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Mechanical Broadhead issue
I posted in the bowhunting forum abouta shot I did on a doe and how it
was to far back. Well the Wasp Hammer Head SST 100 Gr i used in that hunt I took a couple practice shots today just to check it. I shot at a foam target that got a little soft in the middle but after 4-5 shots that mechanical did not open up and that little rubber band stayed right on it. Is this not good? I would think not. I am truely thinking about going back to fixed blade. BTW that rubber band just slide up the arrow on the doe kill shot. I switched from aluminum last year to carbon this year. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
Those style head with the rubber bands usualy open quit easily. From my experience the rubbler band usualy will just slide up the shaft when the head expands. You said it wasnt expanding after several shots in the foam, it could be clogged with foam or possible the blades could be snapping back closed when the arrow stops. Id just check the head out and as long as the blades open and close freely it should be good.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
How do you know it didn't open? If you pull the arrow back out,most of the time,the rubberband will just slide baqck up into position.If it is stuck out the back and the rubberband is still on the head,then it isn't opening but pulling it back out,you can't be sure.
Passthru is correct,those style heads require very little to open. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
ORIGINAL: FRALEY I posted in the bowhunting forum abouta shot I did on a doe and how it was to far back. Well the Wasp Hammer Head SST 100 Gr i used in that hunt I took a couple practice shots today just to check it. I shot at a foam target that got a little soft in the middle but after 4-5 shots that mechanical did not open up and that little rubber band stayed right on it. Is this not good? I would think not. I am truely thinking about going back to fixed blade. BTW that rubber band just slide up the arrow on the doe kill shot. I switched from aluminum last year to carbon this year. You've been on here long enough to know.... Silly Wrabbit, Mech's are for kids...:D:D:D... If I had (and only if I had)shoot a mech, it would be grim reapers. I've put them though the test.. and they stack up as far as mech go. Fixed blade, and heavy are the best for me. Muzzy Phantoms 220 grain. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I just noticed you used the same head you shot the deer with.It is quite possible that the blades could be bent and causing them to be stuck and not opening.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
Tfox I do see them sticking out the back still closed.
I will try a new mech later today. LOL silly wabbit |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I have harvested many of animal with the mechanical with no failures (knock on wood) but things can happen. I recently went to a fixed blade that I found hard to beat. The stryker by G5.......I really love how they fly right with my field points and are so scray sharp.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I do see them sticking out the back still closed Get a piece of paper and put it on the back of the target to see if that is the case. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
If the blades swing freely they'll open freely. If the head has been damaged or plugged up by shooting you'll have resistance on them when you try to swing the blade open by hand.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
Good to hear!
ORIGINAL: FRALEY I posted in the bowhunting forum abouta shot I did on a doe and how it was to far back. Well the Wasp Hammer Head SST 100 Gr i used in that hunt I took a couple practice shots today just to check it. I shot at a foam target that got a little soft in the middle but after 4-5 shots that mechanical did not open up and that little rubber band stayed right on it. Is this not good? I would think not. I am truely thinking about going back to fixed blade. BTW that rubber band just slide up the arrow on the doe kill shot. I switched from aluminum last year to carbon this year. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
Tony, I took my first 27 deer with mechs... Though mine were by Rockets, I think the Wasp is a great head, too. The guys up above are right (especially Kodiak) about shooting the same head which may have meat matter or dried blood inside it making the blades harder to open.
All my shots with mechs just rolled the band up the shaft like you mentioned, and pulling an arrow out its entry hole will oftentimes close the blades back. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I'm a fixed head fan and don't like mechanicals myself. BUT.... through testing some mechanicals and after discussing the same thing with Len a couple times, I found that foam and mechanicals don't react well together. If you place a piece of cardboard on the target they will open. The cardboard is more like the hide of an animal, foam isn't. Chances are they open just fine on an animal. It doesn't have to be heavy cardboard either. Just a thin box opened up and placed on the face of the target will allow them to open.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I have shot a lot of animals with mechanicals (30+) but I really don't see the advantage to using them with the quality of fixed blade heads available, such as Slick Tricks, G5 Strikers, etc.;)
One failure of a mechanical head in a hunting situation is too many. Shoot them long enough, and kill enough animals and it will happen. I will just not take the risk anymore, not the way my Slick Tricks perform, flight, holes, toughness, etc.:D Dan |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I know this is my first post, but I feel that I need to answer such a post.
