Heavier insert or point weight?
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Josh
29-Jul-18
Does it even matter? Or is it all just weight up front. I’m thinking about either a 50gr insert with a 125 head or 18gr insert with a 150 head. Or am I over thinking it? Thanks
From: boly
29-Jul-18
I'd like to know too
From: texbow2
29-Jul-18
It's pretty much all up front. Unless one head is significantly longer, even then I doubt you could tell.
From: Shawn
29-Jul-18
Does not matter too much, it is basically all weight up front. I shoot 175 grain broadhead but get the same results with a 50 grain insert and 125 grain head. Shawn
From: RackTNT
29-Jul-18
Doesn't matter how you achieve the desired grains up front.. insert point? combination doesn't matter??
From: Mpdh
29-Jul-18
Keeping the weight all in the broadhead, will allow you to shoot a bigger head.
From: HDE
29-Jul-18
Only thing that matters will be the profile of the broadhead. Most of the time, the heavier they get, the longer and/or wider the get.
From: wyobullshooter
29-Jul-18
The 125gr BH has 25gr more “beef” than the 100gr, generally concentrated in the ferrule. How much stronger that makes it is beyond my pay grade.
EDIT: I guess what I should have said is I don’t know how much stronger that potentially makes the 125gr.
From: PECO
29-Jul-18
I like a heavy insert and lighter broadhead. For one, it spreads the weight out just a little bit. For the main reason, if I travel, finding a broadhead heavier than 125gr in a local shop or big box is really difficult. Yeah I know, take with you what you need but shit happens. Makes no difference to me though with my compound, I shoot 100, or 125gr depending on what I'm doing. It's the trad gear where things get complicated.
From: Matt
29-Jul-18
I personally would add more weight in the BH than in the insert for the sake of durability.
From: spike78
29-Jul-18
Better off going with the 125 grain head configuration as their are way more 125 head choices then 150 should you decide to change heads down the road.
From: caribou77
29-Jul-18
By adding more to the insert and shooting a lighter tip (100 or 125 gr) you have a million more broadhead options to use and try. 150s and higher limit you very quickly.
From: Buglmin
29-Jul-18
Just like PECO said, easier to find broadheads at a certain weight. I have custom made half outs, made for the weight I want and use whatever 125 grain head I want without ant difference in arrow flight.
From: oldgoat
29-Jul-18
The 150 would probably have a better length to width ratio, but the heavier insert would be stronger. I regularly do different combos of this, heavy insert and light tip for target and light insert heavy head to hunt, I don't kill much but my arrows shoot good
From: Josh
29-Jul-18
Thanks for the help!
From: BOWNUT
29-Jul-18
Just about any heavy insert is longer and creates a good footing and a stronger arrow up front where you need it along with the broadhead options.
From: Treeline
29-Jul-18
More broadheads in 125 than 150? Weird.
I must shop in a different world. Heck, where I go, 150 is about as light as they have. Maybe 1 or two lightweight heads in 125 grains but nothing lighter. They do carry field points and broadheads up to 325 grains though!
The bigger, heavier broadheads offer much stronger options with better angles for penetration on game. They won’t blow up on heavy bone and will be much more apt to blow through for deeper penetration and wound channels.
From: Griz34
29-Jul-18
I like going with a 100 grain broadhead because there are so many more options. My inserts weigh in at 72 grains.
From: Lever Action
30-Jul-18
I like a lighter insert because I can always work with head weight.
From: Redheadtwo
30-Jul-18
I use a heavier head. If the insert is a longer one,e.g. a 100 grain brass insert Gold Tip style,you're theoretically putting some of the point weight back toward the arrow.
From: Trial153
30-Jul-18
I just shoot 100 grain heads now across the board. All the extra weight is in the inserts. Makes things simple
From: c5ken
30-Jul-18
For what it's worth... I used 120 brass inserts and 315gr Bishop broad heads on a Easton FMJ-DG arrow to shoot a Cape Buffalo.. Performance was excellent..
From: elkstabber
30-Jul-18
For a recurve I prefer the standard aluminum insert and a heavy broadhead. A broadhead of 200 grains is extremely durable and flies well from a well tuned recurve.
For a compound I prefer to use a 100 grain broadhead because I've found that 100 grain heads fly better than heavier heads. They have a smaller profile and catch less wind so they plane less. For these arrows I like to use brass inserts to bump up the arrow's overall weight.
From: spike78
30-Jul-18
Treeline, not sure where you shop but I think 125 grain is standard in 99% of heads. I don’t see a 150 grain Exodus, Slick Trick, and most if not all Mechanicals don’t come in 150. Now if the OP is traditional then you maybe right although most of those heads come 125 grains as well. Maybe you are shopping in an African bow hunting store.
From: Treeline
30-Jul-18
Actually in Colorado. It’s a traditional shop but I was pretty surprised looking at the wall of broadheads the other day. A couple of 125’s maybe, but mostly 150’s and up.
From: elkstabber
31-Jul-18
elkstabber's Link
Here you go spike78. Check out this link. 3Rivers Archery is in Indiana and they have 264 broadheads and most are 150 grains and up like Treeline said. Once you step out of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's you'll see that a wide variety of broadheads up to 300 grains and more exist. Most are made in the USA and sold in the USA. Sadly, many of the 100 and 125 grain heads are not made in the USA.
From: ELKMAN
31-Jul-18
Always go insert if possible. It opens your head choice up tremendously
From: spike78
31-Jul-18
Huh? I just skimmed that link on 3 Rivers and saw 125 grain up the wazoo. You guys are nuts. Yes I do agree Trad shops have heavier points however I’m sure about 90% shoot 100-125 grain on a compound. Just to put your head in a tizzy I shoot 85 grain slick tricks out of mine.
