Expandable or fixed broad heads for bow season?

Question

What are your pros and cons for each?

Since I have an archery tag for turkey AND deer, I'm thinking of going with the fixed broadheads, but it's been my experience that fixed ones whistle louder than expandable ones.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

I use expandable for both deer and turkey
the pros to expandables are shoot a lot more like you field points, usually bigger cutting diameter cons, don't have the same cutting power as fixed ie after the shot if it is still in the deer and the deer is moving the blades can fold up and not keep cutting with movement of the deer
fixed pros and cons just reverse the pros and cons for expandables
by the way I use Rocket arrow heads Mini-Blaster 3 75gr
here is a link
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10029_400014007_400000000_400014000_400-14-7

Answer 2

Expandables: Pros- They will fly straight like field tips & they have massive cutting diameters
Cons-The blades are usually really weak, they can malfunction on contact without warning, they have been known to deflect off of animals that are quartering at steep angles, weaker penetration because energy is used up while opening blades.

Fixed: Pros- They are usually extremely strong, Deeper penetration & you don't have do worry about the blades not malfunctioning
Cons- Can be tough to get tuned if your bow isn't exactly tuned in, wind has more of an affect on them during flight & can often steer the arrow if not paired with a good set of vanes

That said I shoot fixed blades or everything. I shoot Muzzy MX-4 and they have been great. They have a small profile so they don't get driven by wind, they have an amazingly tough tip for breaking bone and there are four blades that just slice through anything. I have heard really good things about the Rage Slip Cam broadheads. Chuck Adams even shoots them now I think. Another really great broadhead you might take a look at is the turkey guillotine. It is amazing and saves all your turkey meat from damage. Here are some links to ll of the products I mentioned. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Answer 3

expandables fly great, have often huge cut diameter and allow more clearance at the riser. one disadvantage is they often deflect on quartering shots and dont have the penetration of the fixed blades.

talked to 2 different archery shops about rage slip cam broadheads.. both tell me that rage had a huge recall of the rage broadheads due to a design flaw that was keeping blades from deploying on impact. ill stick to muzzy fixed blades or spitfire expandables

Answer 4

On the pro side, they are easier to shoot like a field pt target tip. If you have an overdraw, they give you more clearance, and you do not have to tune them like you do fixed broad heads. Oh yea, they are cheaper to buy.
On the con side, they are not as durable and tend to break more often even if a clean hit it may hit a bone, and break at the pivot point. I have used them, and have friends who use them, but I guess I am just old fashioned and feel more comfortable using them.
I recon it's all a matter of what you feel comfortable with, thus affecting your confidence level.

Answer 5

My boss uses Rage 2-Blade expandables and I saw the pics of his recent bear hunt in Canada. 25 yard shot and the arrow went completely through the bear with a serious exit wound.

Answer 6

I have always used fixed & never had any problems.*