Mechanicals, are indeed a performing broadhead, many of them have the capability of out performing some of the well like fixed blade heads. Don't chalk up the use of the mechanicals to the fact that many of their users don't tune or shoot beforehand with them. I spend countless hours and days out of my pre season, shooting broadheads, and adjusting if necessary. A mechanical in many instances only works as well as the shooter; meaning shot placement is the greatest key. Don't be worried with Jackknife Style blades, one of the best: Rocket Steelheads uses such design. Don't be afraid of rubber bands either, more than 90% of the mechanicals still use them. If you test a mechanical, a soft spot on a target is not good IMO. A target like a Rhinehart 18-1 would work well. Or if you want to go more in depth, try using a leather glove in front of the target, or perhaps a piece of meat if you have one (a ham works well). I did a simple test with Rage, Rocket Steelheads, and NAP Spitfires, I shot through a 2" box, and recorded my results like the following: if the blades were deployed by the time the broadhead exited into my target. The NAP Spitfires, and Rocket Steelheads worked to perfection, while the Rage did not. Although I did the test, I took it with a grain of salt, since some of my closest friends have used the Rage 3-Blade without problems. The point I am trying to get at is; you can do all the testing you want, but until you "test" in real life, all else is perhpas just suspected, or probable. Keep in mind a bad shot, is not a reason to blame the mechanical if performance was poor! |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
The one advantage is cutting width. Though I'm shooting fixed-blade heads currently, I enjoyed some extremely devastating wound channels with large-diameter cutting widths that produced blood trails that looked like they were poured out of a bucket. Of the 27 deer I shot with mechs before switching last year to Slick Tricks and this year to MX-3s, none of them travelled over 65 yards.
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RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
ORIGINAL: Greg / MO The one advantage is cutting width. Though I'm shooting fixed-blade heads currently, I enjoyed some extremely devastating wound channels with large-diameter cutting widths that produced blood trails that looked like they were poured out of a bucket. Of the 27 deer I shot with mechs before switching last year to Slick Tricks and this year to MX-3s, none of them travelled over 65 yards. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
ORIGINAL: TFOX ORIGINAL: Greg / MO The one advantage is cutting width. Though I'm shooting fixed-blade heads currently, I enjoyed some extremely devastating wound channels with large-diameter cutting widths that produced blood trails that looked like they were poured out of a bucket. Of the 27 deer I shot with mechs before switching last year to Slick Tricks and this year to MX-3s, none of them travelled over 65 yards. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
A mechanical in many instances only works as well as the shooter; meaning shot placement is the greatest key. I agree with TFOX. It's the double lung shot that results in a short tracking job. Whether they fall within sight, has more to do with your hunting terrain than what broadhead you used on that double lunger. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
I haven't shot as many deer as many of you(by choice) but I have had as many fixed head failures as I have mechanicals.
I found the mechanical failure deer and lost the fixed head deer. |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
ORIGINAL: Jeff K in IL I know this is my first post, but I feel that I need to answer such a post. Mechanicals, are indeed a performing broadhead, many of them have the capability of out performing some of the well like fixed blade heads. Don't chalk up the use of the mechanicals to the fact that many of their users don't tune or shoot beforehand with them. I spend countless hours and days out of my pre season, shooting broadheads, and adjusting if necessary. A mechanical in many instances only works as well as the shooter; meaning shot placement is the greatest key. Don't be worried with Jackknife Style blades, one of the best: Rocket Steelheads uses such design. Don't be afraid of rubber bands either, more than 90% of the mechanicals still use them. If you test a mechanical, a soft spot on a target is not good IMO. A target like a Rhinehart 18-1 would work well. Or if you want to go more in depth, try using a leather glove in front of the target, or perhaps a piece of meat if you have one (a ham works well). I did a simple test with Rage, Rocket Steelheads, and NAP Spitfires, I shot through a 2" box, and recorded my results like the following: if the blades were deployed by the time the broadhead exited into my target. The NAP Spitfires, and Rocket Steelheads worked to perfection, while the Rage did not. Although I did the test, I took it with a grain of salt, since some of my closest friends have used the Rage 3-Blade without problems. The point I am trying to get at is; you can do all the testing you want, but until you "test" in real life, all else is perhpas just suspected, or probable. Keep in mind a bad shot, is not a reason to blame the mechanical if performance was poor! |
RE: Mechanical Broadhead issue
oh and does anyone else remeber the rocket arohead video. if you can watch that (the info not just the hunts) and still shoot fixed blades then your a fixed head kinda guy but anyone with a thought of going to mechanicals should see it.
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