Fixed Blade vs Mechanical

[Biden Smokes Mid]

Hey guys, this is my first year bow hunting and I've been extremely lucky to tag 4 deer with my bow so far. I've used fixed blades, QAD exodus 100g to be exact, on Easton axis 340 arrows. They've performed exceptionally well with full pass through on every deer and had good blood trails on them all. I had a friend shoot a buck in the money spot this past weekend and his mechanical broadhead failed and barely penetrated. The buck still went down, and was recovered, so in the end it did the job I guess, but mechanicals just seem high risk and I'm wondering what the benefits are over fixed blades that would entice people to use them.

 

[batten_down]

Hey guys, this is my first year bow hunting and I've been extremely lucky to tag 4 deer with my bow so far. I've used fixed blades, QAD exodus 100g to be exact, on Easton axis 340 arrows. They've performed exceptionally well with full pass through on every deer and had good blood trails on them all. I had a friend shoot a buck in the money spot this past weekend and his mechanical broadhead failed and barely penetrated. The buck still went down, and was recovered, so in the end it did the job I guess, but mechanicals just seem high risk and I'm wondering what the benefits are over fixed blades that would entice people to use them.

I shoot mechanicals. Rage Trypan 150gr. They've performed perfectly for me. But at almost $20 per now, I think next season I'll be going back to fixed blades. The Rage heads, in my experience, are done after going through one animal. I think generally speaking the fixed blade heads lend themselves to repeated use. And in the long run, work out better economically. So that's the deciding factor for me.

 

[batten_down]

Hey guys, this is my first year bow hunting and I've been extremely lucky to tag 4 deer with my bow so far. I've used fixed blades, QAD exodus 100g to be exact, on Easton axis 340 arrows. They've performed exceptionally well with full pass through on every deer and had good blood trails on them all. I had a friend shoot a buck in the money spot this past weekend and his mechanical broadhead failed and barely penetrated. The buck still went down, and was recovered, so in the end it did the job I guess, but mechanicals just seem high risk and I'm wondering what the benefits are over fixed blades that would entice people to use them.

Oh. And congrats on the four deer with a bow your first year. Good stuff.

 

[clwg97]

Hey guys, this is my first year bow hunting and I've been extremely lucky to tag 4 deer with my bow so far. I've used fixed blades, QAD exodus 100g to be exact, on Easton axis 340 arrows. They've performed exceptionally well with full pass through on every deer and had good blood trails on them all. I had a friend shoot a buck in the money spot this past weekend and his mechanical broadhead failed and barely penetrated. The buck still went down, and was recovered, so in the end it did the job I guess, but mechanicals just seem high risk and I'm wondering what the benefits are over fixed blades that would entice people to use them.

Truer broadhead flight with minimal tuning. You can get more consistent broadhead flight with a mechanical and it flies closer to a field point. I shoot muzzy 100 grain 3 blade fixed heads for the reasons Batten_Down said, but have shot a little mechanical, grim reaper, rage, NAP.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

I'd recommend the Muzzy 4 blade 115 grain BH.
The mechanicals aren't for me and I don't argue about BH's.

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

I shoot mechanicals. Rage Trypan 150gr. They've performed perfectly for me. But at almost $20 per now, I think next season I'll be going back to fixed blades. The Rage heads, in my experience, are done after going through one animal. I think generally speaking the fixed blade heads lend themselves to repeated use. And in the long run, work out better economically. So that's the deciding factor for me.

Dang $20 per is pretty pricey. Bow hunting being the addiction that it is, always has me wanting to try new things, but at that price I'll just stick with the exodus, as they've held up for multiple kills. Thanks for the input man!

 

[holstonangler]

I've shot mechanicals for over 10 years and have shot most brands out there. What initially lured me was the notion that they shot right with field tips and had large wound channels. After shooting dozens of deer I went back to shooting nothing but fixed blades. Mechanicals fail too often for me, tiny blades break, doesn't open, opens prematurely in flight, etc.

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

Truer broadhead flight with minimal tuning. You can get more consistent broadhead flight with a mechanical and it flies closer to a field point. I shoot muzzy 100 grain 3 blade fixed heads for the reasons Batten_Down said, but have shot a little mechanical, grim reaper, rage, NAP.

That makes sense that the flight would be better and probably more forgiving of form mistakes. Fixed blades really seem to reflect any imperfections in the shot heavily.

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

I'd recommend the Muzzy 4 blade 115 grain BH.
The mechanicals aren't for me and I don't argue about BH's.

Those look like some nice BHs, do they tune pretty well?

 

[Carlos Viagra]

Those look like some nice BHs, do they tune pretty well?

Is my setup they fly just like a field point, sometimes an inch higher, but straight on.

They also have practice broad heads that come in some of the packs, so you can make sure about any differences by shooting a target with them.

 

[TNJones4530]

QAD Exodus are my go-to for a fixed.. if you are dead set on mechanicals I'd take a look at 1.5" or 2.0" Sevr..

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

QAD Exodus are my go-to for a fixed.. if you are dead set on mechanicals I'd take a look at 1.5" or 2.0" Sevr..

