T-minus 15 (and win Solid Broadheads)

As the dawn floods the view out my front window, I’m reminded that only 15 more sunrises stand between me and the start of my hunt for Jalapeño.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be preparing my gear (and my head) for not only that hunt, but for all my hunts to come.  Archery season is just a springboard into the entire fall for me.

I started writing about my archery set-up back in 

• Let’s Go Deer Huntin’
• Black Gold Bowsight
• Ripcord Arrow Rest 
• Tight Spot Quiver
  

(see those links to win an Athens bow and a Tight Spot Quiver)

As the clock winds down, it’s time to introduce my broadhead of choice.  Before I do, here are some thoughts on shooting broadheads that I’ve formed over the last 20 years:

1. If your state allows it, shoot a good expandable broadhead when hunting mule deer.  You can typically get more cutting area and better flight than fixed blade.  If your state won’t oblige, then shoot a high-quality fixed blade.
2. Do whatever it takes to get your broadheads grouping with your field points so you don’t have to re-sight your bow for broadheads.  Visit a great archery pro-shop if you need help (click here to see who I use)
3. Put one broadhead in your quiver during the summer practice season and shoot it every time you shoot your field points.  For me, I shoot a five-arrow round with one broadhead.  This gives me months to study my broadhead flight vs. a week or two.
4. Keep a journal of those shooting sessions noting your point-of-impact vs. hold at various yardages. This information will be invaluable in understanding your trajectory and makes sight-tape calculation a breeze (yes, you really can use those factory-issued sight tapes!)
5. Shoot at least 1,000 arrows preseason if you can.  It sounds like a lot, but if you shoot six months per year, it works out to a little more than 160 arrows a week.  You’ll be glad you did once that big buck stands from his bed at 54 yards.

As I’ll be hunting Idaho for archery this year, I chose a high-quality fixed blade as expandables are not allowed.  High quality usually means expensive but what is the sense in owning an archery set-up that likely costs more (often way more) than a $-grand then skimping on the final accuracy variable in the set up?

When I researched broadheads this year, I checked out the Solid Broadhead, designed and sold by Steve Speck of S&S Archery.   While they definitely fit the “expensive” category, I knew they would fly great, penetrate deep, and last long (if you’re practicing like you should, you’ll shoot at least one broadhead hundreds of times.)

Steve sent me a 3-pack of the Legend 100 grain Deep Six, (a cut-on-contact design with penentrator blade) back in June. I was immediately impressed by their look and feel—definitely “Solid.”  

With a 1-1/8″ main blade and 1/2″ penetrator blade (total cut 1-5/8″), I expected great flight.  They did not disappoint.  With no tuning, the first arrow patterned right with my field points at 20 to 50 yards.  Moving to 60 yards, windage was exact but with the drag introduced by the extra surface area, I had to add two yards to my hold; at 80 yards, I add three.

The really good news is the toughness of the Solid.  I’m pushing two thousand arrows for the season

and started shooting the Solid around 1200 arrows on my counter.

Doing the math, in a five-arrow set with one Solid, that works out to around 150 shots with the same broadhead.  My backstop is a 3/8″ piece of plywood. I’ve missed the target at least a dozen times (please don’t spread that around) and either blown through or buried the Solid in the wood (requiring a drill to get it out)— and even the ground. While I can see a few dings in the leading edge and I had to tighten the set screw once, the Solid is still straight and flying like it did out of the box.  All that is left to do is bury one deep in a big deer (watch out Jalapeño!)

Steve and I worked out a deal to get a 3-pack of Solid Broadheads in some lucky Rokslider’s quiver.  Like the Athens and Tight Spot giveaways, here are the rules:

1) If you haven’t already, subscribe to the Rok Blog (upper right at “Subscribe to blog” under Fitness/Other links)

2)  Like and Share both the S&S Archery Facebook page and the Rokslide Facebook page (already Liked those pages in the past?  No sweat, just Share and you’re in).

3) Post up in the comments your preference for fixed blade or expandable blade broadheads 

I’ll draw for a winner after the Live Hunts in September.  

Remember, by subscribing to the Rok Blog, you’ll be able to follow the Live Hunt for Jalapeño!  See you then.