Arrow weight and broadhead aside, it’s vitally important that what ever your set up is, you have a tuned bow. Shot placement should always be assumed. No one makes bad shots on purpose. We all know as hunters, things happen. Thats when the argument where heavy vs light or fixed vs mechanical comes into play. You don’t need it until you do kinda thing. It’s up to each hunter with what they are trying to accomplish to decide what set up is best for them. It’s crazy how much fighting is caused over personnel preferences.
Tanner, I agree with you completely. We are a community that should be praising others but I see so often just the opposite. It's sad. We really just need to ban together in order to keep this tradition of conservation alive. Good luck out there this season. Take care and God bless. -Love from NH
Yeah completely agree. Probably most of the time, it is shot placement. I think i'm going to try this year is bumping up my total arrow weight to 550 grain, but still not sure what i'm going to do regarding mechanical or fixed. I have no good reason to switch from mechanical, but just thinking of trying something different. This year, one shot hit high as everything shifted (deer and possibly shot) when i released. The mechanical caught part of the spine, dropped the deer and the Grim Reaper never fell apart, i was very surprised.
I appreciate this commentary. It is easy to fall into rabbit holes with all the discussion around broadheads. I currently have fixed and mechanical in my quiver, and have no hesitation shooting either.
Bill, thank you for doing these videos! I started bow hunting in 2014 and almost everything I know: set up, clothing, tactics, etc. I learned exclusively from you. I very grateful for your time and investment.
I'm always jealous when I watch your shots. It's amazing to hear you say "I am where I am." I practice a lot, and I still punch the trigger once in a while. It's frustrating!
I actually took your advice a few years back and went against what everyone else was telling me to do. My son at the time was 11 years old and was going to try a compound bow . He got up to the Ohio minimum of 40# draw Weight. We tried 2 and 3 blade fixed heads and tried tuning and had a really hard time. I saw some info you had on the rocket steelhead. So I got a pack and he was drilling the target. First sit had a young buck come within 15 yards. He put a perfect shot directly behind the shoulder. Arrow poked out the opposite side. Deer went 60 yards. After field dressing it we can see he hit dead center in a rib on both sides an yet had no issues with penetration. It was one of my greatest memories with him and I want to thank you for making it possible. I think the confidence he had with the steelhead just made a huge difference too.
Try not moving the rest to tune the bow. Center the rest and get a correct spine arrow and cut it until a bareshaft flies straight. You can shoot whatever you want then.
Good information. I’m in the same camp just with 2” 2 blades. Your honesty on how you have learned from mistakes is always refreshing to see in the hunting world. You can always tell you keep your ego in check even as an accomplished bowhunter.
I agree with you Bill. Thanks! The majority of deer I've shot with mechanicals have dropped within sight. Didn't experience that with fixed blade heads...
Yes, I agree. Mechanicals have gotten a bad rap of late, but mostly, I think that any problems people have with them has to do with the large cutting diameter heads. I have never had any problems with the smaller models. Good luck.
I like a real solid and reputable 2 blade mechanical broadhead. I have some 3's in my archery tackle box, but I lean towards my 2 blades. I am a little different though, I like the larger 2" cutting diameter.
"First and foremost hit what you are aiming at" is the takeaway for me. I won an auction for a trip to Africa almost 20 years ago. I showed up with mechanicals (Steel Head Trophy Ridge/Rocket at the time) and the outfitter gave me a tongue lashing for it..and then I laid down seven thick skinned animals back to back. They worked just fine on tougher animals. They flew almost identical to my field points and proved they were durable enough. I've used fixed over the years and have no qualms with them but shoot what you are getting consistent accuracy with is the most important thing.
I used the regular Steelheads and then the XL's for years, killed multiple dozens of deer with them, I still have some of both left and w/ extra blades and bands .... I put Steelheads thru 55 gallon drums to prove how strong they were, didnt lose a blade, a Muzzy 3 blades lost its blade on its attempt .... Rocket needs to bring these back ASAP ... love these heads
Great video, Bill I've said that very same thing, as far as mechanical. Don't shoot over 1 1/2 " . You will get better penetration from the smaller heads.It only makes sense. Although I think mechanical have come a long way,I am old school and still shoot fixed blades. I shoot the 100 grain Slick Tricks in standard heads. They fly great and have good luck with them. Thanks for sharing!
great info...I switched to mechanicals back in 2015 and havent looked back......Most important is shot placement and with the mechanicals it is more consistent IMO
Shot mechanicals for years but last year switched to Exodus fixed heads. I’ve been blown away by these heads. Sharp as hell and tough. Fly straight and true. Never had really good blood trails with the Rockets and I shot the smaller ones like Bill. With the Exodus. Holy crap. Love them.
Great video, as always! It’s amazing how broadhead tolerances have gotten so tight in the more recent years! I moved away from Rocky Mountain Razors and Muzzy 100 gr Three-blade heads in the early 2000’s. I went to mechanicals for a brief stretch, but came back to fixed blades for the peace of mind of knowing that the blades are already deployed and ready to cut. With the improvements of fixed-blade broadhead tolerances, the results downrange have been significantly improved from the broadheads of the mid-90’s. Like you, I have just figured out what works best for me, and stuck with it! I don’t know if it’s me being hardheaded or what, but my QAD’s work, and haven’t given me a reason to change…yet! Thanks again for the great content, and good luck in the woods this year! Be safe out there!
Thanks for the video Bill. I was wondering if you could give us a few of your favorite mechanical broadheads for hunting whitetail. Also, would love to see you do a video on FOC and whether or not that plays a role in your set up.
I will get to the FOC piece at some point. People are taking some of these tech tradeoffs too far. Yes, if you go to extremes you will see differences, but very little difference between an arrow's performance with 14% FOC versus one with 20%. I have always set up my arrows to fall into that range. Regarding mechanical heads, I am going to try the B3 EXO 3 and maybe the EXO Meg. These promise to be very accurate, good penetrating heads. You can see them here: b3archery.com/product-category/broadheads/ Good luck.
I am a huge Winke fan. I shoot 70lbs at a 29" draw. I grew up on aluminum arrows with bear razor tips out of old bear whitetail 5 pulley bows and later the whitetail two. Then of course moved to carbons and spitfire max heads and faster and faster bows. I've killed tons of deer and lost very few. (Like 2 I think.) Two years ago I drank the ranch fairy kool-aid. High FOC, 150 grain iron will vented with a 100 grain stainless insert. My total arrow weight is just short of 600 grains. I also bare shaft tuned my bow. My fixed heads hit with field points out to 50 yards. I practice at 50 but I do not shoot at deer beyond 30. I will say this. The ballistics of high FOC and beyond razor sharp heads with a COC tip aren't disputed. It's just physics. I don't disparage anyone who wants to shoot expandable heads. Great video Bill, thank you.
I drank the Ranch Fairy Kool-aid too. I shoot almost the same setup as you, but with a 125 gr. QAD exodus head and I use feather fletching. 70lb 30 inch draw. Heavy arrows make my bow much quieter and never have to worry about mechanicals not opening or poor penetration. I haven't had an animal go more than 50 yards and they tend not to sprint off. They just trot and stop after 20 yards before getting tipsy. I honestly think they have no idea what hit them
Very concise analysis of the FB vs MechB argument. My theory is try different ones of both and see what you feel is best coming out of your bow, what penetrates best and ultimately what can you afford. Bill, it is great seeing you back on the small screen. I just happened across your RUclips channel, and it is nice to have you back. I have great memories of you and your down to earth analysis of archery and hunting products. I always enjoyed your videos when you hosted Midwest Whitetails. MW was got me into watching hunting and archery videos. Keep up the good work.
Thats a great perspective! Thank you for sharing.. one question, as you mentioned that you have shot 100s of deer since then. Do you ever lose a deer where maybe if you would have had a fixed blade you would have gotten it from your perspective? I've switched from a 2 blade stinger back to rage hyperdermics which I've had no issues with in the past. Thank you!
There has to be balance. Many of us switched to mechanicals for a reason, not just to try something new. Until that reason is gone (I don't believe it is) they are still an important option.
I find it interesting that you use mechanicals for the same reason I use fixed blades except opposite ends of that spectrum. In my case, shots may not be perfect and I want the best chance at cut through and penetration. In todays age, smaller cutting fixed broad heads that shoot like field points are more prevalent. In the end, mechanicals work on white tails and I think you’ve proven that. By the way, you have got the best intro on your videos on RUclips!!! I really mean that. For once I don’t have to fast forward the musical junk. Thanks for that!!
Great video. Thank you for sharing your rationale and the process through which you reached it. I still have to select my broadhead for this season and time is short. Good luck this fall
I'm in the "never mechanicals camp". Lots can and does happen! I feel like a fixed blade bh can help compensate for something screwy happening FAR better than a mechanical!! Though, if someone wants to shoot something else then that's fine.
Only deer I've ever lost were mechanical. Some of the most impressive blood trails I've gotten are from mechanicals but you better stay away from bone.. in regards to accuracy have everything tuned very well in my Broadhead shoot as well as my mechanical. I totally get where Joe blow public who doesn't do that could benefit from off-the-shelf accuracy with mechanicals.