Ah nah, I don't think I'm gonna swap. The Exodus fly with my field points, and I've not had any problems with them at all. I think for reliabilities sake I'll avoid mechanicals. Even if failures are rare, I'd hate to lose a deer over one.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

I used to shoot Muzzy 3 Blade 100 Grain Fixed Blades but over the last few years I have went to a Magnus Fixed Blade Stinger 4 Blade(2 Bleeder Blades and 2 Main Blades) 100 Grain and they fly better than my Muzzys used to. I have yet to shoot a deer with one yet tho.

 

[TheLBLman]

I've experimented for many years with some mechanicals vs. fixed.

Mechanicals are simply less reliable, and you are less likely to get a complete pass thru with them.

I shoot fixed.
My current go-to head is the 4-blade Slick Trick Viper.
And you will not go wrong with the original Slick Trick.

Another thing, most mechanicals hit a deer much like you might sideways with a knife blade; whereas, most fixed blades have a much more gradual sloping blade, actually sticking the deer rather than slapping it. Kinda like the difference between sticking a deer with a sharp-pointed spear vs. hitting a deer with a hatchet.

By comparison, not only are fixed blades more likely to pass thru, but deer often don't notice they've been hit, whereas they do more notice the mechanicals (more likely to run quickly compared to just walking off with fixed).

 

[deerhunter10]

I have shot both. If I were truly trying to shoot 50 plus I would stick to mechanical strictly because they fly better at distances in my experience. Fixed in my set up has almost always taken tuning to get to fly right. Except slick tricks they always seem to be very true. With mechanicals I've had great luck with rages and g5 mega meats. My go to fixed is slick tricks. It's a lot of preferences. Failer with bowhunting can happen with all kind of things.

 

[SinningSaint33]

Dang $20 per is pretty pricey. Bow hunting being the addiction that it is, always has me wanting to try new things, but at that price I'll just stick with the exodus, as they've held up for multiple kills. Thanks for the input man!

Wait til you see the price of Iron Wills.

 

[SinningSaint33]

Fixed blade only for me. I've never shot a mechanical but I've heard and read too many stories of failures. Fixed blade has less moving parts. Fixed blade will amplify problems in shooting form, which in turn, make you a better archer. Fixed blades can be re-used. I just started bow hunting this year as well, I've tagged 2 does so far. Both were pass throughs and both ram less than 20 yards. Both of those heads I re-sharpened and put back in my quiver to kill another deer with. Too many advantages of a fixed to even consider mechanicals in my opinion

 

[CrossVolle]

Sevr's solve all your problems. 125g 2.0's.

 

[redblood]

I would always wonder why the arrows on the hunting shows stuck a foot out of the deer as it ran off. The culprit was revealed when they recovered the deer- Mechanical heads. Im now a magnus 2 blade guy . Cut on contact, have to put it out of the ground on the other side of the deer

 

[david k.]

I'm sure I'll get blasted for saying this but the only reasons for someone to shoot mechanical heads is if they don't have the knowledge, skill or time to tune their bow to shoot fixed heads. And it's really pretty simple to do.

I shoot 3 blade VPA broad-heads...they are very easy to keep razor sharp with nothing more than a flat file or even a piece of sandpaper...and so durable that I'll be able to leave them to my grand-kids when I die.

 

[Bushape]

I would always wonder why the arrows on the hunting shows stuck a foot out of the deer as it ran off. The culprit was revealed when they recovered the deer- Mechanical heads. Im now a magnus 2 blade guy . Cut on contact, have to put it out of the ground on the other side of the deer

Even though I killed the last two bucks I shot with my mechanicals, and neither ran over 100 yards, I was not happy with the penetration I was getting as I could see a good deal of the arrow still sticking out. Went with a heavier arrow this season and a fixed blade. Hoping to see a big improvement with penetration.

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

Sevr's solve all your problems. 125g 2.0's.

I actually just ordered a Sevr 100g 2.0. I like that it has the ability to be out in "practice mode." If it shoots well at my target I'll try to let it fly at a doe if I get the chance before season end. Also it's cool that you can order them individually.

 

[JN]

My dad started me out on thunderheads then I switched to slick trick and now I shoot swhacker mechanicals. I haven't had any issues with tuning or with the blades not working. The only two deer I have lost have been with fixed blades.

 

[Ski]

I'm sure I'll get blasted for saying this but the only reasons for someone to shoot mechanical heads is if they don't have the knowledge, skill or time to tune their bow to shoot fixed heads. And it's really pretty simple to do.

I shoot 3 blade VPA broad-heads...they are very easy to keep razor sharp with nothing more than a flat file or even a piece of sandpaper...and so durable that I'll be able to leave them to my grand-kids when I die.

I won't blast you, but I do disagree. I tune my bow to shoot fixed blades with field tips at any distance, yet I hunt with a huge cut 3 blade mechanical. And I use a head once then throw it away. I don't care if it gets damaged or how durable it is. I only care that the animal is dead, and to that they are quite effective. For me bow season is rack hunting. At most I kill three to five bucks in a given year, usually only one or two.

