If you are new to hunting, you’re probably wondering and asking what broadheads grain you should use. Most hunters these days typically use 100-grain heads. Choosing a broadhead grain, though, must not depend on what others usually use.
According to thebodytraining.com and most experts, you need to consider other factors when choosing a broadhead. One factor to take into consideration is the kind of bow you have in your arsenal. If you use recurve bows, you have to look for the best broadheads for that bow type.
Broadheads Categories
Part of the fundamentals of broadheads is their types. There are the fixed blade and mechanical broadhead types.
Fixed Broadhead
As the name implies, fixed broadheads are immovable heads braced with blades through the ferrule’s entirety for added durability. Most shooters consider this broadhead type the most reliable to penetrate since they already have an open blade.
The single-piece broadhead design is the most durable among other fixed blade styles, according to most hunters. The downside to this category is the need to resharpen. Also, its movement may be affected on fast-shooting bows.
Chisel Point
Chisel-point broadheads are usually found in fixed-blade designs. They are reusable and can hit hard bones without swerving or bouncing off.
Cut-On-Impact
This fixed blade design variety will start to slice through right after impact as it penetrates deeper into the target’s flesh.
Replaceable Blade Broadhead
Replaceable blade broadheads also offer excellent performance in the field. They can even last longer than the single-piece broadheads provided that the body is intact.
As the name implies, you replace the blade once it is dull and blunt. This broadhead type is more expensive than the fixed blade. The replaceable blade broadhead is not as durable and does not penetrate as deep as the fixed blade variety.
Mechanical Broadheads
Mechanical broadheads are expandable and more sophisticated. They create a broader cutting surface, making them popular among bowhunters.
This broadhead type is best used for shooting long distances while using a bow with higher poundage. It offers excellent flight capabilities, making it a suitable option for choosy bows. However, this type tends to deflect, affecting its penetration and performance abilities.
Choosing a Broadhead
To narrow down your options when searching for a broadhead, make sure that you know your target game’s average weight and body cavity size. You should also consider the shooting distance, the kind of arrow weight, and your bow set poundage.
Heavy animals have broader chest cavities and heavier hides. They would generally have large and tough bones, too.
You can use a replaceable blade with a chisel point when hunting games with a smaller chest like deer and antelope. If you are into big game hunting, a cut-on-impact is the most appropriate choice. Using the most durable fixed blade broadhead is essential in this scenario.
Broadhead Grain Selection
The lightness and the carbon arrows of the 100-grain broadhead make it popular among hunters. There are multiple options for the 100-grain range for both fixed blade and mechanical broadheads, which you can use for shooting hogs.
Choosing between these two broadhead types lies in the hunter’s personal preference, but don’t forget to match your grain field tip to that of your broadhead. Most hunters choosing heavier broadheads would look for any grains higher than 125. Some manufacturers produce broadheads with 130 to 300 grains.
However, you must remember that heavier heads may decrease the strength of the arrow’s spine.
Switching To Heavier Broadheads
On the other hand, some shooters prefer heavier broadheads, at least by 25 percent or more. They believe that heavier broadheads can penetrate deeper, although not as fast as lightweight ones.
Today, most traditional shooters use heavier broadheads around 200 grains or more, making them deadlier than the lightweight ones. Almost all hunters use rangefinders, allowing them to shoot with flat trajectories without any issue with range estimation.
Additional weight on the arrow’s FOC provides several advantages for the hunters since it can penetrate deeper. Hence, brass inserts are used to add weight to the arrow to create 12 to 15 percent FOC.
For some shooters, it is more economical to use heavier grain broadheads than buying inserts. Opting to use heavier grain broadheads may also require an arrow upgrade with a heavier spine to compensate for the head’s weight.
Why Heavier Is Better
The broadhead weight makes a lot of difference during hunting, and here are the reasons why:
Increased Momentum
Momentum is the arrow’s force upon reaching your target: the heavier your broadhead, the slower the projectile, but there’s an increase in pressure.
Increased Penetration
Increased momentum also means increased penetration. It’s a vital aspect when shooting. Heavier broadheads result in cleaner kills and increase pass-throughs.
Increased Forward of Center
As you increase your arrow’s FOC weight distribution, you also deepen the penetration as the arrow flight improves. Arrows with 20 percent FOC and higher offer maximum penetration, while heavier broadheads help improve the FOC.
If you equip your arrows with 125-grain broadheads, it allows you to stay on target as you make fast kills even on big and tough animals.
Affects on Arrow Flight
Usually, increasing the broadhead grain, such as from 100 to 125, will not create a critical change in the arrow flight. That said, if your shooting arrow’s spine strength falls on the borderline, you need to upgrade and reset your settings.
What Is the Ideal Broadhead Weight
Modern shooters prefer the more common broadhead weight of 100 grains because of its lightness and speed. On the contrary, traditional hunters go for the heavier kind, at least 25 percent heavier or more for their broadhead blade weight.
We have established other factors to consider when choosing the most suitable blade broadhead grains to use.
To complete your setup, you also need to look for the best arrow within budget, but with excellent qualities. In the end, the perfect broadhead grain to use is the one that you prefer. Just remember to calibrate your setup before heading out to hunt.