I lost one shooting down quartering slightly away and it appeared the head deflected off bone and went between the hide and ribs. That was the last deer I shot with a mechanical. I haven't lost a deer with fixed blade heads but that one and one other with rages were never found. To many things can go wrong with mechanical heads and simple broadheads have been killing animals all over the globe since bows were first built.
Also, in the video Bill mentions that his expandable bh are small diameter, but I don't think he clarified that in regard to the fixed blade bh that he used to shoot. I shoot Slick Tricks and they have a 1 1/8" cutting diameter which is fairly small. They are very accurate in my setup!!
I think in this modern age of bow hunting and archery, superior equipment, material and machine tolerances, it’s no longer a issue. Mechanicals are obsolete. Especially at whitetail distances. I regularly test out a bunch of different heads. I’m a broadhead junkie. The fixed blades I shoot are always right on point with field points. When I’m really stretching out the distance the mechs always start hitting lower and the fixed blades hit right where they need too. I also lost a opportunity at a world class mule deer because when I pulled my mech heads out of the quiver the rubber bands came off land the blades were just flopping around. 3 times. I gave up on them after that. It was fifteen years ago and I still hurt over it.
Agreed, I've had 3 fail, lucky enough to eventually kill the deer that I hit, 2 of them never opened, holes like broad heads, those things are total junk....They are basically for people who are too lazy to actually tune their bows....
Thanks. We have used a few variations of Rage with good success. But I tend to gravitate back to Muzzy. Just about bought new Muzzy today at the bow shop but thought I would talk to some more folk. Coincidentally, this vid came up in my offering today. Going to have to give it some more thought. Much appreciated.
Well said. I've been listening to all the talk about high FOC, single bevel, heavy weight arrows. But this is a well thought-out explanation of the other side of the argument. Accuracy is something that is skimmed over with the heavy arrows. eg. pin gap. Everyone agrees that the arrows need to fly well, no matter what broadhead you are using. Their argument is - if you hit them in the heart or lungs, doesn't matter what you are using - but what if you hit bone. Or - everyone's worried about getting the arrow to the deer, but not what happens after you hit the deer. I'm sure that a heavy arrow, fixed blade is better and gets more penetration than a thin mechanical. But if that heavy arrow causes you to miss by several inches, then what's the point. I guess the argument is - would you rather have an accurate arrow with poor penetration or a less accurate arrow with good penetration.
I believe you can have an accurate arrow with adequate to good penetration. We are all shooting powerful enough bows now that a moderate weight arrow will push a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch cutting diameter mechanical through a deer almost regardless of where it hits. I just want to be accurate first. I know the penetration will be good enough even if it doesn't bury as far into the dirt on the other side as the guy shooting the one-piece heads.
Im in the same boat. Especially shooting my compound bow with fingers instead of a release aid. It's also nice to have a streamlined look at the end of the arrow for gap shooting. I'm using the Grim Reaper pro series 3 blade 1 3/8th cut at the moment. They served me well last year and don't have any complaints. Thanks for the video!
I've had a hate-love relationship with mechanicals starting around 96 myself. I've always preferred fixed (which in the 80's was the only option) but have used mechanicals on occasion. To your point accuracy is key but the reality on the margin of error is sometimes slim (chalk up to the items you mentioned) and it has cost me using mechanicals on hits where I feel a fixed would have performed better. However, my question: would you consider a fixed blade where the new geometry designs create better flight dynamics = accuracy ? I hate tuning, heating inserts, realignment as well but I feel the new fixed (cut on contact 2 blade) are substantially better in design. I mentioned EVO on one of your last video's and I really make no significant adjustments from my field points and their performance is literally night and day from other fixed that I've used. *Sorry for the long post but better materials, engineering and even the bow/arrow combinations lead to better flight accuracy these days. Not trying to convert but as an "old" bowhunter myself I try and stay current and keep an open mind to sustainable progress as it relates to bowhunting technology. Thanks Bill always appreciate the sharing of insights.
I to loved the rocket stihlhead but I can’t seem to find any anymore any where. Only thing I’ve found is trophy ridges attempt at remaking them, is that broadhead more or less the same ?
I’m torn between the cut on contact and the mechanicals right now, season starts this Saturday! Both are flying decent, just need to commit. Thanks for the video!!
I switched to cut on contact fixed blade last year, what I've noticed, is the deer react different when shot with a cut on contact fixed blade than they do with a mechanical. With mechanicals, they run hard as soon as they're shot, with the cut on contact fixed, they took a hop and walked off looking backwards to see what hit them. Completely different reactions.
Cut on contact are superior in my opinion. Bill argued for penetration and yet that last doe in the video wasn’t a pass through. Buy a really good cut on contact fixed blade that you can resharpen and you’ll be impressed I promise. I’ve used a single broadhead to shoot four different whitetail and it’s still ready for more. Just touch ups between. My wife shoots 40# and still had an entry and exit hole on her first buck. He fell in 60 yards.
Very compelling points. What made me switch to fixed blades is they all fly differently. There’s been some good fixed blade accuracy tests done, and a lot of fixed blades fly horribly. But there’s a few that don’t consistently rank as accurate fliers and i try to focus on them.
I used to have to micro-tune each arrow separately. It would take me a couple of days to get four arrows to fly the same when I was using fixed blade heads. Granted, arrows and broadheads are better now, but the lesson got permanently etched into my mind.
I have had fantastic results with spitfire maxx 125 grain heads. For years I shot a 525 grain arrow at 290 fps with these tips. Nothing helps a bigger mechanical more than extra KE. I have blown through the nearside scapula and far side humerus and shattered the arrow on a rock behind the deer from 40 yards with this set up. That being said I am getting older and 84 lbs is no longer easy for me to draw so my new bow is 65 lbs and I have just made the switch to the Magnus Black Hornets after hearing great things about them. I found it pretty easy to get them to group with my field points out to 50 yards and they are razor sharp. My arrows are flying like lazers, just need deer season to open up here!
Company sold I believe, and the steelhead was discontinued. They do still produce other models, meat seeker etc. I still have a handful of steelheads, but Wasp Jak Hammer is very comparable and readily available. I have both Wasp and some old Rocket steelheads in my quiver and see no difference in performance. Just my 2 cents.
I played with those when they first came out. I think everyone went crazy for the large cutting diameter mechanicals and that made the manufacturers stop making the smaller ones - a big disservice to the hunters of this country.
I actuly love this video. I have been bow hunting since 1987. And have watched the archery world evolve. I switched to mechanicals in the late 90's. I firmly Beleive a smaller diameter head is best for penatration. No need for over kill as long as you hit the Mark. So many people go overboard with the " hype" these days. I do however have a question. What broadhead is that you are showing in the video. I've never seen it. And love the design. Could you please tell me what head that is? Thank you.
Thanks Jason. That one is not made any more. It is the Rocket Steelhead. I killed a lot of deer with those. The best replacement I have found for that head is the B3 Archery EXO3. As I mentioned in the video, I am less concerned with broadhead design than accuracy and penetration. I have found that B3's fixed blade head (called the Destrukt) is really accurate for a fixed design. I shot several deer with it last season and was impressed. I may call that my future favorite, but I am still testing. Here is a link to their website if you are interested: b3archery.com/
@@bill-winke ok.thats a bummer they quit making those. I love a small diameter head. I'll be honest. I recently came across a head that has my attention.its a " sevr" 1.5". Check out lusk archery on youtube.just punch in lusk archery sevr 1.5. i am really impressed with it's design and durability. I'm about to check out the b3 ex03. We are snowed in our homes here in arkansas and I'm checking out broadheads. I'm going out this afternoon to try to get a doe behind the house. Thanks for the info bill.
Been a huge fan of Bill for 30 years. Bill has always shot big kinetic energy setups with moderate weight arrows at sub 300fps velocities. Powerful, stable, and flat trajectory with a huge margin for error. Will push mechanicals thru in most situations. Will make most fixed heads fly consistently. I shoot a very similar setup for all the reasons listed above. Not a fan of Ranch Fairy because he minimizes bow tuning, effects of shaft stiffness with ultra high FOC setups, and under estimates the value of a flat shooting arrow. I lift year round so at 51 I can shoot a heavyweight ultra tuned bow with 450 gr. arrows over 300fps. Good luck this season.
What is your go to mechanical broadhead? I remember you sitting rocket broadheads in Early Midwest Whitetail videos but I can’t find them. Would be interested to learn more about your broadhead of choice.
I am still shooting those Rocket Steelheads (leftovers from when Rocket was still alive). My favorites were the old black 125 grain models. Gosh those things were tough. The next best option is the Wasp Jak-Hammer in their smaller size. There are some other good ones too. Seems like a lot of people like the Sevr, but that is basically just the Rocky Mountain Gator from 20 years ago.
None specifically, just a category of small cutting diameter heads. The biggest problems with mechanicals came from the big cutting diameter heads. I like just about any solid head under 1 1/2 inch cutting diameter.
What's your degree in Bill? I had no idea you had experience in aerospace. I'm an aerospace engineer and have worked in structural testing for almost 10 years!
