Thank you for the Crossbow Appreciation Month videos! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into making all these great videos. I found your channel a number of years ago when I was thinking about getting a crossbow. I really joy hunting with a crossbow and have been successful. I know what I have learned from your videos has helped the experience. Looking forward to your upcoming adventures! Our Archery season starts in a couple of weeks and goes into January here in Wisconsin. Good luck and Safe Hunting Rich!!!
Wore out my shoulders and ascended to crossbow. Barnett Whitetail Pro STR is my choice. Watch your vids regularly. Great teaching. Congrats on your election. Thanks. sailcat
Thanks for the shout out Rich! Got another package coming your way soon! I’m gonna miss your daily videos! Crossbow name the bungie marauder, or dominator !!
Thanks for the great info Rich. Landed first deer of the season with one of these and didn't have to walk far to retrieve the prize. MASSIVE wound channel and easy blood trail to follow. Thanks for all that you post. Great info that has been really helpful.
Rich it's good to see that someone is dedicated to supplying great info on the crossbow and the passion u show to the sport of hunting with crossbow. The info u provide is very helpful and explained very well. I look forward to seeing the many more videos. Keep up the great work. Some day would love to make it to one of your meet n greets. Thanks for promoting the crossbow sport so well
30 days from our Indiana archery (including crossbows) season. For the last 5 seasons I have been shooting one of the cheapest bows KI makes. Zero problems and still loving it. I did however upgrade the bolts and scope. So now I am shooting 500grains total weight and 22.5% FOC. Good luck to you Miss G and all friends of Bunjie this season.
Rich, thank you so much for another crossbow appreciation month! I do agree with you on the Swhacker broadhead, especially for treestand hunting. Having that long point entering the hide before the blades touch allows that arrow to remain moving in that straight direction. I think of a vehicle hitting a tree at an angle, and the vehicle reacts by having the vehicle to spin in a circle on impact. Now, have that same vehicle hit straight head on, and it collapses straight into the tree. I realize there are a lot of other factors keeping the arrow on its original path, but making impact with an inch and a half before the blades touch, aids to maintaining that direction. I used Rage broadheads before choosing the Swhacker and they killed their fair share of deer for me. However, I decided to use the Swhacker after watching one of your videos, and I'm glad you helped me look further into the benefits of its features. Thank you again for the great content, and keep it coming!
I bought some CenterPoint mechanical broadheads but even though they were the same grain weight as the field tip they dropped 2 inches at 40 yards. I tried Schwackers in the same grain weight and they hit in the exact same spot as the field tips.
Crossbow appreciation is for sure a tradition now, it really gets me dialed in and excited for hunting season. Shouting out from Maryland but originally from the Commonwealth of PA!
Going with the Levi Morgan signature Swhackers this year. 2-1/2 inch cutting diameter. I have increased my bolt weight with different arrows, goin from the Excalibur pro flight to the executioner. So I’ll be shooting 450 or so grains total. You persuaded me to do this! Thanks for the advice.
I’m from NY. I followed your channel and did a lot of research and followed your lead and bought the Killer instinct Swat x1, tried the 3” Schwackers with Luminocks . I put them on the KI bolts included , ending up at 463 grains . The performance is mind blowing!! My son was hitting 2” groups perfectly at out to 40 yards. 👍🏹 Can’t wait to try it out on deer.🦌
I planted 1 plot yesterday and im planting another one today. We have rain coming this evening and hopefully tomorrow. Good video brother all the way from southern middle Tennessee
Thanks for crossbow appreciation month it's the 1st time to go hunting today it's going to be hot a got swackers ready sniper 370 sighted in yah buddy so excited
I have been watching your videos for a few years and just recently got my first crossbow (Barnett 400). I obsessively researched broadheads and was going to go with the meathead but decided on the Scha-wacker based on your recommendations. I did my first sit yesterday and killed a doe. The broadhead absolutely eviscerated her tissue. I have never seen such a huge exit wound from a non-rifle weapon.
My 1st crossbow appreciation month and I am hooked. You do such a great job, and thanks for passing along all this great information and entertainment. I am so excited for hunting season this year. I feel like I am more prepared with the crossbow than I’ve ever been. Actually debating getting the swhackers . I just bought muzzys so Maybee I’ll wait till next season 👍🇺🇸
@@Deathbybunjie yep, I made sure to check them out, after watching your videos. I bought the muzzyTROCAR for crossbows. 125 gr. They all planed a little, but I did your process, labeled them all and shaft tuned the best I could. I don’t have a machine set up, so I just rotated the inserts until they flew well. I have 3 that fly perfect and 2 that if I use them I know they hit 2 inches left and 1 inch low😂 👍
On August 2nd I was watching your latest video on my living room TV and my wife who was in another room heard your voice and said, "It must be deer hunting time". I said, "Nope, it is crossbow appreciation month." Your videos sure get me in the hunting mood every August. Also, my wife knows that she will be seeing and hearing you for the next couple months :) Good Luck this year from Wisconsin
Got a huge ass buck on my camera site. I put out a 50lb. Salt block a jug of liquid deer Cain. Also a grocery bag of big green apples from a tree in my back yard. All set in a sweet spot… so happy I got the new tactacam 3.0
This is so cool. Watching this video in moose camp 🏕️ installing new cameras. Opening days is coming realy fast September 21. Long live crossbow appreciation month. In canada we have Tim hortons ice coffee hehe😎🦌🫎thx Rich for the videos.
