G5 Striker vs Shuttle T

[rileybassman]

Thoughts?

Shooting the montecs right now... little loud and not super sharp...

Due to WA laws, must shoot fixed blades so no mechanical suggestions

Would use for deer and elk (and a bear if it was in the wrong place at the wrong time

 

[jgeary338]

I like the shuttle T but found that the QAD Exodus fly a little better for me. Shuttle T are still solid choice IMO

 

[LostArra]

Interesting.
I'm going thru a similar decision process for my first compound after 45 years of traditional bowhunting.
I included Slick Tricks and Hellrazor just to make it more confusing.

 

[OR Archer]

Strykers are going to be much sharper but the Shuttle T is a tougher head with a better blade locking system. So out of the two you have mentioned Id pick the Shuttle Ts. That being said they would not be my first choice. I'd pick the Montec CS over the Shuttle Ts since you are already using Montecs.

 

[rileybassman]

It is odd to me how there seems to be two release of some of these BHs... The Montec then the "Montec CS" - carbon steel isn't inherently sharper then stainless... I'll be it that it is my preference in the knife world but that is for other properties such as durability and edge retention, but razors and scalpels are stainless and about as sharp as it gets... just a name game?

Same with the Shuttle T "Black Ops"... supposed to be way sharper...

Why not just release a sharp BH at the beginning??

 

[5MilesBack]

It is odd to me how there seems to be two release of some of these BHs... The Montec then the "Montec CS" - carbon steel isn't inherently sharper then stainless... I'll be it that it is my preference in the knife world but that is for other properties such as durability and edge retention, but razors and scalpels are stainless and about as sharp as it gets... just a name game?

Same with the Shuttle T "Black Ops"... supposed to be way sharper...

Why not just release a sharp BH at the beginning??

Companies are going to do what they have to in order to make sales. The original Shuttle T's actually were pretty sharp, they just didn't feel that sharp to many archers. So they lost sales because of that. After TT bought them, they changed to the Black Ops and a new perceived sharper head. And they do "feel" sharper, however, the edges also seem more fragile now too.

 

[tipsntails7]

Strykers are going to be much sharper but the Shuttle T is a tougher head with a better blade locking system. So out of the two you have mentioned Id pick the Shuttle Ts. That being said they would not be my first choice. I'd pick the Montec CS over the Shuttle Ts since you are already using Montecs.

Agree with OR on everything except the montec, If you want a head like that I would pick up VPA 3 blades, same design just better materials at the same price.

 

[RosinBag]

The montecs, the vpa's and shuttle t's could all be sharper. I am not an expert in machining, but to machine a razors edge seems difficult. The VPA's are by far the worst out of the package for sharpness. The Montec CS's are pretty sharp, but I wish they were sharper.

 

[Cant hit em]

QAD Exodus , sharp n fly great

 

[tipsntails7]

The montecs, the vpa's and shuttle t's could all be sharper. I am not an expert in machining, but to machine a razors edge seems difficult. The VPA's are by far the worst out of the package for sharpness. The Montec CS's are pretty sharp, but I wish they were sharper.

Rosin, they would have to be hand sharpened to become any sharper, especially if they are coming out of a CNC. Vpa actually tells you to sharpen them out of the package. Supposedly by not taking the time to get them super sharp they save on costs. All mine are SHARP after a run on a stone and a strop.

 

[RosinBag]

That's what i was getting at, I just didn't know the terminology. It is crazy to me that VPA sells them and they have to be sharpened. I am using the Montec CS this year unless the Ramcats out perform them. I just spent the last two weeks group testing five different fixed blade heads. I will test the Ramcats next week to see where they fall into my results.

 

[MattB]

Most guys will (or should) test-shoot their BH's before using them on game, so they need to be resharpened anyhow.

 

[5MilesBack]

QAD Exodus , sharp n fly great

I bought a pack of the swept-back blade version 2 years ago, and I haven't seen too many heads that dull out of the package. The only others I can think of were the Phatheads. Ya, not a fan of having to sharpen BH's right out of the package. How many knives come that way?

