goin' deep 4?, 3?, or 2? blade?

[tomg]

I know it does'nt really matter how many blades you shoot as long as you hit the right spot . My is has anyone had trouble with 2 blade broad heads not leaving a good blood trail? the one time I used a zwickey 2 bl. the deer only ran about 100 yrds but left hardly any blood trail to follow ... when I did find her I tried pulling the arrow out ..Ihad to twist and turn the shaft sideways to break the sucktion of the chest cavity ... When I field dressed her I found that i went through the liver into the chest and there was blood a plunty ..just none on the ground to track. Would a 3 or 4 bl keep this from happening? But the problem for me is I like to shoot a light poundage bow ( 45-50 lbs) and some times I don't get an exit wound depending on the angle I hit through the chest ...so I thught the 2blade would allow me to go a little deeper???

[Bob/FLA]

Hi again tom!

I have been shooting 2 blade zwickies for quite a number of years and have not had any issues at all.  I did read in a thread on another board that some people prefer fixed 3 blade heads for the purpose you stated...they open a greater wound channel.  But I have not experienced that and will continue using my zwickies.  I have read many opinions on 2 vs 3/4 blades and will gladly give you mine...I like 2 blades.  They're easy to sharpen and they fly straight.  That's a combination I can live with.

As for your poundage...I believe you have plenty for anything except dangerous game.  I shoot both a #60 recurve and #52 longbow.  With another #50 bow, I had complete penetration of a pig @ 25 yds...while with the #60 recurve, only the broadhead went completely through a deer...AT TEN FEET!!!  The reason is the arrow was still in paradox at 10' and the energy was split between forward and lateral movement.  

Hope this helps!

[sweet old bill]

I have used 2 blade but also found that they did not leave a good blood trail. I went to 4 blade in a higher weight BH 125 gr. It leaves a good hole and I do get pass thru most times. I am shooting only 52 lbs at full draw.
I also may try this year a new BH from rocket BH called the steel BH, I put them together, they seem to be a outstanding blade and tip. The only thing I do not like is they are 1 inch in dia ( small ), but say they fly just like field points. I sold from my pro shop several sets last year, and all the people that got shots, said they could not believe the penteration, passthru, and not even broken blades.

[TheBowhunter]

I to like the others have tried two blade in the past like the bear with razor inserts one of the problems I had with them is when they hit someting solid like the Bone they useually curl up, seems like the main body structure is not stiff enough. I had minimal pass through with them. MY personal assumption that the blade curling upon contact with a bone rib, leg bone,  or ect  caused the arrow deflextion which slowed down the shaft upon entry. Instead of cutting  the or forceing through  the bone it would glance off it.

now I shot the snuffer and they seem to hold up much beter I have had more pass throughs and  the blood trailing has been good .

[SoftPoint]

I've had a problem with two bade broadheads flying straight! Switched to three blade snuffers and they fly great, also good penetration

[Bowhunter57]

tomg,
You're right on 2 counts. Shot placement is everything and 2 blade broadheads will give you better penetration.

I've shot a number of small game animals and 1 deer with 2 blade broadheads and in every situation the blood trail was poor, if it existed at all. Usually there was a few drops at the contact location and after that....good luck finding the animal.

The deer that I shot was a 240 lb. 10 point buck at 14 yards, through both lungs. There was a few sprinkles of blood where the buck was standing, but there was NO other blood from that point to where he died at 103 paces. I watched him fall, but if I would've had to track him, I'd been in serious trouble.

I will always shoot a cut-on-contact broadhead in a 3 or 4 blade configuration. I don't want to lose a single animal and then say, "Wished I'd used a multi-blade broadhead."

Good luck with your choices!
Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[tomg]

I think I'm going to go with the 125 magnus 4 blade .. It just looks  more solid in construction to me than the Zwickie 4 blade . Plus when I was looking at the zwickie 4...it seems that cutting and bending metal from the body would weaken it  and also it looks like they would be hard to sharpen to a razor's edge ...Anybody out there that's a zwickie 4 bl  fan??

[elroy]

I have shot a lot of deer with my recurves and longbows, mostly with zwickeys and magnus. I have shot the grizzlies and killed about 4 deer with them. Penetration is more arrow flight and shot placement with heavy enough arrows. I shot a 230 pound buck at 35 yards with my 63 pound longbow 2 years ago,540 grain arrow, and passed straight thru. That was with a 3 blade thunder head 125. There was not a single drop of blood. I was fortunate to know the area and I found the buck where he bedded, but had no trail to follow at all. I have shot deer with 2 blades and ruined my jeans tracking the deer because the blood was everywhere, on the brush , trees etc. The blood trail is usually best on the exit side. Since the 2 blade is generally the safest bet on the penetration , if you are not sure go with the 2 blade. I help my buddies with their tracking and skinning,(they are all compounders),and the truth is usually the perfect shot they remember isn,t so perfect once the hide is off and the holes are seen. Be honest about the reality and don't fall into the trap of blaming the equipment for problems caused by poor judgement and misplaced shots. If you get both lungs the deer will be on the ground in less than 100 yards, and shouldn't be that hard to find even with a minimal trail. Some people fall into the trap of thinking they have to get a deer and don't always wait for the right shot. You will be the cause of the success or failure of your hunt, not your gear. Whatever you have the most confidence in will allow you to do your best. OK I'll shut up now.