planing in all broadheads so it is important to practice at further distances to know how you should adjust and that a well tuned bow is essential for using hunting broadheads no matter what design they are.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I have cleaned my share of deer and I can not think of any angle that would result in the broad head being stuck to the INSIDE of a shoulder
that wouldn't have killed the animal stone dead.


I also find it curious if the 200" deer got away - how do they know the broad head malfunctioned?

I might me old school, BUT, pappy told us,

"If you double lung him- You Win."

There are basically only two things that kill a deer.
a.Massive trauma to the brain
b Lack of oxygen to the brain

Let me elaborate on (b).

If a deer gets hit by a Semi @ 70 Mph what kills him is not the 23 broken bones, is not a ruptured spleen, is not 2 punctured and collapsed lungs,
is not the fact that the aorta was torn completely from his heart, what actually killed him was the lack of oxygen getting to his brain.

If you double lung him, he will drop in right @ 12 seconds. He is really still alive just passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain (same as if you strangled him); @ about 20 seconds the brain and the deer actually expire from lack of oxygen to the brain.

Watch your favorite hunting videos. When the shot is made start counting, one one thousand, two one thousand ------ bout the time you get to 12 one thousand you will see the hunter’s hi-fiving or hollering "he is down" and he is for keeps.

If you seem him drop, keep watching and counting, you might see him twitch or cough, but, by the time you get to 20 one thousand it is over.

If you are using a fixed blade broad head or a mech that only one of 3 blades opened does not matter, clip both lungs andin 12 seconds or so he is toast.

When you look at a broadside deer you can see the lump on his shoulder.
Behind that lump there is a crease in his hide that allows the shoulder to move freely. The top of that crease is the sweet spot. If you can hit the top of that crease from any angle, with any broad head he is yours - every time.

I learned this from a veterinarian who traveled with Easton arrows on the show circuit. That was 20 years ago and probably 75 deer ago. I have never lost a deer with any weapon if he was hit within two inches of the top of that crease.

Shot placement is the most important part of this whole deal. With almost any modern broad head with sharp blades, fired from a bow with enough power to drive the head thru both sides of the deer he is simply toast if hit thru both lungs.

I didn't mean to leave out the heart shot, but it is the same principal, when the arrow pierces 2 chambers of the heart, the heart can no longer pump oxygenated blood to the brain, 12 seconds or so without oxygen to the brain and the end is near.

Just my 2c, I sort of chuckle about the debate about which broad head is best - "Heifer Dust"The real debate and answer IS which shot placement is best.

Pappy never lied to me.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Safety. Especially when the cutting blades are folded in the ferrule. Could be important to some.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I think......out of a well-tuned bow....I wouldn't kick a hog in the ass for the difference.

We all know that all bows aren't well-tuned.....all shots aren't perfect broadside.....and that MOST people shooting mechanicals are doing so to hide a tuning ssue.

If your bow's got a tuning issue, though......flying just like your field points isn't necessarly a great thing.

Now....refer back to my opening sentence......

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

i think it comes down to prefrence

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

This was my first impression of mechanicals. Kinda like a folding pocket knife that won't cut you accidently. I carry both heads in my quiver. The Montec G5 will go through the mesh of my ground blind without loss of accuracy, and these heads seem to do just about everything well - except maybe sharpen easily - but I have figured out a couple of tricks to getting the razor sharp. I also have a couple of expandables at the front of the quiver. If I ever need to shoot beyond 40 yards (hasn't happened yet), the expandable flys better.

One thing I have seen a couple of times - in slow motion on the video - is an expandable hit a small twig and one of the blades open prematurely. This, in turn, causes the arrow to pivot somewhat against the uneven resistance. It can cause a miss if the animal is very far past the twig. It can also cause the arrow toenter the animal at an angle if the twig is just in front of the animal - screwing up penetration and shot placement.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

wow.............i guess thats why fixed are still my favorite:D


nahh i shoot both and like both but for some reason i just like my fixed better

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I have been using Spitfires for the last couple of years and I've been very impressed w/ their quality and performance. I have used the same head to kill 5 deer and have yet to break or damage a blade. The heads disassemble easily for cleaning and resharpening. 4 out of 5 killswere passthroughs; one hit the inside of the opposite shoulder. I must admit, they don't passthrough w/ a lot of zip. But I guess thats irrelavent considering my freezer is full.
Although, you guys have sold me on Slicktricks. I'm gonna give em a try this year.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I shoot them because of the large cutting diameter. The day they can make a fixed blade head w/ a 2" cutting diameter fly as well asaRocket, I'll try them. Bigger hole = more blood loss = dead deer faster.

Admittedly, in the early days of the mechanical broadhead, they didn't always open and had their flaws.......Such as the old Punchcutter....I HATED those things......I lost the first deer I ever shot w/ a bow with one of those, but I did see her alive and well a couple weeks later. Only thing I can figure is that it didn't open....AND the cutting diameter wasn't as big back then either.

