What Is The Best Broadhead?
Archery broadheads are arrowheads that were originally made of stone and bone many thousands of years ago. They were used for bow hunting and later on evolved and used by archers in medieval times for war with deadly effect.Today’s modern broadheads are made from steel and other strong materials.They are designed to cause maximum damage to their target by its razor sharp cutting blades.
The broadhead is equipped with two, three or four blades that can inflict a fatal wound on the target. With razor sharp broadheads, bow hunters can and have taken all game species on earth, ranging from the rabbit to th ebuffalo in Australia, to moose and bear in North America, to antelope and rhinoceros in Africa, just to name just a few.
Types of Broadheads
The type of broadhead you choose depends on your bow hunting preference and game hunted.
Some designs and stylesare the; fixed blade head, replaceable and mechanical blade broadheads. Each design has their own positives andnegatives; here we will go through some characteristics of each broadhead.
One popular type of broadhead is the fixed blade broadhead.
It is the oldest form of archery broadheads.
Its blades are always in the open position and fixed.This broadhead can be designed in two, three, or more blades and come in weights from around 100 grains, 125,up to 250 grains.
Quality fixed archery broadheads are very effective, as they cut on impact and are more resilient than mechanical blades. They are fixed and therefore minimal loss of energy on impact.
Unfortunately, some fixed broadheads have a tendency to plane and move off course. This also depends on the arrow fletching and broadhead used.
However, this weakness can be surmounted by experimenting and tuning your archery gear.
A variation of the fixed two blade broadhead is one that you can attach small bleeder blades to it.
This may give you more cutting area, with minimal drag and width.The second type of broadhead is the mechanical blade broadhead. This type of broadhead flies similar to a fieldpoint as the blades are partially or fully concealed. It also experiences less wind resistance because its bladesare not open and only deploy on contact with the target.
Most mechanical blade archery broadheads cause wider wounds, whichleads to more bleeding. This creates a better blood trail that allows easy tracking of the animal. It also facilitates a more humane kill.
The disadvantage of mechanical archery broadheads are that they sometimes malfunction and don’t open properly depending on the structure hit and also angle. They can also be unreliable sometimes and can fail due to wear andtear precipitated by moving parts. The mechanical broadheads sometimes can lose a bit of energy when opening up.
The mechanical expandable broadhead is effective due to its ability to inflict a large diameter wound on thea nimal.
Other types and designs of archery broadheads include the replaceable blade, which are popular with North American archers.
Most replaceable blade heads are razor sharp and don’t need initial sharpening. The most well-liked brand shave a cut-on-contact tip. The blades slide under the tip and can be sharpened and replaced if need be. Most havearound a 1-inch cutting diameter. The replaceable blades are sharp and compact and most are ideal for an instant razor edge.
Some replaceable blade broadheads (and fixed blade) have vented blades that help minimise wind planning.
Some brands can make a whistling sound when the arrow is fired, thus scare game. Like most equipment in archery it is give and take, and archery broadheads are no exception.
The cutting area of replaceable blades depends on the brand. They may not have the capacity of the expandable broadhead in terms of the size of the wound inflicted.
The type of broadhead to use depends on the type of game you want to hunt. For tough game like wild boars and buffalo, the fixed two blade broadhead is popular with bow hunters in Australia.For lighter skinned game, like goats and deer, the three blade and replaceable blades are gaining popularity.
This obviously depends on you bow set up, preference, bow poundage and arrow weight/spine stiffness, etc.
As a lot of bow hunting and archery techniques and gear come from America, Australia soon follows the trend. By no means is the mechanical broadhead new in Australia, however, it is starting to get a following.For archers who have trouble getting a razor sharp edge on their broadheads, the replaceable blades are worth considering, although the cost is sometimes expensive, but razor sharpness is a must.
What weight broadhead do I use? For broadhead weight, a general rulein Australia is, the bigger and tougher the game hunted, the heavier the arrow and broadhead should be used.
For big game like buffalo, which have tough hides and strong bones, the broadhead weight might be 180 grains to220 grains.