Looks like the old Rocket broadheads I use to shoot back in the day. I remember the archery shop I worked at got some of the first mechanical broadheads and it was called the Penetrator. Worst thing I had shot in a long time, but it caught on and we sold thousands of them. Still have some of the old Rockets and I think they are 1 1/8th inches. Killed a bunch of deer with those many years ago. You can kill a deer with a field point especially if you hit it in both lungs so shot placement is still the key for me. Thanks for sharing.
Agreed on all points. You probably remember the old Vortex broadheads too. Those things were huge, like two steak knives coming off the end of the arrow on impact. They were not for me, but those little Rockets made all the sense in the world. Good luck.
If mechanical broadheads were free, I would still pass on them. There are some fixed blade broadheads that fly awesome these days. Personally, I like the Slick Trick Viper Trick the most, but I would be content with the Magnum & Standards, too. I would also pick the QAD Exodus over any mechanical broadhead on the market today. If someone says they have been shooting mechanicals exclusively since 1995, however, I don't expect them to change. I guess that's why we have so many broadhead choices these days.
I have used three blade fixed broadheads. What are the mechanicals that you shoot? And their weight? I have shot the bigger mechanicals in 125 grains, 3 blade. The poundage of my bow was set at 65 Lbs. The broadhead had trouble opening on impact. I talked to a guy at the bow shop and he told me that the bow poundage had to be at least 70 Lbs for the broadhead to open properly upon impact. That's why I decided to use Montec one piece three blade broadheads 125 grain. If I am shooting a 60 Lb compound bow would the mechanicals you mentioned work?
I've had great success with those Montec heads. I used to shoot strikers, but switched to Montec last season. Most deer don't make it 50 yards that I've shot, whereas with mechanicals, they seem to run a long ways.
i used to shoot the rocket steelheads back in the 90's as well. they are small cutting diameter for a mechanical. i think 1 1/8" thats why they penetrated so well, about the same size as a normal fixed head. i been shooting fixed heads the last few years. this year i am going to try the standard 1.75" swhackers, because i feel like i am wasting too much energy burying my fixed blades so deep into the dirt on pass thru's. i feel like i will still get all pass thru's but with with a larger cut, maybe the arrow will be less buried in the dirt.
That is a good point. Those heads seem like they would do better entering into the animal because they open inside (presumably on soft tissue). Would be interested to know how they do on a shoulder hit. If it happens (hope it doesn't) please let us know.
Added a few mechanical broadheads into the mix the year. They currently fly better than fixed blades do at 60 because I haven't been able to fully dial in my bow. They definitely impart less drag than some of these higher end fixed blades. I still love these bomb proof fixed blades that can be reused with a light sharpening!
It is totally a personal choice... Do you remember at one of the ATA at Indy when they had the 100-yard Rage Shootoff? I think you shot in that event. I believe Randy Ulmer had his blades open and ended up in the carpet(We think??). Tim G. was so worried about it that he super glued his blades down. I think they might be more consistent but not more accurate. Bottom line - Confidence is deadly... If you trust it use it, if you don't trust them don't use them..
Yes, I remember that event very well. I had a blast and you are right about what happened. I was standing right there when we cut the carpeting to get Randy's arrow out. And I watched Tim super glue his blades closed between rounds. But on another note: Randy is the man when it comes to bowhunting and shooting. He was my mentor. People never knew it but I ghost wrote all his articles for many years. We would talk on the phone for hours about some subject of archery or bowhunting and then I would write the article in his words based on those notes. It is amazing how much he knows about shooting a bow - and a lot of other stuff. He doesn't get nearly the respect he deserves.
I'm a big believer in mechanicals. I shoot 1 1/4 " wasp jak hammers and have never looked back shot a 1 3/4 and like he says less penitration. All 6 deer I killed with 1 1/4 did not go far and pass thru. One even passed thru hitting the shoulder blade.
are you still shooting the rocket broadhead steel head? I've noticed that they have been discontinued and was just wondering if you had tried the jak hammer from wasp?
Marsee, I am going to shoot B3 EXO 3 broadheads. They seem to have all the features I want. Here is the link: b3archery.com/product/exo3/ If they don't work as I think they will, the owner of B3 has offered to let me design something different. Will be interesting. Have a great day.
Hi Bill. Really enjoy watching your videos. Especially the ones you are doing with your daughter. Maybe I missed it, but which mechanical broadheads are you using? Thanks.
I stopped shooting mechanicals because I don't want any extra variables in my hunting setup. A two blade single bevel head will kill just fine and will outperform every mechanical on the market including sevr broadheads which are the best performing mechanical heads. Each hunter has to make the choice for themselves but I can hunt the rest of my life with the same broadheads as long as I don't lose them on a pass through shot.
Im just a ole Arkansas working man and i have killed countless deer,i will say this since switching to mechanical ive personally have watched more deer die from my tree stand then ever before with a fixed blade.
I guess to each their own I’ve never had a problem with accuracy with a Magnus stinger. I did shoot rockets steel heads for a few years and did like them but fixed heads have worked since the beginning of a creation .
Have you noticed deer react different after being shot with a fixed blade or mechanical? It seems like with mechanicals, they run off hard and with fixed, they don't. I had 2 deer last season just walk off after being shot with a fixed blade.
I used to shoot steelheads but I wish the 100 grain steelhead had a longer ferrule more like the sidewinder for angled shots I like the smaller cut but hate arrow kick or having it deflect off completely
Considering how easily penetration issues can be mitigated by arrow weight, there really is no problem with mechanicals as long as they are built well and don't fall apart in impact. They sure as heck make a huge difference on marginal hits. I've killed alot of deer over the years that would have lived had it not been for that extra half inch of cutting diameter.
Justin, I am going to try the B3 EXO 3 this year. b3archery.com/product/exo3/ That is about as close to the Steelhead as anything on the market right now. Brian at B3 said they would custom build me some heads next year that we can sell if the EXOs aren't perfect. So I am going to keep an open mind, but so far, I like the EXO 3. Have a great day.
My arrow is about 500 grains and FOC is pretty high, I am guessing 14 to 15% though I have not measured it. But, I am shooting a pretty draw weight. I like a finished arrow that comes in around 5.5 to 6 grains per pound of draw force. So for a 70 pound bow, it would be ideal to be in the 400 grain range for whitetails. Good luck.
@@bill-winke if you still have connections with the rocket broadhead company, please get them to start making the 125 steelhead again. Best broadhead ever imo
A triple bladed fixed broadhead with triple fletching is perfection. It is minimally affected by crosswinds and is deadly accurate. Plus the punch through is amazing. Mechanicals have failure points that fixed just doesn't have. I can sharpen and reuse the same three fixed broadheads. With a mechanical after one animal I'll probably have to replace it. Fixed are the natural progression of thousands of years of hunting using obsidian and quartz arrowheads. They just work.
Good input. Thanks. I tried hard to tune and shoot fixed blade heads for many years but couldn't shoot them as accurately as I could the mechanicals so I switched. It wasn't a big difference, but especially on windy days the mechanicals were noticeably more accurate. Also, if I made a rough release they didn't react as much. Good luck.
There are some mechanical heads with higher opening force just for crossbows. B3 makes a couple. Otherwise fixed blade heads with small blade profiles like the B3 Destuckt. For example. You want limited exposed blade surface at those higher arrow speeds to promote better accuracy. Good luck.
I've considered mechanicals, but I just feel comfortable with my current fixed blade set up and am hesitant to change. The 1.5-inch-cut SEVR mechanicals are really intriguing. Also, I really like that painting of the Albia buck over your left shoulder, Bill. Cool stuff!
They are old school leftover Rocket Steelheads. I have a few left and I think there are few on ebay - at least there were last time I looked. Good luck. When mine are gone, I am going to have to go into the broadhead business.
@@bill-winke man I shoot Levi Morgan shwackers and love them. They open a deer up. The Levi Morgan shwackers have a much stronger feral and I've seen proof of it. I draw 75 to 78 pounds at 29.5 inch draw. 2 seasons ago I blew through a bucks shoulder blade and through the one on the opposing side as well. Arrow was sticking out the other shoulder about 6 inches. I was amazed that a mechanical could hold up to that. This last year we shot quite a few does with the g5 mega meat just to test em out and I was impressed. Very impressed But as far as my everyday hunting arrow the Levi Morgan shwacker has been what I use for quite a long time
I do. The smaller mechanicals don't have a lower threshold in my opinion. Based on my testing they penetrated as well as comparable sized three blade fixed blade heads, so that is not the issue. If you start to get into the larger heads (larger cutting diameter) it gets a lot more dicey. I would not shoot those (personally) at less than 60 pounds and even then I don't really like the idea. I like the smaller heads because they can penetrate well and still shoot very accurately. If I could get a really big two-blade fixed head to fly well, that would be the perfect option because the design penetrates the best, but the bigger those get the harder it is to get them to fly accurately at the faster arrow speeds, so the smaller mechanicals are my fallback.
I’m a bit confused. If the crosswind caught the veins and redirected the arrow upwind, it sounds to me that a change in the profile and/or size of the veins was the appropriate place to start ….not a change up front.