 

[Ski]

My dad started me out on thunderheads then I switched to slick trick and now I shoot swhacker mechanicals. I haven't had any issues with tuning or with the blades not working. The only two deer I have lost have been with fixed blades.

First deer I ever "lost" was with a Thunderhead 125 screwed onto a 2419 aluminum arrow. I shot the buck broadside from inside 15yds, on the ground. I literally watch the arrow bounce off his shoulder. It was the first time my arrow didn't blow straight through the animal I was shooting at.

That was in the early 90s when bows were under 200fps. Now my bow shoots 300fps. I hear all the arguments about fixed vs mechanical, and all I can think of is that buck my fixed head bounced off of. Everybody wants durable fixed heads on heavy arrows so they can blow through the deer. For me the only important thing is getting a broadhead inside the chest cavity. I could care less if it comes out the other side. I've been killing deer with a bow for a long time. On a chest cavity hit, anything more than 6" penetration is just more penetration, not a deader deer.

 

[JN]

First deer I ever "lost" was with a Thunderhead 125 screwed onto a 2419 aluminum arrow. I shot the buck broadside from inside 15yds, on the ground. I literally watch the arrow bounce off his shoulder. It was the first time my arrow didn't blow straight through the animal I was shooting at.

That was in the early 90s when bows were under 200fps. Now my bow shoots 300fps. I hear all the arguments about fixed vs mechanical, and all I can think of is that buck my fixed head bounced off of. Everybody wants durable fixed heads on heavy arrows so they can blow through the deer. For me the only important thing is getting a broadhead inside the chest cavity. I could care less if it comes out the other side. I've been killing deer with a bow for a long time. On a chest cavity hit, anything more than 6" penetration is just more penetration, not a deader deer.

Same here one was with a thunderhead. It was right at dark and I think I hit shoulder. I don't think it was necessarily the broadhead just a bad shot with like you said bow not shooting quick enough to push through. Other one was with a slick trick and was a good shot and felt like I doubled lunged her. I had lots of bright red/pink blood and I was like this is a dead deer. So I put my stuff up and went back to track her and I found where she had bedded and that was it no more blood. The swhacker haven't ever failed me and shoot well but I wouldn't have a problem going back to a slick trick but I don't see a need to right now.

 

[Ski]

Same here one was with a thunderhead. It was right at dark and I think I hit shoulder. I don't think it was necessarily the broadhead just a bad shot with like you said bow not shooting quick enough to push through. Other one was with a slick trick and was a good shot and felt like I doubled lunged her. I had lots of bright red/pink blood and I was like this is a dead deer. So I put my stuff up and went back to track her and I found where she had bedded and that was it no more blood. The swhacker haven't ever failed me and shoot well but I wouldn't have a problem going back to a slick trick but I don't see a need to right now.

Yeah mine was a shoulder hit. Likely high where the scapula is solid. In the moment it was as if the buck was wearing armor.

This buck below had been shot twice by other hunters before me. He had a relatively recent hole in his shoulder with an exit would behind his opposite leg. It was an arrow that passed through. The entry was nearly healed and the exit was on its way to closing up. Then as I was butchering I found an arrow with mechanical head embedded in his other shoulder, healed completely over. He even had another buck's antler tip stuck in his skull. You can see the previous wound and the old broadhead where he'd been shot twice, plus the antler I pull out of his skull.

He was acting normal, no limp, and was making lots of scrapes. His lungs were both damaged from the recent arrow shot, but heart wasn't touched. Somebody double lung hit this deer, got complete pass through, and he didn't die. Somebody before that left an arrow lodged in his shoulder, and he didn't die. Our rules and opinions sometimes just don't mean anything to the deer.

 

[CrossVolle]

I actually just ordered a Sevr 100g 2.0. I like that it has the ability to be out in "practice mode." If it shoots well at my target I'll try to let it fly at a doe if I get the chance before season end. Also it's cool that you can order them individually.

Make sure you replace the blades, or hand sharpen them back up after you use them in practice mode. They make contact with the target even with the screw applied.

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

Yeah mine was a shoulder hit. Likely high where the scapula is solid. In the moment it was as if the buck was wearing armor.

This buck below had been shot twice by other hunters before me. He had a relatively recent hole in his shoulder with an exit would behind his opposite leg. It was an arrow that passed through. The entry was nearly healed and the exit was on its way to closing up. Then as I was butchering I found an arrow with mechanical head embedded in his other shoulder, healed completely over. He even had another buck's antler tip stuck in his skull. You can see the previous wound and the old broadhead where he'd been shot twice, plus the antler I pull out of his skull.

He was acting normal, no limp, and was making lots of scrapes. His lungs were both damaged from the recent arrow shot, but heart wasn't touched. Somebody double lung hit this deer, got complete pass through, and he didn't die. Somebody before that left an arrow lodged in his shoulder, and he didn't die. Our rules and opinions sometimes just don't mean anything to the deer.

That ole boy was a warrior!

 

[Biden Smokes Mid]

Make sure you replace the blades, or hand sharpen them back up after you use them in practice mode. They make contact with the target even with the screw applied.

If I like how they fly I'll probably just order a few more and leave one as a practice broadhead. That's why I currently do with my exodus heads.