Arkansas, love those Swhackers too, the function & unique design of them and your field testing confirm, they are best IMHO. We have a 3 day early archery buck season Sept. 7,8,9 can't wait. -W. Liggett
Ask “What were you served last, a plate full of meat, or ANTLERS”? Translation for the slow: it’s not about the horns, it’s about game management and sustainability of the herd as a whole. I was in the military for 9 1/2 years active duty. My home base was Ft Hood Texas. They have numbered training areas, which also were the same numbers assigned to hunting areas. For each given area , depending on size and location, they assigned a certain number of deer to be harvested. So many bucks, and so many does, decided by the previous years harvest, and observations. I asked the federal game warden assigned there how they determined how many bucks and or doe’s could be harvested. He said “we watch them during the transition phase (beginning of fall apx) with binoculars all the time. Watching for when they change their eating habits, by DATE; and source of food targeted. There are two food types we classify: 1) we call Candy 2) we call Stuffer. 1) Candy-is deers favorite foods like acorns, green grasses, etc… which are tasty to them and most importantly nutritional to them. 2) Stuffer- is exactly that, something to stuff their bellies, isn’t tasty but edible, has literally no nutritional value. So we bump last years date when on average, all areas report apx the same date that the food being eaten by the deer, was changed from Candy-to Stuffer. If it’s earlier they’re eat ting Stuffer, there’s too many deer, so we look at the given area and adjust the number allowed to be harvested. For those areas, they increase the doe allowance, more than they increase the buck allowance. They also on Ft Hood, had the best method to know better that civilian properties, a much more accurate count on the deer population. They used the pilots of helicopters requirements for hours of night flying time, to use thermal imaging pictures of Ft Hood range areas, and counting the deer heat signatures on film. They could also differentiate between deer and cattle and even exotic Axis deer which were also on the military reservation. So they compared the thermal imaging count, the date the started on stuffers, and the previous years allowance for harvest, to set quotas. Personally I’m a meat hunter, however if a nice buck appears, I might harvest-but it’s not because how many points or how big he is. It’s based on allowance and for the reasons explained above.
Hey rich just a video suggestion for next years crossbow appreciation month, i recently just learned you can shorten your rope cocker and it makes it easier thanks to your videos 🤦🏻♂️ I feel stupid but I never even thought about doing that until I seen you do it, so thanks!
My only complaint about mechanical broadheads is their inherent, literal weakness. I can only speak from one deer, but I had a “wing” break off on entry when it clipped the scapula on the near side. The broadhead did its job with a through and through, destroying the lungs and heart. But the fact that one blade broke off meant it had 1/2 the cutting diameter… the same as a 4-blade fixed broadhead. So then the question becomes… is one blade cutting 1.25 inch as good as 4 blades cutting 1.25 inch?
Ok Rich I shoot a mission sub-1 xr And my set up is 400 gn I am going to get some 3” swahkers today and and put them on some lighter bolts so they all weigh the same today and give them a run 😊
Great video Rich. Hate to see crossbow appreciation month go away, but it always means that our sports season opener is right around the corner. And of course Van Halen is better than Van Hagar. While I do like many of the Red Rocker’s songs, and some of them while he was with Van Halen, the whole Van Halen/Van Hagar thing is kind of like getting into my stand on the first day of bow season and hunting with Muzzy tips instead of Swhackers. It just doesn’t work near as well. Lol🤣
I bought a pack of the 3" Swhackers for spring turkey. I don't intend to use them on deer. It's too bad that they don't make them anymore. I got the Rinehart 18-1 broadhead target and I'm very impressed with how easy the broadheads pull out. Even the G5 Montec fix blade broadheads pull out with ease.
I missed the live 😮. I’m trying the Swhacker this year, I was under the impression that them little bands were shrink tube. If they fit a little loose than use a hair dryer to shrink it down . Haven’t tried it yet
Tradition can be a good thing but it can also mean that you are missing out on innovation. For example, take Swhacker broadheads. If you ignore all of their recent updates you wouldn't know that a lot of your concerns have been addressed. I get it that you want to use a heavier version and some of those updates have not been applied to those heavier broadheads and that's fine. However, one of the changes Swhacker has made was to add a locking screw that keeps the blades from opening during practice shots which is why they stopped including a costly practice head in their packaging. Another update, which is available on the #261 Levi Morgan heads, among others, is what they call the Hunt-Ready Plug. It eliminates the need for the shrink bands by using a soft rubber plug which is inserted into a hole in the ferrule which aligns with holes in the blades when they are in the closed position. The plug gets cut on impact which in turn allows the blades to open. Works great and you no longer have to worry about the bands failing and having the blades open prematurely. Change for the sake of change is usually not a good thing but every now and then change can also mean that you are getting a better product. BTW, I've been using their #261 broadheads with both my Scorpyd RDT 125 and my Deathstalker 420 crossbows for several years now and have had zero failures and no lost deer even though they are only 100 gr and have a miniscule 2" cutting surface. Peace and best of luck.
Rich - I believe the #251 has been replaced by the #243. I just bought four 3-pks of them from the Walmart website. They advertised 3 broad heads + 1 practice tip. But there was no practice tip included, FYI.
I think some fixed blade manufacturers state that the broadheads have (lets say) 2" of cutting surface. Not necessarily a 2" cut. Not all manufactures say this though.
I have a killer instinct vital x shot my first ever buck with a swhacker 202 I thought I missed he acted like he wasn’t hit walked 5 yards and tipped over lol
So much can be learned from shooting doe's. One thing I learned was aiming lower, especially on shots much past 20 yards with a slower crossbow. Not a fan of mechanicals, but I can see why people shoot them. True, a one inch wide, four blade may have two inches of cutting edge, which is a two dimensional cut, verses a 2 inch wide two blade that has a one dimensional cut. There are advantages to both. The draw back to a one inch wide four blade, is the entrance and exit holes. Your arrow may got thru and cut the same amount of blood vessels, but the amount of blood that is going to make it to the ground for tracking, can be greatly reduced. No blood trail, no whitetail? I have shot deer with very small fixed blades however, hit a major high pressure artery, and the blood trail looked like a crime scene. Heavy bone strikes can be where smaller fixed blades can shine, especially super tough monolithics, break thru the bone, survive impact, and remain lethal. This normally requires a much heavier, and/or, high FOC arrow to make it thru the heavy bone. This translates to a much slower arrow speed, and a greatly reduced shot distance, due to the animal's reaction time at the sound of the shot. The advantage is, that you don't have to wait for a broadside or quartering away shot. You can crowd the shoulder on a quartering to shot and if you hit it, a single bevel fixed blade, with adequate arrow weight/FOC, has a much greater potential to split the bone and keep going into the vitals. The farther forward you can shoot, the more lethal the shot, and you may actually see, or at least hear, the deer go down, no blood trail needed.
