How do you quiet Snuffers?

[J. Cook]

I really want to use these big ole Snuffers ...but they are sooooo loud.  I shoot the smaller Snuffers without the effect.  Do any of you have tricks to quiet them down? 

I am usually hunting highly pressured deer. Last year, 2 different bucks that were otherwise calm and feeding, turned inside out before the arrow got to where they "used to be" standing.  Same bow set up that I've never had that issue with.  The broad heads were the only difference and very loud to my ears, so I can only imagine what it sounds like to a deer.

[SELFBOW19953]

I have heard of people covering the holes with Vaseline to quiet them.

[Kelly]

After over 40 years shooting Snuffers I've never had that problem nor even heard them. Now just exactly what are "small snuffers" that you say don't have this noise issue?

[sneakybow]

There are some Snuffer SS made out of stainless steel that are 100 and 125gr I believe.  Most likely the ones he is referencing.

After over 40 years shooting Snuffers I've never had that problem nor even heard them. Now just exactly what are "small snuffers" that you say don't have this noise issue?

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[J. Cook]

I have the 125's (with adapter to make them that weight) and they don't make noise at all (they are about the same size as the Woodsman heads).  The big 145 glue on's are very loud.  I've heard people say don't worry about it...call it the "hiss of death."  But they obviously aren't hunting pressured animals.  Both deer I've shot at were not even in the same spot when the arrow got to them...that's how quickly they scared and bolted.  Again...this bow and these arrows have put quite a few critters on the ground.  The bow isn't loud. 

I can hear them when shooting - they hiss very loud.

[bigbadjon]

The vaseline trick works but requires frequent reapplication. Try filing down the back of the vents to a false edge or dehorning them to make the air pass over with less resistance.

[Js slow bow]

I have heard of putting tape over the vents.  Just make sure you have enough fletch on the back to do the steering.

[M60gunner]

This may sound odd but I rotated them until I didn't hear them. I figured it was way air was moving through vents. Of course I can't use the blade edge as an aiming reference which some folks do.

[Hud]

Try spinning the head on a bare shaft in a 1/2 drill. Use a slow speed. An arrow only spins about once every ten feet.  Next put a field point on the arrow that held a heavy head and spin it.  Try an arrow you heard in the drill.  Put talc or powder on the shelf and windows to see if anything is hitting. The heavier head may have change your setup. When using the drill hold the shaft in a cotton rag to control the spin.

[J. Cook]

Try spinning the head on a bare shaft in a 1/2 drill. Use a slow speed. An arrow only spins about once every ten feet.  Next put a field point on the arrow that held a heavy head and spin it.  Try an arrow you heard in the drill.  Put talc or powder on the shelf and windows to see if anything is hitting. The heavier head may have change your setup. When using the drill hold the shaft in a cotton rag to control the spin.

It's not a tuning issue as a result of arrow slapping or anything.  The heads are not heavier than my field tips (?).  I mentioned 2 weights of heads explaining that my smaller diameter snuffers don't hiss out of any bow, but the larger diameter ones make a horrible hissing noise (from any bow, any arrow).  The vents on these larger heads hiss loudly all the way to the target.  I know they've put a lot of meat on the ground over the years for people and the size really appeals to me.  But if I can't figure out how to quiet them, they are of no use to me. 

I will try to file down the backs of he vents and see if that works as suggested.  Every broadhead arrow I shoot out of any of my bows in spun true during the tuning process.  This is an in-flight noise, not point of release or tuning noise.

I bareshaft all my set ups, so they are as tuned as I can get them.  It's a noise manufactured by the broadhead - extreme hissing.  If you've ever shot one of the big Snuffers - I would have to assume you've heard it. 

Thanks for the replies so far - I'll try filing one down in the vents to see if that helps.

[Don Stokes]

This issue has always mystified me. I shoot the 160s and 145s, and I've never heard that "hiss of death". String jumping has not been a problem either, and believe me, the deer are pressured where I hunt. Maybe it's because my 160s are a couple of decades old? I reuse them after killing some beast. Perhaps the newer ones have rougher edges, or something.

[David McLendon]

I've never had a problem with anything getting out of the way of them, so I don't worry about it.

[mec lineman]

filing the backs edge of vent to a knife  edge.

[pdk25]

Sorry about your exerience.  I can't say what happened.  I have had multiple broadheads that hiss, and had deer stand there, and others react, but I almost doubt that it was the hiss any more than the feathers.  How far away were your shots, by the way?

[rraming]

TBM had a Tip of the week on them and they said sand the back of the vent a bit

[pdk25]

Those tips regarding touching up the back of the vents seems easy enough, and a good place to start.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

If you go  to soften the vent edges, use 200 grit sandpaper, or finer even. all you're looking to do is eliminate hard edges that will "shred" the air stream.

You could also try putting a piece of packing tape on the sides of each blade to cover the vents. I'm sure it would add no more than 4-5 grains, and if you trim the tape to shape with a razor blade, it would be really low profile.

[J. Cook]

I'm going to try and soften those edges on the vents - thanks for the replies.  They look like they'll put such a great hole in one that I really want to use them!!!! 

Pat, both shots were around the magic 17 to 18 yard mark.  I'm going to try and set up a down range video to capture the sound of these things.  It's exceptionally noticeable to my ears and far louder than any other heads I shoot including vented Woodsman's, The smaller diameter Snuffers, and Giant Tree Sharks.

Thanks again guys...I'm going to get it figured out.  Keep the ideas coming...

[Biathlonman]

I switched to solid heads, no more hiss.  Grizzly instincts mostly...

[hitman]

Use VPA heads. Better heads in my opinion anyway.