Fixed Blade as Accurate as a Mechanical - What I'll Shoot this Fall | The Setup w/ Bill Winke
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- I had great success with the little fixed-blade EXO Destrukt broadhead from B3 Archery last season. It was just as accurate as a mechanical broadhead out to my maximum whitetail range of 40 yards. I will be shooting it again this year, as well as testing a new rear deploy mechanical head from EXO called the RD2. In this episode, I also discuss the perfect arrow weight for whitetail hunting.
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More about String Jumping: • String Jumping - Picki...
QAD Exodus fly like field points. Love them
No they don’t….i love those broad-heads, but nothing flies like a field point except a field point.
Hands down best fixed blade head on the market.
Please never stop making content. You were so instrumental in many of us hunters younger days.
Thanks for the comment Joey. I have to admit, I am getting worn out from the continual grind of producing this stuff, but I will stick with it as long as I can. I appreciate the support. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke whatever you decide to do we support you. You know your mind and body better than anyone. If you decide to quit soon just know you helped so many of us over the years and gave us amazing content.
Bring back the "Steelheads" by Rocket...
Check out the Demon hunter Valdez, they are the same as the steelhead 👍
I like alot of heads...my current Fav is a QAD exodus
Bill, I shoot a 675 grain arrow. My bow is a 22 year old Hoyt Hypertec pulling 70 pounds. No problems with Deer jumping the string. You really should read Dr. Ed Ashbys reports. One question for you, have you tested those broad heads you are shooting to see how sharp they are? I am willing to bet you can run your fingers across the blades and they want cut your finger without you having to apply pressure.
I have read some of that stuff and for sure it makes sense. I will take a closer look at the heads, but they sure seemed pretty sharp. You could kill just about any big game in North America with your setup and you could probably kill any whitetail that walks with that setup (and just about any decent broadhead) as long as you hit the right place. Thanks for the comment and good luck this fall.
I shaved off 130 gr off my total arrow weight this year. I’m right at 540 now with 4mm fmj’s. My bow is still very quiet, but picked up a lot of speed. I have a 31.5” draw, so that helps a lot obviously. I appreciate you mentioning arrow weight as a help for quieting a bow. With your draw length, draw weight, and desire to keep your shooting range at 40 and under, you could afford to shoot even a little heavier still, and make that shot even QUIETER. I have noticed in your videos, that your shot is quieter than a lot of RUclips hunters, and that makes a huge difference. Looking forward to watching you and the crew, this is the time of year that Dream Big really gets going for all of us whitetail people!
Smart choice! Heavy arrows can bite you in the ass
I agree with all of it. I could probably go a bit heavier, but I do like a little extra speed to reduce how far the string jumpers can drop before the arrow gets there. It is a tradeoff that way. Thanks for the comment and good luck to you also!
I sit here and watch the debate fixed blade or mechanical and I will be the first to say it wasn’t the broad head that malfunctioned it was me I think that is what most people need to own up to
It has to be accurate. That is the most important single quality. If it is accurate and holds together it will probably get the job done.
i used the rocket steelheads since the 90s too, then i discovered the swhacker original 1.75" cut 100gr. i feel its as close to perfection as a head can get, accuracy is actually better than the steelheads, and i have never had a deer make it out of my eyesight when using them. i see no advantage in a rear deploying head, only disadvantages. cutting ribs on the entry has no lethality effect and only dulls blades and hinders penetration.
guns are cool but man so much more technique and wow factor on a precise bow and arrow shot
I just love the challenge of getting them super close. Very intense.
Swacker has always done the job for me.