@@bill-winke I’m sorry that my question rubbed you the wrong way. That was not my intent at all. I’ve bowhunted for four decades and am still learning and was just curious. I realize that as a life long learner I sometimes need to accept the fact that if something works it’s not always imperative to know why it works. Good luck on your new farm.
Totally agree, the accuracy across all situations you can run into in the field, Mechanicals are more accurate. I also started using FOBs about 7 years ago, I believe there’s an edge there also.
I have been experimenting with the B3 Destrukt 3 fixed blade head. The blades are offset to match your helical and they are super accurate. Not sure just yet if they are as accurate as mechanical in every situation, but they are sure good out to 40 yards for me. I haven't shot them farther. The designer says they are field point accurate out to 100 yards! That is a strong claim. Good luck.
That’s great to know, my brother in-law lives out in northern NM and wants me to come out and hunt Elk/ Mule Deer archery season. I was definitely going to go with fixed blades. This will help me narrow the search. Thanks again for the info!
Josh, I wish they were current, but no, they are leftovers. I think I will start making them. Someone needs to make a really good easy opening mechanical broadhead that is super durable and penetrates well. I think I can do that.
@@bill-winke I'll take 100! I have 5 of the old 125 grains left. After that, I have no idea what I'll use. There's no reason for there to be no offerings of a 1 - 1.25" cut mechanical.
I still think that is the best mechanical broadhead ever made. I have shot just about everything out there at one time or another and that is the simplest design imaginable with a durable ferrule and good penetration. I sure killed a lot of stuff with them. Good luck.
Elliot, those are leftover Rocket Steelheads from the early 2010s. You might be able to find them on Ebay. Other similar options on the market today are the Wasp Jak-Hammer. A lot of people seem to like the Sevr head, but that is really just a remake of the old Rocky Mountain Gator and Snyper heads. Still a decent option. I am sure there are others, but most heads have a cutting diameter that is larger than these models and thus they have less penetration. Good luck.
I prefer rear deploying broadheads. This past Sunday (9-18-22) I took a great 8pt on public land in Central Florida with a 2.3" rage xtreme chisel tip broadhead. 500gr arrow. 28 yard shot. Axe sized entry hole. Complete pass through - exited the opposite armpit and blew through the elbow joint and stuck in the ground. The deer ran 40 yards and fell over. Red buckets of paint blood trail. I was stunned that huge mechanical went through bone like that and didn't bend or break at all.
That is the Steelhead. I have since switched to the fixed blade B3 Destrukt heads. They are super accurate, very durable and penetrate well. I may shoot mechanicals again someday, but those little fixed heads are really nice. Have a great day.
I’ve had both success and failure with fixed blade and mechanical heads. I do tend to buy the lower priced ones. I’ve had so many blades fall off upon impact. I bought all of the closeout 100 grain rage mechanical heads 2 years ago. They work fine and I got them for pennies on the dollar. I probably have enough for the rest of my life! Unless those pesky squirrels don’t stop barking at me. I shot a few right in the mouth and it came out the tail. Relieved my stress.
Those are the old Rocket Steelheads. The closest thing I can find on the market right now is the B3 EXO3. That is what I plan to shoot this year. Here is a link to that head: b3archery.com/product/exo3/ Good luck.
I really miss Rocket's. I shot Sidewinders for years till Escalade purchase and quality dropped severely. Switched to Nap Killzone same story company sold product quality dropped. I'm shooting Wasp now but not mechanical purchased the Darts they fly and group amazing.
Yes, I agree 100%! When people who shoot mechanical heads espouse accuracy the fixed blade crowd always say "you should learn how to tune your bow" but that's not a true statement. Sometimes you just can't get your field points and broadheads to shoot the same, depending on fixed blade design. You should match your head to the game your hunting just like you would with a rifle. Thanks Bill!
Agreed Frank. I used to spend weeks trying to get my fixed blade broadheads and field points to hit the same place. But some bows back then were not tunable because of sideways nock travel. I got sick of it and switched to mechanicals. No more problems.
No, I am going to start using B3 EXO3 as that is the closest thing on the market right now to those Steelheads. Good luck. Here is a link to that head: b3archery.com/product/exo3/
Personal preference for every hunter and skill level. Fixed blades enhance your shooting errors more so focusing on your shot process is more important. While mechanical eliminate some errors of grip and torque they don’t get rid of them. You can shoot 100 arrows every day and still not be very good with fixed blades. It comes down to how much work one is willing to put into to be the best they can be and focusing instead on there shot process. I shoot mechanical for turkeys and fixed for antelope and deer. I shoot 4 days a week and completely focus on my shot process and form instead of just slinging arrows. Ultimately in the end it comes down to the hunter and their trust/preference/confidence in whichever head they shoot.
So Bill explain to me, why all these TV hunters get shit penetration with 3/4 arrow sticking out? I love mechanicals, but I switched to crossbow, and I penetrate everything. I shoot Swahachers.
I am not sure. I admit that I don't watch a bunch of deer hunting videos (some but not much). Possibly they shoot really big mechanical heads that reduce penetration. Also, it is possible that they hit a rib on entry or exit. That can affect penetration, or maybe they hit or nicked the offside front leg. Without seeing specific examples, I can only guess. But, as popular as those really big mechanicals have become, that is likely a big part of it.
Do you think that if you replicated that test today that the results would be the same? Curious to see how modern fixed blades stack up in your test. I’ve seen reviews that show many fixed heads flying like field points. It’s the possibility of mechanical failure that turned me away from mechanical heads.
They are leftover Rocket Steelheads from the late 2000s. I stocked up on them when the guy at Rocket told me they were going out of business. I think I have about two dozen left. Then what? Good luck.
@@bill-winke I did some digging and on eBay I found a similar head. They are discontinued Cabelas instinct expandable 3 blade 100g. Look just like rocket heads. I got a pack and they shoot great so I just ordered 5 more at $15 each! Good luck to you
Arrow weight and broadhead aside, it’s vitally important that what ever your set up is, you have a tuned bow. Shot placement should always be assumed. No one makes bad shots on purpose. We all know as hunters, things happen. Thats when the argument where heavy vs light or fixed vs mechanical comes into play. You don’t need it until you do kinda thing. It’s up to each hunter with what they are trying to accomplish to decide what set up is best for them. It’s crazy how much fighting is caused over personnel preferences.
Tanner, I agree with you completely. We are a community that should be praising others but I see so often just the opposite. It's sad. We really just need to ban together in order to keep this tradition of conservation alive. Good luck out there this season. Take care and God bless. -Love from NH
Yeah completely agree. Probably most of the time, it is shot placement. I think i'm going to try this year is bumping up my total arrow weight to 550 grain, but still not sure what i'm going to do regarding mechanical or fixed. I have no good reason to switch from mechanical, but just thinking of trying something different. This year, one shot hit high as everything shifted (deer and possibly shot) when i released. The mechanical caught part of the spine, dropped the deer and the Grim Reaper never fell apart, i was very surprised.
"Comes down to accuracy, plain and simple..." Thank you Bill - fundamentals have no replacement parts: put in the time, learn & execute!
I appreciate this commentary. It is easy to fall into rabbit holes with all the discussion around broadheads. I currently have fixed and mechanical in my quiver, and have no hesitation shooting either.
Bill, thank you for doing these videos! I started bow hunting in 2014 and almost everything I know: set up, clothing, tactics, etc. I learned exclusively from you. I very grateful for your time and investment.
Thanks for the support Mike. I appreciate it and I appreciate the comment.
I'm with ya! I'm shooting the sevr 1.5 inch titanium
I'm always jealous when I watch your shots. It's amazing to hear you say "I am where I am." I practice a lot, and I still punch the trigger once in a while. It's frustrating!
I actually took your advice a few years back and went against what everyone else was telling me to do. My son at the time was 11 years old and was going to try a compound bow . He got up to the Ohio minimum of 40# draw Weight. We tried 2 and 3 blade fixed heads and tried tuning and had a really hard time. I saw some info you had on the rocket steelhead. So I got a pack and he was drilling the target. First sit had a young buck come within 15 yards. He put a perfect shot directly behind the shoulder. Arrow poked out the opposite side. Deer went 60 yards. After field dressing it we can see he hit dead center in a rib on both sides an yet had no issues with penetration. It was one of my greatest memories with him and I want to thank you for making it possible. I think the confidence he had with the steelhead just made a huge difference too.
Iv shot the steelhead mechanicals for years but can't seem to find them anywhere. Any suggestions on where to get them?
@@bstevens426 they stopped making them. I know crazy right ! I would check eBay or archery talk classifieds.
Try not moving the rest to tune the bow. Center the rest and get a correct spine arrow and cut it until a bareshaft flies straight. You can shoot whatever you want then.
Good information. I’m in the same camp just with 2” 2 blades. Your honesty on how you have learned from mistakes is always refreshing to see in the hunting world. You can always tell you keep your ego in check even as an accomplished bowhunter.
awesome content thanks for sharing !! i been using mechanical heads since 1996 and nothing but good has come from using them .thank you for all you do
Thanks for the support Nelson. I appreciate the comment.
Wow... straight and honest. Shot placement is everything, I agree with you 100%.
As long as the animals stay perfectly still your correct.
