Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Opinions on big game broad heads?

Going elk hunting this fall! I shoot a Matthews Z7, 30 inch Draw with 70 pound draw weight. For whitetail I normally use the grimm reaper expandables, or for a fixed head i use the Exodus broad head by QAD. I love the grimm reaper and have never missed with one, but i'm thinking i'll want more penetration for an elk. What's everyone else use?

Muzzy

http://eclipsebroadheads.com/#.VM7sVGjF_VA

500 -550 grain arrow total weight.

G5 elk hate them. Or a muzzy mx3

Slick Trick Vipers for me, but any of the above will get it done.

I like Thunderheads and i have been shooting them for over 25yrs with excellent results. As stated though, any of the one's mentioned will get it done.

Guybo54 ,

Welcome to 24hourcampfire Sir !

I have not bow hunted elk for quite a few years, but I would use a fixed head, like slick trick, magnus stingers, or magnus serazors. That type of head is what I used to kill my four bow killed elk.
I did shoot some elk size game in Africa the past few years. The slick trick magnums and magnus stingers worked very well.
Good luck on your hunt.

This is the off side from a large cow elk she was 40 yards. Arrow exited the animal completely.

Head was 100 grn G5

That's really impressive Fred. I have never hit an elk shoulder, but in the videos I've seen, it hasn't gone well. I realize there is a difference between shooting one in the off shoulder and trying to shoot through the shoulder. What do you shoot?

I think buying a quality head is important. There are a lot out there. I personally shoot Muzzy Trocar. I shot Rocky Mtn. Blitz before, and before that I shot Muzzy MX. All of them work. I don't plan on going back to the MX, because I don't feel they are as accurate/well made as the Trocar.

I tried STricks too. They just didn't shoot quite as well for me as the Trocar.

I've never tried an expandable. They aren't legal in my home state.

That was shot from a Bowtech destroyer 350 at 71# running a 29" 340beman at 307 fps I switched to the G5 because the mx3 would not stabilize. I hate sharpening heads but the cut on contact one peice is the ticket. Hell razor or G5 work well

Thank You!

G5 Striker Magnum or Grizztrik II is what I'd use in a hot compound for elk, both at 125 grs.

You already have a damned fine broadhead that will penetrate like crazy.

Those QAD broadheads are tough as hell. Easy to tune and shoot like a laser.

x2 on Slick Tricks, 125gr

Agree with 4ager, lots will work but you already have Exodus heads, you are good to go! Only thing I'll add is the 125 grain flavor, with your setup, will serve you well, didn't read anywhere what grain head your shooting. Good luck!

Thanks for all the tips guys! I have been shooting 100 grain, but trying 125 would make sense. I love the exodus, just haven't heard much on them else where, other than my personal experiences. I may try getting a few of the others listed above to compare how they shoot with my set up.
It's been a dream to make it elk hunting, so I'm just making sure I have my equipment 100% ready!

If you're dialed in with 100s, go with them. 25 grains ain't gonna make one damned bit of difference that a tuned set-up with 100s wouldn't make. What you have will be just fine, and the Exodus is a great broadhead.

Concentrate on getting YOU ready for the hunt and stop fretting with the equipment.

Really the best advise in the thread...

OP - send me a PM, if I've got extra practice heads from your "try it" list, I'll help if I have them.

as long as its not expandable I would not even worry.

Beware the indian, not the arrow.... applies here mostly too.

RE bones like shoulders, only issue I Have with entry bone rather than exit is how much is it dulling the cutting ability once vitals are reached, I'll never go for bone going in on purpose.... going out it won't matter... whats done is done.

Thanks, that makes total sense. I'm very confident I'll be ready, just doesn't hurt to double check everything. lol

YOU, and no offense intended, are the weak link. If you've not hunted elk before at elevation then you have no idea what you're about to deal with. Your gear is fine. Put it down. Get a restriction mask to simulate elevation, and work on your cardio like your life depends on it (because it may).

Gear is the least of your worries; concentrate on what matters.

BTDT, spend more time running and carrying heavy packs, we did rotations of 50ish, 70ish and 120ish pounds on packs at times... and run... or at least hard stair stepping... I ran bleachers generally. Forward and backward and sideways at times...

Making a 30 yard shot doesn't take much skill. Not being in shape enough to get to where you can get a 30 yard shot, takes MUCH more work.

Aspirin, acclimatize, etc..... exercise. I can hunt moose without cardio workouts... and is likely why I don't elk hunt lately... not enough time to dedicate to the right exercise at 51.
Of cousre it doesn't help that we have fallen in love much more with AK than any other state we've been too... there is elk there too though.... in my future. LOL.

I have used Muzzy 90gr 4 Blade on the last 5 bulls I have shot. Before that I used the old 130gr Muzzy 4 Blade. I shoot bows in the 58-60# range with carbon arrows around 380gr going 260-280 fps. Shoots right through them.

You hit the nail on the head. If guys spent as much time getting in shape as they do worrying about equipment they would be much more successful. I ride my mountain bike basically year round (1,500+ miles per year) to stay in shape. Some early season scouting and horn hunting in the mountains helps fine tune for the opener. I'm usually in great shape and can really get around about the time the season ends........It is much easier to maintain a decent level of fitness than bounce in and out of shape. That is much truer now that I am in my late 40's than it was in my 20's and 30's.

And we found as you age, its harder and harder, even if fit, to drive overnight from 200 feet ASL, to 10,000 feet ASL and start going.. Just the dang altitude change is a bear...

I used to do it all the time, and get up and start going, as hard and far as I could, trying to get it going... one time I did a 12 mile loop according to the map, 2nd day up, and did it agian the 3rd day, all running 8-11K feet ASL, and the 4th day I could hardly move. LOL.

As I age, if nothing else, get up high 2-3 days early and even if not hiking, just camping in that air and the body gets used to it. I"ll likely die though, still pushing it as soon as I get there, as its how I'm wired.... but then again maybe by 60 or so I'll learn to chill.

Our great friends in AK, will sit in camp, while we go out and hunt... and relax and call for moose etc.... lets just say its about as common to kill one sitting in the camp chair over the years as it is to kill one in the bush. Though we have a lot more action in the bush. But I digress.

Get in shape, have extra time allowed at teh front end if possible. Aspirin regime starting a week out helped us it sure seemed.

Don't worry about the shot...

One way to gain more penetration without moving up in broad head weight is to go with a heavier brass insert.
You get the weight forward and behind the Broadhead without increasing cutting diameter or changing broad head flight characteristics .

Stos 160 grn two blade
Grizzley 190 grn Single bevel two blade

100 GR Thunderhead

Slick Tricks or Muzzy's each have worked...

125gr Slick Trick Magnum

Wasp

Grizzlys traditional
Phat Heads compound
Oregon

I use Rocky Mountain. 125 Bought 100 of them plus a 100 replacement blades years ago. I have had good luck with them.