I loved Swacker’s and I still do. I grew up how hunting in NC shooting 62lbs with 31” arrows. I had no failures with Swacker’s in NC. The average buck weighing around 180lbs, 200 on a rare occasion. I started hunting Ohio where the average buck is 250lbs or better. I have shot 3 bucks and gotten 0 pass throughs. One heart shot, 1 double lung, and one liver. I found 2 of the 3 and it was scary having no blood trail. Until the broke the arrow off so I switched to a fixed blade. I now shoot the Iron Will single bevel and it’s a beast. I shot my first elk with a bow a few days ago using fixed blade. The elk was quartered to me and I blew right through her shoulder. I found my broadhead stuck in her back hindquarter. The only con I find to my fixed blade is the cutting diameter. It’s not the blood trail you get from the swacker. I guide year round from fishing trips in the summers, to hunting in the winter. I am very blessed to guide many people in the hunting industry. I’ve herd from many people way smarter than me. Swacker’s use a lot of your kinetic energy of your arrow to open your broadhead. If you’re shooting a lighter poundage bow and finding yourself not getting full pass throughs. I would try switching the broadhead. I still have a love for Swacker’s but it didn’t do the job I needed.
I am now looking for a mechanical that will give me the penetration I need. Also give me the cutting diameter back to have those great blood trails. This being all for whitetails, for elk or any bigger game than a whitetail. I will continue to only use the Iron Will single bevel.
This is my experience and wanted to share. I still love me a swacker I’m not hating on them.
Thanks!
For those who keep asking about original steelhead, look up Rick Valdez demon hunter broadhead it is the original steelhead before trophy ridge bought them out
Thanks as always for your perspective, Bill. I shot mechanicals for at least 10 years, mostly because of the large wound channels and theoretically, quick kill and easy blood trail. However, I often had issues with penetration, which nullified the "advantage" of a big wound channel for trailing. Several years back, I switched to a hybrid. Two fixed blades with 2 front deploying mechanicals. Every deer I have shot since has had a 100% pass through and none have gone farther than 50 yards, usually much less.
I’ve always had great flight and accuracy with muzzy but I line up the blades with my vanes, that seems to help a lot
That is a great tip. One thing I like about the Destrukt that I failed to mention is that the blades are offset on the ferrule so they cause the arrow to spin slightly. You get the heads that line up with the same twist as your helical to help stabilize the flight. Good luck.
I’m still shooting the original rocket steelhead 125. Got a couple hundred left. No reason to not use them. I only wish they had a little bigger cut but otherwise a string simple mechanical head that is hard to beat
Want to sell 6 of them?
I wish they'd bring those back
No thanks. Sorry
I’ve used muzzy for years then I went to mechanical ones l agree with you Bill don’t think you remember me at all !
I looked up your page. Randy Danner, right? Have we met? I have a bad memory for names, so please forgive me. Have we met?
Fmj arrows are junk. Should have stuck with the day 6. They bend just like old aluminum arrow.
The hit insert is even more junk!! Fmj w/ hit insert = worst arrow setup ever!
They have never failed me. I have killed a lot of deer with Easton HIT system arrows over the years. I have noticed that you have to square the end of the arrow when you are done cutting it off just in case the cut was not perfect. That is because the head seats against the end of the arrow shaft to gain some of its alignment. I have a squaring device (G5 ASD) so that never bothered me. I just like the fact that the front end of the arrow is so streamlined since there is no need for an outsert while still producing a small diameter arrow for great penetration.
Hi Bill. Very informative video! Does the smaller cutting diameter of the fixed blade concern you at all? The mechanicals appear to leave a much bigger hole upon penetration which is what I like about my mechanicals.
Curtis, I have shot smaller cutting diameter heads for most of my life. The mechanicals I favored had a cutting diameter of around 1 3/8 inches. Pretty small, I killed a lot of stuff (hundreds of deer, some caribou, elk, mule deer, antelope, bear...) with those heads. I liked the increased penetration from that smaller cutting diameter because I wanted to be able to kill a whitetail even if I hit him in the shoulder. They definitely allowed that. So, to answer your question, I am fine with the smaller cutting diameter. Good luck.
427 with 125 grain Sevrs. I’ve never been more confident
Sounds like a good setup. Good luck.
They look so weak
Tooth of the arrow 4-blade fixed blade fly like darts and are virtually indestructible by anything you’ll run into on a typical whitetail hunt
I’ll be watching for your year end summary of the new broadhead. Thanks
Ps what target do you shoot your broad heads into?
