Switching back to fixed heads

[avgjoe]

I've tried several different heads. Been using QAD Exodus for the past 5 or so. Always want to try something new, but I can't find any reason to switch...

 

[jiwhite86]

Lay your choice of grit wet sandpaper on the sharpener and the bevel stays the same. I can shave my arm with the sharpener the company supplies.

Well…that sounds too simple

 

[raisins]

I've tried several different heads. Been using QAD Exodus for the past 5 or so. Always want to try something new, but I can't find any reason to switch...

the only thing people have to check is that they have enough clearance between back of blades and rest/window and they might have to get a quiver that will accomodate a 1 1/4" cut head

the blades on the qad go back about 1/4" over shaft and rest must be at least 5/8" from riser

i know as a user of them you know these things, but just making others aware

 

[Pathfinder]

72 pound draw weight means you have a good bit of energy to work with. You could probably get to 550 grains comfortably if you work up to it

Ya this is a tough change for me I can see it now. I know even though I’ve had some great results in past I can just see that for most part it’s been because of my actual stand setups and not so much my equipment. Like I said 20-25 broadside most anything will work 99% of time. This heavy thing looked so goofy to me out of my bow I just couldn’t move past it. Funny I’ve seen videos where a middle ground arrow has actually out penetrated super heavy ones and I think that has its merits too. That’s why I’m gonna try an arrow somewhere closer to the 475-500gr level and keep some of my speed but not shoot a super light arrow either. It’s like anything else I can make an argument for both really but I’m a best overall not so much a specialist. A friend of mine asked me what I meant as he’s a gun hunter and I said my Dad Luvs his .243 and it does put the smack down on deer! One of my favorite guns is a .338win mag. Both guns work well for deer hunting but on totally different ends of the spectrum and what’s the gun I use 99% of the time a 30-06 kinda right in the middle. Same type of argument I believe. Like all the different comments though cuz I learn from those that have used them.

 

[Bigterp]

the only thing people have to check is that they have enough clearance between back of blades and rest/window and they might have to get a quiver that will accomodate a 1 1/4" cut head

the blades on the qad go back about 1/4" over shaft and rest must be at least 5/8" from riser

i know as a user of them you know these things, but just making others aware

the only thing people have to check is that they have enough clearance between back of blades and rest/window and they might have to get a quiver that will accomodate a 1 1/4" cut head

the blades on the qad go back about 1/4" over shaft and rest must be at least 5/8" from riser

i know as a user of them you know these things, but just making others aware

Found that as well, another thing probably a fluke but I posted about it a few years ago. I was 1/2 way up the tree on my LB & rushed to pull up my bow as a deer was quickly approaching. I grabbed my bow by the quiver hood & gently squeezed my finger tip right into the tip of one of those long swept blades. That point out some holes in my lack of first aid kit….. successful kill but a bloody mess of a climb down. Great heads btw but some additional challenges with the blade shape in quiver hoods & on rest shelf

 

[raisins]

Found that as well, another thing probably a fluke but I posted about it a few years ago. I was 1/2 way up the tree on my LB & rushed to pull up my bow as a deer was quickly approaching. I grabbed my bow by the quiver hood & gently squeezed my finger tip right into the tip of one of those long swept blades. That point out some holes in my lack of first aid kit….. successful kill but a bloody mess of a climb down. Great heads btw but some additional challenges with the blade shape in quiver hoods & on rest shelf

the alpine power loc quiver works great with the exoduses and is not too expensive

foam hood has 3 blade cut outs that are deep, match the broadhead well, and totally cover the heads

quiver is great all around also (quiet, light, adjustable, looks cool with scalloped hood)

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Ya this is a tough change for me I can see it now. I know even though I’ve had some great results in past I can just see that for most part it’s been because of my actual stand setups and not so much my equipment. Like I said 20-25 broadside most anything will work 99% of time. This heavy thing looked so goofy to me out of my bow I just couldn’t move past it. Funny I’ve seen videos where a middle ground arrow has actually out penetrated super heavy ones and I think that has its merits too. That’s why I’m gonna try an arrow somewhere closer to the 475-500gr level and keep some of my speed but not shoot a super light arrow either. It’s like anything else I can make an argument for both really but I’m a best overall not so much a specialist. A friend of mine asked me what I meant as he’s a gun hunter and I said my Dad Luvs his .243 and it does put the smack down on deer! One of my favorite guns is a .338win mag. Both guns work well for deer hunting but on totally different ends of the spectrum and what’s the gun I use 99% of the time a 30-06 kinda right in the middle. Same type of argument I believe. Like all the different comments though cuz I learn from those that have used them.

