Broadhead Kill Data Similar to Caliber Thread

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I know there are a ton of threads talking about mechanicals and fixed broadheads, but is there a thread for “Mechanical Broadhead for Bear, Deer, Goat, Moose, Elk” and “Fixed Broadhead for Bear, Deer, Etc.” similar to the threads for calibers? Ie. .223 for Bear, deer, goat? I have not seen one in the search bar.

Would anyone be interested in starting one? I found the pictures of wounds and descriptions really interesting and helpful in the caliber threads. I’m sure it would help anyone (like me) who has been back and forth on BH selection.

Not necessarily looking to start a mechanical vs fixed thread, but more of a, here’s how each one performed.

 

[jpmulk]

I’m interested. I’ve only ever used fixed blade and am interested in mechanical. I’ve lost a few elk with fixed blades but it was 100% my fault and not the broadheads.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I’m interested. I’ve only ever used fixed blade and am interested in mechanical. I’ve lost a few elk with fixed blades but it was 100% my fault and not the broadheads.

If a few folks comment interest or give some likes I’ll make a thread for mechanical and one for fixed. I’ve seen a ton of reasons for going either direction, but being new to archery, it is hard to figure out which way I should go.

 

[DenimChicken]

I'd be interested in a running thread. Did you guys listen to Jeremy Dugger on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast? He's got a sample size of 500+. Sounds like lots of it is word of mouth and doesn't have corresponding photos/documentation, but pretty interesting nonetheless.

 

[Robobiss]

Sounds interesting, I would definitely scroll through the photos, but broadhead wounds do not vary much. I feel like every single critter I’ve shot with x broadhead looks the same, y broadhead looks the same, etc.

There’s a lot more variation in wounds created by rifles because there are a lot of factors effecting how the projectile behaves.

I do think the data that would be interesting is looking at penetration because unless a mechanical fails (less and less likely as time goes on), penetration is the only variable that changes much. It would be cool to gather shot placement, draw weight, draw length, and arrow weight along with the specific broadhead that was used and see how much penetration there was with a specific setup.

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

I think it would be good data. I change heads often for hunting as well as shooting many of the popular ones to test flight characteristics. I have some pics and can provide context for critters, although I find myself often forgetting or not prioritizing blood trail and wound channel pics usually due to time constraints.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

Alright I think that is about good enough of a sample for interest. I’m going to start 2 threads. 1 for mechanical, 1 for fixed. If you have any data to share, please head over and share or check in to see who has shared.

 

[Fever Buck]

Alright I think that’s a bough sample for interest. I’m going to start 2 threads. 1 for mechanical, 1 for fixed. If you have any data to share, please head over and share or check in to see who has shared.

I think it would be import to agree on keeping specific data points included in the posts as well. Animal, shot distance, draw weight, etc.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I think it would be import to agree on keeping specific data points included in the posts as well. Animal, shot distance, draw weight, etc.

I went ahead and added a request to each thread to add that information

 

[AZ Gator]

This is a great idea for a rookie archery shooter like me. Thanks!

 

[DenimChicken]

I do think the data that would be interesting is looking at penetration because unless a mechanical fails (less and less likely as time goes on), penetration is the only variable that changes much. It would be cool to gather shot placement, draw weight, draw length, and arrow weight along with the specific broadhead that was used and see how much penetration there was with a specific setup.

I think this is the data that is useful. Without a picture, all we hear is "X broadhead sucks cause I didn't get a passthrough." When the picture is provided, we can see that X broadhead didn't passthrough cause it's stuck in the scapula.

 

[Actionsqueak]

I just listened to a podcast with a guy from NM who owns an archery shop and has collected over 500 data points on fixed vs mechanical blades. 's certainly not scientific but interesting none the less. He and the podcast host seem to think mechanicals are, by and large, more consistently effective than fixed blades. Most due to how finicky tuning can be with fixed blades to get them to fly right. It's worth a listen!

