NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I'm considering using the NAP Spitfire broadhead this fall; I've never used it before. If you have used this head how did you like it? Does the Spitfire make a good entry hole?

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I killed a couple with Spitfires, but I like Wasp Jak-Hammers just a little better. Tougher blades, and a little bigger holes in the deer I killed.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Spitfire is the only mechanical I use, I like them, I mainly hunt hogs and bears, and the Spitfires have never failed me...should be no problem for deer. JMO

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

NAP razorbaks baby!!!

if going for expandables I think Rage 2 blade is the way to go....

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I have shot 1 deer and 2 fox with spitfires. Deer had about a 1" entry hole, no exit (hit the off side shoulder) Both of the foxes and similar sized entry holes and huge exit holes. Overall I like the spitfires but I feel you need to be pushing over 60 ft/lbs of Ke to get the most out of them. Of all the mechanical heads I have tested the spittfires are one of the best in terms of quality of construction. Performance wise they are right in the middle of the pack.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

When I used to hunt with my CB, I used 100gr Spitfires. Killed 13 deer, and NEVER had one not open! They leave a gaping hole. Great head, well you know what I mean.:D:DOh yea, another heart shot.;)

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

im ocd
Eight years ago I shot my first deer withbow and arrow. I was using 100 gr.spitfires. I was twenty feet up and he was twenty two paces out going left to right. at the momentof contact I saw an explosion of red. He spun around to exit the area and was pouring blood from the exit hole. He wasdown in seconds and within sight.I did notget a pass thru on the next buck becauseit stopped on the offside shoulder but the deer was still down in second in seconds. He actually bolted away and then came around and died thirty feet from my tree. They work good. I've switched to the N A P scorpions to see how they do.Ken

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

As usual I can't get pics to post on this forum, but I have several of spitfire damage. As 5-shot can attest to , I have been using them successfully for years. I even made him try them on game instead of tires. I've gotten a passel of critters with them, including deer, bobcat, fox,turkeys,ground grizzlys. Never had one fail and excellant blood trails.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I have killed a bunch of Deer with NAP Spitfires and they worked as advertised for me. High quality construction as expected from NAP.

I do like the Pro XP's a little better than the regular spitfire.

IMO as mechanicals go, they are one of the best.

Dan

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I have about 75 LB of KE with the X Force. I would be using the 85 gr. Spitfire.

I have some of the Rocket 3 LT 85 gr. heads, but they advise using 2 rubber bands when shooting over 300 fps. I do not want to use 2 rubber bands, as I don'tthink they don't open that quickly when only using one. The Spitfires have sharper blades too.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

ive killed 2 deer with spitfires, the only problem i had was penetration but i was using a weaker bow back then

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Here is an exit hole with my NAP spitfire 100 grainers...

Always pass through on deer ...I'm shooting 65 pounds going about 270 fps out of my Hoyt. I left 2 bears dead in 20-30 yards with these too....Great head!..lots of kills with mine...

Go for it!

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Barry,
I think if I were you, I'd ante up and get the 100gr heads, that would get your FOC around 12% guestimating, which should give you a little better arrow flight, and you'll still have plenty of WHACK when it gets there. Actually, you may bring a little extra KE upping your set-up 15gr. Just my thoughts though...

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Spitfires are the only mechanicals that I use in my crossbow and compounds...never have failed

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Thanks for the replies!
Any more?

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

You are using a weak bow now. You REALLY shouldn't be using mechanicals with your setup. You can't complain of penetration issues when you are shooting 50lbs or less and using mechanicals.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

im shooting 65 lbs now[:@]

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I've taken a couple of antelope and a couple of deer with them. They worked well for me. No complaints. They all opened and left a good exit hole.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I tuned for different arrows; now, I would be using the 100 gr. model. ;)

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Spitfires are one of those heads where the digital picture you show off is the exit hole, not the entry hole like in the case of the Rage. I had pretty good luck with them. One of the turkeys I shot, when reviewing the video afterwards, showed the head hitting a pretty stout little weed and turning the arrow just before it hit the bird. And one of my buddies had a bad experience hitting an antelope on a hard quartering away shot. One of the blades opened before the others and turned the arrow - causing it to follow a line between the hide and ribs. At least that was the presumption.He went back to Muzzys.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

LIke all NAP heads they sport nice quality razor sharp blades.......really nice blades on the Spitfire.

I only have one deer shot with one and it was a very short track job but yes it was probably the smallest entry wound I have seen on a any deer I've shot with mechanicals which is darn near 30 or so animals.
The retention clips are quite stiff and it takes some force to get em opened which I'm sure along with the rounded blade tips contributes to the delayed opening and incompatibility with lower energy set ups.

I would feel confident using them on game with my 70+ft lbs of KE but for consistent pass throughs I don't think I'd want to be too much below that level.

To tell you the truth, if I were to use them I would possibly remove the retention clips entirely and use a rubber band style blade retention ala Rocket to increase the speed that they open on entrance. I wish Rocket heads had blades comparable to Spitfires for sharpness that's for sure.

