Fixed Blades vs. Mechanicals
Genesis 27:3 “Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison” (KJV)
I remember starting out, I didn’t really understand the point in choosing a good broadhead much like most men and women when they start out. Like most people, I went to Bass Pro, or Walmart, and just picked out something that looked sharp and mean and “nasty” as I like to say. For many years, I struggled finding one I liked and lost more than one deer using that method.
Finally after shooting my first deer with a Muzzy Three blade weighing in at least 25 grains more than what my field tip that I practiced with did (that’s a bold assumption to say even my field tips matched at this point, or arrows for that matter), I finally started to have things click in my head. Why not practice how I plan to hunt? What are the benefits to a heavier broadhead? What the heck is a mechanical?! It was at that moment, that my 15 year old self dove head first into archery. Though it took me a few more years to get the hang of it, I eventually found out some things I like and don’t like, and I am excited to share that with all you readers new and old.
So, to start things off, let’s dive in on what to look for. This is going to be a semi-brief overview of broadheads, so don’t expect to get too overloaded with information on arrow setups and FOC today, I’ll save that headache for a later date.
First thing I like to look for is something that flies similar to my field tip. I am a full-blown believer in a good mechanical, and the reason for that is because of the increased cutting diameter and tunability, but a shortcoming with them can be that the likelihood of breaking due to more moving parts and the inability to resharpen them. It can also add up in price to get a repair kit for the brands that offer them as well. You also need to make sure you are pulling enough weight with your bow and your draw length is long enough to make sure that these open, if you do not, you run the risk of a mechanical failure on the animal that you may have spent all year chasing.
Ah yes, now let’s get into the world of Fixed Blade Broadheads. Tried and true through the ages since the days of flint broadheads used by the Native Americans, you know that these will get the job done. Interestingly enough, this is also the kind of head used by a lot of beginners due to my last point of not having to worry about mechanical failures because of weight and draw-length. Another huge pro to these is the fact that you have a better chance of being able to reuse them because there are less moving parts and a lot of times they are made all in one piece. For example, Annihilator Broadhead is made of a solid piece of alloy steel and is virtually indestructible. Meaning that if you can find it after the kill, you can keep reusing them to the same effect.
It is hard to find a good reason to not shoot Fixed blades it may seem, but while they are good for many reasons, you also run the risk of a lesser blood trail and can have some issues shooting longer distances with these depending on the brands. A lot of these broadheads are great, but others are difficult
to tune and can pitch your arrow one way or another during flight and throw off your shot to a certain extent. This doesn’t typically matter when taking a shot under 20 yards.
All in all, any broadhead will kill a deer, though some may make them expire more quickly than others. Be sure to do your research for yourself before going out and purchasing a pack. Just because a mechanical may work for me, does not mean that it will work in your situation. Talk to your pro shop about what could benefit you as an archer and give you the best chance for success. Do some digging into your setup to see how much speed you want and how far the shots are that you will be taking before slinging one at a buck this season.
-Deegan Brake, Just One Team Member
Creed, C. (2022, September 7). Pros and cons of mechanical broadheads: Exposing the truth about the best and worst of this popular Broadhead Design. Afflictor Broadheads. https://afflictorbroadheads.com/blogs/news/pros-cons-mechanical-broadheads