For lighter game, like foxes and wild goats, a broadhead of 100 grains to 125 grains, up to 150 grains will do.This again depends on you bow set up, preference, bow poundage and arrow weight/spine stiffness, etc.For more information on how to get the best accuracy and penetration out of your archery broadheads check out the article on broadhead accuracy.
The broadhead is equipped with two, three or four blades that can inflict a fatal wound on the target. With razor sharp broadheads, bow hunters can and have taken all game species on earth, ranging from the rabbit to th ebuffalo in Australia, to moose and bear in North America, to antelope and rhinoceros in Africa, just to name just a few.
Types of Broadheads
The type of broadhead you choose depends on your bow hunting preference and game hunted.
Some designs and stylesare the; fixed blade head, replaceable and mechanical blade broadheads. Each design has their own positives andnegatives; here we will go through some characteristics of each broadhead.
One popular type of broadhead is the fixed blade broadhead.
It is the oldest form of archery broadheads.
Its blades are always in the open position and fixed.This broadhead can be designed in two, three, or more blades and come in weights from around 100 grains, 125,up to 250 grains.
Quality fixed archery broadheads are very effective, as they cut on impact and are more resilient than mechanical blades. They are fixed and therefore minimal loss of energy on impact.
Unfortunately, some fixed broadheads have a tendency to plane and move off course. This also depends on the arrow fletching and broadhead used.
However, this weakness can be surmounted by experimenting and tuning your archery gear.
A variation of the fixed two blade broadhead is one that you can attach small bleeder blades to it.
This may give you more cutting area, with minimal drag and width.The second type of broadhead is the mechanical blade broadhead. This type of broadhead flies similar to a fieldpoint as the blades are partially or fully concealed. It also experiences less wind resistance because its bladesare not open and only deploy on contact with the target.
Most mechanical blade archery broadheads cause wider wounds, whichleads to more bleeding. This creates a better blood trail that allows easy tracking of the animal. It also facilitates a more humane kill.
The disadvantage of mechanical archery broadheads are that they sometimes malfunction and don’t open properly depending on the structure hit and also angle. They can also be unreliable sometimes and can fail due to wear andtear precipitated by moving parts. The mechanical broadheads sometimes can lose a bit of energy when opening up.
The mechanical expandable broadhead is effective due to its ability to inflict a large diameter wound on thea nimal.
Other types and designs of archery broadheads include the replaceable blade, which are popular with North American archers.
Most replaceable blade heads are razor sharp and don’t need initial sharpening. The most well-liked brand shave a cut-on-contact tip. The blades slide under the tip and can be sharpened and replaced if need be. Most havearound a 1-inch cutting diameter. The replaceable blades are sharp and compact and most are ideal for an instant razor edge.
Some replaceable blade broadheads (and fixed blade) have vented blades that help minimise wind planning.
Some brands can make a whistling sound when the arrow is fired, thus scare game. Like most equipment in archery it is give and take, and archery broadheads are no exception.
The cutting area of replaceable blades depends on the brand. They may not have the capacity of the expandable broadhead in terms of the size of the wound inflicted.
The type of broadhead to use depends on the type of game you want to hunt. For tough game like wild boars and buffalo, the fixed two blade broadhead is popular with bow hunters in Australia.For lighter skinned game, like goats and deer, the three blade and replaceable blades are gaining popularity.
This obviously depends on you bow set up, preference, bow poundage and arrow weight/spine stiffness, etc.
As a lot of bow hunting and archery techniques and gear come from America, Australia soon follows the trend. By no means is the mechanical broadhead new in Australia, however, it is starting to get a following.For archers who have trouble getting a razor sharp edge on their broadheads, the replaceable blades are worth considering, although the cost is sometimes expensive, but razor sharpness is a must.
What weight broadhead do I use? For broadhead weight, a general rulein Australia is, the bigger and tougher the game hunted, the heavier the arrow and broadhead should be used.
For big game like buffalo, which have tough hides and strong bones, the broadhead weight might be 180 grains to220 grains.
For lighter game, like foxes and wild goats, a broadhead of 100 grains to 125 grains, up to 150 grains will do.This again depends on you bow set up, preference, bow poundage and arrow weight/spine stiffness, etc.For more information on how to get the best accuracy and penetration out of your archery broadheads check out the article on broadhead accuracy.