If you buy a pack of them make sure you take each head out of the package and check each and every blade for the force it takes to open. If any seem especially sticky make sure you try to tune it so that they all open together and with as little force as possible.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Can't go wrong using a 100 grain spitfire. They make great exit wounds. I don't care about a big entry wound. It's the exit wound that is more important. If there is no exit wound, then the entry wound made by the spitfire is still big enough to get a good blood trail.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I've killed 2 deer with them and they both didn't go very far. Last year I shot my 10 point with one and he left a massive blood trail. He went 35 yards. 2 years before that I made a bad shot on a doe and hit her a little far back. Even with a bad shot she didn't go 75 yards. I see no reason to switch mechanicals.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

A 1'' entry hole is comparable to a conservative fixed head.
I have 75# of KE with my X Force.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

As you have read, the exit hole is what people say is good on a Spitfire, not the entry hole, and the entry holeis by far the most important hole. If you don't get an exit hole you are much better off having a large entrance hole and that is what the Rage 2 blade gives you. I don't think pictures lie and the pictures of the entrance AND exit holes of a Rage is pretty impressive.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

If you shoot an animal from a Tree Stand the exit hole will be the lowest hole and is definitely the most important for leaving a good blood trail.

A deer can go a long way before the chest cavity fills up and it starts dropping blood out of a high hole which most tree stands shots within 20 yards will have if made correctly.

Dan

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Thats what I was thinking??

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

What? An entry hole is far more important than an exit hole? Who told you that one?Of course you have to have an entry hole to have an exit hole, but the exit hole is where most of the blood loss occurs, therefore a quicker kill. I know you don't have to have an exit hole to kill a deer, but I promise, with a big exit hole in the right place, the deer is not going very far, and with a good blood trail. The Spitfire leaves a great exit hole. I'm not going to get in a pissing match about which is better, rage or spitfire. They are both good, and you can use whatever you want. No broadhead is effective if it is not put in the right spot.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I've taken 16 deer with mechanicals, 12 of those with Rockets. The discontinued Gold Tip Gladiator made a good entry hole, but offered a lot of blade surface area (wind plane). I had a heck of an entry hole with the Mar Den Mini Max 2'' but made the mistake of using the head with about 58# of KE and I did not get a pass through. However the entry hole was full open, the size of an old silver dollar (no kidding) and the deerleft a heavy blood trail. The entry holes I've gotten with Rockets have not been so good, the discontinued Miniblaster 3L made a decent entry hole if pushed past 280 fps. The regular Miniblaster hasn't made a good hole for me when shot in the 280's and 290's. I've pushed the Wolverine past the 280 mark with resulting small entry holes. Rockets packaging advises the use of two o-rings when shooting above 300 fps. I am not going to use two o-rings because I think I would get a pencil size entry hole at 311. Likewise I'm not going to use just one since the directions call for two. My solution is not to use the Rockets.:eek:
I have 75# of KE. I've got 6 arrows with Slick Trick standards ready to go, fly great; but,the Spitfires offer more total cut and a 1 1/2'' exit hole should leave a lot of blood. I've used the Slick Trick once, last year. The Spitfire would be something new, I think I'll give them a try; if I don't like the result then I can fall back to the ST.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

If you've ever shot a deer with an arrow.......you kinda lose credibility when you argue that the exit hole is MORE important than the entry hole. Without the entry hole.....you stand NO CHANCE of having an exit hole.

And.....unless your pass-thru percentage is 100%.......you lose on that argument, as well.

Give me a big entry hole.....and a well placed arrow....and I'll take my chances with an exit hole. A well-placed arrow doesn't always result in an exit hole.;)

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

A "well placed arrow" without an exit hole does not always result in a good blood trail either. (Sometimes maybe no bloodtrail at all)

Speaking from experience only.

LT

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

I used Spitfires on a number of deer and was completely satisified. Most of my friends use them as well with equal satisfaction. The only complaint I have is they are a one and done broadhead for me because changing the blades takes a steadier hand than I possess.

I switched to the R-word broadhead for the larger cutting diameter and ease in changing out blades, but if they stopped making them tomorrow I'd have no worries in going back to Spitfires.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

Guys that want to argue with me in regards to entry and exit holes, here's a thing to consider:

There is no guarantee you will get an exit hole so don't you think it is important that the broadhead give you a big entrance hole?

I understand the exit hole out of a treestand will be at a lower point on the deer which usually give you a better bloodtrail but, again, what happens if you don't get the exit hole?

With so many bowhunters going to ground blinds the entrance and exit holes are pretty even on the deer so wouldn't it again be more important to have a big entrance hole in case you don't get a exit hole?

You don't have a exit hole without a entrance hole. Give me a huge entrance hole every time.

I guess a better way to say it is why not have both a big entrance and exit hole compared to hoping you get a passthroughand only a big exit hole.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

You can't be certain of an exit hole and entry hole is important, I agree. That's why I asked if Spitfires make good entry holes. Based on the responses it seems typical to get about a 1'' entry hole with Spitfires,with a large exit. If I use a fixed head I'll have a 1'' entry and exit.

That being said, I've gotten a pass through on 19/22 deer. Sixteen of the deer were shot with mechanicals, 12 of those with various Rockets. The only 3 times I did not get a pass through was when I used a 2'' mechanical (twice) and when I hit the spine once. Majority of the time I've had about 57-61# of KE (last couple of deer I had about65#).
I now have 75# of KE. If I shoot a broadside (or slightly quartering)deer and only hit ribs I expect an exit, based on my experience.

RE: NAP Spitfire Experiences and Entry Holes
 

They are awsome broadheads. I havent shot a deer yet that i have actually had to track. All have gone down in sight. Try them, you wont be disappointed.