🤦♂️if you handled the blades on my fixed blade heads like you just did on all of those heads, you would have layed your fingers wide open 🙄 Mechanical heads are for people that can't tune a bow.
I guess you also have to factor in rough releases and buck fever. That can affect arrow flight too. You can see it on the range by changing your grip pressure or snapping your hand closed at release, etc. You can see the arrow fishtailing when you do that. I don't always make perfect releases when leaning or twisting in a tree stand and having any extra forgiveness of imperfect shots matters to me.
@bill-winke I agree. Those are definitely factors to consider. However, working in a popular pro shop for years showed me that many people were trying to shoot and hunt with a bow that was not properly set up and tuned.
Im not leaving the mech heads we have now fixed heads are better these days but dang the mech heads are just unreal i do some killing and so do all my buddies and you couldnt get us back to fixed heads
Shooting RX7 with 30” draw at 70#. 444gr arrow with G5 megameat. Trying MM after using Rage last few years.
I like the mega meat it makes serious holes in and out shot a good handful of em last year clear stupid holes
RD2 looks like it would be loud in flight, but I look forward to your report on it. Love your show Bill! Dream Big!
Jordan, I will find out. You are referring to the cutouts in the forward part of the blade, I presume. Testing them soon, I hope! Thanks for the comment.
Always dream big!
Amen brother.
Im shooting the truth of the arrow fixed blade 150 grain broadheads this year. Last year I shot the G5 fixed blade 100 grain. The G5 was great and killed both deer I shot with a pass-through within 40 yards. My buck was 5 yards almost straight down. The problem was that I broke one of the blades on the 2nd deer. I want to get more weight and see how I like it on impact. Jumping the string is a problem at 300 fps or 400 in my opinion. Sound just travels so much faster than the arrow. #BuckInTheTruck2024
Paul, you are right regarding the speed of sound, but they don't drop as far if your arrow is moving faster. It can be as little as a few inches, but that can make a real difference. I have dealt with string jumping a lot and being able to slow things down with the video you can really see what is happening. To me, that is by far the hardest part of making a shot past 25 yards - where is the deer going to be when the arrow gets there?
I’m curious why arrow noise isn’t more broadly discussed. I feel deer are more reactive to the sound of the arrow flying towards them than the sound of the bow
It is a good question. From studying the videos of string jumping I believe the sound of the shot is what starts them. That is the first thing they hear giving them more time to react. I also think arrow noise plays a role but that takes longer for them to hear so is not quite as critical. Still a factor though. Good point.
But, there are two sides to that tradeoff, if the arrow isn't making noise the fetching isn't stabilizing the arrow since much of the sound you hear is the fletching ripping through the air as it causes the arrow to spin.
@@bill-winke I’ve been giving it some thought today. Since you’re planning on taking several does this year you may be able to run a decisive experiment fairly easily.
When multiple does are in the field in different directions but same distance away, synchronize two cameras prior to shooting one and compare the reactions of the shot doe vs the other. If the shot doe lunges harder or quicker it could indicate arrow noise is more important than people think
Those are some of the most interesting looking broadheads....
How's the wound channel with the destrukt?
Probably what you would call average. It is not a big cutting diameter head so it will not be a big hole for that reason. Interestingly, I did shoot a doe with Jordan's bow (she couldn't get it drawn because of her shoulder injury) set at 40 pounds with the Destrukt 3 blade and hit it in the shoulder. It broke the shoulder and the doe was dead in less than a minute, ran just 40 yards. That is more important to me than the size of the wound channel. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke absolutely! Sometimes smaller cutting diameter heads can punch a nice hole because of the ferrule/ blade design. Thanks for the response and good luck this season!
I am using Crimson Talon 200 grain Crocs, screwed into a 50 grain goldtip insert on my 300 spine arrows. My bow is well tuned, and every one of my arrows is tuned as well. If you do not hand tune every single arrow before screwing on a fixed blade, you are asking for trouble. I shoot up close and personal, and want a head that is tough, that will penetrate through whatever it comes in contact with.
