Slick Trick Experiences.
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Ambush
24-Dec-23
I mostly shoot NAP Spitfires for everything, but Slick Trick Magnums have always been in my quiver too. I'm running out of the original Spitfires and will likely be using ST's more. A friend and guide made a comment about a couple of "failures" from ST's in the mountains on goats. Very steep shots and the heads slid down the ribs I'm assuming because of the shallow blade angle and short tip. The Vipertrick and the Wickedtrick seem to have a steeper blade angle and more of a COC design. I'd have to order some to psychically compare them , but if someone has them and can just tell me or post a pic of the blades side by side or on top of each other that would be great. Thanks.
From: drycreek
24-Dec-23
On deer, they have killed for me as well as anything else, but the blood trail wasn’t the best. I always went back to Strikers.
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
Ambush,
I’ve used the Standard, Magnums, and Vipertricks off and on a lot. It just depends how my bow tunes up for the year and what I’m hunting.
I have written off the Vipertricks as I’ve had mixed results with them. I won’t shoot the magnums at big stuff any longer as I’ve had poor penetration with them but I am shooting an old slow Mathew’s bow at 58lbs. They are good on bears however. I’d pick the standard if I had to choose. Keep in mind I’m shooting the older models, supposedly they have taken a turn in the quality department as well.
Funny I just picked up 4 packs of spitfires based on you and Kurt’s experiences. I know they have changed, but my partner shot an elk this year with one and that spitfire saved his butt and it didn’t go anywhere with a pure gut liver shot.
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
Just the blades left to right…….
Standard Magnum Viper main blade Viper bleeder
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
Viper main blade side vs Magnum
The bleeder side vs Magnum
FYI I’ve killed two goats with the standards, lights out.
From: Dale06
24-Dec-23
I used the ST magnums on deer and several large African animals. They worked great.
From: Mark Watkins
24-Dec-23
Have used slick trick standards for everything from moose, elk, deer, grizzly and sheep over the past 15 years.
Accurate, RAZOR sharp and never a head “failure.”
Blood trails have consistently been good (not great).
Mark
From: nchunter
24-Dec-23
I used the magnums for year and never had a failure. I bought some once when Gary owned the company. Right after they came I got an email to send the back. There was a quality issue and they sent me replacements. Gary was a great guy to work with.
From: Starfire
24-Dec-23
Standards are my go to broadhead. I think the four blade design leave a more consistent blood trail. I've used other broadheads that will leave huge sporadic pools. The slick tricks seem to leave more of a continuous stream.
From: Ambush
24-Dec-23
Thanks for the pics Cazador, that's great!. I've killed moose with both Spitfires and ST Magnums plus lots of other game and African animals, with no issues or failures. I would likely go with the Wickedtrick for the bigger cutting area. I shoot 65# at 29" DL and a 465gr arrow and don't usually have any problem with penetration on bigger animals. I'm just wondering if the steeper main blade angle might be advantageous?
Thanks for comments so far. Nothing beats real world user experience.
From: JTreeman
24-Dec-23
I’m a fan of expandables, but certainly feel there are occasions to use fixed and I have tried a bunch through the years. I always seem to come back to the Viper Tricks. I personally think they are the best all round replaceable blade out there.
—Jim
From: YZF-88
24-Dec-23
I’ve been using the standards on deer and elk since 2006. Not planning to change anytime soon.
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
I’ve never shot the wicked trick, it looks interesting , as the bleeder looks larger. The viper trick to me is just too small. The flight is very good though. I’ve shot 3 elk, and one deer and they all did the same thing. Each didn’t really know they were hit, and took longer than I expected to die. They just laid down and died in sight after standing there for several minutes. One got a standard as a follow up to speed the process up. I did lose a nice buck with one as well. Turns out the shot was further back, but the broadhead is so small, and didn’t cut me any favors. I refuse to shoot them any longer even though I killed my elk this year with one.
I’m leaning more towards expandables these days.
From: butcherboy
24-Dec-23
I shot the magnums once. Didn’t get very good penetration shooting 73#. I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot the standards or vipertricks.
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
Entry on a goat. Standard
From: Cazador
24-Dec-23
Entry vipertrick
Blood trail was ok, but elk was o it’s feet for several minutes just standing there.
