For most of the metal age, broadheads have weighed several hundred grains. History’s warrior-hunters figured out that heavier heads penetrated armor, bone and hide better than lightweight heads that travel slightly faster. Modern traditional guys remember history and do what they can to make their turtle-like arrows as deadly as possible; that’s why they routinely shoot broadheads weighing 200 grains or better. Target arrows with field points are typically more accurate than broadhead-equipped hunting arrows. – Heavier arrows carry more energy down range, while lighter arrows are faster but carry less energy at longer distances. – Barnett crossbows require arrows weighing a minimum of 400 grains.
If you are a high poundage shooter or someone chasing larger game then you need to make a choice between the heavy hitting AXIS or FMJ. But honestly, the very vast majority of bowhunters simply stick to 100-grain broadheads. It’s the best broadhead for deer and most other typical game. It’s right there in the middle and offers the most balance for pretty much all common scenarios, uber-large game hunting aside. The majority of companies that manufacture broadheads do so mostly for 100 grain.
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vs. 125 Grain
A lightweight bolt will be far less accurate with a broadhead that’s too heavy for it. Overall Arrow Weights I think a good average hunting arrow should fall in the 6 to 8 grains per pound of bow weight, with lighter bows maybe even closer to 9 to 10 grains per pound. Bow should be in the 360- to 480-grain range, a 70-lb. I read a study somewhere that said arrow weight and diameter have more to do with penetration than broadhead weight. Skinnier, heavy arrows get the nod for ke and overall penetration.
But 125-grain broadheads fly a bit slower compared to the 100 grain. My dad has a Parker Terminator HP that he bought last year. 125g heads are probably over killand I am sure that the 100g heads would shoot just as well and there is a wider selection of broadheads at that weight. FWIW the Parker arrows come fletched withstraight fletching on them.
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I shot 125s for 10+ years because I generally liked using a stiffer arrow and the 125 head would weaken the spine given me better flight. In retrospect, I think it was a mental thing and I had a lot of confidence in this setup. To answer your question, a 125 head can be used to fine tune your arrow flight or vice versa. I get clean pass-through on most of my deer shots (approximately 80% guesstimate) with 100 grain tips. I have even had several instances where my arrow had enough energy to gotten clean-pass throughs and stick into logs or trees where I had to really pull to get them out.
I mean, I realize the 125 will be heavier and dip down at longer shots BUT….. There are ways to do this using either screw in weights that attach to the back of the insert or washers that go between the head and the end of the arrow. You can’t put on very many washers or you lose too many threads on the broadhead . You can’t do anything to the broadheads themselves, but you can add weight to the front of the arrows.
how much does a 100 grain broadhead weight
Which you choose is based on several factors, including the game to be hunted, the conditions you expect to encounter on the hunt, and, just as important, your own personal preferences. Now that you know how to calculate an arrow’s weight, it’s important to determine what weight class or arrow best suits your bow and shooting needs. Deciding whether to shoot lightweight or heavy arrows depends on several factors. First off, one of the most critical points to consider with any arrows is straightness and spine consistency. These are two critical topics that you should never cut corners on if you are a serious archer that pays very close attention to your groups and consistency.
I think the days of being happy shooting a pie plate are over. Todays serious archers are wanting set ups that not only can bust through ribs but that can also bust nocks on the range. Regardless of the arrow you choose I would recommend taking advantage of a heavier front insert anytime you can. If you are shooting anything up to a mid sized game animal then take a serious look at the HEXX.
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Regardless of weight, you have to choose the right arrow spine to ensure laser beam arrow flight. Momentum is the amount of force your arrow has when it reaches the target. By increasing the weight of your broadhead, you decrease your arrow speed, but increase your momentum at normal hunting ranges. Would you rather be hit by a baseball traveling at 70 miles per hour or a bowling ball traveling at 30 miles per hour? While neither option sounds appealing, most people would choose the baseball. By using a 125-grain elk hunting broadhead, you’ll increase your momentum by about 10 percent and hit that big bull with bowling ball momentum.
It really all depends on what you want your total arrow weight to be or how much weight you feel you need up front. If the arrow fly’s well and all your shooting is whitetail I don’t think it matters much. In my compound I have killed elk with a 375 grain arrow and a 480 grain arrow. After fulling round with both ends I have now settled on a 420 grain arrow and shoot it for everything.
How to Call Elk Early in the Season
The more blades and edges, the more cutting and tearing, the more blood to follow. That’s not to say you should automatically choose six blade heads though. You can punch a really good through-and-through using a simple two bladed broadhead. It all depends on your preference and your shooting style. Keep in mind though that the more blades you have, the more energy you need to force them all through the animals hide. So if you’re keen to sport six-bladers, I suggest a minimum of 60 lbs as your bow weight.
Most heavier grain broadheads are mainly used by traditional shooters these day. There are some compound bow shooters that shoot the heavier heads up to 300 grain broadheads. The heavier heads will weaken the spine of the arrow, so make sure your arrow is spined right if you want to shoot heavier broadheads.
Grain vs 125 Grain Broadheads for Crossbow
The best way to select a broadhead is to test it on a foam target.One of my tests used a Gearhead crossbow that shoots traditional arrows. During those tests, I tried the narrow Axis shafts, and that improved penetration dramatically. The improved diameter of the arrow shaft nearly doubled penetration. Fortunately, most modern crossbows have such high kinetic energy that penetration is rarely a problem. You’ll find information like this in my new book “Crossbow Hunting- A YouTube Quick Guide” along with many helpful videos.
The old Parker arrows were Bemans and the new ones are Carbon Express, but neither have brass, they have aluminum. I, for example, when I sell a Parker I include Gold tip arrows which have a brass insert. With that heavier insert a 100gr tip works very well. With an aluminum insert you will be better off using a 125gr tip just to put more weight forward on the arrow so it flys better.
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Where things may change is the spine of your arrow. If you are on the verge of having an under spined arrow and you add 25 grains on the end of it, things may change. I used to shoot the 125 grain Thunderheads and they did a great job. In 2007 I switched to the 2 blade 100 grain Rage and I like those even better.
Light vs. Heavy Arrows
After building my first set of arrows I was amazed at the accuracy. Honestly one of the most accurate builds I have ever had. Consistency in weight, spine and straightness was amazing.