Here's a link to the episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0avATN84PIavI7B2LG8DYI?si=gREgFdU2QreniAJgTEeX1Q

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I'd be interested in a running thread. Did you guys listen to Jeremy Dugger on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast? He's got a sample size of 500+. Sounds like lots of it is word of mouth and doesn't have corresponding photos/documentation, but pretty interesting nonetheless.

I’m part of the ways through it. Still need to go back and finishing listening. I think it’s worthwhile information to hear from what I’ve heard so far, but I agree, it’s not perfect. It does seem to support the theory that I’ve heard that mechanicals have a higher recovery rate. However, at least to where I stopped listening, it did not seem to elaborate on why that is (though I do have my own theories).

 

[Beendare]

He and the podcast host seem to think mechanicals are, by and large, more consistently effective than fixed blades. Most due to how finicky tuning can be with fixed blades to get them to fly right.

That makes sense- mechs shoot better in an untuned bow...but it's also stating that most guys are shooting a bow that isn't tuned and maxed out for best accuracy.

To me it's like putting in seat cushions on your truck because the shocks are bad.

The guy that can't get FP's and fixed heads shooting together is shooting an arrow thats not coming out of the bow perfectly straight and with a slight wobble. It's a quick fix to shoot mech heads in that case. It improves the situation but doesn't solve the problem.

I have never had a bow that I couldn't get to tune and shoot BH's to the same poi as my BH's out to 50y. I have seen it many times, a guy that thinks he is shooting well only to find he is a much better shot once his bow is tuned.

Plus that gives me a bow thats as accurate and forgiving as it can be- no matter which BH- fixed or mech.

 

[Beendare]

To the OP's question; I use 2 blades in my recurve and Thunderhead 3 blades in my compound. I have maybe 10% of the animals I shoot that aren't complete pass throughs...and of those 70% of the critters I shoot die in sight- they go less than 50y.

And many of those are with a 47# recurve and 2 blade BH. One 800# moose I shot twice at 30y....two complete pass throughs, like a hot knife through butter- effortless. It didn't feel it and just stood there letting me shoot again.....7 steps and tipped over.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

To the OP's question; I use 2 blades in my recurve and Thunderhead 3 blades in my compound. I have maybe 10% of the animals I shoot that aren't complete pass throughs...and of those 70% of the critters I shoot die in sight- they go less than 50y.

And many of those are with a 47# recurve and 2 blade BH. One 800# moose I shot twice at 30y....two complete pass throughs, like a hot knife through butter- effortless. It didn't feel it and just stood there letting me shoot again.....7 steps and tipped over.

I am assuming that the majority of fixed users will mostly report full passthrough and mechanicals will likely be the ones that will have penetration issues. I am assuming (if the sampling is big enough), that there will problem be a brand, and/or design/feature in mechanicals that shows up in ones that fail to pass through consistently. Interested to see results in a few months though. Hopefully the threads really take off.

 

[nighthawkf-117]

I'm definitely interested in a thread and can contribute some pics myself

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I'm definitely interested in a thread and can contribute some pics myself

Thanks, check them out. I have both going. May have to scroll down in the archery section, but both should be fairly high up.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I would definitely be interested. I used to shoot 78 pounds so I wasn’t even concerned with broadhead choice as long as it flew. Shoulder injury has me at 60 pounds now and I just can’t shake the idea that I need to forget about mechanical heads now. I have a few different fixed heads I’ll be testing soon once I get all my bows sighted to new arrows and draw weight.

I’d like seeing the outcome of different heads.

 

[jonesn3]

I'd be interested in a running thread. Did you guys listen to Jeremy Dugger on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast? He's got a sample size of 500+. Sounds like lots of it is word of mouth and doesn't have corresponding photos/documentation, but pretty interesting nonetheless.

I was thinking the same thing when I listened. It’s a step in the right direction for data though. A compound bow speed dataset for a variety of DW, DL, LO, and AW would be interesting too. Could help a lot of guys without a chrono