I'm currently shooting 47 lb at my 28" draw length and using 175 gn 3 blade VPN heads. I'm happy with their performance. But I'm 71 and the day is coming when I may have to shoot a lighter bow. I have a 42 lb recurve that will fill that bill if and when.
The area I hunt is pretty brushy so a good blood trail is really important. After reading the thread about holes that broadheads leave I'm thinking that Simmons broadheads might fill the bill. Looking for opinions on this setup with a 42 lb bow.
I like Zwickey, STOS, and especially Eclipse if you're thinking 2-blade. However, I'm fully aware of some using 3-blade out of lighter bows successfully. IIRC Dale Karch's wife has done this, even in Africa.
I have used several heads with satisfaction, but my all-time favorite has been Bear Razorheads. Last year, I got a lifetime supply of them. I am no longer in the market for points.
Badger broadheads are nice,but they aren't very wide.
Hi Jock,
Nice to meet you. I am 58 and I for many reasons didn't bow hunt for about 20 years. I decided to get back into huniting last winter. I also have had issues with one of my shoulders so I hunted this year a 43# recurve. I am four for four on animals this year (3 deer this Fall); all killed with a 190 grain Simmons Timber Shark. I don't think I will hunt with anything else after this. Great head. None of the deer went more than 25 yards. I am trying to attach a pic of the last deer I shot but not sure if it worked.
Deer.jpg
I would run 2 blades and realize a blood trail is only as good as the penetration it represents.
I did an un-scientific penetration test 3 blade vs single bevel the single bevel out penetrated the three blade by a good margin.
I will take a pass thru with 2 blade in an animal over a partial with a 3 any day.
I'm a 2 blade guy... Either Bear Razorheads, or Zwickey Eskimos.
I only used the bleeder blades for a couple years, many years ago. I had shot a doe and while gutting her, nicked my wrist with a broken bleeder blade that had broken when hitting a rib and inside the lung cavity.
I bled more than she did!!! :scared:
I pick my broadheads on toughness, and the ability to get and keep them sharp.
Bow weight isn't even considered in my selection.
Just one old farts opinion.... :archer:
I have been bowhunting since the 1970s and I have always been searching for the "perfect" broadhead. A broadhead that penetrates great and always gives heavy blood trails. In my quest I have used 2, 3, 4, and even 5 blade broadheads. I have used wide 2 blades, skinny 2 blades, single and double bevel. My conclusion? There is no "guarantee" that you will get a good bloodtrail, no matter what broadhead you use. It all depends on what was cut and the presence and location of a exit wound.
Take or leave it but the Ashby Studies we're partly conduct using a low 40lb bear silver medal target recurve. When I hunt with my sub 50lb draw weight bows I use grizzly 2 blade single bevels in a weight that tunes. I focus very hard on getting a great tune and an extremely sharp edge.
I think you may also want to take a look at Ace Broadheads. Great design, great toughness and easy to sharpen in my opinion. They also have a great selection in grain weight.
-Jeremy :coffee:
A Timber Shark will serve you well.
The heads you're using now would be just fine for whitetails. If you feel like experimenting, lots of good suggestions and the Sharks you mentioned are great heads.
Zwickey eskimo or no mercy's are hard to beat in performance and price.
No Mercy two blade for me. 44lb. Blacktail Sitka
Magnus Stingers if you want to go with a lighter broadhead
I am a Grizzly broadhead fan they make a three blade broadhead never use it almost has the same design as their 2 blade been thinking give them a try on some Turkeys.
I've had a good amount of experience with low poundage bows and 2 blade broadheads--- single and double bevel. I've gotten great penetration with arrow weights from 380-550 gr out of 40 ish pound bows. My three blade experience was limited to one doe w a woodsman. So this year I tried the 3 blade 200 gr VPA. I got two holes on this buck at 9 yards. Angle was pretty steep. I had very little in the way of a blood trail, which was disappointing as this is why I went to 3 blades. I did hear him crash and had enough light left to find him before the coyotes did. I know 1 or 2 deer w 3 blades is not conclusive, but I'll likely stay w 2 blades, if only because I'm able to get the very sharp. That and meticulous tuning has always given me great performance out of lighter weight bows. Best of luck sir.
P.S. my experience is limited only to our large bodied Whitetails and squirrels. If you like 3 blades and tune your arrows well they should work fine in the lower 40# range.
Look a good single Bevel My wife shoots 45# and loves the Abowyers they make a great hole she also has used the single bevel grizzly and they do a good job also
I'm a fan of the Magnus Stingers if you go 2 blade. Great people!
Ace
My bows are between 45-48# at my draw and I'm shooting STOS and Simmons Swamp Sharks without any issues.
I like exit wounds.
In my experience, an exit wound is the single most important factor in locating a shot animal. I like all kinds or broadheads but I'll take penetration over more blades. With heavier bows it isn't as big of a deal, but as I get older and the poundage I shoot decreases, penetration has become more and more important. A nice 2 blade, cut on contact broadhead with a 3 to 1 length to width ratio, seem to work the best for me.
Fwiw,
I shoot light #s too, 47#,553g TAW with 2 blades and have had almost all passthrus on a dozen animals in the last couple of years including a cow moose in Co a month ago.
Those 2 blades go though everything like a hot knife through butter.
