5 shot

I don't dispute CG, I think he has some bad luck with mechanical heads. I feel thier are some very good ones out thier, they just don't work well for CG! Coyotes and head shots, well I have never hunted them, but knowing what they are and can do to game populations I would probably take one if I ever get the chance. I would prefer the "classic" shot, but they are much differnt than big game animals. It is up to each bowhunter to decide what shots are ethical for him or her. We each have differnt skill levels and a shot that is too far for me not be a chip shot for someone else. CG is just sharing his experience with us, take it for what it is, and use the information to help you select your heads. I take my test results as well as field reports when I recommend a broadhead to someone. I for one am gratefull he takes the time to make his posts and share what has happend with his personal hunts.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

eightwgt

Ok - OK !!! CG I have to back up a minute here.... the guys are right abote the coyotes.... A head shot and neck shot is likely I know - I used to predetor call / hunt so I know, I never used a bow but aware of a coyotes way of approaching. I guess I jumped the gun a little to lash you as bad as I did.... after reading the other posts here the guys all have there points, and 5shot that was a good response among others. I still think even the ole coyote deserves a little respect as far as shot placement goes... if YOU KNOW you can allways hit a 1"-2" bullseye at 20 yards you can make the shot I guess, I just have not seen it done on a coyote, or a fox.....so Im not really sure.....
Anyway - good luck with the rest of the season.....

PABowhntr

I don't intend to be critical of CG either but two specific thoughts popped into my head as I read his original post and the subsequent ones.

1) Yes, he has had some not totally perfect experiences with the heads in question. But, that does not rule out the many others that are out there. There have been at least 3 or 4 negative posts in the last few months about problems with the Snyper and yet they do still continue to perform for most folks. Obviously, no head is perfect for every situation. I do honestly feel though that you would not have had the problems in question if you would have used the Rocket Steelhead instead. I have never, ever, heard of it not opening and it outpenetrates just about everything else out there....fixed blades included.

2) Though the experiences that were singled out were specifically with two different mechanical models I think the very same could be said of any two fixed/replacement blade heads. I am sure that type of head has failed as much, if not more simply because they have been around much longer.

You have to basically take CG's experiences with a grain of salt. There are bound to be bad experiences with any and every head. It is the repeated bad experiences that should send up a warning flag for us.

**On a related note, I did some testing of my own last night with an unusual medium and found some very interesting results. I will be sure to post them with pictures later today.

Straightarrow

CG,

I found out awhile back that if you say something negative about any equipment that others like, you will be slammed for it. For some reason, certain people take great offense to you reporting your results. No where did you say the heads were no good, just that they didn't work for you and this was the result. Seems if they had good results, they just can't believe that the head would be capable of failing for anyone else.

I've also had a poor experience with a mechanical and I've decided to use them only for turkey and smaller game. The fact that others love them and keep using them, doesn't bother me at all.

As for your head shot, shoot 'em wherever you want. Sounds like a bunch of animal rights people raggin on you. I'll bet these same people are out there shooting at flying birds, running rabbits and the tiny heads of turkeys - and they're calling you unethical!

HuntingBry

CG, I'm not going to rag on you for the head and neck shot choices because they are exactly that, your choice. Personally, I disagree with those shots even if they are on "only a coyote" which is a mentality I also disagree with despite hating them, but that's me. When you originally mentioned your findings about the Snyper I didn't find it that hard to believe since I have used them, checked out their design, and it slammed into the rib of an elk. The one that bent in the neck of the coyote though does concern me. If it did not encounter any bone and bent as you said it did I believe there is either a serious design concern or the batch you got belonged in the trash heap not the store shelf. If you could, please post a pic so we can see what happened.

Personally, I use Snypers for deer and have had success with them on 4 straight animals with varying shots. My shots and results have been as follows:
1. Slightly quartering away shot arrow entered right behind the front shoulder and smashed through the far shoulder blade catching both lungs. Not a complete pass through. The arrow sheared off and the deer went about 60 yards.
2. Broadside shot pass through embedded 6 inches in the ground on the other side of the deer. Double lung hit and the deer dropped within 40 yards.
3. Broadside shot deer tried to jump the string and the arrow caught the spine. It went through to the other side and the deer dropped in that spot.
4. Hard quartering away shot with the arrow entering behind the ribs passing through the liver and diaphragm and catching one lung. The arrow poked through the far side and eventually broke off and fell out. The deer went less than 100 yards.

The heads were recovered on all but the last mentioned and all just needed new blades to be used again. None of mine bent despite encountering heavy bone.

I have had better success than you, but I am seriously considering changing because what if the one failure I have is on my next shot and not on the practice bail.

As far as the Gold Tip head goes I wonder if the blades slung forward when they hit the far rib and came to a sudden stop. NAP has said that can happen with their heads. Just food for thought. Good luck.

Edited by - huntingbry on 10/03/2002 08:16:18

eightwgt

CG

I want to post again..I wanted to say Im no animal rights freak at all.... I, like Huntingbry simply disagree with any head and neck shot.... could I do it ? I think so, Im a good shot, but Id go for the larger lung area simply because its a high percentage shot.... so Im jumpin up and down here (though I was) about ethics. After I readd the other posts I sat back and though yea... I need to cut ole CG some slack here. I do applaud you for the post CG, you told it like you wanted too, period... thats what makes this forum so good....
Thanks...

Tom

midwestxpress

What happens is the mecanical opened going in. When the arrow came out it had to come back out the initial hole which is usually small. As it does the blades are then closed again, leaving hunters to believe the head never opened. If there was hair caught between the head and blades it opened.

dpv

Gotta throw in my two cents. I bought the cheapest mechanical they had at Walmart. Allen brand. 100 grains. they shoot a tight group, but for some reason are about a foot and a half high at 20 yards. after adjusting my aimpoint they are very tight at 20-30 yds. I have complete faith in them (except one of them is bent after hitting an oak tree before I adjusted my aimpoint. ) I havn't hit an animal with them yet, but will let everyone know once I do.

David

BOWFANATIC

I think maybe the title of this thread had folks worked up before even opening the thread<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

gleninAZ

CG-First, thanks for this post. I was reading a lot of threads about mechanicals and was ready to try them on my elk hunt next week. No way. I'll stick with the TH 100's that have never failed me on elk. As for yotes, our F&G people tell us on the side that every deer and turkey hunter needs to kill two on every trip if we want any deer and turkey left in Arizona. Yotes are breeding at high rates here and they do not qualify for the same ethical consideration as game animals. The animal rights people who took away the trapping and poison tools from F&G don't understand or care about balance. I support you killing yotes any way you can. They are eating Bambi! Good hunting.