Bill, did you still have to tune that fixed blade broadhead?
The bow is tuned but I just screwed them on and hit the same as my field points at 40 yards. That's as far as I shoot at Whitetails now.
@@bill-winke awesome, I believe I’m going to order some then. I’ve never shot fixed blades just for the same accuracy problem that I never cared to deal with.
Question Bill- how many failure to deploy hits do you remember having over the years
Tim, I have tried to answer this a few times. Hopefully it goes through this time. I have never had one not deploy. I have shot many hundreds of deer with mechanical heads and have never had one do anything that I thought cost me a deer.
A well tuned bow will shoot a fixed blade with no issues which gives better penetration
The fixed blade heads are getting better, for sure. But that is not true across the boards. You still need the right conditions. A well-tuned bow on a still day will shoot some fixed-blade heads well as long as you don't make a rough release. I have tested many heads under a lot of conditions and I know this for a fact. Also, the faster you shoot, the touchier everything gets. Have a great day.
I always enjoyed the added difficulty of needing to make a smooth release with a big old fixed blade , i go non vented to cut down on the hiss, wich increases its ability to wind plane, basically, i intentionally make it as hard as possible to accomplish. The harder it is, the better it feels !
Bill, I bought some DeStrukt fixed based on your recommendation. As I creep toward 70 years old, I've reduced draw weight to 60 pounds. Can still pull 70 lbs. but want to try to extend my hunting years by protecting my shoulder. More recovery days needed at this age and less intense workouts. Liked the way the DeStrukt shoots and also they were sharper than many broadheads I've tried. Was a Rocket Steelhead fan for many years, but felt their quality continued to drop over the years and of course no longer available. Will Jordan be shooting the DeStruckt fixed because of lower draw weight and shorter draw length? Best---Randy from PA
The Demon hunter Valdez is the same as the steelhead. Check then out, I may try some.
Thanks for the comment. I have been impressed with everything about the Destrukt so far. Jordan will be shooting that head. In fact, I had the opportunity last year to shoot a doe with her bow (long story) and I hit it in the back of the shoulder - breaking the leg bone and killing the doe in a few seconds. That was with the Destrukt 3. I was an instant believer. Anyone looking to try them can get a 15% discount at the B3 Archery website using code: B3WINKE Have a great day.
I know they are your sponsor....But there is no way I would have any of those on my arrows. Im shooting the G5 MegaMeats.
Everyone says that about heads they have never shot. I remember one time a guy was fighting mad at me because I was shooting mechanical heads and he said in no uncertain terms that he had never shot them and would never shoot them. His opinion meant nothing. How you can be so sure something sucks if you have never tried it?
@@bill-winke Of course you are absolutely right. I haven’t tried them. I guess the design doesn’t make sense to me. And Bill, please know that I meant no offense. I’m a big fan. Heck I just purchased one a nock-on hat on eBay because it had your signature and John Dudley’s on it. So I am a fan. Thanks for replying to my comment.
@@TheNewBowunter I appreciate that. Thanks.
Bill I shot the 4 blade fixed all last year and was blown away how accurate they was.
Agreed, I have the four blade and the three blade. I shot the three blade last year, but will try the four blade some of the time this year. Use promo code: B3WINKE at checkout to save 15% if you want to try other styles. Have a great day.
I use slick trick they fly true and most of the time complete pass thru love them
Those are good heads too.
👍, I've used many fixed blades and mechanicals the best one I've ever used is the Swhacker 2" cut 100 gr #207, fast, flat and accurate many deer down & quick, quarter sized hole vs. a 2" cut, in an inch or so guiding direction before the sharp virgin main blades open up under the ribs inside the boiler room, always a 2" exit, best broadhead I've ever used IMHO. -W. Liggett
W. Liggett, I have never tried them, but I have heard some good things about them. Thanks for the comment. Have a great day.