With your Ravin I would consider getting a high speed target. My R-500 sent my arrows almost completely into my foam target (fletchings barely exposed) even at 50 yards. It took hours to extract them and I sacrificed one bolt pushing the imbedded arrows to the point I could grab it with an extractor. I don’t have a problem with my Spyder rated at 500fps.
I'm commenting prematurely here, but I don't want my comment influenced by what you are saying. I love Schwacker products. I use the 1.5" cut on contacts in my compound. I want to use them in my crossbow, Killer instinct fuel 415, but they don't fit in the shackle. so I use g5 monatecs in my crossbow. I could use a 22" bolt in my crossbow and still use the Schwackers, but bolts fly funny when they stick out past the shackle of a crossbow. They get unpredictable. like 10 shots fine then suddenly it will dive, then like 4 shots fine and suddenly it soars. I have not done it to this crossbow since it is so fast, but I did it to an old Barnett quattro I had. This bow is so sensitive I'm not going to chance damaging it. I may try cutting a 21" in the future because that would clear the shackle, but probably not. I may try mechanicals in the future, but I haven't had good luck in the past with them. I broke a ton of them in a compound. when I see one that can hit a hog shoulder (my passion is hog hunting) and not break then I will get that kind. I am a blade smith, and could probably forge some, but I have to replace my machines that make it so I can cut center lined threads reliably again before I am going to make broadheads for my crossbow and compound again. I'll forge socketed heads all day for traditional bows because I will not attempt a shot past 20 yards with those because the arrow is so slow. They are going to jump the string at 25 yards with a stick bow. at 20 yards a slightly off socket isn't going to matter much with a wood arrow. I mean it matters, but not like a carbon arrow going 300 plus feet per second. maybe an inch off on impact compared to several inches up to a foot with a compound, and at 40 yards you are talking a complete miss with a compound, and a crossbow you are talking down right dangerous. I have seen two blade broadheads that weren''t center lined do a half loop in the air out of a crossbow. now that was an extreme case, you could see that head was way off center, like a quarter inch off, and my friend show it anyway to see what would happen. It looked like a boomerang. about a 30 tard diameter half loop. Lukily sideways cause if it had gone up it would have came back towards us. Hey he was a moron. I was standing there telling him not to holding a riot shield I was designing. the design didn't work for the record. When I shot it with a compound bow the arrow did a complete pass through. I was trying to design a light weight shield for police out of Kevlar and rubber. It would stop bullets but not broadheads. when I made it puncture proof it was heavier than a steel on so no point anymore. I do have other ideas though. honeycomb design like a tank's armor, but having Kevlar and rubber coating. The honeycomb would be aluminum with ceramic discs. what I have so far on that design is four pounds lighter than an AR500 steel shield. It has stopped everything I have thought of so far except armor piercing ammo. man off into another rabbit hole.
Thanks for the month. You have taught me a lot. But you are going to cost me money! Question: What grain stacker would you use on original Excalibur bolts that are shot from a 330 fops. Excalibur? Thanks for the videos.
I use an excalibur micro 335 and swapped to these about 5 years ago from rage. I replace the blades as long as there isn't any bend or deformation to the frame of the broadhead with great results. I actually think I got more consistent blood trails with rage, but I'd rather have the 3" and barely give the edge to Schwaker. If rage come out with a 3" 150gr I'm probably going to phase back in.
I have the Bulldog 440 using the zombie slayer. Sant find the 3" swhacker any longer so I went with Grimm Reaper Pro 150gr. 2 blade. Love them.They fly and leave a big hole. Give them a try on your new xbow.
Great videos by you and your daughter. I own a PSE TOXIC crossbow. 325 ft/sec and my arrow weight is 425gr. Using NAP KILLZONE broadheads. 27:14 I haven't shot a deer with it yet. What's your thoughts about this crossbow?
Hey Rich, did you know that Swhacker wasnt always Swhacker? Back in the day when they first came out, they were known as the Sonoran broadhead. I think the only reason they gained in popularity in present day is because Hank Parker endorsed them when the name was changed to Swhacker. I too have the 29x and use the 125 grain 4 blade 2 1/4” hybrid. Excellent flying head with carnage results. The deer REALLY hate ‘em. We have an urban hunt (Wheeling WV)that opens this coming Saturday. 7 deer bag limit that DOESN’T count towards your license tags. Freezer filler time is near. Good luck to the Bunjie crew this year.
I just cnat do the shwacker broadheads again, had nothing but issues with them in the past. I moved on to geimreaper razor cut and magnus ser razor broadheads. Have had nothing but positive results with thise broadheads.
@@adamm1547 blades shearing off on impact and all pentration stoping at the end of the feral. Arrows were recovered l, so I know exactly what happened. Happened 4 times over the course of three years. So I stopped using them, and moved on to grimreaper and started using the Magnus ser razor broadheads I was already using with my vertical bow.
You absolutely should hunt with g5 mega meats. The entry wound to the exit wound is absolutely devastating. They never go and I mean NEVER go more than 30 yards
Maybe down the road but I just use the bands, just did a watermelon test on it watch that video. No reason to use anything other than the bands I guess.
It's weird, here in Ontario it's hard to get doe tags. It's like a lottery to get a doe tag. Everyone is pretty much guaranteed a buck tag. And for the most part you only get one tag per year.
Hey, Pensacola, Florida here. I seen Van Hagar in the mid 90s. Great concert !! I got to see the late great Eddie Van Halen. i’m new to the whole crossbow game. In Florida you can use a crossbow with a medical permit. I’ve been hunting with a bow since I was eight. I had my eye on the assassin, micro 400. What do you think about it?
Rich I didn’t know the swackers you use were that big. I must have been using the original size whatever that is.. thinking 1 1/2” or maybe 2”.. I didn’t think about them even having 3” that’s crazy big. No wonder…
Hey there rich! Love your videos and I've learned a ton. Really been wanting this but running a bit short on money. Would you say they fly close to the same of a field tip? I plan on getting them but the practice tips to kinda breaks my budget atm should I absolutely have the practice tips in your opinion? Also you said you use double bands on them? Just to keep it from opening prematurely correct? Thanks rich!
