Switched from mechanical to fixed?

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Due to getting older and sore shoulder, I’ve decided to quit playing the poundage game (ego driven?) and dial it down. I’ve done this a few times and then when I’m feeling good, the Allens come out and limbs retightened.

On my new bows I’ve bought the lower mods in comfort and ready to stop playing the game and get to keep doing this archery thing for years to come.

But now the mind game is “do I have enough juice to use the mechanicals I have” so decided to eliminate that game and placed a big Iron Will order of single bevels in standard and wide, both in single bevel.

Mapped my arrow components so I can shoot the wide in a 150 and standard in 125 with the same finished weight up front and arrow.

So my question is, have any others gone this route and how did it go?

I’ve always told myself I want the huge cuts for blood, but I do like the idea of boring reliability.

Also, how have those who have shot the wides done on flight?

I figure I’ll have the wides for in close and the standard to reach out further.

 

[as.ks.ak]

I switched. I used to shoot mechanicals. I never had any issues, but when I bought the ironwill broadheads I was under the same thought process. I didnt want to worry about blade deployment on big critters, or thick hides. Now I shoot the s125s. Most recently, I had a 19 yard shot on a bedded animal. Vertical shot in the cliffs. Blew through a rib, smoked the heart and he went 10 yards. Arrow penetrated between two ribs on the far side and fell out of him when I rolled him over. Very impressed with that kill.

Hit them in the heart with anything and it doesn’t matter.

That was 70 lbs draw, I don’t have my arrow specs at the moment. But 125gr with inserts and collars put me at 150gr up front. If your bow is tubed properly, you should get good flight with ironwills. The vented ones whistle a little bit. My buddy has them, I dont care for them myself I think they’re too loud. Maybe it doesn’t matter, but I dont care for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I switched. I used to shoot mechanicals. I never had any issues, but when I bought the ironwill broadheads I was under the same thought process. I didnt want to worry about blade deployment on big critters, or thick hides. Now I shoot the s125s. Most recently, I had a 19 yard shot on a bedded animal. Vertical shot in the cliffs. Blew through a rib, smoked the heart and he went 10 yards. Arrow penetrated between two ribs on the far side and fell out of him when I rolled him over. Very impressed with that kill.

Hit them in the heart with anything and it doesn’t matter.

That was 70 lbs draw, I don’t have my arrow specs at the moment. But 125gr with inserts and collars put me at 150gr up front. If your bow is tubed properly, you should get good flight with ironwills. The vented ones whistle a little bit. My buddy has them, I dont care for them myself I think they’re too loud. Maybe it doesn’t matter, but I dont care for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had heard about the whistle. Have shot the IW but never hit an animal with one. I had the solids, so had only heard about the whistle. That's the main reason I went with the 150 on the wides, so I would have a solid blade.

I'll have 175 up front and a total arrow weight of 440 going about 270 fps. I could probably still get away with the mechanicals, but I don't know if I would have confidence at the moment of truth, and I definitely don't need any doubts in that moment that it will work.


Figured if I am going to go fixed, I might as well go all in.

 

[butcherboy]

I would stick with one broadhead for everything. If your bow is tuned well then a fixed blade will fly the same at 30 yds and 80 yds. Also, I’m not a fan of those really expensive heads or single bevel. I shot single bevel for a little while and saw no magical reason to shoot them. They don’t rotate all that much when shooting higher speed compounds but it looks cool in a gel block. I prefer a short profile 3 blade like an exodus. Tooth of the arrow, Slicktrick, Simmons, Magnus are also all great heads.

Since it sounds like you already have the Iron Will heads then shoot those. Just throwing out a few more ideas for you.

 

[NXTZ]

Kinda in the same boat, I just dropped down to 65 pounds. I’m probably overthinking it, but for elk I plan on shooting fixed (kudu points), and carrying a Hyde or two for longer/follow up shots. 500 grain arrows doing around 260 fps (had a pile of arrows from my previous setup and they tuned and fly so well I’m inclined to just stick with them).

