High KE setup broadheads

[Rick Leathley]

I need to figure out what broadheads I want to shoot this year. I'm open to any type. My set up makes around 100 lbs of KE.

At first I was set on shooting Solid broadheads, but then I started thinking I should shoot a 2" expandable to help use up some KE.

The more I research I do the more confused I become lol. I'm over thinking this like normal but it is what it is.

So I thought I would toss this out to you guys and see if Rok slide can bring some clarity.

I have shot the regular rage and I'm not impressed by them. They always look like a car wreck all twisted up and bent to hell.

 

[Tilzbow]

I'd go with a well constructed, solid 3 blade such as a VPA 150 grain.

 

[Rick Leathley]

I guess I should post my setup too

MR5 70# @30"
victory VAP's 250 spine 93 gr SS insert cut at 28.5

with a 100 grain tip I'm at 512 gr shooting 300 fps

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I have been using 125GR slick trick magnums this year with great success. I have shot two bears with them so far this year and they leave huge entry and exit wounds with the 4 blade design and great blood trails. When i want to use an expandable i shoot the 125GR Ulmer edge.

I see no need to worry about shedding KE.

My setup is 89KE and .63MO almost same exact arrow weight but im shooting at 280fps.

 

[Rick Leathley]

I'd go with a well constructed, solid 3 blade such as a VPA 150 grain.

I found some VPA custom shop 1 1/4" 125/150gr Vented that I like. Not sure I want to go up to 150gr but my arrows do still spine good according to OT2

 

[Rent Outdoor Gear]

That is a ton of FOC Rick... even with only 100 grains up front. What are you planning to hunt this year? Personally I'd stick with a good fixed blade head at 100 grains or less just to keep things in check. I have found a sweet spot with my setups around 150 grains of total point weight. Just seems that I get the best groups at this point weight with fixed blades. Also delivers a nice compromise of energy and relatively flat shooting trajectory.

More energy is great, but I think you may be entering the realm of diminishing returns if you go any heavier up front. Don't feel like you need to "use" the energy like by opening a mechanical broadhead. The idea behind high energy setups is to blow through the animal and create entrance and exit holes. If you make a great shot - that's what you get. If you don't make a great shot, or the animal reacts and you hit bone, all that excess energy may come in handy to smash bone and cause as much damage as possible - increasing your odds of retrieving your trophy in the event of a marginal hit.

With all that in mind, you're still shooting pretty fast for a fixed blade broadhead to achieve great accuracy so maybe a mechanical is a good choice. I've had some good shooting fixed blade setups at 300+ fps, but they took some tinkering and rarely would shoot field points right with broadheads as well as my setups in the 280 fps +/- range. Maybe if I knew what you were after I might be able to make some better recommendations (i.e., what are you hunting, how far are you shooting, etc...)

Hope this helps and doesn't raise more questions Rick.

Coop

 

[Rick Leathley]

I have have 2 mule deer tags this year.

I would like to stay with a 100gr tip that has me at 18% FOC, and keeps my speed the same. I would be okay going up to 125 gr.

I feel that higher FOC setups help fixed blade long range performance as well as increased penetration. I believe my MO is around .68.

2 mechanicals I have been looking at are the ulmers edge or the swhacker. Same basic form different function as the blades open from different. Directions.


With good arrow placement almost any broadhead well work. I had one side of the rage fail to deploy still double lunged it and it didn't go far. I want a broadhead that can hit bone and still have a decent chance penetrating.

Coop good point about FPS and fixed blades.

I hunt alpine mule deer so figure shots from 20-50 yards.

I guess I'm looking for a good grouping ,penetration , tough broadhead fixed or mechanical

 

[Rent Outdoor Gear]

All good points Rick - I not only think you're on the right track. I think you're there bud. I can vouch for the Ulmer Edge - Great shooting head, and lethal. I'm a fan of a larger entrance hole so for that reason alone, it would get my vote over the Schwacker. Guessing you're probably hunting NV and UT or AZ for deer?

Good luck! I think any buck that runs into one of your arrows will be in trouble!