The double bands are just to make sure they don't open prematurely, yes, I really don't worry about that but some of the bands are old because I reuse my broadheads. So I just do it for that reason, plus I have a lot of bands so there's no problem for me. They fly the same as the field tips out to like 30 yards on most of our crossbows but one of them did handle it a little bit differently. I do sight in with the practice point for that reason.
Can you buy replacement tips on Swhackers? I shot a doe last year with a 1.75 and it passed through and hit some rocks. Broke the tip off and never found it. Great broadheads but never had that happen with any other mechanicals. That exact same scenario has happened multiple times with both compounds and crossbows (it’s my money bow stand).
I do save all of the Chisel tips off mine, when I throw them away I unscrew them just in case I need them later, some of them are too bent to use a second time
I think they all have limb issues from time to time but these days it seems like it's a lot better than it was a couple of years ago. Sorry to hear about any problems you had with customer service, seems like they all have trouble with that this time of year also.
What’s your take on the slightly curved blades on the Levi Morgan swhacker? Kinda makes sense to me vs. the straight blades but really would it make much of a difference
Hey, I have an important question for you today. I just thought about it this morning in my blind Swhacker Broadhead can you shoot them through the mesh of the blind I would really like to know could you try it out or know somebody that does for now just tell me can I shoot through the mesh in my blind I hope I get an answer soon.
I have a question about crossbow strings...I own a killer instinct 405. I bought it new several years ago and shot it just enough to sight the scope and I waxed the string and put it away 2 years ago. Life happened and I was never able to get back to shooting. This season I may be able to hunt and I want to start shooting but I am concerned whether or not the string is good to go. It was always stored indoors climate controlled. Are there any concerns I should be aware of before cocking and shooting this again this year?
Hi rich want your thoughts. Got zombie's for my rdx400 zombie are weighing in at 550gn with 150 gn field points and lighted nocks. 350 fps at 10 yds and 343 fps at 20 yds. Do you think the swahacker 150gn 3" do good out to 30 yds or maybe 40 yds. At 20 yds sunk arrows up to an inch from the vanes. Ur opinion is welcomed thanks rich.
Hi rich got my swhackers in today. I got the 3 broadheads, n 3 pack of practice heads, n the replacement blades. Impressed and when I set them up with my zombie slayers I was 552 gn. Gona take them out on the range tomorrow. Thanks rich again.
Unfortunately where I live it’s not “legal” to shoot my crossbow in the backyard. So for me to “legally” practice I have to go to a range and pay to shoot or go out to the country and shoot. 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for another year of crossbow appreciation month. I love the videos and very much appreciate the time you take to make them, Thank you.
This crossbow appreciation month went by quick for me. Thanks for the laughs, shared experience and shock (ravin) value. Good luck this season.
Every year I look forward to crossbow appreciation month,
Thanks for all your hard work..I appreciated this good month of videos..
Thank you for the Crossbow Appreciation Month videos! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into making all these great videos. I found your channel a number of years ago when I was thinking about getting a crossbow. I really joy hunting with a crossbow and have been successful. I know what I have learned from your videos has helped the experience. Looking forward to your upcoming adventures! Our Archery season starts in a couple of weeks and goes into January here in Wisconsin. Good luck and Safe Hunting Rich!!!
Thanks and good luck!
Wore out my shoulders and ascended to crossbow. Barnett Whitetail Pro STR is my choice. Watch your vids regularly. Great teaching. Congrats on your election. Thanks. sailcat
Ascended 100% love it, good luck!!
Thanks for the shout out Rich! Got another package coming your way soon! I’m gonna miss your daily videos! Crossbow name the bungie marauder, or dominator !!
Thanks for the great info Rich. Landed first deer of the season with one of these and didn't have to walk far to retrieve the prize. MASSIVE wound channel and easy blood trail to follow. Thanks for all that you post. Great info that has been really helpful.
Rich it's good to see that someone is dedicated to supplying great info on the crossbow and the passion u show to the sport of hunting with crossbow. The info u provide is very helpful and explained very well. I look forward to seeing the many more videos. Keep up the great work. Some day would love to make it to one of your meet n greets. Thanks for promoting the crossbow sport so well
Sorry, I rewatch this a lot. I actually just sent it out to a buddy of mine to watch and I’ve been watching it again myself.
30 days from our Indiana archery (including crossbows) season. For the last 5 seasons I have been shooting one of the cheapest bows KI makes. Zero problems and still loving it. I did however upgrade the bolts and scope. So now I am shooting 500grains total weight and 22.5% FOC. Good luck to you Miss G and all friends of Bunjie this season.
Rich, thank you so much for another crossbow appreciation month! I do agree with you on the Swhacker broadhead, especially for treestand hunting. Having that long point entering the hide before the blades touch allows that arrow to remain moving in that straight direction. I think of a vehicle hitting a tree at an angle, and the vehicle reacts by having the vehicle to spin in a circle on impact. Now, have that same vehicle hit straight head on, and it collapses straight into the tree. I realize there are a lot of other factors keeping the arrow on its original path, but making impact with an inch and a half before the blades touch, aids to maintaining that direction.
I used Rage broadheads before choosing the Swhacker and they killed their fair share of deer for me. However, I decided to use the Swhacker after watching one of your videos, and I'm glad you helped me look further into the benefits of its features. Thank you again for the great content, and keep it coming!
Great stuff thank you
Rich, very informative, thanks for sharing.
I bought some CenterPoint mechanical broadheads but even though they were the same grain weight as the field tip they dropped 2 inches at 40 yards. I tried Schwackers in the same grain weight and they hit in the exact same spot as the field tips.
Good to know 💯
Crossbow appreciation is for sure a tradition now, it really gets me dialed in and excited for hunting season. Shouting out from Maryland but originally from the Commonwealth of PA!
Oh yeah season almost here!