Archery for Beginners
Many newcomers to the sport of archery think it’s just all about bow hunting or target archery. But the truth is
that there are several types of archery to consider, as well as equipment and accessories to make your experience
more enjoyable.
The sport of archery is commonly associated with the colourful targets shooting at a set distance at the
Olympics. But target archery can comprise of shooting at various distances and using different equipment and
accessories.
Target archery is a competition that is overseen by judges and is scored on accuracy and accuracy alone. There
is also indoor archery, which is shot at a closer distance and some archers can hit the bullseye, or gold as it’s
called, with pinpoint accuracy.
Bow hunting and/or bow fishing can be used to take any number of game species. Animals like rabbits, foxes,
feral goats, deer and wild pigs are hunted throughout Australia and deer are a sought after species in America. The
thrill of the hunt coupled with the beautiful but rugged bushland; make this a sport for the adventurous
archer.
Field archery is a competitive type that involves a rough field course that is ruled over by a field judge.
Usually, the arrows must be shot in a specific period of time and hit a specific point on various targets.
One of the simplest types of archery is flight archery. Very simply put, the idea is to shoot an arrow as far as
possible in a single draw of the bow. Special flight archery bows are made for this purpose that can shoot arrows
unbelievable distances.
Several types of archery bows are available for the archer. One of the oldest is the
longbow, also called the long bow or stick bow. This is a piece of flexible wood or composite materials roughly
around six feet in height. The longbow has a steep tradition of military use in the medieval times and has turned
the tides of many battles.
A recurve bow is like a longbow except the ends are curved away from the shooter. Hence, the ends “recurve” at
the ends. This design lends a little more power to the released arrow.
A compound bow is a modern type of bow that uses a system of pulleys that make it easier to draw the string and
hold the loaded arrow longer. The draw is a bit tight at the beginning, and then gets lighter as you get past a
certain point. Once drawn, the arrow can be held for a longer time with less effort, allowing the shooter to aim
easier.
Crossbows are a little different. The bow is attached to a gun type of stock and is fired like a gun; held
against the shoulder and you pull the trigger. The arrows are called bolts and are somewhat shorter than typical
arrows.
Arrow heads are as varied as the rest of the equipment. Practice heads are simple weighted pointy ends. There
are broadheads, which are used in bowhunting and are razor sharp.
As with any sport, archery has its share of shooter accessories. These things help the shooter to be more
accurate and hit what they are aiming at with regularity. Items like arrow releases, quivers to hold your arrows,
special gloves, sights and even arm guards are available.
Archery accessories are designed to help the archer make the bow more accurate or easier to shoot.
that there are several types of archery to consider, as well as equipment and accessories to make your experience
more enjoyable.
The sport of archery is commonly associated with the colourful targets shooting at a set distance at the
Olympics. But target archery can comprise of shooting at various distances and using different equipment and
accessories.
Target archery is a competition that is overseen by judges and is scored on accuracy and accuracy alone. There
is also indoor archery, which is shot at a closer distance and some archers can hit the bullseye, or gold as it’s
called, with pinpoint accuracy.
Bow hunting and/or bow fishing can be used to take any number of game species. Animals like rabbits, foxes,
feral goats, deer and wild pigs are hunted throughout Australia and deer are a sought after species in America. The
thrill of the hunt coupled with the beautiful but rugged bushland; make this a sport for the adventurous
archer.
Field archery is a competitive type that involves a rough field course that is ruled over by a field judge.
Usually, the arrows must be shot in a specific period of time and hit a specific point on various targets.
One of the simplest types of archery is flight archery. Very simply put, the idea is to shoot an arrow as far as
possible in a single draw of the bow. Special flight archery bows are made for this purpose that can shoot arrows
unbelievable distances.
Several types of archery bows are available for the archer. One of the oldest is the
longbow, also called the long bow or stick bow. This is a piece of flexible wood or composite materials roughly
around six feet in height. The longbow has a steep tradition of military use in the medieval times and has turned
the tides of many battles.
A recurve bow is like a longbow except the ends are curved away from the shooter. Hence, the ends “recurve” at
the ends. This design lends a little more power to the released arrow.
