Fixed vs mechanical
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
I just got back into hunting after roughly 10 years off. The last I hunted I used thunderhead 125s. Since then mechanical have became really popular but from what I hear they don’t always live up to their hype. Wondering what everyone else is using and what you recommend.
I use the K.I.S.S. system...keep it simple stupid.
Fixed blades for me. C.O.C. as well. Expandables can fail, I'm not risking it. I think we at times over complicate things.
One of the oldest debates on Bowsite! Here's the answer... Shoot what your confident with. Period. It only matters to you and you have to have the confidence. Me - I shoot mechanical and have been doing so and so far back people thought I was nuts for a looonnnggg time and had many arguments over the years. Never looked back NAP Spitfires and now RAGE. Actually mechanicals are very accepted today.
The Drury boys ALL shoot RAGE...there's a reason for that!
Shoot what you like!!
The end.
rallison - "Expandables can fail, I'm not risking it"
So can a dozen things on your bow...using that arnt ya?
Bloodtrail I’m using rage hypodermics and shot a doe last night and completely destroyed the front shoulder. Easiest tracking I ever did.
Bloodtrail...my longbow doesn't have a dozen things on it. Expandables aren't my thing. If they're your preference, not a problem with me...go for it. Why does my preference appear to upset you?
The Drury boys shoot Rages because they get paid to. I don't take anything any of the TV heroes promote on their infomercials for anything other than them whoring themselves.
Shoot what you like, but do some research first. Lots of great fixed blades and lots of great expandable. Also a lot of junk in both categories.
Pros and cons to both. Everyone has to decide for themselves what they like.
Whatever you decide...DO NOT pick a broadhead because some douche on TV uses one. If your arrows fly true and hit where you are aiming that is what matters. What can fail on a fixed blade broadhead.....nothing.....what can fail on a mechanical....it might not function as planned. Why would you risk a failure on a living animal. IMO
yes w/ Franklin, my thing is it must shoot straight, then quiet, then hole size. And not break when hitting bone
I tried mechanicals long ago and had so many failures I say never again. Go through without opening. Only one blade opens. blades break off. band fails. etc -- for what advantage? none.
My belief is, if you hit them in the right spot it really doesn't matter what you're using. They have to fly right to hit them in the right spot though.
I've used both and have killed plenty of animals with both. With that being said I prefer COC sturdy fixed blade heads like slick trick Vipers. I killed half a dozen deer with rages and they killed everything I shot at and had excellent blood trails, but the last one had a blade wrapped around the ferrule after hitting an opposite leg on a yearling doe. That kind of turned me off, but the head did do its job and killed the deer.
I shoot both, Grim Reapers and Slicks. I used to shoot rage but I didn't like how the blades survived after a shot. and I really do prefer a 3 or 4 blade head.
Did the mechanical thing years ago, and moved on. Have yet to lose a deer with Slick tricks.
I use both Rage Hypodermic and Slick Trick Vipers. The Rage heads have come a long way even is the past 4-5 years. They create devastating wound channels and short blood trailing jobs. The Slick Trick Viper (which is NOT a cut on contact head as mentioned above) will create more of a shotgun slug hole with excellent blood trails. In my set up, they both have the same POI as my field tips. Those are my recommendations, do with it as you wish. Regardless of the head you use, shot placement is the key to success. Good luck jrd, let us know how it goes.
I just tie my knife to the end of my arrow...works pretty well. It does weigh down the front of the arrow so I usually have to shoot 4 feet above their back at 25 yards.
I've shot Rage for years. This year I bought the hypodermics and they just seem cheap. They are also very dull. After they inevitably open while going through the woods, I can push them back in place without worrying about getting cut. I would never consider touching my Aces or Grizzlies the way I can handle the Rages edges.
BW you wuss! I tie my Bowie knife to the end of a broom stick. Talk about devastating!
Appreciate all the feed back guys. Couldn’t agree more about proper shot placement.
inmyelement, try the new trypans. If you’re a fan of rage you’ll love them.
I have trypans and a black hornet 2 blade in my quiver, the hornet is for when I’m still hunting or have some thicker brush that I’m worried about grazing.
I don't care what you shoot, as long as its lethal and reliable. I've told this story before, the outcome was good but lucky. The blades got froze shut unknowingly to the hunter. Two arrows into the deer, well placed (good thing). Not much blood but found the deer. There were two bullet holes in the animal, no blade cut. Anything mechanical will fail at some time. I will stay fixed, now 2 blade solid. Mechanicals were made for people who didn't have the time to correctly tune there bow is my feeling.
My reference to Drury is NOT because some "douche" shoots them on TV nor "because they get paid" for it - (so IF I pay them to shoot Judo points and I am the high bidder - they'll shoot them?) Really?
I don't know what agreements they have with sponsor(s) or manufacturer(s) and I suspect you don't either, but I do know they and I have killed a crap load of deer with them.
Mark and Terry have ALOT riding on shots - they wont shoot crap (would you) and have a show that shows tracking and then.... losing deer. That just wouldn't make any sense.
They are awesome broadheads and leave huge wound channels and a river of blood most of the time!
The NAP Spitfire has been a standby regular for me for many years. Just as dynamic!
It boils down to shot placement gentlemen! You can kill a deer shooting a target point!
I give a rats ass what the hell ya all shoot. Personal preference.
But I'm telling ya been shooting mechanicals for over 20 years now and never have looked back. Have never had a failure on any head that I have shot! Ever!
My last deer quartered away at the last moment too much for my liking. I shot him with a Ramcat fixed 125gr. Took out the ribs and lungs with a clean pass through at 25 yards. I watched him drop. I’ve had that same shot bounce of ribs with a Rage. Ramcat also makes a mechanical that is devastating, but I will only shoot mechanicals now at a perfect broadside target.
If you are shooting a lower poundage bow don't use a mechanical, otherwise have at it. Like anything use a quality, time proven broadhead. If you want to go the mech. route I would suggest the Rage hypodermic, Grim Reapers, and NAP spitfire's.
If you know how to get your arrows to fly straight, you dont need mechanicals.
I am assuming you’re talking Whitetails here? I use Montecs, which I have for probably 8 years now. I did briefly use a Rage for a year or two and these killed, but I just didn’t like the moving parts or cheapness to them as these weren’t a cheap $ product. I won’t try talking anyone out of them as it’s a personal choice. I prefer Montecs. :)