Going with the Levi Morgan signature Swhackers this year. 2-1/2 inch cutting diameter. I have increased my bolt weight with different arrows, goin from the Excalibur pro flight to the executioner. So I’ll be shooting 450 or so grains total. You persuaded me to do this! Thanks for the advice.
I really hope it all goes well for you, good luck! Executioner is good stuff.
Danny from North Louisiana enjoyed the whole entire month crossbow appreciation thank you
👌
I’m from NY. I followed your channel and did a lot of research and followed your lead and bought the
Killer instinct Swat x1, tried the 3” Schwackers with Luminocks . I put them on the KI bolts included , ending up at 463 grains . The performance is mind blowing!! My son was hitting 2” groups perfectly at out to 40 yards. 👍🏹 Can’t wait to try it out on deer.🦌
That's great good luck!
I planted 1 plot yesterday and im planting another one today. We have rain coming this evening and hopefully tomorrow. Good video brother all the way from southern middle Tennessee
Thanks for crossbow appreciation month it's the 1st time to go hunting today it's going to be hot a got swackers ready sniper 370 sighted in yah buddy so excited
Mosey trocar hbx crossbow hybrid Broadhead hundred grain 2 5/8 inch cut. This is what I used before. I got quite a few deer with them already.
I have been watching your videos for a few years and just recently got my first crossbow (Barnett 400). I obsessively researched broadheads and was going to go with the meathead but decided on the Scha-wacker based on your recommendations. I did my first sit yesterday and killed a doe. The broadhead absolutely eviscerated her tissue. I have never seen such a huge exit wound from a non-rifle weapon.
Glad to hear it, thanks for the feedback and congratulations!
Thank you for all this great information. Have a great year.
That brand is the only brand I have used and never had a failure.
My 1st crossbow appreciation month and I am hooked. You do such a great job, and thanks for passing along all this great information and entertainment. I am so excited for hunting season this year. I feel like I am more prepared with the crossbow than I’ve ever been. Actually debating getting the swhackers . I just bought muzzys so Maybee I’ll wait till next season 👍🇺🇸
Muzzy good stuff, test them 1st, thanks for watching!
@@Deathbybunjie yep, I made sure to check them out, after watching your videos. I bought the muzzyTROCAR for crossbows. 125 gr. They all planed a little, but I did your process, labeled them all and shaft tuned the best I could. I don’t have a machine set up, so I just rotated the inserts until they flew well. I have 3 that fly perfect and 2 that if I use them I know they hit 2 inches left and 1 inch low😂 👍
Missed the livestream. Was at deer camp with the boys working hard. Van Hagar 😂. Thanks again for another awesome crossbow appreciation month.
From York Springs PA shwacker 150 grain seem to work really well out of the wrath 430 on a piledriver bolt
On August 2nd I was watching your latest video on my living room TV and my wife who was in another room heard your voice and said, "It must be deer hunting time". I said, "Nope, it is crossbow appreciation month." Your videos sure get me in the hunting mood every August. Also, my wife knows that she will be seeing and hearing you for the next couple months :)
Good Luck this year from Wisconsin
Lol that's great
Got a huge ass buck on my camera site. I put out a 50lb. Salt block a jug of liquid deer Cain. Also a grocery bag of big green apples from a tree in my back yard. All set in a sweet spot… so happy I got the new tactacam 3.0
This is so cool. Watching this video in moose camp 🏕️ installing new cameras. Opening days is coming realy fast September 21. Long live crossbow appreciation month. In canada we have Tim hortons ice coffee hehe😎🦌🫎thx Rich for the videos.
Arkansas, love those Swhackers too, the function & unique design of them and your field testing confirm, they are best IMHO. We have a 3 day early archery buck season Sept. 7,8,9 can't wait. -W. Liggett
Ask “What were you served last, a plate full of meat, or ANTLERS”?
Translation for the slow: it’s not about the horns, it’s about game management and sustainability of the herd as a whole.
I was in the military for 9 1/2 years active duty.
My home base was Ft Hood Texas.
They have numbered training areas, which also were the same numbers assigned to hunting areas.
For each given area , depending on size and location, they assigned a certain number of deer to be harvested.
So many bucks, and so many does, decided by the previous years harvest, and observations.
I asked the federal game warden assigned there how they determined how many bucks and or doe’s could be harvested.
He said “we watch them during the transition phase (beginning of fall apx) with binoculars all the time.
Watching for when they change their eating habits, by DATE; and source of food targeted.
There are two food types we classify: 1) we call Candy 2) we call Stuffer.
1) Candy-is deers favorite foods like acorns, green grasses, etc… which are tasty to them and most importantly nutritional to them.
2) Stuffer- is exactly that, something to stuff their bellies, isn’t tasty but edible, has literally no nutritional value.
So we bump last years date when on average, all areas report apx the same date that the food being eaten by the deer, was changed from Candy-to Stuffer.
If it’s earlier they’re eat ting Stuffer, there’s too many deer, so we look at the given area and adjust the number allowed to be harvested.
For those areas, they increase the doe allowance, more than they increase the buck allowance.
They also on Ft Hood, had the best method to know better that civilian properties, a much more accurate count on the deer population.
They used the pilots of helicopters requirements for hours of night flying time, to use thermal imaging pictures of Ft Hood range areas, and counting the deer heat signatures on film.
They could also differentiate between deer and cattle and even exotic Axis deer which were also on the military reservation.
So they compared the thermal imaging count, the date the started on stuffers, and the previous years allowance for harvest, to set quotas.
Personally I’m a meat hunter, however if a nice buck appears, I might harvest-but it’s not because how many points or how big he is. It’s based on allowance and for the reasons explained above.
Awesome videos . Good luck this year .
Rich love your channel and love what you do! Thanks for being a great channel. Hope to follow in your shoes one day!
Thank you and good luck out there!
Hey rich just a video suggestion for next years crossbow appreciation month, i recently just learned you can shorten your rope cocker and it makes it easier thanks to your videos 🤦🏻♂️ I feel stupid but I never even thought about doing that until I seen you do it, so thanks!