@@bill-winke you too sir, good luck this season. -W. Liggett
I’m rocking an exodus still, but going to try some mechanicals soon
If you are already super accurate with what you are shooting, you won't gain a lot with a mechanical, other than maybe a bigger cutting diameter if you go that direction. Good luck.
@@bill-winke yes I am looking for a slightly bigger cutting diameter
As I get better at tuning bows I have bounced back and forth between fixed and mechaniclas as well. I have had very lethal shots with both and any misses were pure user error. There do seem to be a lot of high quality heads on the market today.
Exactly, I think today's fixed-blade heads are starting to get good enough that we can begin to move away from mechanicals - carefully.
@@bill-winke that's a big statement! I like a quiver with both for now
This topic always seems to get attention for better or worse 😂. Great video! Good info!!!
Yes, it is controversial. Fortunately, I don't have any emotion involved - only cold hard science (I have an engineering background) and a few years of experience. Regardless of the passion it brings out, I know what I know and it will take more than emotion to get me to change my equipment choices. I have seen (and sometime been a party to) several heated conversations in hunting camps and every single one of them had to do with broadheads. No one seems to fight over bows or arrow, but oh boy, broadheads...
@@bill-winke haha
Dream Big brother 🙏
Thanks Edward. You too.
“Finished weight arrow”
Does that include the broadhead?
Yes, total weight - includes the shaft, fletching, insert, nock and point (broadhead). Good luck.
@@bill-winke how were the blood trails with that fixed head
@@jasonteebo1437 I am not sure they were any different from the mechanical. All of the deer I shot with it fell in sight so I didn't do any actual trailing. I have never really considered blood trails when selecting a broadhead - mostly just accuracy first, and then penetration and durability second. Blood trails are usually good enough. I have only ever shot one head that had really bad blood trails. Other guys shooting it said the same thing. I won't say which one it was. It didn't make any sense because the head wasn't much different from others I had shot. Strange.
The original rocket steelhead is still available.
I think you have to find them ebay right? I bought some a few years ago, but haven't seen anything since.
You can get them from a couple different sites. I got some from executioner broadhead site your looking for demon hunter Valdez broadhead. It's Rick Valdez broadhead. These are just like the original. I have a bunch of original that I bought in the 90s
they are not on the trophy ridge website.
Interesting - was looking at the Destrukt
I think you will really like that one. Use the promo code: B3WINKE to get 15% off if you are going to buy some.
I like some of the work ranch fairy does. My hoyt bow really likes 550 gr arrows. Any heavier no go. I'm thinking of backing off to 475 ish. Do stiffer arrows penetrate better?
You are splitting hairs, but yes, in theory they do as they don't flex as much on impact. But again, unless you are shooting something where penetration is a big priority (maybe hogs) the difference will be small. Other factors (speed and arrow flight) are likely more important than the small gain in penetration you get from the slightly stiffer arrow. Good luck.
I shot the Full Metal Jacket arrows for a couple years. Only issue I had with them was having quite a few of them get bent when shooting deer. The aluminum exterior won’t let them flex back to straight like a standard Carbon arrow. Gets expensive when shooting a lot of does.
@chitwoodtaxidermy my cuz had similar issues. But he shot 30 40 times everyday in his house
i bought the code of silence gear because of you mr winke its been hard finding hunting clothing that keeps me warm an code of silence is where its at an its affordable GOD BLESS YOU your one of my favorite hunters your home state is on my bucket list to hunt one day GOD BLESS YOU
Thanks for supporting us and our sponsors. I think all of them make great products that are good value for bowhunters. I really like the Code of Silence mission and products - keep it quiet, blend well, affordable and warm - they hit all those checkboxes. Here is more information about their products: www.codeofsilence.com/ Good luck.
I have hunted with bows since 1986 and tested a lot of broadheads over the years and I stopped using mechanicals 15-16 years ago.
I found some fixed blades that were very accurate.
Also for long shots.
Specially because I finally found out how I could perfectly tune my bow so my arrows always left the bow perfectly.