Coop

 

[Rick Leathley]

Thanks coop. Hunting area 10 in Nevada and 29 in Utah.

I really like the set screw that locks the blades on the ulmer edge for practice. I shoot everyday so that's a nice feature to me.

 

[TXCO]

I think your arrow weight and FOC is already plenty, if not bordering too much FOC. With the size of your insert you dont need a heavier head than 100 gr which also gives you plenty of broad options. I would focus on accuracy at this point as your already in overkill for KE and speed.

What is your draw length/poundage to shoot 500+ grains at 300fps?

 

[Rick Leathley]

I think your arrow weight and FOC is already plenty, if not bordering too much FOC. With the size of your insert you dont need a heavier head than 100 gr which also gives you plenty of broad options. I would focus on accuracy at this point as your already in overkill for KE and speed.

What is your draw length/poundage to shoot 500+ grains at 300fps?

I shoot a Mathews MR5 70 lbs with a 30 inch draw. It has an IBO of 360 FPS.

 

[Buster]

I haven't had the opportunity to use an ulmer edge or schwacker, so this is a bias review, but I've had great success with the rage 2 blade broadheads. I've killed with them and rebuilt them to kill again. The entry hole never seizes to blow me away. I have blown through a big mulie's shoulder blade, resulting in a bent blade, but still functional. I'd love to step up the game by going to their newer titanium, but at $85 a 3 pack, it's tough to justify with the success I've had using their standard head.

 

[cmeier117]

You sure your spine is okay? I am shooting same arrow almost same weight at same speed with 100 grain head but my arrows are cut at 27.5 and I figured if I went to a 125 head I would have issues?

 

[Danielboone]

I also have 100# KE due to my 33.5" DL. I also use the .250 spine shafts and do a lot of BH testing. For fixed, I like the QAD Exodus, VPA or ST are great choices. The only mechs I will use are either the Steelheads in 125, the Spitfires or the Grave Digger with trocar tip.

 

[KMD]

Rick, I have a similar setup as you, a Monster 6.7 30"70#. I'm running 300spine FMJs with 50gr inserts and 150gr Vented VPAs up front...580gr @ 275fps. I also have some 100gr vented VPAs and ST Mags to compare to the 150s, just to see if I prefer the flight of a 525gr @ ~290 (guesstimate). Fact remains that, after building an arrow up and pulling a beast back to gain all that KE and momentum possible, I sure don't wanna give it back to a broadhead that needs the energy to open & perform on game! Also, more KE and MO translates to exponentially more stress (force) being applied to the mechanical components of the BH at impact. I think that is all the more reason to pick a stout BH that can perform under that stress...
Just something else to consider, good luck!

 

[SDHNTR]

Shoot a VPA of your choice and you will NEVER have to worry about your head being tough enough. Solid MACHINED steel. With proper tune and form you can shoot as far as you'd ever want to, with confidence.

KMD makes some excellent points.

 

[Coyote Commander]

I think your arrow weight and FOC is already plenty, if not bordering too much FOC. With the size of your insert you dont need a heavier head than 100 gr which also gives you plenty of broad options. I would focus on accuracy at this point as your already in overkill for KE and speed.

What is your draw length/poundage to shoot 500+ grains at 300fps?

I dont know that there is a such thing as "too much FOC". Well, 30% may be overkill.

The OP must be right around 15%, which is AWESOME and he's going to see MUCH better, and more consistent broadhead flight for it. The old recommended 8-10% is bologna recommended by arrow manufacturers who forgot the lessons that traditional archer learned over 100 years, and up until just a few years ago couldnt even manufacture a stiff enough spine for long draw/heavy weight shooters. Thank god they've waken up and are making arrows stiffer than .300. We've got quite the stiff arrow selection now, something we didnt have 10 years ago.

Im shooting about 16.5% FOC (down from 18%) and am ONLY seeing positives for it (18% was better, but I ran into spine issues.....again).

 

[Rick Leathley]

Going to get the vented 100gr VPA and see how they fly for me.

 

[Nick Muche]

Why vented?

 

[Rick Leathley]

Vented are supposed to fly better then non vented.