Oh yeah, I think you will be just fine with a roughly 500 grain arrow and a good broadhead. The 30-06 analogy is great. One of my favorites and what I pick up the very few times a take a rifle afield anymore. I will haul a 375 H&H out every once in a while, though, just for fun, lol.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I've been using the qad exodus for a few seasons, the one I put through a doe doesn't look any different than before and they fly the same as field points for this tuning newbie. I've been using the 125 grain full heads, not the swept blades though, any reason the swept ones are better?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

One added benefit you will get by upping your weight is that it should quite your bow shot down some. This is a real benefit when shooting at animals. I notice a big difference to the reaction I get (or don't get) now.

 

[Pathfinder]

I've been using the qad exodus for a few seasons, the one I put through a doe doesn't look any different than before and they fly the same as field points for this tuning newbie. I've been using the 125 grain full heads, not the swept blades though, any reason the swept ones are better?

Nope no reason other then the look of them. I may go to the full if that’s what I end up with for reason of being in compliance with state laws now or ones coming in future. Still debating my choices.

 

[Bowtie747]

The only experience I have with tooth of the arrow broadheads is my buddy ordered a set to try. They had a super loud whistle. My huge 2 blade broadhead was super quiet that we compared them too. Not saying every one of them will do it but I was super bummed.

 

[raisins]

I've been using the qad exodus for a few seasons, the one I put through a doe doesn't look any different than before and they fly the same as field points for this tuning newbie. I've been using the 125 grain full heads, not the swept blades though, any reason the swept ones are better?

the swept are generally considered slightly more forgiving (less blade surface), slightly quieter (don't have that small space between blade and shaft which might catch air like a usual blade vent), slightly less likely to damage the shaft on a hard impact (some folks have had the full blades bend and hit the carbon shaft, but this chance is lessened or eliminated if using a footer or outsert/half out), and lastly to maintain same total weight of head the ferrules on the full blade models are slightly lighter (told to me directly from QAD customer service) and from that i infer that they would be slightly less tough because they have less metal in them

plus the swept look cooler

the only downside is the swept might get caught in an animal, but the only time my arrow ever stays in a deer is on a heavy bone impact where the head is buried (i'm not sure the barbedness matters in that case).....i don't think i've ever had a shot where barbedness would matter as far as being humane....this might be different on larger animals like elk or moose

given that there is a small space between blade and shaft on the full models, they could also get caught in an animal with that small space acting like a barb of sorts

 

[Hooks1]

Lay your choice of grit wet sandpaper on the sharpener and the bevel stays the same. I can shave my arm with the sharpener the company supplies.

This is what I do too. If dinged up use the sharpener and oil. Then 800, 1200, 2000 grit and flip the sandpaper over using compound to finish.

 

[MSbowhunter48]

QAD Exodus for me, I’ve been using them for years. Hit a buck square in the femur last year (long story) and the only thing holding the leg onto the deer was a small patch of fur. Only thing wrong with the broadhead was some small nicks on the blades, swapped them out and it was ready to roll again.

 

[skydoc]

Have y’all tried the Muzzy Trocar HBX? Shot those last year and they fly truer to my field point than any others i’ve tried. 2 fixed and 2 mechanical blades.