Great tip! It does help especially if you run out of height when pulling back 💯
My only complaint about mechanical broadheads is their inherent, literal weakness. I can only speak from one deer, but I had a “wing” break off on entry when it clipped the scapula on the near side. The broadhead did its job with a through and through, destroying the lungs and heart. But the fact that one blade broke off meant it had 1/2 the cutting diameter… the same as a 4-blade fixed broadhead. So then the question becomes… is one blade cutting 1.25 inch as good as 4 blades cutting 1.25 inch?
Good job.
Ok Rich I shoot a mission sub-1 xr
And my set up is 400 gn
I am going to get some 3” swahkers today and and put them on some lighter bolts so they all weigh the same today and give them a run 😊
Wishing all happy hunting!!
Great video Rich. Hate to see crossbow appreciation month go away, but it always means that our sports season opener is right around the corner. And of course Van Halen is better than Van Hagar. While I do like many of the Red Rocker’s songs, and some of them while he was with Van Halen, the whole Van Halen/Van Hagar thing is kind of like getting into my stand on the first day of bow season and hunting with Muzzy tips instead of Swhackers. It just doesn’t work near as well. Lol🤣
31 in 31 went by terribly fast this year. Thanks, Rich!
I bought a pack of the 3" Swhackers for spring turkey. I don't intend to use them on deer. It's too bad that they don't make them anymore. I got the Rinehart 18-1 broadhead target and I'm very impressed with how easy the broadheads pull out. Even the G5 Montec fix blade broadheads pull out with ease.
They still make the 3-inch, look for number 243
I missed the live 😮. I’m trying the Swhacker this year, I was under the impression that them little bands were shrink tube. If they fit a little loose than use a hair dryer to shrink it down . Haven’t tried it yet
Tradition can be a good thing but it can also mean that you are missing out on innovation. For example, take Swhacker broadheads. If you ignore all of their recent updates you wouldn't know that a lot of your concerns have been addressed. I get it that you want to use a heavier version and some of those updates have not been applied to those heavier broadheads and that's fine. However, one of the changes Swhacker has made was to add a locking screw that keeps the blades from opening during practice shots which is why they stopped including a costly practice head in their packaging. Another update, which is available on the #261 Levi Morgan heads, among others, is what they call the Hunt-Ready Plug. It eliminates the need for the shrink bands by using a soft rubber plug which is inserted into a hole in the ferrule which aligns with holes in the blades when they are in the closed position. The plug gets cut on impact which in turn allows the blades to open. Works great and you no longer have to worry about the bands failing and having the blades open prematurely. Change for the sake of change is usually not a good thing but every now and then change can also mean that you are getting a better product. BTW, I've been using their #261 broadheads with both my Scorpyd RDT 125 and my Deathstalker 420 crossbows for several years now and have had zero failures and no lost deer even though they are only 100 gr and have a miniscule 2" cutting surface. Peace and best of luck.
Rich - I believe the #251 has been replaced by the #243. I just bought four 3-pks of them from the Walmart website. They advertised 3 broad heads + 1 practice tip. But there was no practice tip included, FYI.
243 isn't new, it was the "non crossbow" version but it's now just the one they make for crossbows and vertical bows
I think some fixed blade manufacturers state that the broadheads have (lets say) 2" of cutting surface. Not necessarily a 2" cut. Not all manufactures say this though.
I have a killer instinct vital x shot my first ever buck with a swhacker 202 I thought I missed he acted like he wasn’t hit walked 5 yards and tipped over lol
So much can be learned from shooting doe's. One thing I learned was aiming lower, especially on shots much past 20 yards with a slower crossbow. Not a fan of mechanicals, but I can see why people shoot them. True, a one inch wide, four blade may have two inches of cutting edge, which is a two dimensional cut, verses a 2 inch wide two blade that has a one dimensional cut. There are advantages to both. The draw back to a one inch wide four blade, is the entrance and exit holes. Your arrow may got thru and cut the same amount of blood vessels, but the amount of blood that is going to make it to the ground for tracking, can be greatly reduced. No blood trail, no whitetail? I have shot deer with very small fixed blades however, hit a major high pressure artery, and the blood trail looked like a crime scene. Heavy bone strikes can be where smaller fixed blades can shine, especially super tough monolithics, break thru the bone, survive impact, and remain lethal. This normally requires a much heavier, and/or, high FOC arrow to make it thru the heavy bone. This translates to a much slower arrow speed, and a greatly reduced shot distance, due to the animal's reaction time at the sound of the shot. The advantage is, that you don't have to wait for a broadside or quartering away shot. You can crowd the shoulder on a quartering to shot and if you hit it, a single bevel fixed blade, with adequate arrow weight/FOC, has a much greater potential to split the bone and keep going into the vitals. The farther forward you can shoot, the more lethal the shot, and you may actually see, or at least hear, the deer go down, no blood trail needed.
Just bought a package of 150 grain SWA HACKERS you convinced me
Good deal, good luck
If the does are there, that means the bucks will be coming !!!
With your Ravin I would consider getting a high speed target. My R-500 sent my arrows almost completely into my foam target (fletchings barely exposed) even at 50 yards. It took hours to extract them and I sacrificed one bolt pushing the imbedded arrows to the point I could grab it with an extractor. I don’t have a problem with my Spyder rated at 500fps.
Oh yeah I have the new Kinetic from Murrell and a Big Shot Titan 10x...stops em all!
