Sevr or NAP Slingblade for elk?

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I had been a big fan of the Rocky Mountain Gators and use the Red Head Gators now but have been discouraged lately as Bass Pro seems to have cheapened the quality of the blades and it seems I break a blade on almost every deer I have shot in the last 2 years.

I am going on an elk hunt in September and plan on using a mechanical head. I understand many disagree with the use but first I am not using it as a band aid for poor tuning. I can keep my FP's, 3 & 4 blade original Muzzy's and the Gators all hitting the same POI out to 50 yards. This is the longest range I have tried. I will be shooting an arrow of 455 grains going at 278 fps so I have plenty of energy and momentum. The reason I plan on using a mechanical is because I want something that will be more forgiving in the wind and minor form flaws since this will be spot and stalk vs. my normal 20 yard shots in a treestand with knowing virtually every spot a deer would be standing. I also have noticed after killing several dozen deer with the Gators that they die faster with much shorter tracking jobs vs. fixed blade heads hitting in the same spot.

I saw that CamoFire had the NAP Slingblade on sale for 13.99 a pack of 3 vs. 13.99 for one Sevr. I have also read all of the hype about the Sevr heads and like the concept of being able to lock the blades closed for practice as well as having the blades concealed in the ferule of the head. They both look like very durable heads based upon the video's I have seen.

Which head would you recommend and why?

 

[id450]

I had the NAP and had no real complaints. I could group them out to 75 before they dropped off. I never shot an animal with them. I gave them up first because they break in practice. I went through to many. That failure lead me to Blood Sport gravedigger hybrids. These heads are bad ass. Fly great and smoked a bull last year at 37 yards. He went 75 yards at a full run and died. The small fixed blade is extra insurance.

Also, I can tighten them down and practice all,day. I check the blade tightness every 10 or so shots. I high recommend giving them a look. My hunting body is stuck on the sivers. I’m not sure why, it’s a pretty generic design and he admits they don’t group well for him.


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[id450]

It was like this all the way to him


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[DanZ]

I have had great luck with the Slingblades on whitetails. Great head. Can't beat the blades on an NAP for out of the box sharpness. I've also found their blades to be tougher and retain an edge better than the blades used on most expendables.

I have never shot the Sevr but I like the design a lot. The slingblade has a significant amount of blade exposed, so I would assume the Sevr would fly better. No doubt the titanium ferrule would be tougher than the aluminum. Really like that you can lock the blades closed for practice.

Everyone seems to like that the blades lock open upon impact on the Sevr, but I think the Slingblade/Gator type floating blade could be an advantage in penetration when going through bone or when blades hit two hard surfaces at the same time. Some people have complained that this leads to a small exit hole if you happen to pass between 2 ribs -- but I always think, if your arrow is exiting between two ribs, you probably wont need the red carpet treatment to find your animal.

I've been thinking about getting some Sevrs to play with. I have a feeling that a lot of elk will be killed with that new 1.5 head this year....

 

[justin davis]

I like fixed blades for elk! Ironwills are great

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Following

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I have had great luck with the Slingblades on whitetails. Great head. Can't beat the blades on an NAP for out of the box sharpness. I've also found their blades to be tougher and retain an edge better than the blades used on most expendables.

I have never shot the Sevr but I like the design a lot. The slingblade has a significant amount of blade exposed, so I would assume the Sevr would fly better. No doubt the titanium ferrule would be tougher than the aluminum. Really like that you can lock the blades closed for practice.

Everyone seems to like that the blades lock open upon impact on the Sevr, but I think the Slingblade/Gator type floating blade could be an advantage in penetration when going through bone or when blades hit two hard surfaces at the same time. Some people have complained that this leads to a small exit hole if you happen to pass between 2 ribs -- but I always think, if your arrow is exiting between two ribs, you probably wont need the red carpet treatment to find your animal.

I've been thinking about getting some Sevrs to play with. I have a feeling that a lot of elk will be killed with that new 1.5 head this year....

Dan,

Thanks for the review of the Slingblade! I agree with you 100% on the dual floating blades of the Gator. I have always gotten 2" plus entrance holes and usually similar on exit. The only time I can think of that I had less than full size exit holes have been after blowing up a leg bone or passing through the soft spot of a far side scapula on a quartering away shot. On the Severs I am leaning towards the 1.7"s due to still having a less steep angle than the 2.1's while having a larger cut than the 1.5"s. I used the original Ulmer Edge and wasn't impressed with the blood trails and the recovery distance was farther than the Gator's much like a fixed head.

I ordered the Slingblades based upon the limited reviews I have read and the video's I have seen on YouTube. I wlll test it and then determine if I feel I need something else for elk.

 

[jyoung1901]

I cant speak on the Slingblade, but the NAP Killzone is hard to beat for a tough, reliable mech head. Very forgiving and creates a devastating wound.

 

[IN_Varmntr]

I also cannot speak for the Slingblade, but for the Killzones, I lost the blades out of one on a whitetail doe passthrough. Smashed a rib on the way in and the blades were inside her cavity when I butchered her. Looks like a different blade pivot/retention system on the Slingblade than the KZ, so I may try them on whitetails.

 

[805Bowhunter]

I cannot personally vouch for the Sevr's but I have two friends that shot elk (one cow one bull) last year with them and they will now not use anything else. They fly terrific and will not break. I have been shooting a Rage Trypan and have killed two elk with it and have been incredibly happy. I know people freak out about mechanicals but I think the worry is a thing of the past if you have the energy to use one. Blood trailing is a whole different level. I shoot 71lbs with a 29inch draw (out of an RX1) with a 505gr arrow and last year my trypan blasted through the elk and was pinned to the opposite shoulder. It was a good shot and the bull died quickly but it made me even more comfortable with the use of an expandable.

I would give the SEVR a look just because they are an improvement upon the Ulmer Edge and those heads were about the best damn flying heads of all time. The other heads mentioned also work great too.

 

[Firestone]

I used the ulmer edge for probably 5 years and they always worked great for me, shot a bull with the sevr 2.1 this year with good results but i will be buying some 1.5s for elk this coming year

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I used the ulmer edge for probably 5 years and they always worked great for me, shot a bull with the sevr 2.1 this year with good results but i will be buying some 1.5s for elk this coming yearView attachment 109341View attachment 109344

Congrats on the bull and thanks for the info! What is your bow and arrow specs ?

 

[Firestone]

465gr going 286 fps