I can shoot plenty accurate with these broadheads much further than I normally would shoot at a deer.
And now there are even more fixed broadheads that are this accurate.
So, I rather use these fixed broadheads where there is zero risks of any mechanical failures and they are also stronger to much stronger than all mechanicals as well.
And these fixed broadheads kill the deer as quickly as any large cutting mechanical when you put the arrow where is should be.
In my opinion is a 400 grain arrow absolute minimum on deer and I think that 450-500 grain is a perfect arrow weight for most whitetail hunters.
Even if they shoot lower draw weights.
I shoot a much heavier arrow than most at 650 grain, but I use the same arrow for all critters I hunt, so I rather have a bit of overkill on whitetails than using different arrows for what I hunt.
I have used a 650 grain arrow for all my hunting since the 2011 season.
My 650 grain arrow still leaves the bow at 260 fps and that is fast enough in my opinion.
And my bow has a much softer sound at the shot than when lighter arrows are used.
And in my experience seems this to make the deer jump the string much less.
They seem to not get so panicked by the sound.
And there is one thing that is for sure.
The arrow is never in the deer when it runs away after the shot.
In my experience does it also seem like the deer do not run as fast and as far before they drop after the shot as well with the arrow weight and fixed broadheads I use now.
And I think there are multiple reasons for that.
Always dream big and I hope you all will have a great season.
This year I'm going to be shooting the B3 2 blade exo 125 grain and the REK XP which is a 1.75inch cut rear deploy head also in 125 grain. I really wish B3 would make there 1.5 inch cut 2 blade in 125 grains as well. Good luck this year yall.
Thanks for the input. I expect someone from B3 will look at these comments at some point so your point is made. Have a great day.
I have shot muzzy 3 blades for most of my bow hunting career. I tried a couple different mechanicals and found that they didn’t penetrate as well and I rarely was getting pass through or even a good deep penetrating shot and lost a few deer because of it.
Some of the really large cutting diameter mechanical heads were bad news for a lot of bowhunters. The ones I always liked were the smaller ones that penetrated as well as fixed blade heads. Good luck.
I don’t know Bill…I don’t want to come across as overly judgmental or douchy, but your opinions and assessment of arrow dynamics relative to a tuned bow and proper arrow spine, seems to be out of touch.
I’d put the accuracy of a QAD Exodus or an Iron Will up against any of your mech broadheads anytime, in any conditions.
Any unless you can back your “facts” up with hard data, they are just opinions and observations based on experiences, nothing more.
You put a wing on the front of the arrow and it will steer the arrow under all but the most perfect conditions - perfect release, no wind. You remove the wing it flies more predicably. That is physics. I came to that conclusion regarding accuracy after many years of shooting (and an aerospace engineering degree). I never said there aren't other ways to do this. I love it when someone starts a sentence with.. "I don't want to be overly judgmental, but...."
@@bill-winke
Fair criticism, shouldn’t have started the post in such a qualified manner.
Some of what you were commenting on just seemed like older-school opinion, vs other data-driven content out there. Room for improvement there.
True, you didn’t say there was a one size fits all approach. Glad you’re giving fixed blade setups a whirl. Hopefully you’ll enjoy having consistent exit holes.
And don’t lean too hard on that 35 year old Mech Engineering degree relative to modern archery principals and arrow ballistics. F-22 tail actuators are cool, but not related. And yes, I know the laws of physics don’t change, but as more and more good data is exposed, new truths come to light. I wouldn’t trust the opinion of a doctor who hadn’t seen a patient in 35 years, even though they still hold the title. 😏
Why did u go away from wasp bill?
Just trying new stuff. They make good heads, for sure. I like testing new heads. Also, the B3 guys are always tinkering and trying new stuff and often ask for input from me, which is fun. Have a great day.
It's all about sponsorship! Period!
@@jbrooksy I would not shoot something that I didn't believe in no matter what.
@bill-winke. I believe you trust them, but did you solely pick those broadheads because you truthfully thought they were the best overall head you could purchase.