why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Now that I can truely practice with effiency, I am pondering the use of fixed and mechanicals. I seem to get very close groups with both kinds of tips but a question bug was put in my ear this afternoon from my uncle. He asked me that if I can get a fixed to group well, why even think about something that could fail you upon entry? I know that the technology between todays mechanicals and those of the past are like the difference of a tape and a cd, no comparison but I thought I would toss this out and get some varied opinions. By the way I am leaning on the muzzy 100 gr 3 blade, not to be confused with the mx3!

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

You can usualy get larger cutting diameters with expandables than you can with fixed blades. Fixed blades are usualy a more durable head than expandables but tend to catch the wind more when shooting in breezy conditions. I could keep going all day but what it really boils down to is what you feel is best for your situation. I am shooting expandables out of one of my bows this year and fixed out of my other.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Expandables will still have better flight characteristics than a fixed.Even if the fixed is tuned to perfection.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Couldn't have said it better myself. Excelent advice!

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

The good expandables have proven very reliable compared to models manufactured even a few years ago. I've always been a "Fixed are better and I'd never own a mechanical" guyuntil I read and saw enough positives about the Piston Points to give them a try. Plus, I love to tinker and wanted to try something different that I still knew would be reliable.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

VERY TRUE, and exactly why I have BOTH in my quiver as I head to the woods, with calm winds, a Fixed flys great, add a little 15mph crosswind, and that Fixed head ain't gonna hit the same spot it would in calm conditions!!! If you have Rage 2-blades, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't use them, but that's just my $.02, but I'd still tune the bow to shoot Fixed BH's because if you do, then you have your bow much more fine-tuned. And will get better accuracy overall with FP, or Fixed and Mech. BH's.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Exactly what everyone should do. Tune for fixed. Even with good mechanicals cross winds can cause problems and the better the bow is tuned the better any arrow will fly.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

I was fixed a guyfor more than 23 years untill I saw the hole a mech. put in my buddies buck 6 years ago. Since I have changed over to mech I have only had 1 deer die out of sight. But my main reason is every broadhead out there will kill a deer quick when you hit it in the boiler room, But it is when something goes terribly wrong and you make a bad shot that the mech shines with the huge holes you put into the deergives you a better chance that the deer will still bleed out!! Walt

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

There is a link to an article in a Momentum vs Kinetic Energy discussion that talks about mechanicals and fixed blades. Its worth a read! I am by no means starting up that discussion or a penetration discussion again but that article had some good insights, just though you might want to check it out. Fixed blades for me, but I suppose if I were taking 50 yd shots I would like mechanicals as well for a little less wind sheer.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

I am actually tuned to fixed heads now but am thinking of trying the rage out this year....

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

You have to take some of the momentum VS Kinetic Energy discussions with a grain of salt.

Rear deployment mechanicals penetrate as well as a fixed blade and some do more damage. I've shot Slicks side by side with the Piston Points and the Piston Points (Now Trophy Ridge Undertakers)penetrated the same or better. Front deployment mechanicals may have a chance of loosing penetration as well deflecting depending on the design.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Unless you are shooting very low poundage or are only getting say 40lbs of KE then there shouldnt be any problems with penetration on deer sized game. Like Dave said the new modern expandables penetration is right there with most fixed blade heads. I wouldnt shoot the old spitfire style heads if you paid me to, but the newer rear deployment heads are great. You can achieve more forgiving arrow flight with large cutting diameters andwithout loosing penetration. Will they replace a fixed blade head? Not in durability and strengthbut the new style mechanicals deffinetly have there place.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

Rage 2 blade. Just because ICAN blood trail doesn't mean I like spending hours in the woods scenting-up my best spots.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

I use the shoot-thru netting on my doublebull blind so it is fixed for me. If I did more stand hunting I would consider mechanicals.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

I use fixed blades. because my cousin had a expandable come open on him in mid flight and missed the deer.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

It opened up,became a fixed blade head and he missed.:eek:[8D];)

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

More importantly with your LOW Kinetic Energy set-up, you SHOULD be using a fixed blade in the first place to ensure good penetration. As far as the BH opening up in "mid flight," how certain of that can he be???? There are lots of good "excuses" out there, it'd be pretty difficult to determine that a MBH opened in "mid flight," without having a video of it.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

So your telling me that it will be hard to get a pass thru withan expandable ,shooting the poundage that I currently have?

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

If you were referring to me.... "No, your set-up should be perfectly capable, Hick was the one I was saying has a LOW ENERGY set-up that is more likely to have penetration issues with a mechanical head." And with the rear-blade deployment on some of these newer heads, he may have plenty, as long as he sticks with a SMALL cutting diameter.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

I guess I'm old in my line of thinking. I was always told if you want more blood you have to have more blades... I shoot the 4 blade muzzy fixed blades and even though it takes a little longer to tune them I get great results.

For one season I was trying the "vortex" mechanical broadheads but I never shot anything with them. Do they even still make those? I remember they were expensive as all get out back then.

I remember back (in the 80's) when there was a 5 blade broadhead, and the blades were seperate from the body of the broadhead and in theory the blades were supposed to stay stationary in flight while the arrow and main body of the head spun. This way it was supposed to be uneffected by plaining and such. I still have one laying around somewhere... Never got a deer with it but my friends said it put a mighty hole through a deer.

RE: why a fixed blade and why a mechanical?
 

More blades give you a better chance of hitting something vital. The problem with too many blades is eventually you create so much cutting surface that friction can start to become an issue. Think of it as trying to push a 1" diameter pointed stick into something. Instead of cutting through an animal you are almost punching. I'm not talking about 4 blade heads here. Just some of the heads that went a little overboard that used to be made or may still be hanging around.

By the way, the Undertaker (Piston Point) broadheadfollows the spin design that you were talking about. Upon impact the head keeps cutting straight but the arrow itself will still spin freely. The theory behind that is thatby allowing the arrow to still spin you retain the rotational energy that could be lost when on impact the arrow would be jerked to a hault. Not sure if it really makes all that much ofa difference though since almost all of the energy is moving forward in the first place and therotational force of the arrow is very small and only forcontrolling the arrow inflight.