Watch the hunting public why we switched on RUclips, they show good placed shots that didn't kill the deer.
I agree with you Bill. Thanks! The majority of deer I've shot with mechanicals have dropped within sight. Didn't experience that with fixed blade heads...
Yes, I agree. Mechanicals have gotten a bad rap of late, but mostly, I think that any problems people have with them has to do with the large cutting diameter heads. I have never had any problems with the smaller models. Good luck.
You’re shooting them in the wrong spot then
I like a real solid and reputable 2 blade mechanical broadhead. I have some 3's in my archery tackle box, but I lean towards my 2 blades. I am a little different though, I like the larger 2" cutting diameter.
"First and foremost hit what you are aiming at" is the takeaway for me. I won an auction for a trip to Africa almost 20 years ago. I showed up with mechanicals (Steel Head Trophy Ridge/Rocket at the time) and the outfitter gave me a tongue lashing for it..and then I laid down seven thick skinned animals back to back. They worked just fine on tougher animals. They flew almost identical to my field points and proved they were durable enough. I've used fixed over the years and have no qualms with them but shoot what you are getting consistent accuracy with is the most important thing.
I used the regular Steelheads and then the XL's for years, killed multiple dozens of deer with them, I still have some of both left and w/ extra blades and bands .... I put Steelheads thru 55 gallon drums to prove how strong they were, didnt lose a blade, a Muzzy 3 blades lost its blade on its attempt .... Rocket needs to bring these back ASAP ... love these heads
Great video, Bill I've said that very same thing, as far as mechanical. Don't shoot over 1 1/2 " .
You will get better penetration from the smaller heads.It only makes sense.
Although I think mechanical have come a long way,I am old school and still shoot fixed blades.
I shoot the 100 grain Slick Tricks in standard heads.
They fly great and have good luck with them.
Thanks for sharing!
great info...I switched to mechanicals back in 2015 and havent looked back......Most important is shot placement and with the mechanicals it is more consistent IMO
Shot mechanicals for years but last year switched to Exodus fixed heads. I’ve been blown away by these heads. Sharp as hell and tough. Fly straight and true. Never had really good blood trails with the Rockets and I shot the smaller ones like Bill. With the Exodus. Holy crap. Love them.
I will have to take a look at them. Thanks for the input.
I can't get Exodus to fly anywhere near my field tips. 10 inches right and 2 Inches low. Not even close to field tips and idk why
Great video, as always!
It’s amazing how broadhead tolerances have gotten so tight in the more recent years! I moved away from Rocky Mountain Razors and Muzzy 100 gr Three-blade heads in the early 2000’s. I went to mechanicals for a brief stretch, but came back to fixed blades for the peace of mind of knowing that the blades are already deployed and ready to cut. With the improvements of fixed-blade broadhead tolerances, the results downrange have been significantly improved from the broadheads of the mid-90’s.
Like you, I have just figured out what works best for me, and stuck with it! I don’t know if it’s me being hardheaded or what, but my QAD’s work, and haven’t given me a reason to change…yet!
Thanks again for the great content, and good luck in the woods this year! Be safe out there!
Thanks for the video Bill. I was wondering if you could give us a few of your favorite mechanical broadheads for hunting whitetail. Also, would love to see you do a video on FOC and whether or not that plays a role in your set up.
I will get to the FOC piece at some point. People are taking some of these tech tradeoffs too far. Yes, if you go to extremes you will see differences, but very little difference between an arrow's performance with 14% FOC versus one with 20%. I have always set up my arrows to fall into that range. Regarding mechanical heads, I am going to try the B3 EXO 3 and maybe the EXO Meg. These promise to be very accurate, good penetrating heads. You can see them here: b3archery.com/product-category/broadheads/ Good luck.
@@bill-winke Thanks Bill!
Love the Rocket Broad heads... I have been using the Steal Head 100 for years !!!
That little steal head flys so nice...
Yes, I killed several tons of deer with them!
I am a huge Winke fan. I shoot 70lbs at a 29" draw. I grew up on aluminum arrows with bear razor tips out of old bear whitetail 5 pulley bows and later the whitetail two. Then of course moved to carbons and spitfire max heads and faster and faster bows. I've killed tons of deer and lost very few. (Like 2 I think.) Two years ago I drank the ranch fairy kool-aid. High FOC, 150 grain iron will vented with a 100 grain stainless insert. My total arrow weight is just short of 600 grains. I also bare shaft tuned my bow. My fixed heads hit with field points out to 50 yards. I practice at 50 but I do not shoot at deer beyond 30. I will say this. The ballistics of high FOC and beyond razor sharp heads with a COC tip aren't disputed. It's just physics. I don't disparage anyone who wants to shoot expandable heads. Great video Bill, thank you.
I drank the Ranch Fairy Kool-aid too. I shoot almost the same setup as you, but with a 125 gr. QAD exodus head and I use feather fletching. 70lb 30 inch draw. Heavy arrows make my bow much quieter and never have to worry about mechanicals not opening or poor penetration. I haven't had an animal go more than 50 yards and they tend not to sprint off. They just trot and stop after 20 yards before getting tipsy. I honestly think they have no idea what hit them
Bill, so good to have you back on RUclips.
Very concise analysis of the FB vs MechB argument. My theory is try different ones of both and see what you feel is best coming out of your bow, what penetrates best and ultimately what can you afford.
Bill, it is great seeing you back on the small screen. I just happened across your RUclips channel, and it is nice to have you back. I have great memories of you and your down to earth analysis of archery and hunting products. I always enjoyed your videos when you hosted Midwest Whitetails. MW was got me into watching hunting and archery videos. Keep up the good work.
Thats a great perspective! Thank you for sharing.. one question, as you mentioned that you have shot 100s of deer since then. Do you ever lose a deer where maybe if you would have had a fixed blade you would have gotten it from your perspective? I've switched from a 2 blade stinger back to rage hyperdermics which I've had no issues with in the past. Thank you!
Straightforward and thoughtful. Thanks Bill. Great as always and you speak with volumes of experience.
Totally agree. Never lost a deer with rage. Have lost with fixed when holes plug up.
Thanks for the comment and input. Have a great day.
Well said thanks Bill. I think people will find value in your experienced opinion during such a loud fixed trend.
There has to be balance. Many of us switched to mechanicals for a reason, not just to try something new. Until that reason is gone (I don't believe it is) they are still an important option.
I've been shooting rage 3 blade heads now for probably 12yrs! They are fantastic never had a problem with um, killed a bunch of deer with um!
Thanks for the input and the comment.
Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.
I find it interesting that you use mechanicals for the same reason I use fixed blades except opposite ends of that spectrum. In my case, shots may not be perfect and I want the best chance at cut through and penetration. In todays age, smaller cutting fixed broad heads that shoot like field points are more prevalent.
In the end, mechanicals work on white tails and I think you’ve proven that.
By the way, you have got the best intro on your videos on RUclips!!! I really mean that. For once I don’t have to fast forward the musical junk. Thanks for that!!
Great video. Thank you for sharing your rationale and the process through which you reached it. I still have to select my broadhead for this season and time is short. Good luck this fall
I'm in the "never mechanicals camp". Lots can and does happen! I feel like a fixed blade bh can help compensate for something screwy happening FAR better than a mechanical!! Though, if someone wants to shoot something else then that's fine.
Only deer I've ever lost were mechanical. Some of the most impressive blood trails I've gotten are from mechanicals but you better stay away from bone.. in regards to accuracy have everything tuned very well in my Broadhead shoot as well as my mechanical. I totally get where Joe blow public who doesn't do that could benefit from off-the-shelf accuracy with mechanicals.
I lost one shooting down quartering slightly away and it appeared the head deflected off bone and went between the hide and ribs. That was the last deer I shot with a mechanical. I haven't lost a deer with fixed blade heads but that one and one other with rages were never found. To many things can go wrong with mechanical heads and simple broadheads have been killing animals all over the globe since bows were first built.
Also, in the video Bill mentions that his expandable bh are small diameter, but I don't think he clarified that in regard to the fixed blade bh that he used to shoot. I shoot Slick Tricks and they have a 1 1/8" cutting diameter which is fairly small. They are very accurate in my setup!!
I think in this modern age of bow hunting and archery, superior equipment, material and machine tolerances, it’s no longer a issue. Mechanicals are obsolete. Especially at whitetail distances.
I regularly test out a bunch of different heads. I’m a broadhead junkie. The fixed blades I shoot are always right on point with field points. When I’m really stretching out the distance the mechs always start hitting lower and the fixed blades hit right where they need too.
I also lost a opportunity at a world class mule deer because when I pulled my mech heads out of the quiver the rubber bands came off land the blades were just flopping around. 3 times. I gave up on them after that. It was fifteen years ago and I still hurt over it.
Agreed, I've had 3 fail, lucky enough to eventually kill the deer that I hit, 2 of them never opened, holes like broad heads, those things are total junk....They are basically for people who are too lazy to actually tune their bows....
Thanks. We have used a few variations of Rage with good success. But I tend to gravitate back to Muzzy. Just about bought new Muzzy today at the bow shop but thought I would talk to some more folk. Coincidentally, this vid came up in my offering today. Going to have to give it some more thought. Much appreciated.