Look at some of today's mechs......Aftershock makes one w/a 2 3/4" cutting diameter, and it looks like a cycle bar......Mean looking critter, I'll tell you that. There have been SO many advances in technology that the I honestly feel like there is no DISadvantage to using them anymore, unless you shoot low poundage (under 45). Bows are so efficient today that they produce well over 100% KE, todays arrows are better and the broadheads themselves are MUCH better. The issue of not opening has been addressed by the makers, and if it were a SERIOUS issue, I just don't think there would be as many to choose from as there are. Poor tuning or not, folks just aren't gonna keep shooting deer and losing them because of the BH. Mech's work, and there's simply no way around that.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

So you're agreeing that aside the large cutting diameter there isn't a "true" advantage.;)

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Correct. But there is no true DISadvantage either......But I would say a 2" hole is quite an advantage...yes? ;)

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

YES!!!!

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I choose mechanicals for forgiveness.


Arrow tune is second only to being accurate to me.Many on this sight will attest to my tuning skills.


I have also shot competitively and won my share of tournaments.


NOW,when I speak of forgiveness,I am talking about things liketaking a shot from a deer stand and leaning out around the tree, that, in most cases will cause TORQUE.We all no what torque can do to an arrow,now add a fixed head on the end and you have a less than forgiving shot.Or shooting at a deer in windy conditions at 30 yards.(yes,a mechanical will be more accurate here,especially over a 2 blade broadhead, shot with any kind of speed)



I can shoot my mechanicals,fixed heads and field points all about the same at 30 yards in my back yard in good conditions,it is when conditions get bad the mechanical has the edge.


There are a few mechanicals that do give others a bad rep ,but most cases are due to poor mechanical selection for the particular setup.


I only use a 1 1/8" cut mechanical that has been putting deer downflawelessly for me.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

What type of fletching do you use with the mechanicals?

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

TFox, excellent post. What you said is spot on with why I use mechanicals and have for many years. Although I do prefer the larger cutting diameter, but again that is also part of the forgiveness factor. If I am off my mark because I'm twisted up to get the shot a larger cut may slice a main artery or catch the lungs or liver where a smaller diameter head would not. The blood trails that paint the woods and last only 50 yards before leading to a dead deerdon't hurt either.;)

Now I'm not saying that I, or anyone for that matter, should look at the mechs as a crutch. I shoot religiously year-round, I tune and re-tune my equipment, I practice as will be hunting once my set up is dialed in, and do everything I can to make sure my shot on an animal is as accurate as possible. As we all know, in bowhunting there is no such thing as a sure thing, so I try to stack the advantages in my favor as much as possible. The mechanical is another tool I employ to do that. For me the advantages far outweight the disadvantages.

Bruce, to answer your question I use Blazers with mechanicals, but I wouldn't hesitate to use them with just about any fixed blade head as well.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I am interested in the reason for using mechanicals (more forgiving) and that is why I asked the question. I plan on using feathers, mostly, for the same reason. Iam usingblazers and feathers on my arrows currently. If using mechanicals for their more forgiving nature wouldn't using feathers with the mechanicals be a more forgiving setup?

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I am currently using 4" right helical feathers.(All about the forgiveness).


If I had more energy,I would also use a larger cut head but my energy level limits the size head I can use.


I have also used 3" helical feathers before and could shoot my broadheads and field points the same in the yard but wind made more of a change to my fixed heads than it does with the 4".


I would have no problems screwing on fixed heads and going hunting and have done it but I prefer the expandables in most conditions.

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

Thanks. Although I like the fixed blades you now have me thinking about mechanicals. I think taking advantage of all the things that can make your shot better in less than forgiving situations makes a great deal of sense. Do you use a 3 or 4 fletch? If just a 3 fletch would it be because the difference between 3 and 4 is negligible?

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I watched that video and was really impressed. I went to MUCC.org and found a link for the whole story but I wasn't able to see it. Has anyone else seen the whole thing?

Tom

RE: What "truly" is the advantage (Mech vs. Fixed)
 

I've killed dozens of deer with a bow and a double lung shot almost always results in the deer going down with in sight,regardless of the size of the broadhead.If I don't see them go down,I always hear them.I've see no practicle advantage of using a wider cut.The last 15 deer I've killed were with slick tricks and none of them ran out of sight.How much faster do they need to drop?

Mechanicals may have an advantage with a gut shotbut they will hinder penetration on a hit to heavy bone.I've personally never gut shot a deer but I have hit heavier bone on many occassion when shooting from a treestand.Any advantage a mechanical has with a gut shot,it losesif heavy bone is encountered.Moot point.

Mechanicals are connected to the ferule in one place where asthe blades on a fixed head are connected in two places.Fixed heads are,without a doubt more durable.

Some smaller mechanicals penetrate as well as fixed heads butI guess you lose the supposed advantage of a wider cutting diameter.The larger mechanicals impede penetration.

I've use both over the years to kill alot of big game animals and I can't think of any advantages a mechanical has over a fixed head.They may be better in the wind but that's never been an issue for me.I think the disadvantages of decreased penetration and durabilty far outweigh any advantages.