Having a great crossbow is useless without the right projectile, and inexperienced archers are often not aware of the amount of choice available to them.
What is the difference between a mechanical broadhead and a fixed blade broadhead? What difference does a chisel tip vs a cut on contact tip make? What does grain mean? Whichever type of heads you want on your arrow, we’ve got a profile to help your decision.
In a hurry? This is our Winner!
Maifield Archery Broadheads
- 1 1/8” Cutting diameter
- 0.028” Blades Thickness
- Fixed 3 Stainless steel blades, chisel tip
- Stainless Steel+ Aluminum
- 6 Broadheads per Pack
Crossbow Broadhead Selection – Our Reviews Can Help
It’s easy to face an episode of choice paralysis when deciding on the best crossbow broadheads to use, that’s where Archery Edge comes in. Below I have sifted through what I consider the best available broadheads on the market, from budget to pro level.
Maifield Archery Broadheads
These 100 grain Maifield Archery Broadheads come in packs of six and is easily the most budget-friendly option on the list which is evident in the materials used in construction.
Not only that but I have also composed a buyer’s guide for inexperienced archers, answering common questions about broadheads for crossbow and giving an overview of terms used.
By the time you have finished this article, you will have all the information required to make a good broadhead purchase.
Top Model Compared – Best Crossbow Pistol
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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OUR TOP PICK
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Maifield Archery Broadheads 100 Grain Bowhunting Arrow |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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BEST VALUE
|
Rage CrossbowX 2-Blade |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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RUNNER UP
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QAD Exodus Crossbow Full Blade Broadhead |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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RUNNER UP
|
G5 Outdoors Montec 100 Grain 1-1/16″ Cut Broadheads |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
|
EDITORS CHOICE
|
Muzzy Trocar 100 Grain Crossbow Broadhead |
|
Check Price On Amazon |
Best Crossbow Pistol Reviews of 2022
1. OUR TOP PICK: Maifield Archery Broadheads
These 100 grain Maifield Archery Broadheads come in packs of six and is easily the most budget-friendly option on the list which is evident in the materials used in construction.
Utilizing an aluminum ferrule, as opposed to the steel ferrules found on most broadhead models.
However, it’s three-blade construction does offer a respectable 1 1/8’’ cutting diameter which shouldn’t be ignored.
If you compare these models to some of the previous broadheads featured on this list you will find them lacking.
That being said, I would recommend these top crossbow broadheads for inexperienced archers looking to tackle very small game or fowl when starting out.
As a budget option, they are easily replaced for a small cost if they become damaged or lost during shots.
2. EDITORS CHOICE: Muzzy Trocar Crossbow Broadhead
Named after a surgical instrument used to create openings in the body for keyhole surgery, the Muzzy Trocar takes inspiration from laparoscopic trocars.
This advanced fixed blade design offers greater penetration upon impact than many of its contemporaries, with a solid steel chisel tip to avoid any deflection after striking against animal bone.
Designed specifically to combat the effects of unwanted crosswind the Trocar provides an enhanced level of performance and accuracy for a fixed blade broadhead, dependable in all situations.
It should be noted that these broadheads perform best with a high-speed setup, ensuring precision use at most distances.
Muzzy also sells replacement blades should any become damaged, making the Trocar easy to maintain and easy on the wallet.
3. BEST VALUE: Rage CrossbowX 2-Blade
Available in 100 or 125 grain, the Rage CrossbowX is a two-blade mechanical broadhead that has cemented its place as one of the most popular models on the market.
Great for anyone that struggles with premature blade deployment, as Rage has applied their Shock Collar Technology to ensure blades are retained until impact.
Flight is true as is expected from a mechanical broadhead, and further enhanced thanks to Rage’s unique Ferrule Alignment technology.
The CrossbowX has a cut on contact tip, and the blades deploy to a considerable 2 inches of cutting diameter on impact; leaving a substantial wound channel and large enough blood trail for even inexperienced bowhunters to track the animal.
Aftermarket blades are available, making the CrossbowX easy to maintain if a blade should become damaged.
4. RUNNER UP: QAD Exodus Full Blade Broadhead
QAD claims this to be a cut on contact tip, but I personally feel it resembles a chisel tip, so it’s safe to say that this broadhead can be described as a hybrid of the two.
No matter how you want to quantify it, the Exodus offers great penetration, carving through thick pelts.
A choice of 100 or 125 grain puts this right in the sweet spot for all crossbow use, and a 1.25’’ cutting diameter should suffice to humanely finish any game off.
Design is simple and sturdy, with replacement blades available should the original ones become damaged.
Like the G5, the Exodus broadheads are great for hunters wanting a simple fixed blade solution to their problems.
5. RUNNER UP: G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead
G5 has created a fixed-blade beast with the Montec. The design is stripped back and has a simple elegance, but these broadheads are built to last with incredible durability.
Featuring three steel blades that meet as an almost hybrid chisel/cut on contact tip, with a 1’’ to 1 1/8’’ cutting diameter, the G5 Montec has no problem penetrating tough hides and flesh; often resulting in a complete pass through. No worries about minimal blood loss with these, and are a good crossbow broadhead for deer hunting.
Available up to 125 grains in weight and requiring little maintenance other than sharpening, the G5 is a great choice for bowmen seeking a simpler option that will survive several seasons.
