Bow and Broadheads for Elk

[Frontline Defense]

Yeah I hate opening up this Pandora's box of opinions lol.
I have a 60lb Mathews Triax. Been great On NC Whitetails, Illinois and Michigan. I use the G5 Megameats, 100gr.
I use to hunt at 70lbs, but my Army Airborne Ranger shoulders are trashed. I also understand 1,000% about shot placement. As a former Army and FBI trained Sniper, I also own a 1,000yd rifle range in NC and train dozens of hunters yearly heading out to the midwest to rifle hunt.
But I got addicted to bowhunting because of the challenge and I want to do it as long as I am able to.
I am going to Montana Sept 2026 and I want to make sure I am good to go with my setup. I am working on getting up to 65lb draw at 29.5" but my southern brethren say 60lbs is plenty. I love the G5 megameats, since they fly just like my field points, I'm very confident in the performance I have gotten over the years. I have heard I should use the new G5 Montec M3's but I don't want to have to deal with tuning etc. My arrow weight is at 476 with the 100gr. Either go 125gr or get weighted inserts?
Thanks in advance.
Sua Sponte.

 

[Dakota Dude]

Sounds like you have a good set up already. If I was being really picky, I would get some arrows with inserts, but your operation should work just fine. I shoot a 500 grain arrow with 70lbs at 28" draw. I get 260 fps. Here is what the 100gr. G5 2" Megameats did to the bull I shot a week ago.

The first picture is the entry. The second is the exit while I was cleaning it. I forgot to get a picture of the exit before I skinned it, but both holes were bigger than a golf ball. It was my first time using the Megameats, and I honestly couldn't believe it. It was a clean pass through and the arrow was stuck deep in the dirt.

 

[wind gypsy]

476 grains is plenty.

I dont know much about megameats and their penetration or lack of but you're going to want a good tune for perfect arrow flight regardless for penetration. A small fixed head shouldn't be that hard to get flying right.

Small sample size for me but I have no concerns about going through an elk with about the same draw length/weight and slightly slower bow than what you use with 450 grain total arrow weight and QAD exodus or viper trick heads.

 

[Frontline Defense]

Sounds like you have a good set up already. If I was being really picky, I would get some arrows with inserts, but your operation should work just fine. I shoot a 500 grain arrow with 70lbs at 28" draw. I get 260 fps. Here is what the G5 2" Megameats did to the bull I shot a week ago.

The first picture is the entry. The second is the exit while I was cleaning it. I forgot to get a picture of the exit before I skinned it, but both holes were bigger than a golf ball. It was my first time using the Megameats, and I honestly couldn't believe it. It was a clean pass through and the arrow was stuck deep in the dirt.


View attachment 942938View attachment 942939

Awesome. The megameats leave a nice hole for sure. I was looking at the dead meat because of the smaller diameter and getting through the ribs better.

 

[Frontline Defense]

476 grains is plenty.

I dont know much about megameats and their penetration or lack of but you're going to want a good tune for perfect arrow flight regardless for penetration. A small fixed head shouldn't be that hard to get flying right.

Small sample size for me but I have no concerns about going through an elk with about the same draw length/weight and slightly slower bow than what you use with 450 grain total arrow weight and QAD exodus or viper trick heads.

Yeah the megameats fly exaclty as their practice points. I tried a real one vs the practice at 30yds and I shaved a vane off.

 

[Beendare]

Oh man, you are going to get answers all over the map.

60# with a 450g plus arrow is plenty for elk. If you were under 400g.....then it starts getting iffy if using an inefficient BH design like a big wide Mech design.

For context, I've been elk hunting the west with a bow for over 40 years and seen a pile of them die to an arrow. Then; I've killed a pile of critter inc. Moose with a recurve at 50# or less. My take;

Literally any BH will work with your arrow and a 60# compound. Its true.

Maxing it out;
I think a strong fixed 2 blade or tapered design 3 blade over penetrating designs is best for these reasons;
1) they are easy to shoot and test, then touch up razor sharp and in your quiver
2) They penetrate when other wide plowing heads don't. Sometimes a couple inches is the difference
3) Strong
4) they slide in vs the wide plowing designs. This design stays razor sharp even through heavy hair, hide and bone...the wide plowing designs don't.
5) They over penetrate in a worst case shot
6) These old school proven designs have worked well for a thousand years
7) many times using these efficient designs, the critter doesn't know they were hit and die in sight or don't go far vs the plowing designs that gets them running like their tail is on fire.

I heard of 6 bulls shot and lost this elk season so far. It may be a coincidence but all were mech heads. Bad shots are the reason for sure....but why? Poor or no BH tuning? Blades opening in the quiver or in flight? Wide chopping and plowing blades that stopped dead in tough critters? Who knows. I'm a KISS guy....and I shoot the crap out of my hunt setup testing with BH's to know my limits. The strong 2 blades are easy to spin check, shoot and then touch up with a diamond stone. I also shoot the thunderheads [3 blade] which have probably killed more animals than any other head.
If I can help with anything, just ping me.

