NOT to change the topic...just replying to a question stealthycat had.
Yes, NORMALLY bigger diameter means LESS penetration. However, SOME tests have shown SOME mech heads CAN cut a bigger hole AND penetrate better than some fixed blades. That is 1 reason SOME MIGHT choose a mech head.
even with FIELD points, and a 350 grain arrow going at 300 Fps, in a 10 mph cross wind, at 30 yards, you will be off by 3.2"!!! 30mph (who'd shoot in that...I know you were kidding, but....)you'd be off by 9.5"!!!
This is WITHOUT broadheads!!! Add a big fixed blade, and you can see the problems you COULD face

Stealthy You stated <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Do you agree that people for the most part use mechanical broadheads because fixed blade heads don't fly well in their untuned bows ?? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

No I don't agree with that! I can only comment on the people I know and myself when I shot mechs.Our bows are/were tuned to perfection.

You know very well even shooting mechs your bow needs to be tuned,don't you?

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Compound hunting is a lot like that after hunting with a longbow/recurve. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>I thought you had said that your skills with traditional equipment haven't allowed you to hunt with one yet.

Charlie P - This is my first season with a longbow, a whole new ballgame and then some.

I still disagree with the general statments made on mechanicals. I believe that the majority of bowhunters couldn't shoot bullet hole paper with their setups. A good number probably have the wrong spined arrows. Its facts guys, that many if not most bowhunters don't play around and tinker with their equipment. Too expensive, too time consuming, aint got the tools etc etc.

A compound has the ability to shoot a pretty good spine range of arrows with big fletch/feathers and mech heads. I bet if people were honest in a poll here, few have paper tuned their setups. Without that, you can bet that without a whole lot of luck their arrows aren't flying as well as they could be. I have seen quite a few threads on broadheads hitting high and to the right or not flying like field points causing problems - folks thats a bow/arow not being tuned, NOT a broadhead problem. Quick fix ? Mechanical heads, am I not right ?
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<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Charlie P - This is my first season with a longbow, a whole new ballgame and then some. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

So have you shot at a game animal,with your longbow/recurve?

I'll be honest you remind me of a guy who just quit smoking and wants to tell everyone what it's all about.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I still disagree with the general statments made on mechanicals. I believe that the majority of bowhunters couldn't shoot bullet hole paper with their setups. A good number probably have the wrong spined arrows. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

What general statements do you disagree with?

I haven't paper tuned my bow in along time,so what?Why? When I practice with my broadheads (85 grain Thunderheads) if I'm not careful I cut fletchings.I have great arrow flight and get passthru's.

Why do you feel many have the wrong spined arrows? You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to get the right arrows do you?


<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Its facts guys, that many if not most bowhunters don't play around and tinker with their equipment. Too expensive, too time consuming, aint got the tools etc etc. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Why tinker around with something if it ain't broke? Like I said before my set up shoots great, kills animals and gets pass thru's, why should I spend a ton of time tinkering with my bow? If I do have a problem I will take it to my pro-shop,why? I'm not very mechanical and a man needs to know his limitations.I can cook better then 99% of the general public,but I don't work on my own cars very much or my bows,so what? My freezer is full every year and I hit what I'm aiming at.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Quick fix ? Mechanical heads, am I not right ? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

No.your not right.If the bow isn't shooting right and isn't tuned what will happen when the mech. hits the animal? No penetration and alot of uneccessary tracking.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>No idealist thoughts here, just plain thats the way it is truth. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote> You haven't even hunted a full season with your traditional equipmebt and you are already getting an attitude I can't wait until you actually get an animal with it.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Stealthy,One more thought about the tinkering and paper tuning.Have you ever won a State or National title? See my local guy has,his name is Neil Newirk,his son has also won state titles and I believe a national event.The national event I speak of is held in Las Vegas each year,I'm not into competition shooting so I don't know the class, he is in.I can find out if you doubt my word.Why should I tnker with my bow when I can take it to Neil? Another thing you know what he told me about paper tuning he doesn't do it very much if at all.

Maybe it would be better if people didn't tinker with their bows.What do you think?

WHEW!!!This topic got the fires going

Took me a while to read all this. I got a new tech bow and it does shoot fast and flat. I don't shoot 3-D but do shoot in my backyard and I am a real hunter. The thing about this soap box that really bothers me is the kids reading this stuff and getting scared to ever try to bowhunt. They think they better have a rangefinder, mechanical heads, pendulum sights and a 12 inch d--k or they should never walk into the woods. You guys did take shots at animals before you knew how to judge distance and you did wound one unless you were lucky enough to have a dad like Arthur who taught you correct form etc. Lots of kids need to learn this sport and learn it right and just like you and me they will figure out from personal experience when they do something that was unethical. See ya later-takin' my anger out on my target.

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<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The thing about this soap box that really bothers me is the kids reading this stuff and getting scared to ever try to bowhunt. They think they better have a rangefinder, mechanical heads, pendulum sights and a ..... or they should never walk into the woods. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Add to that list that they might think they'd better have a bow shooting 300 fps or stay home. Speed, speed and more speed. If you don't have speed, you can't hit anything. That's the big message that seems to be right up top nowadays.

No, you're wrong about my dad. He didn't know beans about bows and arrows and was a gun hunter, all the way. I had a granddad that made a few bows for me when I was little and was taught how to shoot with pinch draw and no anchor, like he learned from his friends that lived on the reservation. Shot that way with homemade, all wood bows and arrows and then a solid glass recurve for years, killed lots of critters like that too, until I took an archery class in college and learned I was doing it all wrong and the white man's way is the only true form of shooting a bow. <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

More important than how to shoot a bow, my dad, granddads, uncles and older cousins taught me how to get close to game. Close enough that I couldn't hardly miss. Even shooting 'wrong.'

In other words, we don't need all that speed. We simply need to get closer. Easier said than done, for sure. But if we wanted easier, wouldn't we be hunting with a rifle or shotgun instead?
Remember that old saying... 'Archery the art of seeing how far away you can get from something and still be able to hit it. Bowhunting is the art of getting close enough that you can't miss.'

Arthur-I got new bow 'cause I'm getting older and the letoff makes me better at getting the shot I want. I don't even know what speed it's shooting. I agree on the rifle stuff but still shoot one on occasion. Right on about getting close. I am a creeper and ground hunt and if I don't kill it's Ok 'cause I love to get within smell range of an elk. Just love to walk the woods at dark and set up in a thicket and it's the best way to make it a personal challenge for me. I bet most of the people here feel the same way about the hunt but ethics are very different for all. It's the indians and not the arrows. Good fall to you all.