Stone is really light, or steel trade points , or maybe bone. :dunno:
I shot mine this year with a Grizzly single bevel. Next year I'm going to shoot the same broadhead with a double bevel cause I can get them sharper and I don't think I'll be shooting thru many bones with a 40lb. bow.
I like to put as big a hole as possible in game and i normally shoot my 45lb Palmer bow. For deer I've been using the Palmer extreme cut 4 blade broadhead without issues but for hogs i go with the simmons and boy do they leave a great blood trail even on hogs. I've used the swamp shark and the land shark with great results. Never know when a big boar will show up so that two blade will go through that shield a lot easier than a big four blade. Sharpening the sharks was what initially kept me away from them but a friend showed me how to use the Rada sharpener and it gets them razor sharp in no time. i also bought the simmons sharpening system and that is super easy to use also. I highly recommend them the simmons and they are tough as nails too.
What are you going to shoot with said bhead?
If deer and smaller 3 blade all day... can't pass through a deer with a 3 blade?, learn to tune your bow or get some gun powder. :campfire:
My experience is, being on countless, I said countless group hunts, 2 blade broadheads suck. Far less blood trails and far less recoveries, again by far, are you listening people? 2 blades are make-believe heads on deer.
I've used 2 blades forever. Mostly Magnus I and Zwickey Delta. I'm down to 49# and prefer Zwickey No Mercy heads now. As far as blood trails go, each hit can give different results. Here is the last doe I shot last week
, each head and each hit can be different that's why I said what I said. Over 400 shots recorded, not just one that happened in my backyard.
Every single picture of a Simmons entry/exit says differently, but whatever. What would you guys say for am elk, then? Still 3-blades?
Jim, I think many will strongly disagree with your statements concerning 2 blade broadheads. Myself included. During my 35 seasons hunting whitetails, I have used or hunted with others who have shot just about every blade combination and style of broadheads possible. A razor sharp broadhead in the right place, with good penetration kills quickly regardless of blade count or width of broadhead. All of the animals that I have witnessed being lost over the years were poor hits, usually accompanied by taking to track the animal too soon for said hit. I haven't seen any noticeable difference in shorter recoveries or better blood trails with three or four bladed broadheads versus two bladed. They have all worked for me and others in the past. I have noticed better penetration with two bladed broadheads when something I did not intend to hit such as a humerus bone or scapula has been encountered.
This thread could probably end up with as many replies and opinions as there are members, but its always interesting to hear them all. I've never been enamoured by heavy draw weights and have taken many animals from whitetail to moose through the years with bows ranging between 52# down to the 46# I'm currently shooting. I've used Bear Razorheads with bleeders for most of my life, but switched to Wasp Sharpshooter Traditional 150g a couple years ago. They are slightly smaller, only 1" main blades plus bleeders, but the ferrule is much stronger, the steel is far better, no tip bending, and they are stupid sharp right out of the box. And the weight matches closely to the old razorheads, they fly like a field point, and most importantly, they look awesome!
I like the way a two blade sharpens and the the ease with which is goes in and out of my "collapsed" back quiver. I don't shoot anywhere near as many animals as many of you but the two blade has performed well on those I have shot.
The last one (and it's been a while) may not be a reliable indicator of blade effectiveness but it's a fun story anyway. The shot was at about 15 yards (I counted 16 paces to where I found my arrow). The arrow passed through and stuck in the ground. The buck wobbled briefly toward my stand and he lay down right at the bottom of my ladder. I pretty much had to step over him to get out of my stand. LOL what ever button you push to let out all the blood at once is what I hit.
Magnus Stingers with the bleeder blades. I have killed a bunch out of my 43# with them.
OP here. I'm not disputing the penetration of different heads. I'm happy with what I get. What I need more than anything is a first class blood trail if it's possible. The ferns in the opening pic are waist to chest high and the underbrush can be jungle thick sometimes.
Well hate to say it but if you want to get a good blood trail you need to hit heart or lungs and try to get two holes. Broadhead for the most part is secondary long as it is sharp.
Don't hate to say it Tracker. That's the kind of info I'm looking for.
My limited experience has been primarily with 2 blades, so please explain something to me. Why is a 2 blade so inferior? If it is sharp, well tuned, and well placed, it seems to me that blood loss should be prolific and is just as likely to make a good exit wound the same as a 3 or 4 blade point. I only hunt our Georgia whitetails, so super bone crushing is not likely to be needed. I still have confidence in my Razorheads.
Yep two blades put them right down when you hit them in the right spot, BUT what if you dont hit them in the right spot, then you would be much better off with a multiple blade head if you shoot a 3 blade you are hitting it one and a half times compared to a two blade and twice if you use a four blade. Penetration is not an issue on North American game using the right bow poundage for the size of the animal is . .
I've had really good luck out of the Simmons landshark 160 grains, shot a very nice 8-point this year with a 44# bow 160 shark and 100 grain brass insert. I'm partial to magnus stingers as well but they don't seem to keep a real sharp edge as long as the Simmons in my quivers but you can get them hair popping sharp. I like a good 2-blade but any will be more than adequate at low 40's as long as the arrow setup is right and the broadhead sharp. I tend to take more care and make sure my broadheads are scary sharp when using low poundage bows.[attachment=1]