Broadheads for Beginners
What are broadheads?
Broadheads are arrow tips used for hunting. When you are practicing, you will primarily use a field point, which is a streamlined arrow tip that resembles a bullet. Field points don’t cause damage to targets and are less dangerous than broadheads.
However, when you decide to go hunting with your bow, you will need to select a broadhead to replace your field point. Broadheads are wider than field points and feature very sharp blades which will be much more lethal in terms of how they will perform on an animal. Never use a field point to go bowhunting, ever.
What is the best broadhead to shoot?
Fixed blade broadheads are the best option, because they have a lower failure rate than mechanical broadheads. You will need to decide between fixed blade broadheads and mechanical broadheads.
Mechanical broadheads have blades which fold up during flight and expand on impact.
Fixed blades are a much more rigid and strong option, they do not move. While mechanicals may appear to fly better out of your bow than a fixed blade, what this actually indicates is that there is an error in your setup that the mechanical broadheads are hiding. A properly setup bow and arrow combination will shoot a fixed blade broadhead exactly like a field point, and there are much more lethal.
Should I shoot my broadheads?
You must practice with your broadheads before going hunting to ensure that they fly the same as your field points. If there is a hidden error in your bow or arrows setup, the broadhead may fly differently than your field point. While this is usually an easy fix, it is crucial to test this before hunting so that you don’t wound an animal.
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Do arrows fly differently with broadheads?
If your bow is setup correctly and your arrows are properly tuned, no. If you find that broadheads are flying differently than your field points, you have an issue that is likely not the broadheads fault.
It could be your bows timing, your bow isn’t paper tuned, your arrow ends aren’t squared, your spine has not been calculated properly, or your form is causing torque in your bow during the shot. I
f you are having issues with fixed blade broadheads flying properly, do not just shoot mechanicals because it is easier. You owe it to the animals that you are hunting to properly assess the issue and fix it before you step into the woods.
Do heavier broadheads fly better?
Heavier broadheads may fly better than lighter ones simply because the added weight is slowing your arrow down. Slower arrows will generally fly better than faster ones.
If you find that a heavier broadhead is flying better than lighter ones, it is better to assess the issue that is causing poor flight than it is to just hide the issue with a heavier head.
If you know your bow is setup flawlessly and arrows are well built, but your heavier broadheads still fly better than lighter ones, it may be that the change in your dynamic spine caused by adding the extra weight balanced out a spine issue that you didn’t know you had. In this case, move to the heavier heads!
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What is the best arrow speed for broadheads?
Arrows fly optimally between 270-280 feet per second. While you can achieve great flight with faster arrows, your setup needs to be perfect to make this happen.
Leigh Hauck’s Golden Rule of Arrow Building is that you should shoot the heaviest arrow you can while maintaining speeds of 270-280 feet per second.
Do broadheads need to be sharp?
Yes. If your broadheads are dull from practicing or for any other reason, you need to get them as sharp as possible before going hunting with them. You wouldn’t cut a steak with a butter knife, and you shouldn’t hunt with a dull broadhead.
Why do my broadheads shoot different from field points?
If your broadheads are hitting the same spot every time, just not with your broadheads, simply move your arrow rest a small amount in the direction that your broadhead needs to move.
If you broadheads shoot high, move your arrow rest 1/32” down at a time until they shoot together. If your broadheads fly erratically, it could be your bows timing, your bow isn’t paper tuned, your arrow ends aren’t squared, your spine has not been calculated properly, or your form is causing torque in your bow during the shot.
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If you have any questions or would like to discuss the topic further, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@toothofthearrowbroadheads.com
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