 

[Bowhunter05]

I’m going with the black hornet ser razors again didn’t shoot anything with them last year so I really want to see what they do

 

[BowhunterXC]

I've had my share of mechanical broadheads not passing thru a deer, to make me switch back to fixed blades...forever.
I shot a buck last fall with a 125 gr. Magnus Snuffer, at 27 yards (heart shot).
The blades are the only ones from Magnus that are not made at the Kansas factory. They're welded in California. My arrow hit the off-side shoulder and blew the blade section off of the ferrule. Magnus has the best warranty in the industry!!! I contacted Mike Sohm with an email and an attached photo. He replaced it with a Magnus broadhead of my choice....and his recommendation was the 125 gr. Buzzcut. I'm hoping to kill a deer with it, this fall.
The before and after photos:

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I shoot 575 gr. taw and just bought 2 packs of the Magnus Buzzcut Ser razor 125's. I've been shooting 125 Thunderheads for many years without any problems but after watching a bunch of reviews on Youtube including the Lusk Archery tests I decided to give them a go. I'm shooting a Mathews VXR at 29.5" dl and 65 pounds. They are flying at about 240 fps and hit with a resounding thump on my deer target. They also fly spot on with my field points out to 40 yards which is more than enough for me. Oh and in case you didn't notice, I hunt in Maine too.

 

[Pathfinder]

I shoot 575 gr. taw and just bought 2 packs of the Magnus Buzzcut Ser razor 125's. I've been shooting 125 Thunderheads for many years without any problems but after watching a bunch of reviews on Youtube including the Lusk Archery tests I decided to give them a go. I'm shooting a Mathews VXR at 29.5" dl and 65 pounds. They are flying at about 240 fps and hit with a resounding thump on my deer target. They also fly spot on with my field points out to 40 yards which is more than enough for me. Oh and in case you didn't notice, I hunt in Maine too.

I believe when I 1st joined last year you gave a shout out. You have a Cruzr xc I believe if my slow memory recalls. Ya I’m not gonna go that high of an arrow weight but gonna get closer to 500grs for sure. Guiding was good and bad for me in IA due to getting to see about 30-40 guys a year shoot big bodied deer down to smaller does with everything imaginable for broadheads. I had been a fixed only my whole life and was VERY hard core about that for a reason different then most. Us guides back in the mid 2000’s that worked where I did didn’t like mechanical heads due to the fact that it seemed those were the guys that didn’t take time to practice so they slapped a mech on and they flew like field tips. This sadly lead to MANY wounded deer!!! Policy back then was extreme to if you wounded with mech your hunt for bucks was over. If you used fixed we were more forgiving if we thought deer would make it. Kinda extreme but was first policies. Then about half way through my guiding career out there the mechanicals made a big leap in performance. Then in last few yrs we all watched 75% of the clients switch to 2 blade rages original version. We couldn’t deny what they were doing!!!! It was crazy seeing the holes in the deer and they worked seemingly every time. Well I switched as did the other 3 guides. Then I went out for a late season hunt after I wasn’t guiding anymore and hunted in single digit temps and the blades froze and didn’t deploy for me. One of other guides has same thing happen. Both killed the deer as even undeployed they act like a .75inch fixed. Still a reason to not use them and seeing a lot of the YouTube vids of some other bad results I’m back to the fixed thing. It’s been ten yrs since that happened to me in IA but life’s hit me and I’ve bow hunted only a few days a yr for quite some yes but now In last couple I’ve started to go quite a bit again. Time for the change and adding some weight to my arrows too. Good to hear from a fellow Mainer and someone that can possibly understand the challenges up here hunting period never mind with a bow!!!

 

[bfriendly]

Lol well let me round out the advice and recommend the Magnus. I’ve shot them through plywood, scapulas, into trees etc and they just come back for more. Never had one spin test untrue. Bent one of the bleeder blades on last buck I harvested, reached out to find out how much replacement blades cost and they just mailed me a new pack no questions asked. Their warranty is amazing. If you what to see some reviews ranch fairy reviews them as well as lusk archery.
So the takeaway here is they’re all good heads.

Instead of starting a new thread on broadheads, I found this one and this^^^ post!
Thanks for sealing the deal for me! I’m about to order those Magnus! I wondered about the Lifetime Warranty they advertise too. I guess so long as I don’t lose them, I should be good. I caught a THP video podcast and they were reviewing a bunch of heads. The knock-off brand like that Magnus, bent real bad. I’ve always bought knock-off heads, but gonna get the real ones this time!