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Broad Head weight

C

-CRASH

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2025
Messages
441
I've noticed that several members here are using 125gr broad heads. Is there a reason hunters are preferring the heavier?

I have always shot 100grs. But I am starting to learn I have been stuck in my ways for about a decade now and have some learning to do. I've never had an issue killing deer with my current set up. But I'm open to learning if there is a better way.
 

The everyman's guide to killing a deer with a compound bow...

Will an expandable broadhead on a light arrow kill a deer? Yes. Can you kill a deer at 50 yards with a bow? Yes. Is a 7 pin sight useful? Sure. Is the Ranch Fairy annoying? Yes. Is Ashby god? Sometimes it seems that way. Can everyone just shut up? I've learned the answer is no. Ok...
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It depends on your best arrow setup.
Talk to a good bow technician. They can tell you if it’s worth it.
I gained literally nothing from adding 25 gr up front except a little drop at 35 yds and a little loss of speed. I’m only 26” DL pulling 60# so I thought I’d add some beef up front, but it behaved almost exactly like my lighter setup except less efficient.
I kill 200+ pound Whitetails every year in OH with 385gr TAW including 100gr COC broadhead. FOC about 12%. 13YO bow shoots them right at 250fps. I feel confident putting that in the V of any deer in our woods. My bow is tuned by an expert (not myself), and my arrows match it perfectly for the game I hunt. I’m squeezing all the efficiency out of that bow that I can.
I’ve broken femurs with this setup, and punched holes in far-side scapulas as well. I have gotten complete pass-throughs on most of the deer I’ve shot, and the ones I didn’t were either lodged in the spine or in the far side shoulder. I’ve gotten a pass-through on the one big hog I hunted with it as well.
Efficiency kills, that’s my take.

Quick edit, for clarification:
I’m basically a “strong female shooter”. I’m pulling a 60# bow at 26” draw, 400 spine arrows. The heavier setup I tried was slightly stiffer with the extra 25gr up front. Nothing drastic. I’m lucky to be squeaking that 250fps out.
 
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I prefer a heavier head for the extra cut/ energy when it hits target. I use 125s because there easy to get without special orders/ second mortgage no matter where I am I know I can usually find a 125 stinger or a dead meat
 
I shoot 125's just to complete the TAW I want for my build, nothing more. Sometimes I only need a 100 grains, but most of the time I weigh all my components when doing a build to see where I am going to end up. My TAW really means nothing, but I like a good balance of speed and decent weight for good momentum. For whitetails I can shoot just about anything and be successful, but for elk I tend to lean a little on the heavier side, 500+ TAW and a COC head.
 
DelaWhere_Arrow said:
It depends on your best arrow setup.
Talk to a good bow technician. They can tell you if it’s worth it.
I gained literally nothing from adding 25 gr up front except a little drop at 35 yds and a little loss of speed. I’m only 26” DL pulling 60# so I thought I’d add some beef up front, but it behaved almost exactly like my lighter setup except less efficient.
I kill 200+ pound Whitetails every year in OH with 385gr TAW including 100gr COC broadhead. FOC about 12%. 13YO bow shoots them right at 250fps. I feel confident putting that in the V of any deer in our woods. My bow is tuned by an expert (not myself), and my arrows match it perfectly for the game I hunt. I’m squeezing all the efficiency out of that bow that I can.
I’ve broken femurs with this setup, and punched holes in far-side scapulas as well. I have gotten complete pass-throughs on most of the deer I’ve shot, and the ones I didn’t were either lodged in the spine or in the far side shoulder. I’ve gotten a pass-through on the one big hog I hunted with it as well.
Efficiency kills, that’s my take.
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I think we are shooting pretty close to the same setup. Only difference is I shoot mechanical dead meats, and rage heads.

I will however stay away from the shoulder.
 
With a fixed blade head, often times the weight is in direct correlation to the cutting width/diameter. Several years ago I opted for a 150gr because it brought the width of my cut to where I wanted.

At a minimal loss of FOC, you can always add the weight via the insert. IF required lol.
 
bowhunthard88 said:
If you have to cut back on your setup to afford Little Debbie, you're either doing it wrong, or it's on a scale that leaves me impressed!!! :tearsofjoy:
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The scale that I could eat Little Debbie's makes my belt skeered. I dont cause she who must be obeyed does not approve and I prefer a happy life.
 
Xbow hunter here. I shoot a heavier arrow to help absorb some of the energy to take it easy on the limbs. I’ve now had two different techs at two different shops tell me it’s their feeling that limbs are blowing up due to the higher speeds and increased poundage these new xbows are putting out. I don’t shoot past 40yrds so it’s no skin off my teeth. 580gr still flies plenty fast. Not trying to start a fight here just relaying my reason.
 
I’ve played with all sorts of FOC and TAW combinations over the past 17 years and feel like I have my setup dialed in. Specs in my sig. I’m consistently within 4-6 inches of bullseye at 65 yards. I’ve blown through 2 humerus’ and a femur over the years, all next to the knuckle where the bone is densest. Before I switched back to single bevels, I made that same humerus shot with a 125 gr Rage and had zero penetration (even though my TAW was between 600-800). I’m not a rocket scientist and don’t know much about ballistics, but I do not what has worked for me and what has not worked for me over the years, and am very happy where I’ve landed. I haven’t changed my setup in the past 3 or 4 years. I shoot around 10 deer every season, give or take 5.
 
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I like to run 200gr heads and adjust insert to make up 650+ TAW mainly for durability. I like a thicker and sturdier head. The bonus is that it slightly increases FOC by moving the weight further forward as opposed to the insert being the bulk of my weight with a light head.
 
Cotton-Eye said:
I’ve played with all sorts of FOC and TAW combinations over the past 17 years and feel like I have my setup dialed in. Specs in my sig. I’m consistently within 4-6 inches of bullseye at 65 yards. I’ve blown through and 2 humerus’ and a femur over the years all next to the knuckle where the bone is densest. Before I switched back to single bevels, I made that same humerus shot with a 125 gr Rage and had zero penetration (even though my TAW was between 600-800). I’m not a rocket scientist and don’t know much about ballistics, but I do not what has worked for me and what hasn’t worked for me over the years and am very happy where I’ve landed. I haven’t changed my setup in the past 3 or 4 years. I shoot around 10 deer every season, give or take 5.
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How much are you pulling? Are you using carbon arrows?
What is the tuning like?

I guess I should be honest with myself. I like shooting the mechanicals, because my field points shoot very very close to the same POI. My understanding is, single bevel, and fixed heads aren't that way.
 
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