From: Ambush
24-Dec-23
I do think the total cut on the Vipertrick and the Standards is too small for my liking. But then I'm used to the cut from a big three blade. The Wickedtrick it quite a bit bigger.
From: YZF-88
24-Dec-23
I’ve been using the standards on deer and elk since 2006. Not planning to change anytime soon.
From: Bowaddict
24-Dec-23
I stayed away from magnums because of the blade angle. I’ve been using the standards for a long time with great results. Never really had a bad blood trail with them unless it was a higher chest hit from the ground. I’m not gonna say it’s always a great blood trail, but usually decent.
From: Starfire
24-Dec-23
A standard 1" four blade has as much cut as a 2" expandable
From: HDE
24-Dec-23
Used the standards one year in Valle Vidal. They didn't work any better than other BH's I've used.
I prefer a 3 blade over a 4 blade.
From: Medicinemann
24-Dec-23
I couldn't get the Wicked Tricks to group as well as the Magnums or Viper Tricks.
From: Brun
24-Dec-23
I've killed elk with the Magnums and the Viper Tricks. Not the biggest blood trails I've seen, but the all died quickly. The main reason I use them is because they fly really well out of my set up.
From: Nick Muche
25-Dec-23
Standards when I use them as well!
From: BTM
25-Dec-23
When I do my job right, 125 standards do their job just fine.
From: Murph
25-Dec-23
I’ve shot around 50 animals with the standards mostly deer antelope and turkeys have taken some really steep angled shots out of tree stands on whitetails never an issue and have never seen any kind of failure with new or old heads bloodtrails are average but 95% of the animals tipped over in sight still as good of a fixed blade as anything out their today IMO
From: Grey Ghost
25-Dec-23
Rod, I have no experience with the blades you mentioned, but I witnessed the unbelievable devastation of the Rage X-tremes this season when a young buddy killed this buck on my place. I've always been a fixed blade guy, but after seeing the gaping holes and the blood trail that looked like it was sprayed from a garden hose, I'm going to give the X-tremes a try next year. Oh, and the head was undamaged, too.
Matt
From: Basil
25-Dec-23
Nothing but positives for me with 100 Magnums. Dozens of kills and no failures. I did have a couple ferrules break on heavily used practice heads years ago. Gary replaced all of them at no cost to me. Was a machining issue. Can’t remember the last time I didn’t have a pass thru.
From: Bentshaft
25-Dec-23
They kill but blades nick very easily on Tricks. Blades have to be changed often.
From: PECO2
25-Dec-23
I used the standards on deer for one season. I didn't care for them went back to a solid coc head.
From: Copperman
25-Dec-23
I've shot both standards and now Vipertricks no complaints with either great heads
From: Buffalo1
25-Dec-23
Have used Slick Trick standards in the past with success. They have a good track record.
From: Buffalo1
25-Dec-23
Have used Slick Trick standards in the past with success. They have a good track record.
From: 12yards
26-Dec-23
A buddy of mine swears by the Magnums. He shoots 65# and has a 29-29.5" draw length. I bought some to try next year as he lent me one and it flew amazing. I like Magnus Stingers but haven't gotten great blood trails with them either. Adequate, but not amazing. I tend to believe there is no fixed head that will give a better blood trail than any other. I've shot deer with 2, 3, 4 blade heads in my hunting career and have had good and sparse trails with all. Depends where you hit and what you cut. It would seem a 1 1/8 x 1 1/8" head would have a better chance of cutting something that will bleed more than a two blade or three blade fixed head of similar diameter.
From: Ambush
26-Dec-23
Two Magnums went through all that hair, bone and meat.
Two Magnums went through all that hair, bone and meat.
I’ve never had a problem with the Magnums and shoot the Grizztricks with no issues either. I’m just wondering if the Wickedtricks steeper blade angle with the same overall cutting area may penetrate better and still have the big cut I like.
And Jake’s point about bigger heads are harder to tame is very valid.
From: Groundhunter
26-Dec-23
Gray Ghost, what you posted is true, IF you have a solid shaft, and the energy to open them. I used STs when they first came out. Solid sharp head. Did the job. Shot alot of pigs with the Magnus, never failed.
From: Iowabowhunter
26-Dec-23
I shot the standard & magnums for a little while, changed for no other reason than I like to experiment with different heads.