If you are accurate enough with fixed blade heads then there is no reason to consider mechanical heads.
Well said. I've been listening to all the talk about high FOC, single bevel, heavy weight arrows. But this is a well thought-out explanation of the other side of the argument. Accuracy is something that is skimmed over with the heavy arrows. eg. pin gap. Everyone agrees that the arrows need to fly well, no matter what broadhead you are using.
Their argument is - if you hit them in the heart or lungs, doesn't matter what you are using - but what if you hit bone. Or - everyone's worried about getting the arrow to the deer, but not what happens after you hit the deer.
I'm sure that a heavy arrow, fixed blade is better and gets more penetration than a thin mechanical. But if that heavy arrow causes you to miss by several inches, then what's the point.
I guess the argument is - would you rather have an accurate arrow with poor penetration or a less accurate arrow with good penetration.
I believe you can have an accurate arrow with adequate to good penetration. We are all shooting powerful enough bows now that a moderate weight arrow will push a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch cutting diameter mechanical through a deer almost regardless of where it hits. I just want to be accurate first. I know the penetration will be good enough even if it doesn't bury as far into the dirt on the other side as the guy shooting the one-piece heads.
Im in the same boat. Especially shooting my compound bow with fingers instead of a release aid. It's also nice to have a streamlined look at the end of the arrow for gap shooting. I'm using the Grim Reaper pro series 3 blade 1 3/8th cut at the moment. They served me well last year and don't have any complaints. Thanks for the video!
I've had a hate-love relationship with mechanicals starting around 96 myself. I've always preferred fixed (which in the 80's was the only option) but have used mechanicals on occasion. To your point accuracy is key but the reality on the margin of error is sometimes slim (chalk up to the items you mentioned) and it has cost me using mechanicals on hits where I feel a fixed would have performed better. However, my question: would you consider a fixed blade where the new geometry designs create better flight dynamics = accuracy ? I hate tuning, heating inserts, realignment as well but I feel the new fixed (cut on contact 2 blade) are substantially better in design. I mentioned EVO on one of your last video's and I really make no significant adjustments from my field points and their performance is literally night and day from other fixed that I've used. *Sorry for the long post but better materials, engineering and even the bow/arrow combinations lead to better flight accuracy these days. Not trying to convert but as an "old" bowhunter myself I try and stay current and keep an open mind to sustainable progress as it relates to bowhunting technology. Thanks Bill always appreciate the sharing of insights.
Scott, when you say "EVO", are you talking about Day Six EVO?
@@-lovefromnh Yes Day Six 100 grain
Good stuff Bill. Appreciate your honest opinions and information. My Best, Dozier
I to loved the rocket stihlhead but I can’t seem to find any anymore any where. Only thing I’ve found is trophy ridges attempt at remaking them, is that broadhead more or less the same ?
Great vid…loving this series! Keep dropping that knowledge!!!
I’m torn between the cut on contact and the mechanicals right now, season starts this Saturday! Both are flying decent, just need to commit. Thanks for the video!!
I switched to cut on contact fixed blade last year, what I've noticed, is the deer react different when shot with a cut on contact fixed blade than they do with a mechanical. With mechanicals, they run hard as soon as they're shot, with the cut on contact fixed, they took a hop and walked off looking backwards to see what hit them. Completely different reactions.
Cut on contact are superior in my opinion. Bill argued for penetration and yet that last doe in the video wasn’t a pass through. Buy a really good cut on contact fixed blade that you can resharpen and you’ll be impressed I promise. I’ve used a single broadhead to shoot four different whitetail and it’s still ready for more. Just touch ups between. My wife shoots 40# and still had an entry and exit hole on her first buck. He fell in 60 yards.
If they both fly good, it's not even a contest, cut on contact all the way!
What is that broadhead you have there? I can't remember seeing it? I like a smaller mechanical myself too. I shot the thrive broadheads
Very compelling points. What made me switch to fixed blades is they all fly differently. There’s been some good fixed blade accuracy tests done, and a lot of fixed blades fly horribly. But there’s a few that don’t consistently rank as accurate fliers and i try to focus on them.
I used to have to micro-tune each arrow separately. It would take me a couple of days to get four arrows to fly the same when I was using fixed blade heads. Granted, arrows and broadheads are better now, but the lesson got permanently etched into my mind.
I have had fantastic results with spitfire maxx 125 grain heads. For years I shot a 525 grain arrow at 290 fps with these tips. Nothing helps a bigger mechanical more than extra KE. I have blown through the nearside scapula and far side humerus and shattered the arrow on a rock behind the deer from 40 yards with this set up. That being said I am getting older and 84 lbs is no longer easy for me to draw so my new bow is 65 lbs and I have just made the switch to the Magnus Black Hornets after hearing great things about them. I found it pretty easy to get them to group with my field points out to 50 yards and they are razor sharp. My arrows are flying like lazers, just need deer season to open up here!
Do agree, more accurate and tuning issues don't matter. Primary is 2-blade cut on contact, with 2-blade 1.5" mechanicals for followups
Thanks for the input Chris. Have a great day.
Where can you still find those gold rocket broad heads? You may have insight as to why they went out of businesses, they were a great broadhead.
Company sold I believe, and the steelhead was discontinued. They do still produce other models, meat seeker etc. I still have a handful of steelheads, but Wasp Jak Hammer is very comparable and readily available. I have both Wasp and some old Rocket steelheads in my quiver and see no difference in performance. Just my 2 cents.
@Bowhunter D2 thanks I’ll check them out
Best mechanical I’ve ever had were g5 Tekans but they stopped making them. Every deer I shot dropped in sight. They were small diameter. Great video.
I played with those when they first came out. I think everyone went crazy for the large cutting diameter mechanicals and that made the manufacturers stop making the smaller ones - a big disservice to the hunters of this country.
I actuly love this video. I have been bow hunting since 1987. And have watched the archery world evolve. I switched to mechanicals in the late 90's. I firmly Beleive a smaller diameter head is best for penatration. No need for over kill as long as you hit the Mark. So many people go overboard with the " hype" these days. I do however have a question. What broadhead is that you are showing in the video. I've never seen it. And love the design. Could you please tell me what head that is? Thank you.
Thanks Jason. That one is not made any more. It is the Rocket Steelhead. I killed a lot of deer with those. The best replacement I have found for that head is the B3 Archery EXO3. As I mentioned in the video, I am less concerned with broadhead design than accuracy and penetration. I have found that B3's fixed blade head (called the Destrukt) is really accurate for a fixed design. I shot several deer with it last season and was impressed. I may call that my future favorite, but I am still testing. Here is a link to their website if you are interested: b3archery.com/
@@bill-winke ok.thats a bummer they quit making those. I love a small diameter head. I'll be honest. I recently came across a head that has my attention.its a " sevr" 1.5". Check out lusk archery on youtube.just punch in lusk archery sevr 1.5. i am really impressed with it's design and durability. I'm about to check out the b3 ex03. We are snowed in our homes here in arkansas and I'm checking out broadheads. I'm going out this afternoon to try to get a doe behind the house. Thanks for the info bill.
Been a huge fan of Bill for 30 years. Bill has always shot big kinetic energy setups with moderate weight arrows at sub 300fps velocities. Powerful, stable, and flat trajectory with a huge margin for error. Will push mechanicals thru in most situations. Will make most fixed heads fly consistently. I shoot a very similar setup for all the reasons listed above. Not a fan of Ranch Fairy because he minimizes bow tuning, effects of shaft stiffness with ultra high FOC setups, and under estimates the value of a flat shooting arrow. I lift year round so at 51 I can shoot a heavyweight ultra tuned bow with 450 gr. arrows over 300fps. Good luck this season.
What is your go to mechanical broadhead? I remember you sitting rocket broadheads in Early Midwest Whitetail videos but I can’t find them. Would be interested to learn more about your broadhead of choice.
I am still shooting those Rocket Steelheads (leftovers from when Rocket was still alive). My favorites were the old black 125 grain models. Gosh those things were tough. The next best option is the Wasp Jak-Hammer in their smaller size. There are some other good ones too. Seems like a lot of people like the Sevr, but that is basically just the Rocky Mountain Gator from 20 years ago.
which expandable is he recommending here?
None specifically, just a category of small cutting diameter heads. The biggest problems with mechanicals came from the big cutting diameter heads. I like just about any solid head under 1 1/2 inch cutting diameter.
What's your degree in Bill? I had no idea you had experience in aerospace. I'm an aerospace engineer and have worked in structural testing for almost 10 years!
I was a mechanical engineer in the long distant past with an emphasis on control system design.
@@bill-winke Very exciting! Thanks for the response and I can’t wait to see your daughters first buck 🤞🏻
Looks like the old Rocket broadheads I use to shoot back in the day. I remember the archery shop I worked at got some of the first mechanical broadheads and it was called the Penetrator. Worst thing I had shot in a long time, but it caught on and we sold thousands of them. Still have some of the old Rockets and I think they are 1 1/8th inches. Killed a bunch of deer with those many years ago. You can kill a deer with a field point especially if you hit it in both lungs so shot placement is still the key for me. Thanks for sharing.