 

[rileybassman]

Rosin, they would have to be hand sharpened to become any sharper, especially if they are coming out of a CNC. Vpa actually tells you to sharpen them out of the package. Supposedly by not taking the time to get them super sharp they save on costs. All mine are SHARP after a run on a stone and a strop.

How could that be... what about Gillette for example... do they hand sharpen each individual blade on their safety razors... all 27 of them or however many blades we are up to now on each razor lol

Granted it is thinner stock, but even some factory knife companies... thinking Kershaw for Example, can get quite sharp factory blades. Admittedly, I don't know their QC process... perhaps at some point a human intervenes, but I would guess most of their edges are all machine created. And you can get them for 10-15 bucks and expect them to at least slice paper, if not then cut hair.

 

[rileybassman]

Most guys will (or should) test-shoot their BH's before using them on game, so they need to be resharpened anyhow.

Agreed, either that or new blades put on before hunting. Always had been a fan of a one piece design, but am wondering if replaceable blades may be the way to go...

 

[rileybassman]

Would be expensive, and to sharpen it would have to be removable more then likely, but a full height convex broadhead blade would be sweet! It would be the perfect edge for a broadhead has it push cuts so well.

 

[Screamrider]

Over the past year I tried Solids, Exodus, Ram Cats, Slick Tricks, and Wac'ems.

I was overall satisfied with all of them, but none truly flew like field points....until I tried the wac'ems. Out to 65 yards they group exactly with field tips, and the slight noise that I got from slick tricks (my second favorite) was completely gone. After a year of searching for a fixed blade I'm totally sold on the wac'ems.

 

[rileybassman]

Over the past year I tried Solids, Exodus, Ram Cats, Slick Tricks, and Wac'ems.

I was overall satisfied with all of them, but none truly flew like field points....until I tried the wac'ems. Out to 65 yards they group exactly with field tips, and the slight noise that I got from slick tricks (my second favorite) was completely gone. After a year of searching for a fixed blade I'm totally sold on the wac'ems.

I'm liking the looks of those... adding those to my test list

 

[tipsntails7]

How could that be... what about Gillette for example... do they hand sharpen each individual blade on their safety razors... all 27 of them or however many blades we are up to now on each razor lol

Granted it is thinner stock, but even some factory knife companies... thinking Kershaw for Example, can get quite sharp factory blades. Admittedly, I don't know their QC process... perhaps at some point a human intervenes, but I would guess most of their edges are all machine created. And you can get them for 10-15 bucks and expect them to at least slice paper, if not then cut hair.

They use other methods on razors or on knives. they are not popped directly out of CNC and placed into a razor. The sharpening process could be automated maybe it's some laser shit they claim, I'm not exactly sure.
The VPA's are not dull butter knives, they are basically as sharp as most broadheads. If you want them sharper you have to sharpen them by hand.

Every benchmade that comes of the line in Oregon is hand sharpened, they can damn sure cut you before that process but when they roll out the door you can shave with them. You can CNC an edge that will cut, that's not the problem, it's getting it to the standard that some people call sharp is where the differences comes into play.

 

[SDHNTR]

The montecs, the vpa's and shuttle t's could all be sharper. I am not an expert in machining, but to machine a razors edge seems difficult. The VPA's are by far the worst out of the package for sharpness. The Montec CS's are pretty sharp, but I wish they were sharper.

Doug, have you seen any recent VPA's? They are now MUCH sharper out of the box than previous versions. Comparable with Montec CS out of the box. The honing and coating process has changed. That said, I personally think out of box sharpness of a one piece head is a waste. The beauty of a one piece is the ability to practice shoot each and every head and arrow combo first. That builds confidence, IMO. And a fresh, sharp head is just wasted on foam. VPA's are so easy to sharpen right back up to shaving sharp and that is what matters to me. But for those who don't operate like me, they are WAY sharper now out of the box.