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ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

I broke out my bow this evening (an older PSE) and set out the target at 20 yards... glad to see I can still shoot it and it was on

I have some spitfire 2 blades I bought for it but have never used other than to verify they have the same POI, which they do, verified again

has anyone used these on deer or hogs?
I would limit myself to 20 yards as that's what I have sighted in at and have practiced at

if memory serves correctly my bow is set at 65lbs, so, that should be enough impact velocity to ensure opening

I researched when I got them and felt good about them at the time, but I believe all they offer now is the 3 blade...

thanks

gstoneberg · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:37 am Post subject:

Spitfires work fine on deer as long as you stay out of the shoulder blades and keep the draw weight up. At 65lbs you'll be fine. The issue with draw weight and expandable broadheads is less about opening them reliably and more about having enough energy left after opening them to get adequate penetration. It was an especially serious problem with light weight arrows back when overdraws were popular and bows didn't deliver the energies they do now. I have had trouble with expandables shooting through the shoot-through mesh of ground blinds and with sharply quartering shots. Consequently I don't shoot them anymore. I use Snuffers.

Hogs are tougher than deer and since I don't have any experience shooting them with expandables, I'll defer to Howie and others who've tried them. I personally would not shoot an expandable at a hog.

Good luck,
George

ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

thanks
I might try to get out tomorrow evening, I want to be setup for both hogs and deer....

see if this gets any more responses
I would like to have something that flies to the same POA as my 100g field tips, and these 2 blade spitfires do... I could probably get something else and verify POI before going out

gstoneberg · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

So far its just you and me. If I had to shoot a hog with an expandable I'd pass the big boars. On larger sows I'd try to take slightly quartering away shots. Younger hogs are no problem at all. Remember to keep your shots low and forward on the hogs. I honestly would use the Spitfires before trying a new broadhead without much practice time.

But, to answer your question...personally I've found the old 2-blade heads to be the most forgiving fixed blade broadheads out of a compound and the most likely to shoot to the same POI. Examples are the old Bear Razorheads, Magnus, Magnus stinger, Zwicky, Grizzly, Steel Force and the like. The higher your arrow velocity and the more blades on your broadhead, the poorer your chances are. If your bow is tuned well and you have good form your odds are much better. POI issues are a big reason why expandable heads are so popular. Field points cover a multitude of tuning and form problems.

Good luck and take pictures.
George

ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

thanks
well, rilfe season opens Sat AM and I took off Monday and Tuesday
if I get out tomorrow, I would be the only one hunting...
so.. that is certainly appealing

my boss is a big bow hunter and swears by the crimson 3 blade

yeah, I know if I went out and bought new ones, and had to resight the bow, then I certainly wouldn't see anything to shoot!

that's the way it works isn't it?

gstoneberg · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you have 4 or 5 good days ahead of you. Bowhunting right before gun season has always worked well for me. Good luck.

The Crimson Talon broadheads are an interesting design. The broadhead spins the arrow. I haven't tried them as they came out after I had pretty much switched to the recurve. Certainly bows can be tuned and shot well enough to use 3 and 4 blade broadheads. Getting your bow sighted in with broadheads was a standard part of the prehunt ritual years ago. A lot of us switched to Muzzy heads when they started sending practice heads with their broadheads. It gave us a way to continue practicing if our POI wasn't the same as field points (and it often wasn't). I hate to shoot a perfectly sharp broadhead into a target unless I can resharpen it.

And, yes, the odds of seeing game are inversely proportional to the amount of work (and expense) you've put in to get ready.

Good luck and keep that digital camera charged up.

George

ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

thanks
I called Spitfire up to ask about my old 2 blade ones and one of the tech guys (Chris) was kind enough to offer to exchange my 12 year old 2 blades for new 3 blades... free of charge, just send them in...
now that is customer service!

gstoneberg · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject:

You can tell it's bow season. I must be the only one not out doing what we all love to do.

New Archery Products is a good company. I'm glad they are treating you that way. Their Thunderhead has been a great broadhead for many many years.

Good luck to you.
George

howie1968 · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:07 am Post subject:

spitfires on hogs??? no way as a guide those happen to be the worst ive seen for hogs ask blood trail on a small hog i showed him a hog i shot had one imbedded into it those are the worst cripplers on hogs 2 blade fixed heads along with any of the top 3 blade fixed heads will get the job done
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ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

thanks guys

I did make a run to Academy Thursday night in time to get some 3 blade spitfires (before reading Howie's response) and verified they shot to the same POA

I'll get some different broadheads
will get some fixed and take the time to tune the bow to them if needed

I did get up in a stand I made for bowhunting, I was in it not 10 minutes and had does come within 6 yards of me, with the bow still hanging in the tree and I was squatting down looking for deer far away...

thought my legs were going to cramp as I tried to get ready while not letting them see me move or hear me!

I got busted, but, man, it was quite exhilarating and I can definitely see the attraction to it!!!

will be back at it again soon!

gstoneberg · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the madness. People who've never had a deer close like that don't understand. I've been sitting on the ground before and had deer sniff my broadhead. It is a rush like no other.

Having said that, when they get that close you are pretty much stuck. They can hear your clothes rustle at 6 yards. It is best to hold still and let them get 20 yards or so away before trying to move at all. Of course, if they wind you they're going to blow out of there, but really try to avoid getting busted and letting them see you in the stand. Once an old doe sees you she will go nuts trying to be sure you aren't there before feeding. Hopefully these were young. You can get away with a lot on deer less than 2 years old.

Good luck with the new broadheads. Hopefully they will shoot fine out of your bow.

George

ccoker · SENIOR MEMBER Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 1131

yeah, it was definitely a rush..
I started pistol hunting a lot because rifle hunting got too easy..
getting within 75 yards for pistol hunting isn't much of a challenge anymore
I still like to to both of course but the bow hunting was definitely a blast

I put my stand on the south side of the feeder, about 15 yards.. well, that's where the best tree was, I found where they are coming into the field from the thick area but there was no good trees to put a stand in
kept falling the trails and the best spot was literally next to the feeder

now, I want to go night hog hunting with the bow!

gstoneberg · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject:

Yup, stand trees just don't grow where it's convenient. At our lease, being on the south side of the feeder is to be upwind of it 75% of the time. I have a stand like that too. Don't get to hunt it much. As I get older, I actually prefer sitting under a cedar tree. If you have a cedar thicket in bow range of the feeder, cut yourself a little hollow in the middle of it. I absolutely love hunting on the ground. You have to move slower, but with the right setup it is really deadly.

I've hunted hogs just one time in the dark with a bow and that was on a weekend hog/javalina hunt down by Laredo. I didn't get any night time shots. I'd like to do it again too, though right now my desire to get pork influences me to carry the rifle most of the time.

I started hunting with the bow and then added a muzzleloader and rifle just for fun. I love hunting hogs any way possible, while in deer hunting I definitely prefer the bow. Odd.

George