Agreed on all points. You probably remember the old Vortex broadheads too. Those things were huge, like two steak knives coming off the end of the arrow on impact. They were not for me, but those little Rockets made all the sense in the world. Good luck.
If mechanical broadheads were free, I would still pass on them. There are some fixed blade broadheads that fly awesome these days. Personally, I like the Slick Trick Viper Trick the most, but I would be content with the Magnum & Standards, too. I would also pick the QAD Exodus over any mechanical broadhead on the market today. If someone says they have been shooting mechanicals exclusively since 1995, however, I don't expect them to change. I guess that's why we have so many broadhead choices these days.
I have used three blade fixed broadheads. What are the mechanicals that you shoot? And their weight? I have shot the bigger mechanicals in 125 grains, 3 blade. The poundage of my bow was set at 65 Lbs. The broadhead had trouble opening on impact. I talked to a guy at the bow shop and he told me that the bow poundage had to be at least 70 Lbs for the broadhead to open properly upon impact. That's why I decided to use Montec one piece three blade broadheads 125 grain. If I am shooting a 60 Lb compound bow would the mechanicals you mentioned work?
I've had great success with those Montec heads. I used to shoot strikers, but switched to Montec last season. Most deer don't make it 50 yards that I've shot, whereas with mechanicals, they seem to run a long ways.
I’ve been shooting mechanical broadheads exclusively for 20 years now. No one could convince me to go back to fixed. Great show Bill!
Iron will😁
@@graysquirreltreeservice7299 Yep
@@ericbowhunter not even the ranch ferry? 😂
@@ddbronco1873 nope! I’ve killed 110 deer with my light weight arrow, and mechanical broadheads. No one can convince me to switch. No one.
@@ericbowhunter I’m with you bro…. Been shooting mechanical’s since late 90’s
i used to shoot the rocket steelheads back in the 90's as well. they are small cutting diameter for a mechanical. i think 1 1/8" thats why they penetrated so well, about the same size as a normal fixed head. i been shooting fixed heads the last few years. this year i am going to try the standard 1.75" swhackers, because i feel like i am wasting too much energy burying my fixed blades so deep into the dirt on pass thru's. i feel like i will still get all pass thru's but with with a larger cut, maybe the arrow will be less buried in the dirt.
That is a good point. Those heads seem like they would do better entering into the animal because they open inside (presumably on soft tissue). Would be interested to know how they do on a shoulder hit. If it happens (hope it doesn't) please let us know.
Added a few mechanical broadheads into the mix the year. They currently fly better than fixed blades do at 60 because I haven't been able to fully dial in my bow. They definitely impart less drag than some of these higher end fixed blades. I still love these bomb proof fixed blades that can be reused with a light sharpening!
It is totally a personal choice... Do you remember at one of the ATA at Indy when they had the 100-yard Rage Shootoff? I think you shot in that event. I believe Randy Ulmer had his blades open and ended up in the carpet(We think??). Tim G. was so worried about it that he super glued his blades down. I think they might be more consistent but not more accurate. Bottom line - Confidence is deadly... If you trust it use it, if you don't trust them don't use them..
Yes, I remember that event very well. I had a blast and you are right about what happened. I was standing right there when we cut the carpeting to get Randy's arrow out. And I watched Tim super glue his blades closed between rounds. But on another note: Randy is the man when it comes to bowhunting and shooting. He was my mentor. People never knew it but I ghost wrote all his articles for many years. We would talk on the phone for hours about some subject of archery or bowhunting and then I would write the article in his words based on those notes. It is amazing how much he knows about shooting a bow - and a lot of other stuff. He doesn't get nearly the respect he deserves.
@@bill-winke yes he is the man
What do you think about grim reapers especially the mini mag series?
I'm a big believer in mechanicals. I shoot 1 1/4 " wasp jak hammers and have never looked back shot a 1 3/4 and like he says less penitration. All 6 deer I killed with 1 1/4 did not go far and pass thru. One even passed thru hitting the shoulder blade.
After watching your show and all those I’m 💯 sold on shooting fixed blades…
Not all mechanical heads are the same. Some penetrate much better than others.
are you still shooting the rocket broadhead steel head?
I've noticed that they have been discontinued and was just wondering if you had tried the jak hammer from wasp?
Marsee, I am going to shoot B3 EXO 3 broadheads. They seem to have all the features I want. Here is the link: b3archery.com/product/exo3/ If they don't work as I think they will, the owner of B3 has offered to let me design something different. Will be interesting. Have a great day.
Hi Bill. Really enjoy watching your videos. Especially the ones you are doing with your daughter. Maybe I missed it, but which mechanical broadheads are you using? Thanks.
Thanks. I really appreciate it. I am shooting leftover Rocket Steelhead broadheads. They are no longer made, unfortunately.
I stopped shooting mechanicals because I don't want any extra variables in my hunting setup. A two blade single bevel head will kill just fine and will outperform every mechanical on the market including sevr broadheads which are the best performing mechanical heads. Each hunter has to make the choice for themselves but I can hunt the rest of my life with the same broadheads as long as I don't lose them on a pass through shot.
Im just a ole Arkansas working man and i have killed countless deer,i will say this since switching to mechanical ive personally have watched more deer die from my tree stand then ever before with a fixed blade.
Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.
I guess to each their own I’ve never had a problem with accuracy with a Magnus stinger.
I did shoot rockets steel heads for a few years and did like them but fixed heads have worked since the beginning of a creation .
Have you noticed deer react different after being shot with a fixed blade or mechanical? It seems like with mechanicals, they run off hard and with fixed, they don't. I had 2 deer last season just walk off after being shot with a fixed blade.
I used to shoot steelheads but I wish the 100 grain steelhead had a longer ferrule more like the sidewinder for angled shots I like the smaller cut but hate arrow kick or having it deflect off completely
Their Steelhead 125 had a longer ferrule. That was my favorite head of all time. Good luck.
Bill, what brand mechanicals do you like ?
Considering how easily penetration issues can be mitigated by arrow weight, there really is no problem with mechanicals as long as they are built well and don't fall apart in impact. They sure as heck make a huge difference on marginal hits. I've killed alot of deer over the years that would have lived had it not been for that extra half inch of cutting diameter.
Arrow weight has almost no impact on Penetration u are talking a inch
@@graysquirreltreeservice7299 you could not possibly sound more uninformed. Animals are not ballistic gel.
@@briargoatkilla ya exactly softer
@@graysquirreltreeservice7299arrow weight has a ton to do with it. Shoot heavy arrows and mechanicals 👍
Anything you would recommend seeings how the steelheads are no longer made?
Justin, I am going to try the B3 EXO 3 this year. b3archery.com/product/exo3/
That is about as close to the Steelhead as anything on the market right now. Brian at B3 said they would custom build me some heads next year that we can sell if the EXOs aren't perfect. So I am going to keep an open mind, but so far, I like the EXO 3. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke thanks for getting back to me so quickly. You have a good day as well.
Did you like the B3 or are you looking into something else?
I'm curious on your foc and arrow weight. Thank you for this video
My arrow is about 500 grains and FOC is pretty high, I am guessing 14 to 15% though I have not measured it. But, I am shooting a pretty draw weight. I like a finished arrow that comes in around 5.5 to 6 grains per pound of draw force. So for a 70 pound bow, it would be ideal to be in the 400 grain range for whitetails. Good luck.
I wish that rocket still mad the 125 steelhead. It was my favorite
@@bill-winke if you still have connections with the rocket broadhead company, please get them to start making the 125 steelhead again. Best broadhead ever imo
A triple bladed fixed broadhead with triple fletching is perfection. It is minimally affected by crosswinds and is deadly accurate. Plus the punch through is amazing. Mechanicals have failure points that fixed just doesn't have. I can sharpen and reuse the same three fixed broadheads. With a mechanical after one animal I'll probably have to replace it. Fixed are the natural progression of thousands of years of hunting using obsidian and quartz arrowheads. They just work.
Good input. Thanks. I tried hard to tune and shoot fixed blade heads for many years but couldn't shoot them as accurately as I could the mechanicals so I switched. It wasn't a big difference, but especially on windy days the mechanicals were noticeably more accurate. Also, if I made a rough release they didn't react as much. Good luck.
What would you recommend as best broadhead for a ten point crossbow?
There are some mechanical heads with higher opening force just for crossbows. B3 makes a couple. Otherwise fixed blade heads with small blade profiles like the B3 Destuckt. For example. You want limited exposed blade surface at those higher arrow speeds to promote better accuracy. Good luck.
@@bill-winke thanks Bill and good luck on your season. Love all the videos
Knowing one’s limitations is a virtue.
I've considered mechanicals, but I just feel comfortable with my current fixed blade set up and am hesitant to change. The 1.5-inch-cut SEVR mechanicals are really intriguing. Also, I really like that painting of the Albia buck over your left shoulder, Bill. Cool stuff!
Got some sevrs on the way in the mail right now.
If you are accurate with what you are shooting now, there is no reason to change to mechanicals. I like them because they are more accurate for me.
