CG

I'm not here to bash this product. I think it is probably the most practical design for a mech out there. But Sat. I called in a 5x5 elk for my buddy who is shooting a High Country bow at 65# Beman ICS 400s at about 250 fps. He took a perfectly broadside shot at 15 yards. The arrow only penetrated about 6-8 inches. Luckily as the elk ran off it fell on the arrow. After waiting about 2 hours and recovering the elk I inspected the entrance wound. Well stuck between the hide and the ribs was the tip of the broadhead. The tip had curled and broke off the tip of the ferrule. Essentially the tip disintegrated on impact with the rib. Again, I'm not talking just the tip blade! The part of the ferrule with the allen screw to hold the blade also broke off. So essentially the BH entered the chest cavity with no tip. This elk would not have been recovered if not for the fluke of it actually tripping. Now this was not a a huge bull by any means, 600-650lbs max. If this had been a truly big bull 900+lbs I not so sure the arrow would have penetrated. I just thought I would give you all a heads up. I think this broadhead would still be very effective on deer sized game but I don't think it is strong enough for elk and bigger game. I guess it is up to you but I'm glad I got Muzzys on my arrows after that near disaster.

"What we do in this life echos an eternity"

amosgreg

Thanks CG!
I for one am a proponent of the KISS system and mechanical broadheads just add several layers into the single point of failure calculation. Me I want as much going for me as I can have and by eliminating anything that can go wrong(with in my control) I have less things to worry about when something does which it ALWAYS does!

Congratulations to your partner on his Elk and Good Luck getting yours!


Greg

"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

IL-Cornfed

Man, that's a BAD deal. Thank goodness you didn't loose the animal. I will say for the record that the Steelhead or GK Demon wouldn't have malfunctioned with it's SOLID STEEL construction.

Arthur P

I'm sure the folks at Barrie Archery would like to see the remains of that head. Might give 'em some ideas on how to improve the design. But I wouldn't make any rash judgements about the head on just one failure because it could be a fluke, one of those odd accidents that just happens. If a rash of this kind of failure turns up, then there is definitely a problem.

CG

I agree ArthurP. Could have been a fluke but once bitten..... If you look at the head you will see where the tip blade slides into the slot that the metal is very thin and there is not much there holding the tip blade in. It was like it "peeled" the tip blade and the ferrule off on the rib.

Amos, I'm going back up on Thurs. so hopefully we'll get another in the bag.

"What we do in this life echos an eternity"

PABowhntr

Now 5shot is rather fond of the Snyper and I believe he ranked it as his top mechanical based on his tests....

..and I would agree with him that it is definitely one of the better ones out there, but I have been and always will be a big fan of the Steelhead 100s. The Pathfinder tip is the reason why. As Amosgreg stated above the type of damage you described would not have happened to the Steelhead and yet it would have given as good if not better penetration.

Last season I lent one of the Snypers to a good buddy of mine. He missed a nice 8 pointer the next day...(not because of the broadhead but because of his shooting skills...<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>)....but, when he recovered the head he found the entire front of the head...the blade and part of the ferrule....was bent pretty well.

As you stated CG for deer sized animals the Snyper is outstanding but I tend to prefer heads that &quot;punch&quot; rather than cut on thick skinned game animals.

HuntingBry

I am a very big supporter of mechanical heads, and I use the Snypers. Last year I blasted one through the far shoulder blade of a deer, and except for a slightly curled tip it came through OK. I do see how something like you described could happen especially on elk sized animals. I think if I were heading out for elk I would have some fixed blades on my arrows, if not cut-to-tips. I love mechs., but you need to know your gear's limitations. I'm glad to hear you were able to get the bull.

Rob/PA Bowyer

It's really hard to say what happened with that particular head. I do know that 5Shot said the Snyper performed as well as Muzzy in all his tests including steel drums, plywood, etc...now why would this head penetrate steel drums but yet fail on a rib? Probably a fluke however one reason many frown on mechanicals on elk sized animals. Like mentioned, it probably wouldn't have done this on a whitetail sized animal but if the head was faulty in any way, it may have. Had this head been used as a practice head or had been shot before? Another reason to inspect the equipment prior to a hunt.

I am a proponent of fixed blades heads, however the Snyper did perform perfectly in my own field test on my best buck to date last season.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

moonge

for elk I would stay with a good fixed blade head but I will second IL-Cornfed on the Golden Key Demon, man those are wicked little broadheads that can take about anything you want to put them through! the solid steel body & tricar tip is just awsome.

JeffB

Yes it could be a fluke, but a couple of points.

Your friend's KE figures are pretty low. Assuming an arrow weight in the range of 400 grains which is about average for an ICSH400, he's getting a very marginal amount of KE (55 FP) for Whitetails, let alone Elk. Through experience I've come to prefer AT LEAST 60 pounds of KE for whitetails. Broadside and 15 or not, Elk are tough. Thicker hides, thicker ribs, etc..you need more oomph behind the head. I'd want at least 68 to 70 foot pounds of KE for Elk.

Granted, the head should not have failed as it did; I would send the head back to Barrie.

And like Frank, I like those Steelheads. Along with the WASP Jak-Hammers, they are the most fool proof mech's on the market.

JeffB