Best Broadheads For Elk

[Grumpy]

well archery deer and elk season is now, days or weeks away, and most of the old geezers I hunt with regularly are stopping by to discuss my upcoming hunting trips/plans
AND THEIR PLANS.
I got into several DISCUSSIONS LATELY,
BUT DUE TO A LACK OF CASH AND OTHER PERSONAL MEDICAL LIMITATIONS, & related FACTORS, I CAN'T MAKE A TRIP OUT WEST THIS YEAR.
HAVING OCCASIONALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL HUNTING WITH A BOW, MANY OF MY FRIENDS STOP BY TO TELL ME THEIR PLANS

https://biggamelogic.com/archery/broadheads/elk/

https://www.outdoorlife.com/bowhunters-broadhead-test/

https://www.kustomkingarchery.com/VPA-3-Blade-Broadheads-Screw-In/productinfo/7500/



https://outdoorarrow.com/best-broadheads/

https://spinoutdoor.com/best-fixed-blade-broadhead-for-elk/

https://westernhunter.net/tactics/t...wledge-of-shot-angles-and-placement-is-vital/

https://archerytopic.com/best-broadheads/

Ill state right off that
I'm not a fan of mechanical broad heads for ELK,
as you need max penetration.
I've seen several mechanical heads recovered from dead elk,
that broke or bent after hitting larger bones, some were in elk found dead that were not recovered by the hunter.
I've used several different fixed blade designs on both deer and elk and so far all have provided complete pass through and exit hits, even on shoulder hits.
yes my use of an 87 lb draw weight and a 31" draw BOW and limiting shots to under about 40 yards max, helps
as the inertial energy is significantly improved over lesser weight bows and lighter weight projectiles.
yes there are some very effective mechanical broadheads,
and yes many do work ok.
and a 3 or 4 blade broadhead design.
from centuries of testing, and recently testing in mediums like ballistic gel,
its been proven consistently in testing that the ideal broadhead DESIGN
should be approximately three times its diameter or blade width,
in length,
and blades should ideally be at least 1.125" in diameter or blade width,
at the widest point to maximize penetration
I don,t know of any commercial broadheads currently designed that way.
this rather shallow, blade angle, in a 3 to 1 broadhead, helps the blade slice flesh more effectively. and penetrate deeper.
two blade designs tend to be less consistent or accurate , in maintaining straight line penetration, compared to three blade designs in impact/penetration testing.
old school still works

designs like this one pictured directly below , are very effective if carefully sharpened

your main problem as in all hunting is getting in close enough to make a very well placed hit, and at the correct angle and distance, on the games anatomy, and destroying the games vitals.
most elk even if hit perfectly will run, so having an exit wound aids a great deal in producing an easy to follow blood trail and of course proper shot placement that destroys the vital internal organs is required, something thats hard to do with your heart beating far faster than normally, and adrenaline flowing in massive amounts.

you have hundreds of options and some fixed blade designs need to be sharpened some have replaceable blades, (both options work) but your hunt will depend on consistent accuracy and your knowledge of elk anatomy, and your ability to place the shot accurately.
thus a great deal of practice will be required.
DON,T TAKE long range low percentage rate shots,
respect the game and get into a sure for you range or pass on the shot, yeah! that's ALWAYS VERY HARD TO DO,
but its a skill and mental discipline you'll need to master!
its been my experience that archery shots over about 50 yards,
are far too long for most archery hunters, I know I practice out to 60 yards but luckily Ive had the ability to get into under 45 yards on the few elk I have successfully hunted,
(mostly due to elk trotting by close to me , at close range not my skill at sneaking close)

if I was to use a mechanical broad head something like this looks like it has potential.

 

[Grumpy]

 

[Grumpy]

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I got asked many more times than I could count ,
about my choice in archery broad heads.
now Id point out that in most cases you need to sellect a broad head that matches game department requirements and in most cases thats a minimum of 1"-1.25" wide and having at least three blades
now your choice obviously must be a compromise in several characteristic's
accuracy maters as does the durability, price and availability.
your first factor is accuracy or lack there of, if you can't consistently place the arrow,
where you want to, your at a distinct disadvantage.
next you must have the ability to consistently penetrate the vital organs from any reasonable angle,
and from any reasonable range.(without the broadhead being bent or damaged.)
most mechanical broadheads are at a demonstratable disadvantage , as they are generally marginally less durable.
penetration is mostly dependent the total projectile mass, velocity and impact energy and cross sectional area.
thus the bows draw poundage, energy transfer efficiency, blade design,and the bows draw length,
and trajectory all effect the projectiles potential lethality.
many bows that impart energy over only a short length,don't provide a great deal of energy.
many tend to be less efficient at transferring energy to the arrow ,
than a bow that can consistently apply more acceleration energy over a longer time frame.
traditional bows impart max thrust at full draw, that thrus dros as the string moves toward the bows handle.
compound bows energy transfer increases rapidly from the release until the max trust point.
closer to the handle, thus hold pressure at full draw is reduced from max poundage.
Are compound bows more efficient than recurve?
keep in mind a broadhead kills by causing rapid internal blood loss,
in most states youll be required to use at least a 50 lb draw weight bow,
60lb-65lb is a decent poundage that allows deep penetration and decent range,
but the stronger and faster the bow and the heavier and faster the arrow ,
the more lethal the archery equipment in skilled hands tends to be.
use the flater the trajectory and the deeper the potential penetration.
most effective ranges are under 45 yards for most archers




There are different ways to quantify the results of that increased energy, all being factors of the mass weight of the arrow, and how fast it comes out of the bow. In a nutshell, the same arrow will be shot much faster out of a modern compound than a modern traditional bow of the same draw weight.

Recurve vs. Compound Bow: The Differences in Performance, Design, and Shooting Style

These are the basic differences and similarities between compound bows and traditional bows (recurves and longbows).

www.outdoorlife.com

Differences between a Recurve and Compound bow

 

[Grumpy]

all the more experienced archers I hunt with have tried mechanical broad heads at several times over the decades as advertising shows them to be the (HOT TICKET???) and most have concluded that the old school, heavier fixed 3 & 4 blade 150 grain or heavier broad heads, that are, at least 1.1/8"-1. 3/8" wide, blade widths ,seem to give the most consistent, and deep penetration and lethality, and better results, and most consistently prefer a 55 lb or heavier draw weight bow with at least a 28" draw length.
matching shaft stiffness' to the draw weight and broad heads of at least 150 grain weight tends to be critical to getting good accuracy
and most want a 4"-5" fletching length.
maintaining the 3 to one length to blade width in the broadhead design tends to aid in best and more consistent penetration,
selecting a blade thickness of at least 35 thousands or more helps durability with 50 thousands thick blades having consistently more durability,
high tech might seem fine but 5000 years of field testing has shown, a good 3 blade steel fixed blade broad head, about 1 3/8" wide and 150-200 grains vin weight, to be very lethal in the hands of a consistent archer with a 55-80 lb draw weight bow if he places his shots well, and if he keeps shots to under about 50 yards on deer & elk etc.
obviously knowing your games anatomy helps.
archery at extended distances may look impressive, but most game is killed at under 50 yards