Love my old trusty Rocky Mtn Warheads
1-1/2"three blade expandable's are optimum in my opinion too Bill and less chance for deflection.Hit them right and watch them drop...
Out of curiosity, what are those little mechanicals you kept showing? Thanks
They are old school leftover Rocket Steelheads. I have a few left and I think there are few on ebay - at least there were last time I looked. Good luck. When mine are gone, I am going to have to go into the broadhead business.
@@bill-winke man I shoot Levi Morgan shwackers and love them. They open a deer up. The Levi Morgan shwackers have a much stronger feral and I've seen proof of it. I draw 75 to 78 pounds at 29.5 inch draw. 2 seasons ago I blew through a bucks shoulder blade and through the one on the opposing side as well. Arrow was sticking out the other shoulder about 6 inches. I was amazed that a mechanical could hold up to that. This last year we shot quite a few does with the g5 mega meat just to test em out and I was impressed. Very impressed
But as far as my everyday hunting arrow the Levi Morgan shwacker has been what I use for quite a long time
You didn’t touch on bow poundage. Do you have an opinion on this?
I do. The smaller mechanicals don't have a lower threshold in my opinion. Based on my testing they penetrated as well as comparable sized three blade fixed blade heads, so that is not the issue. If you start to get into the larger heads (larger cutting diameter) it gets a lot more dicey. I would not shoot those (personally) at less than 60 pounds and even then I don't really like the idea. I like the smaller heads because they can penetrate well and still shoot very accurately. If I could get a really big two-blade fixed head to fly well, that would be the perfect option because the design penetrates the best, but the bigger those get the harder it is to get them to fly accurately at the faster arrow speeds, so the smaller mechanicals are my fallback.
Thank you!
I’m a bit confused. If the crosswind caught the veins and redirected the arrow upwind, it sounds to me that a change in the profile and/or size of the veins was the appropriate place to start ….not a change up front.
Same here, I would have switched out those 5 inch vanes before switching broadheads. 🤷🏼♂️
What options did we have for vanes in 1997? I can remember. None!
@@bill-winke I’m sorry that my question rubbed you the wrong way. That was not my intent at all. I’ve bowhunted for four decades and am still learning and was just curious. I realize that as a life long learner I sometimes need to accept the fact that if something works it’s not always imperative to know why it works. Good luck on your new farm.
Totally agree, the accuracy across all situations you can run into in the field, Mechanicals are more accurate. I also started using FOBs about 7 years ago, I believe there’s an edge there also.
I have been experimenting with the B3 Destrukt 3 fixed blade head. The blades are offset to match your helical and they are super accurate. Not sure just yet if they are as accurate as mechanical in every situation, but they are sure good out to 40 yards for me. I haven't shot them farther. The designer says they are field point accurate out to 100 yards! That is a strong claim. Good luck.
That’s great to know, my brother in-law lives out in northern NM and wants me to come out and hunt Elk/ Mule Deer archery season. I was definitely going to go with fixed blades. This will help me narrow the search. Thanks again for the info!
Are those current production steelheads or a new to be released head? 🤔
Josh, I wish they were current, but no, they are leftovers. I think I will start making them. Someone needs to make a really good easy opening mechanical broadhead that is super durable and penetrates well. I think I can do that.
@@bill-winke I'll take 100! I have 5 of the old 125 grains left. After that, I have no idea what I'll use. There's no reason for there to be no offerings of a 1 - 1.25" cut mechanical.
those are the more recent production with the gold ferrules, the originals were black.
Hey Bill, do you still prefer the rocket steelhead over any mechanical?
I still think that is the best mechanical broadhead ever made. I have shot just about everything out there at one time or another and that is the simplest design imaginable with a durable ferrule and good penetration. I sure killed a lot of stuff with them. Good luck.
What is the name of the small one you show in the video?
Elliot, those are leftover Rocket Steelheads from the early 2010s. You might be able to find them on Ebay. Other similar options on the market today are the Wasp Jak-Hammer. A lot of people seem to like the Sevr head, but that is really just a remake of the old Rocky Mountain Gator and Snyper heads. Still a decent option. I am sure there are others, but most heads have a cutting diameter that is larger than these models and thus they have less penetration. Good luck.
@@bill-winke thank you so much!
I prefer rear deploying broadheads. This past Sunday (9-18-22) I took a great 8pt on public land in Central Florida with a 2.3" rage xtreme chisel tip broadhead. 500gr arrow. 28 yard shot.
Axe sized entry hole. Complete pass through - exited the opposite armpit and blew through the elbow joint and stuck in the ground. The deer ran 40 yards and fell over. Red buckets of paint blood trail. I was stunned that huge mechanical went through bone like that and didn't bend or break at all.
What was the name of those broadheads,I didn't ever hear it
Those are the Rocket Steelheads, unfortunately, not made any longer.
When I lived and hunted in southern Iowa I used a 3 blade Steelhead broadhead. That head looks a lot like the Steelhead.
That is the Steelhead. I have since switched to the fixed blade B3 Destrukt heads. They are super accurate, very durable and penetrate well. I may shoot mechanicals again someday, but those little fixed heads are really nice. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke Yeah, the Destrukt heads look wicked and very sturdy. I'm enjoying your content, learning a lot, too. Thank you.
Great video! I'm having the same issues, what mechanical broadheads are you shooting?
The ones in the video are Rocket Steelheads. And pretty sure Bill still shoots them.
Great advice thanks
I’ve had both success and failure with fixed blade and mechanical heads. I do tend to buy the lower priced ones. I’ve had so many blades fall off upon impact. I bought all of the closeout 100 grain rage mechanical heads 2 years ago. They work fine and I got them for pennies on the dollar. I probably have enough for the rest of my life! Unless those pesky squirrels don’t stop barking at me. I shot a few right in the mouth and it came out the tail. Relieved my stress.
I appreciate your approach to your decision. Unfortunately a lot of new bowhunters merely succumb to mass marketing from high profile outdoor celebs.
Anybody know what mechanical head that he shows on this video?
Those are the old Rocket Steelheads. The closest thing I can find on the market right now is the B3 EXO3. That is what I plan to shoot this year. Here is a link to that head: b3archery.com/product/exo3/ Good luck.
I really miss Rocket's. I shot Sidewinders for years till Escalade purchase and quality dropped severely. Switched to Nap Killzone same story company sold product quality dropped. I'm shooting Wasp now but not mechanical purchased the Darts they fly and group amazing.
You are exactly right bill. Glad to hear some really good information on this subject.
Thanks Nat. I appreciate the comment and the support.
Yes, I agree 100%! When people who shoot mechanical heads espouse accuracy the fixed blade crowd always say "you should learn how to tune your bow" but that's not a true statement. Sometimes you just can't get your field points and broadheads to shoot the same, depending on fixed blade design. You should match your head to the game your hunting just like you would with a rifle. Thanks Bill!
Agreed Frank. I used to spend weeks trying to get my fixed blade broadheads and field points to hit the same place. But some bows back then were not tunable because of sideways nock travel. I got sick of it and switched to mechanicals. No more problems.
Can’t find them anymore?
No, I am going to start using B3 EXO3 as that is the closest thing on the market right now to those Steelheads. Good luck. Here is a link to that head: b3archery.com/product/exo3/
Personal preference for every hunter and skill level. Fixed blades enhance your shooting errors more so focusing on your shot process is more important. While mechanical eliminate some errors of grip and torque they don’t get rid of them. You can shoot 100 arrows every day and still not be very good with fixed blades. It comes down to how much work one is willing to put into to be the best they can be and focusing instead on there shot process. I shoot mechanical for turkeys and fixed for antelope and deer. I shoot 4 days a week and completely focus on my shot process and form instead of just slinging arrows. Ultimately in the end it comes down to the hunter and their trust/preference/confidence in whichever head they shoot.
What broadhead are you using exactly?
That is the old Rocket Steelhead. Not made any more. I have some leftovers but there may be some on e-bay. Good luck.
So Bill explain to me, why all these TV hunters get shit penetration with 3/4 arrow sticking out? I love mechanicals, but I switched to crossbow, and I penetrate everything. I shoot Swahachers.
I am not sure. I admit that I don't watch a bunch of deer hunting videos (some but not much). Possibly they shoot really big mechanical heads that reduce penetration. Also, it is possible that they hit a rib on entry or exit. That can affect penetration, or maybe they hit or nicked the offside front leg. Without seeing specific examples, I can only guess. But, as popular as those really big mechanicals have become, that is likely a big part of it.
Do you think that if you replicated that test today that the results would be the same? Curious to see how modern fixed blades stack up in your test. I’ve seen reviews that show many fixed heads flying like field points. It’s the possibility of mechanical failure that turned me away from mechanical heads.
Sounds like his bow wasn't tuned
What broad heads are those? They are short and strong looking.
They are leftover Rocket Steelheads from the late 2000s. I stocked up on them when the guy at Rocket told me they were going out of business. I think I have about two dozen left. Then what? Good luck.
@@bill-winke
I did some digging and on eBay I found a similar head. They are discontinued Cabelas instinct expandable 3 blade 100g. Look just like rocket heads. I got a pack and they shoot great so I just ordered 5 more at $15 each! Good luck to you