A compound bow is a modern type of bow that uses a system of pulleys that make it easier to draw the string and
hold the loaded arrow longer. The draw is a bit tight at the beginning, and then gets lighter as you get past a
certain point. Once drawn, the arrow can be held for a longer time with less effort, allowing the shooter to aim
easier.
Crossbows are a little different. The bow is attached to a gun type of stock and is fired like a gun; held
against the shoulder and you pull the trigger. The arrows are called bolts and are somewhat shorter than typical
arrows.
Arrow heads are as varied as the rest of the equipment. Practice heads are simple weighted pointy ends. There
are broadheads, which are used in bowhunting and are razor sharp.
As with any sport, archery has its share of shooter accessories. These things help the shooter to be more
accurate and hit what they are aiming at with regularity. Items like arrow releases, quivers to hold your arrows,
special gloves, sights and even arm guards are available.
Archery accessories are designed to help the archer make the bow more accurate or easier to shoot.
Hunting Arrows, Which Are The Best?
Hunting with the bow and arrow has been part of mans survival for thousands of years. Archery bows have
developed over the years to the modern fast compound bows, recurve and longbows of today. Hunting arrows have also
become more advanced, with a wide variety of materials used, such as carbon, alloy, but what makes a good bow
hunting arrow?
This article aims to look at the advantages and disadvantages of aluminium arrows versus
carbon arrows. Which one makes the best hunting arrows? Here are some considerations to think about before buying
hunting arrows.
Aluminium VS Carbon Graphite Hunting Arrows
Aluminium and carbon graphite are two of the most well-known materials used for making arrows, particularly
hunting arrows, which require great craftsmanship in order to be truly effective weapons, as they need to be
durable and accurate.
In bow hunting, there can be no room for mistake, so archers must always be armed with the best archery
equipment and hunting arrows are no different. Aluminium and carbon graphite each have their share of pros and
cons, so it’s best to study them first before making a decision.
Aluminium Arrows
Hunting arrows made from aluminium are relatively heavier than their carbon graphite counterparts, with all
things being equal. This permits them to sustain greater kinetic energy after the arrow is released and they
contact the target.Arrows with greater kinetic energy have greater impact as well as deeper penetration. However, since aluminium
gives these arrows weight, they also suffer from a decrease in effective range. The drop in inertia is more rapid,
and the trajectory after a specific range of distance falls low, this also affects bow hunting accuracy.Aluminium arrows also tend to develop tiny bends in their shaft after some time of repeated use.
The effects of the usual wear and tear are usually too small to be noticed by the eyes, but they affect the arrows’ flight trajectory
as well.Carbon ArrowsOne of the carbon graphite’s arrows advantage is the possible safety features it offers. Carbon graphite arrows do
not have the tendency to develop permanent bends in their structure; they adapt to the forces involved in the
situation, in other words, more flexible.
For instance, if the force of impact that is placed upon the arrow is greater than usual, or if the arrow is
shot forth at a target that is extremely difficult to penetrate, it will simply split or shatter into broken
pieces.
This is sometimes safer because then you won’t be left exposed to accidents by using the same arrow for
another bow hunting session; you’ll simply just have to replace it. Of course you still should inspect the carbon
arrow for any micro cracks or splinters to be safe.No matter how skilled an archer you are, you can never be accurate with a bent shaft, so it’s best to go for carbon graphite arrows that let you know right away if you have defective weapons in your hand.Carbon arrows are relatively lighter as well, which helps obtain a flatter trajectory.
This eliminates a bit of guess work of how far the target or bow hunting game away is.However, as stated before a heavier arrow will penetrate better, so it is a bit of a trade off between speed and penetration. One solution is to go for a happy medium and that might mean a heavier carbon arrow, so you still have the advantages of carbon spine stiffness, but also a heavier hunting arrow. The Beman or Easton arrow selection guide should steer you in the right direction.
Another factor to consider is the game you are hunting. A big game animal will generally require a heavier shaft
compared to a light or small game animal.
The Hunting Arrow Verdict
Most serious target archers use carbon arrows these days, so you can be sure the carbon arrows are accurate. So
for bow hunting, as long as the shaft is correctly spined for the bow and heavier enough for the game intended, the
carbon arrow is the way to go.