Im thinking about ordering me some iron will broad heads and trying them
I'm commenting prematurely here, but I don't want my comment influenced by what you are saying. I love Schwacker products. I use the 1.5" cut on contacts in my compound. I want to use them in my crossbow, Killer instinct fuel 415, but they don't fit in the shackle. so I use g5 monatecs in my crossbow. I could use a 22" bolt in my crossbow and still use the Schwackers, but bolts fly funny when they stick out past the shackle of a crossbow. They get unpredictable. like 10 shots fine then suddenly it will dive, then like 4 shots fine and suddenly it soars. I have not done it to this crossbow since it is so fast, but I did it to an old Barnett quattro I had. This bow is so sensitive I'm not going to chance damaging it. I may try cutting a 21" in the future because that would clear the shackle, but probably not. I may try mechanicals in the future, but I haven't had good luck in the past with them. I broke a ton of them in a compound. when I see one that can hit a hog shoulder (my passion is hog hunting) and not break then I will get that kind. I am a blade smith, and could probably forge some, but I have to replace my machines that make it so I can cut center lined threads reliably again before I am going to make broadheads for my crossbow and compound again. I'll forge socketed heads all day for traditional bows because I will not attempt a shot past 20 yards with those because the arrow is so slow. They are going to jump the string at 25 yards with a stick bow. at 20 yards a slightly off socket isn't going to matter much with a wood arrow. I mean it matters, but not like a carbon arrow going 300 plus feet per second. maybe an inch off on impact compared to several inches up to a foot with a compound, and at 40 yards you are talking a complete miss with a compound, and a crossbow you are talking down right dangerous. I have seen two blade broadheads that weren''t center lined do a half loop in the air out of a crossbow. now that was an extreme case, you could see that head was way off center, like a quarter inch off, and my friend show it anyway to see what would happen. It looked like a boomerang. about a 30 tard diameter half loop. Lukily sideways cause if it had gone up it would have came back towards us. Hey he was a moron. I was standing there telling him not to holding a riot shield I was designing. the design didn't work for the record. When I shot it with a compound bow the arrow did a complete pass through. I was trying to design a light weight shield for police out of Kevlar and rubber. It would stop bullets but not broadheads. when I made it puncture proof it was heavier than a steel on so no point anymore. I do have other ideas though. honeycomb design like a tank's armor, but having Kevlar and rubber coating. The honeycomb would be aluminum with ceramic discs. what I have so far on that design is four pounds lighter than an AR500 steel shield. It has stopped everything I have thought of so far except armor piercing ammo. man off into another rabbit hole.
Thanks for the month. You have taught me a lot. But you are going to cost me money! Question: What grain stacker would you use on original Excalibur bolts that are shot from a 330 fops. Excalibur? Thanks for the videos.
Unless you want to up the arrow weight I say go with the smaller ones
7 days till archery season here in NC
I won’t get to go out until the 9th though.
All hail Bungie
Indeed!
I use an excalibur micro 335 and swapped to these about 5 years ago from rage. I replace the blades as long as there isn't any bend or deformation to the frame of the broadhead with great results. I actually think I got more consistent blood trails with rage, but I'd rather have the 3" and barely give the edge to Schwaker. If rage come out with a 3" 150gr I'm probably going to phase back in.
I like the Rage too
I have the Bulldog 440 using the zombie slayer. Sant find the 3" swhacker any longer so I went with Grimm Reaper Pro 150gr. 2 blade. Love them.They fly and leave a big hole. Give them a try on your new xbow.
Look for swhacker 243 same 3" broadhead
@@Deathbybunjie243 not found down south much. Bass Pro/Cabela and the Southern Archery shop don't carry them.
Morning Lawrenceville PA
I grew up outside of Lawrenceville, Ga. Some of my ancestors did arrive via Pennsylvania about 270 years ago, but they made a Left turn at Lancaster.
Great videos by you and your daughter.
I own a PSE TOXIC crossbow. 325 ft/sec and my arrow weight is 425gr. Using NAP KILLZONE broadheads. 27:14
I haven't shot a deer with it yet.
What's your thoughts about this crossbow?
Hey Rich, did you know that Swhacker wasnt always Swhacker?
Back in the day when they first came out, they were known as the Sonoran broadhead. I think the only reason they gained in popularity in present day is because Hank Parker endorsed them when the name was changed to Swhacker.
I too have the 29x and use the 125 grain 4 blade 2 1/4” hybrid.
Excellent flying head with carnage results. The deer REALLY hate ‘em.
We have an urban hunt (Wheeling WV)that opens this coming Saturday. 7 deer bag limit that DOESN’T count towards your license tags. Freezer filler time is near.
Good luck to the Bunjie crew this year.
I did not know that, my first encounter with them was when Hank Parker was pushing them In Those ads
Hi from Kentucky....🦌🦌
Love both..Van Hager and Van Halen😂
Hi from Michigan
Xbow season is only two weeks away in Georgia. Only 12 tags left. ;)
I just cnat do the shwacker broadheads again, had nothing but issues with them in the past.
I moved on to geimreaper razor cut and magnus ser razor broadheads. Have had nothing but positive results with thise broadheads.
What issues?
Exactly 😆
@@adamm1547 blades shearing off on impact and all pentration stoping at the end of the feral.
Arrows were recovered l, so I know exactly what happened. Happened 4 times over the course of three years.
So I stopped using them, and moved on to grimreaper and started using the Magnus ser razor broadheads I was already using with my vertical bow.
@@Deathbybunjie I'm sorry did I say something funny?
You absolutely should hunt with g5 mega meats. The entry wound to the exit wound is absolutely devastating. They never go and I mean NEVER go more than 30 yards
Can you please do one on the tube shrink tube? What size shrink tube must I get to do it? I really appreciate that.
Maybe down the road but I just use the bands, just did a watermelon test on it watch that video. No reason to use anything other than the bands I guess.
If you’re gonna glue your blades shut, I would say that thin CA glue would probably be the best option
It's weird, here in Ontario it's hard to get doe tags. It's like a lottery to get a doe tag. Everyone is pretty much guaranteed a buck tag. And for the most part you only get one tag per year.
Listening to u as I put my new Barnett xp together. Thanks for all your tech tips, 2 weeks and I'll be in missouri hunting.....yea!
Good luck!!
Hey, Pensacola, Florida here. I seen Van Hagar in the mid 90s. Great concert !! I got to see the late great Eddie Van Halen. i’m new to the whole crossbow game. In Florida you can use a crossbow with a medical permit. I’ve been hunting with a bow since I was eight. I had my eye on the assassin, micro 400. What do you think about it?
Those are top of the line IMO 👌
Rich I didn’t know the swackers you use were that big. I must have been using the original size whatever that is.. thinking
1 1/2” or maybe 2”.. I didn’t think about them even having 3” that’s crazy big. No wonder…
Best broadhead out there is the G5 Mega Meat. I have seen them compared in person to the swhacker and it wasn’t even close. The G5 won hands down!!