For a price point option- the old ST's were great- i'm not sure if anything has changed since Gary sold the company.
From: JIMBOW
26-Dec-23
I tried the 125 magnums (from so many recommendations here) and had two failures in two try’s on Whitetails. The first killed the deer (so I’m not sure if counts as failure) but the head was missing one of the blades when I picked it up. The shot was 15 yards and through the wheel house only hitting ribs. The second was a spinning shoulder hit and the arrow kicked back out after a few yards… again the blades were jacked up. I’ve hunted with VPA 3 blade solids for 10 years (70-80 animals) and have found nothing better including the ST 125 MAGS. Maybe just bad luck? Either way I’ve stock piled VPAs and hope they will be around longer than me. Good luck in your Quest.
From: Bill in MI
26-Dec-23
How are the blood trails with thos VPAs Jim?
From: JIMBOW
26-Dec-23
Zebra
Zebra
I’ve had impressive blood trails and not so impressive blood trails but one thing for sure is that they are generally short. One African trip I went on I measured from impact to recovery and for six animals the total distance was 163 yards. Some of the blood trails were ridiculous and some were faint and I can’t tell you exactly why. This Zebra emptied out all it had (it seemed) in 25 yards. The whitetail I shot last year with a VPA ran exactly 16 yards from impact and left just a few drops. I’ve never had a VPA fail me and they fly great.
From: Gator
27-Dec-23
Standards have served well including deer, elk, muskox and brown bear. Never an issue...yet.
From: midwest
28-Dec-23
Rod, since you liked the original Spitfires, have you taken a look at the Grim Reapers? I have no experience (yet) but they are still American made and get really good reviews.
From: grossklw
28-Dec-23
I've been shooting the Viper's the last 8 years, never had an issue or failure. Some blood trails are better than others, but I'm more worried about getting 2 holes. Tune in the exact same spot as my field tips, I won't be changing.
Shot Rage's for a few years and they left some massive holes. But on one shot where I killed a doe the blade was wrapped all the way around the ferule bent, did the job but I wasn't impressed with the durability, so I switched.
From: Blood
29-Dec-23
Shoot them for over 20 years. The whistle of death. There’s no reason to stop using them. They kill. I have tried other heads, but the ST magnums are great.
From: Ambush
29-Dec-23
Nick, I’ve seen the Grim Reapers used on several bears and the results were very impressive. Big holes through vitals kill animals fast!! I think they have an all steel version again?
From: cnelk
29-Dec-23
SlickTricks for 14 years here
From: midwest
30-Dec-23
" I think they have an all steel version again?"
Yes, Fatal Steel. 1-1/4" 3-blade.
From: APauls
30-Dec-23
Shot a few animals and didn’t like the blood trails. Some non existent. Had same with other similar heads - small 4 blades or 2’a with bleeders.
The whole argument about “amount of cut is same as a 2 blade” as a poster mentioned above doesn’t hold water IMO. Imagine if it was an 8 bladed broadhead that added up to 2 inches. I would be like the size of a field point. One big 2” slash is way deadlier for devastation and blood, but also harder to push through.
From: Ambush
30-Dec-23
I'm with you on that, Adam.
On that "harder to push through" I have another observation that "shouldn't" hold true. I've put 3 blade, 1 1/2" cut, over the top opening Spitifires all the way through moose, huge bodied mule deer and many other animals and I've witnessed a LOT of Spitfire kills. Yet a 2 blade, rear deploy Rage stops without breaking the skin on the far side. Why is that?
From: Ambush
31-Dec-23
Thanks Nick. I see they also make a three blade 1 3/8" steel Pro model. I might buy a pack of those to test on bears.
From: RJ Hunt
31-Dec-23
I have killed more elk/deer with a 100 grain viper trick than any other broadhead and been very happy with them. Even shot a couple bulls on frontals and fell over dead in sight. They work for me and how I shoot. My 2 cents.
From: BoilerRoom
31-Dec-23
I used the ST Magnums for years no problems . Blood trails not dramatic but definetly always followable with a dead deer at end of trail. Switched to Slick Trick Raptortricks this year and very impressed
From: wyobullshooter
31-Dec-23
I’ve used Viper Tricks for several years. The blood trails have been rather heavy and short.