 

[North of 60]

I switched about 20 years ago after losing a deer with a mechanical...long sharp two blades have been the answer for me with a recurve, compound, or xbow. They rarely let me down and punch though scapulas and ribs.

There is something to be said for boring dependability.

 

[butcherboy]

Kinda in the same boat, I just dropped down to 65 pounds. I’m probably overthinking it, but for elk I plan on shooting fixed (kudu points), and carrying a Hyde or two for longer/follow up shots. 500 grain arrows doing around 260 fps (had a pile of arrows from my previous setup and they tuned and fly so well I’m inclined to just stick with them).

Those Kudu should fly just as good at long range as they do short range. I have never had two different fixed broadheads for different distances. I’ve shot fixed blade for over 35 years. If you want to shoot two different broadheads though and you are confident in both then go for it.

 

[NXTZ]

Those Kudu should fly just as good at long range as they do short range. I have never had two different fixed broadheads for different distances. I’ve shot fixed blade for over 35 years. If you want to shoot two different broadheads though and you are confident in both then go for it.

I did test them out to 60-they’re as accurate as I can be. The Hyde’s are a hybrid head, for if there was a longer shot opportunity or follow up. That’s 100% me having fun and overthinking it though, I’d have no problem filling my quiver with kudus and not thinking about it further.

 

[JDZ]

I had gone back and forth for years between fixed and mechanicals. I made the (permanent) switch to high-quality fixed-blade broadheads about 5 years ago. Iron Will for me. I’ve only used the standard width. And, after trying both, I prefer the double bevel because they seem easier to sharpen. I also started getting really particular about building arrows and getting perfect spin on all arrows. Most accurate setup I’ve ever used. I’ve found that extremely sharp broadheads produce wounds much bigger than the cutting width would indicate. Very confidence-inspiring.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I would stick with one broadhead for everything. If your bow is tuned well then a fixed blade will fly the same at 30 yds and 80 yds. Also, I’m not a fan of those really expensive heads or single bevel. I shot single bevel for a little while and saw no magical reason to shoot them. They don’t rotate all that much when shooting higher speed compounds but it looks cool in a gel block. I prefer a short profile 3 blade like an exodus. Tooth of the arrow, Slicktrick, Simmons, Magnus are also all great heads.

Since it sounds like you already have the Iron Will heads then shoot those. Just throwing out a few more ideas for you.

I like trying new things and really enjoy fine gear. My bank statement hates it, but I’m a really bad listener.

I will probably stick with mechanicals for deer but I think there’s a good case to be made for a head like the IW offering better penetration and starting and staying sharper than most heads on the shelf. That’s worth the cost to me.

My skills have enough variables so if I can eliminate a couple, I’m all in. What I find most attractive by them is the knowledge of what they are and being able to feel confidence at the moment of truth when everything is on the line.

Thanks for the thoughts though. Not like I won’t tinker with other stuff. Keeps me sane (?) in the off months and when I can’t fish the high country.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I had gone back and forth for years between fixed and mechanicals. I made the (permanent) switch to high-quality fixed-blade broadheads about 5 years ago. Iron Will for me. I’ve only used the standard width. And, after trying both, I prefer the double bevel because they seem easier to sharpen. I also started getting really particular about building arrows and getting perfect spin on all arrows. Most accurate setup I’ve ever used. I’ve found that extremely sharp broadheads produce wounds much bigger than the cutting width would indicate. Very confidence-inspiring.

I’m in that same boat. I spend a lot of time on builds and calculating weights and such. I make sure ends are perfectly square and obsess about getting the vanes perfect.

Something very satisfying about getting to the end of a build and knowing you’ve done everything you could to make it as perfect as possible.

I’m excited to start shooting the new heads. I’m not much for sharpening so I’ll probably just buy replacement blades. I struggle to get a good edge on my steak knives. I’d probably jump off a building trying to put an edge on a broadhead.