Oh OK thanks 🙄
Hey there rich! Love your videos and I've learned a ton. Really been wanting this but running a bit short on money. Would you say they fly close to the same of a field tip? I plan on getting them but the practice tips to kinda breaks my budget atm should I absolutely have the practice tips in your opinion? Also you said you use double bands on them? Just to keep it from opening prematurely correct? Thanks rich!
The double bands are just to make sure they don't open prematurely, yes, I really don't worry about that but some of the bands are old because I reuse my broadheads. So I just do it for that reason, plus I have a lot of bands so there's no problem for me. They fly the same as the field tips out to like 30 yards on most of our crossbows but one of them did handle it a little bit differently. I do sight in with the practice point for that reason.
Guess I missed the live. Will enjoy this video without the crew...
Can you buy replacement tips on Swhackers? I shot a doe last year with a 1.75 and it passed through and hit some rocks. Broke the tip off and never found it. Great broadheads but never had that happen with any other mechanicals. That exact same scenario has happened multiple times with both compounds and crossbows (it’s my money bow stand).
I do save all of the Chisel tips off mine, when I throw them away I unscrew them just in case I need them later, some of them are too bent to use a second time
The last day of crossbow month........kind of like the day after Christmas.....gotta wait another year.
I live in york pa and hunt cecil county md and Garrett county md.
GM from the panhandle of Wva.
Hey Rich I know you have had experience with wicked ridge and raven. How close to IBO do they shoot at?
We're crossbow hunters we don't do IBO lol
But both shoot close to their specs or better from my experience
Doesn't matter how fast a cut on contact broadhead goes... it will always cut. :D
So will the swahacker lol
@Deathbybunjie And CUTTTTT they do.
I missed it live as well 😢
Dose killer instinct have limb troubles, mine was 6 weeks old maybe 50 shots and limbs snapped! Customer service needs a lot of improvement!
I think they all have limb issues from time to time but these days it seems like it's a lot better than it was a couple of years ago. Sorry to hear about any problems you had with customer service, seems like they all have trouble with that this time of year also.
What’s your take on the slightly curved blades on the Levi Morgan swhacker? Kinda makes sense to me vs. the straight blades but really would it make much of a difference
They are probably better for the compound bow guys who don't have as much energy
Do you know if they are limiting production of the 150s? I seem to be having a hard time finding them readily available.
They stopped making the 251...now the 243 is your go to!
Gray Kentucky here
They open fine, but can deflect and skip out on quartering angles.
They are known for penetration at steep angles though, ever see the plywood test?
@@Deathbybunjie I've had them turn on impact on shots where my current heads track straight through.
@@apexpredatoroutdoors8308 ruclips.net/video/rbZG17j8WUc/видео.htmlsi=L0LlmOtpJJdRw_y_
I also shoot Grim Reaper I use Grim Reaper for years
What size shrink tube?
🤷♂️ I don't know, I just use the ones in the Box
I've never heard of Van Hagar. I thought it was Sammy Hagar? And of course Van Halen rocks!
Hey, I have an important question for you today. I just thought about it this morning in my blind Swhacker Broadhead can you shoot them through the mesh of the blind I would really like to know could you try it out or know somebody that does for now just tell me can I shoot through the mesh in my blind I hope I get an answer soon.
I personally don't do that with any Broadhead
Hi, new sub, I just purchased the Killer instinct Vital X 430, I have Swa hackers 1.75 125 grain. Will that broad head stay closed in flight?
Oh yeah see my watermelon test this year, but you can always throw a second band on there they give you lots. I use 2 just in case.
@@Deathbybunjie thanks
I have a question about crossbow strings...I own a killer instinct 405. I bought it new several years ago and shot it just enough to sight the scope and I waxed the string and put it away 2 years ago. Life happened and I was never able to get back to shooting. This season I may be able to hunt and I want to start shooting but I am concerned whether or not the string is good to go. It was always stored indoors climate controlled. Are there any concerns I should be aware of before cocking and shooting this again this year?
I bet all good. Give it a good visual inspection and if you are worried, take it to a local shop and have them look it over. But I bet you're okay
Have you ever tried flat flat nocks on your swat x1
No, I'm a little leery of deviating too much, you'll see from this week's video LOL
I have some flat lumenoks leftover from my Excalibur I’m gonna give them a try
Hi rich want your thoughts. Got zombie's for my rdx400 zombie are weighing in at 550gn with 150 gn field points and lighted nocks. 350 fps at 10 yds and 343 fps at 20 yds. Do you think the swahacker 150gn 3" do good out to 30 yds or maybe 40 yds. At 20 yds sunk arrows up to an inch from the vanes. Ur opinion is welcomed thanks rich.
Oh yeah you're good to go!
@@Deathbybunjie thanks rich
Hi rich got my swhackers in today. I got the 3 broadheads, n 3 pack of practice heads, n the replacement blades. Impressed and when I set them up with my zombie slayers I was 552 gn. Gona take them out on the range tomorrow. Thanks rich again.
What’s your Favorite Swhacker
251 now 243
@@Deathbybunjie that’s a 3” cut correct?
@@Mike_Greenawalt yeppers, most modern crossbows are enough to handle that
@@Deathbybunjie thanks for your time and all your help!
Unfortunately where I live it’s not “legal” to shoot my crossbow in the backyard. So for me to “legally” practice I have to go to a range and pay to shoot or go out to the country and shoot. 🤷🏻♂️
I shoot the matrix 380. Is the dragon claws a good arrow for This bow. Should I use swahackers
I am using the sever 150 for crossbow right now.
How about the zombie slayers
I also use matrix 380 ,black eagle Diablo's and 3 inch swhacker, shoots awsome exactly like Rich talks about in my opinion.
That xbow will love zombies or dragon claws I bet, take your pick
What spine aligned arrows are u shooting
A mix...I have some customs but also have a spine indexer...see that video a couple weeks ago
Actually 2 videos
What custom arrows ??
I would like to purchase some
@@everettwilliams6952 ruclips.net/video/amTv2YiC7L4/видео.html