Another option is to look at the combined carbon/alloy hunting arrows made by Easton archery.The cost of carbon arrows can be expensive though, especially for newcomers, so it might be advisable to use
aluminium hunting arrows for a start.
You can buy some alloy ones like, the Easton Gamegetter arrows for a
reasonable price and they are a durable hunting arrow. When beginners have a bit more experience than they might
can later upgrade their hunting arrows to carbon graphite once they have practiced enough and have significantly
improve at the sport.
developed over the years to the modern fast compound bows, recurve and longbows of today. Hunting arrows have also
become more advanced, with a wide variety of materials used, such as carbon, alloy, but what makes a good bow
hunting arrow?
This article aims to look at the advantages and disadvantages of aluminium arrows versus
carbon arrows. Which one makes the best hunting arrows? Here are some considerations to think about before buying
hunting arrows.
Aluminium VS Carbon Graphite Hunting Arrows
Aluminium and carbon graphite are two of the most well-known materials used for making arrows, particularly
hunting arrows, which require great craftsmanship in order to be truly effective weapons, as they need to be
durable and accurate.
In bow hunting, there can be no room for mistake, so archers must always be armed with the best archery
equipment and hunting arrows are no different. Aluminium and carbon graphite each have their share of pros and
cons, so it’s best to study them first before making a decision.
Aluminium Arrows
Hunting arrows made from aluminium are relatively heavier than their carbon graphite counterparts, with all
things being equal. This permits them to sustain greater kinetic energy after the arrow is released and they
contact the target.Arrows with greater kinetic energy have greater impact as well as deeper penetration. However, since aluminium
gives these arrows weight, they also suffer from a decrease in effective range. The drop in inertia is more rapid,
and the trajectory after a specific range of distance falls low, this also affects bow hunting accuracy.Aluminium arrows also tend to develop tiny bends in their shaft after some time of repeated use.
The effects of the usual wear and tear are usually too small to be noticed by the eyes, but they affect the arrows’ flight trajectory
as well.Carbon ArrowsOne of the carbon graphite’s arrows advantage is the possible safety features it offers. Carbon graphite arrows do
not have the tendency to develop permanent bends in their structure; they adapt to the forces involved in the
situation, in other words, more flexible.
For instance, if the force of impact that is placed upon the arrow is greater than usual, or if the arrow is
shot forth at a target that is extremely difficult to penetrate, it will simply split or shatter into broken
pieces.
This is sometimes safer because then you won’t be left exposed to accidents by using the same arrow for
another bow hunting session; you’ll simply just have to replace it. Of course you still should inspect the carbon
arrow for any micro cracks or splinters to be safe.No matter how skilled an archer you are, you can never be accurate with a bent shaft, so it’s best to go for carbon graphite arrows that let you know right away if you have defective weapons in your hand.Carbon arrows are relatively lighter as well, which helps obtain a flatter trajectory.
This eliminates a bit of guess work of how far the target or bow hunting game away is.However, as stated before a heavier arrow will penetrate better, so it is a bit of a trade off between speed and penetration. One solution is to go for a happy medium and that might mean a heavier carbon arrow, so you still have the advantages of carbon spine stiffness, but also a heavier hunting arrow. The Beman or Easton arrow selection guide should steer you in the right direction.
Another factor to consider is the game you are hunting. A big game animal will generally require a heavier shaft
compared to a light or small game animal.
The Hunting Arrow Verdict
Most serious target archers use carbon arrows these days, so you can be sure the carbon arrows are accurate. So
for bow hunting, as long as the shaft is correctly spined for the bow and heavier enough for the game intended, the
carbon arrow is the way to go.
Another option is to look at the combined carbon/alloy hunting arrows made by Easton archery.The cost of carbon arrows can be expensive though, especially for newcomers, so it might be advisable to use
aluminium hunting arrows for a start.
You can buy some alloy ones like, the Easton Gamegetter arrows for a
reasonable price and they are a durable hunting arrow. When beginners have a bit more experience than they might
can later upgrade their hunting arrows to carbon graphite once they have practiced enough and have significantly
improve at the sport.