 

[Frontline Defense]

Oh man, you are going to get answers all over the map.

60# with a 450g plus arrow is plenty for elk. If you were under 400g.....then it starts getting iffy if using an inefficient BH design like a big wide Mech design.

For context, I've been elk hunting the west with a bow for over 40 years and seen a pile of them die to an arrow. Then; I've killed a pile of critter inc. Moose with a recurve at 50# or less. My take;

Literally any BH will work with your arrow and a 60# compound. Its true.

Maxing it out;
I think a strong fixed 2 blade or tapered design 3 blade over penetrating designs is best for these reasons;
1) they are easy to shoot and test, then touch up razor sharp and in your quiver
2) They penetrate when other wide plowing heads don't. Sometimes a couple inches is the difference
3) Strong
4) they slide in vs the wide plowing designs. This design stays razor sharp even through heavy hair, hide and bone...the wide plowing designs don't.
5) They over penetrate in a worst case shot
6) These old school proven designs have worked well for a thousand years
7) many times using these efficient designs, the critter doesn't know they were hit and die in sight or don't go far vs the plowing designs that gets them running like their tail is on fire.

I heard of 6 bulls shot and lost this elk season so far. It may be a coincidence but all were mech heads. Bad shots are the reason for sure....but why? Poor or no BH tuning? Blades opening in the quiver or in flight? Wide chopping and plowing blades that stopped dead in tough critters? Who knows. I'm a KISS guy....and I shoot the crap out of my hunt setup testing with BH's to know my limits. The strong 2 blades are easy to spin check, shoot and then touch up with a diamond stone. I also shoot the thunderheads [3 blade] which have probably killed more animals than any other head.
If I can help with anything, just ping me.

Appreciate the insight. What do you think of the G5 Montec? But yes KISS is definitely gone these days.

 

[D_wit22]

QAD Exodus is my go to fixed blade. Sevr is also in my quiver for the farther shots

 

[06 SB]

60 pounds is fine but 65 is better if you can handle it. The 450gr arrow is fine too. I know you do not want to tune but it is critical no matter the broadhead. If the tail of the arrow is waging, it really hinders penetration when an animal is hit. Tune for perfect arrow flight.

Broad head selection is really personal but just like the tuning, sharpness is critical. I have used mechanicals a lot for deer but prefer fixed blades these days. There are many good ones. Last year I used Muzzy MX4 but am trying the QAD Exodus this year.

To sum it up, sharp broad head launched from a tuned bow with perfect shot placement.

 

[D_wit22]

I shot my elk with a 60# bow and 435G arrows and it did t seem to mind. Died fast. Don't overthink this

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Your bow and arrow are fine, but I wouldn't shoot the megameat, especially the 100 gr version at an elk. The aluminum post is a weak point, hard impacts it will lose blades. Same issue with the deadmeat v2.

I've killed 2 elk with the qad exodus, and 2 with the rage trypan. Trypan shot animals went about 1/3 the distance after the shot and they always hit right behind my pin. That's my favorite elk head right now.

Other heads id consider using are the evolution Hyde, bomar beast, grim reaper micro hades, and the contact archery m3. Good luck on your hunt!

 

[Frontline Defense]

QAD Exodus is my go to fixed blade. Sevr is also in my quiver for the farther shots

Why not the QAD for further shots?

 

[D_wit22]

Why not the QAD for further shots?

Those Sevrs fly like darts. Only reason I carry the fixed blade is I hunt in some thick crap and im nervous about early deployment of the blades. If it wasn’t for that I would only carry Sevr.

 

[Frontline Defense]

Those Sevrs fly like darts. Only reason I carry the fixed blade is I hunt in some thick crap and im nervous about early deployment of the blades. If it wasn’t for that I would only carry Sevr.

Understand that.

 

[Frontline Defense]

60 pounds is fine but 65 is better if you can handle it. The 450gr arrow is fine too. I know you do not want to tune but it is critical no matter the broadhead. If the tail of the arrow is waging, it really hinders penetration when an animal is hit. Tune for perfect arrow flight.

Broad head selection is really personal but just like the tuning, sharpness is critical. I have used mechanicals a lot for deer but prefer fixed blades these days. There are many good ones. Last year I used Muzzy MX4 but am trying the QAD Exodus this year.

To sum it up, sharp broad head launched from a tuned bow with perfect shot placement.

Agreed. I have been spoiled on the G5's. Two different Mathews bows and out of the box they both shot the G5's exactly as the practice points. Shot them out to 100yds and was amazed. I think I am going to give the QAD a try.

 

[Fogalo]

I shot my elk last week through some light grass with an iron will. It’s worth noting that might happen and could send an expandable more off track.

 

[Frontline Defense]

I shot my elk last week through some light grass with an iron will. It’s worth noting that might happen and could send an expandable more off track.

That would totally suck!! Congrats and thanks.