Best Broadheads For Crossbow Fixed & Mechanical Blades Buying Guide
Now that you have seen our reviews of the best broadheads for crossbow, it’s time to make your decision. If you have been bowhunting a long time you will already know your preferences, but for the inexperienced among you keep reading to find the best tips for your arrows.
Below I have highlighted the key points that you will need to consider when looking for your first broadheads, and hopefully by the end you will feel informed enough to make your choice.
Broadhead tip weight
Crossbow broadheads, like regular broadheads are weighed in grains. Typically, broadheads for crossbow will be heavier than their counterparts (usually 100 – 125 grains), because of the crossbow bolts shorter length and the extra force exerted by the crossbow.
The easiest way to select the appropriate grain weight is to check the recommendations from the company that manufactured your crossbow. Be warned, you can go heavier than recommended weight limits, but you should never go below the manufacturer’s strength recommendation, or risk damaging your bow and injury.
Best Types of Broadhead Tips
Broadheads are available with two types of tip, chisel and cut on contact. Each has its pros and cons alongside differing applications.
Chisel tips deliver a large amount of damage on penetration and leave an excellent blood trail to track your prize after contact. Helpful when you don’t have to course around the woods for hours, only to find nothing but air and blood trails.
Chisel
Chisel tip broadheads have a rounded end that has been honed to a point, bearing resemblance to a POZI drive screwdriver bit that has been sharpened.
Because of their design, chisel tips have improved penetration on contact with bones, and for game with tougher hides like hog or elk. Chisel tips deliver a large amount of damage on penetration and leave an excellent blood trail to track your animal after the shot.
Cut on Contact
Cut on contact tips have the blades flank right up to the tip, creating a bladed point and offer faster penetration with less bleeding.
Cuts on contact broadheads are known to bend if they come into contact with bone on entry, becoming less efficient; but they do offer greater organ penetration.
Fixed Blade vs. Mechanical Blades
Most of the broadheads available now are either fixed blade or mechanical, and there has been much debate about which is best of all and why. Typically, once a bowhunter has found what they like, they will stick with that head.
But each design has its own benefits and detractions.
Mechanical Blades
Mechanical broadheads are a relatively modern addition to the bowhunter’s arsenal.
These broadheads fly true through the air like a field point but deploy steel blades upon contact with your target.
These features lead to easier handling, greater speed and precision upon release, and vital organ damage with a large wound channel that creates an excellent blood trail.
- Pros – Mechanical broadheads are easier to adapt to, as they fly very similar to field point bolts that you will have used in practice. They also offer a larger cutting diameter than fixed blade broadheads, leading to quicker more humane kills.
- Cons – Mechanical broadheads feature moving parts, and as such can be prone to malfunction. Modern advancements have reduced the likelihood of this happening, but it remains a possibility. Bone is the enemy of mechanical broadheads, catching a shoulder or rib on entry can change the trajectory of your bolt causing you to miss the vital organs. When the blades bloom, there is a loss of kinetic energy which can affect penetration on contact which will cost you when hunting larger game. Many game reserves won’t allow the use of mechanical broadheads.
- Application – Mechanical broadheads have found popularity with hunters looking for whitetail and small game, because of the increased level of precision accuracy needed for the smaller vital zones.
Fixed blade
There are many styles of fixed blade broadheads available, and they have been a staple since Neolithic archers first made a flint arrowhead. The number of blades available on these broadheads vary between two, three, and four.
Fixed blade broadheads will need to be regularly sharpened, and some models will require sharpening straight out of the box. Many have the option to remove the blades to make sharpening easier.
Broadheads with fixed blades are available in a number of assortments, from grain weights to cutting diameter, to the number of blades. You will be sure to find something that suits your needs.
- Pros – Unlike mechanical broadheads, fixed blade broadheads have no moving parts that will potentially malfunction during use. Since the blade is already ‘deployed’ there is no loss of kinetic energy on impact, improving rates of penetration. Maintenance is simpler for fixed blade broadheads, the only requirement is that you keep them clean and sharp.
- Cons – Fixed blades can be affected by the wind, and are generally not as aerodynamic as mechanical broadheads which leaves them at a disadvantage for accuracy.
- Application – Most serious elk hunters will opt for a fixed blade broadhead for their reliability and deeper penetration. Moose, bear, and bison are also popular targets for fixed blade broadheads.
Difference between regular broadheads and crossbow broadheads
Many bowhunters claim there I no difference between crossbow broadheads and regular broadheads, and for a while, they may have been right, from the steel blades all the way down to the smallest o-rings.
But with the explosion in the popularity of crossbow hunting, broad heads have become more specialized for their needs.
Shorter blades
Typically, fixed blade broadheads for crossbows will have shorter blades than for a compound bow. This helps to improve accuracy by compensating for the crossbow bolts shorter length.
Heavier
While there is some overlap in this area, crossbow broadheads tend to be heavier than their compound or recurve counterparts. 100 – 150 grains is a standard size margin for crossbow users, giving the bolt some balance by being weighted forward; leading to a straighter flight path.
Better blade retention
Crossbow people tend to favor mechanical broadheads to make use of the greater accuracy they all offer, and the diminished effect the wind will have on the bolt head in flight.
Because crossbow bolts leave the weapon at higher speeds, mechanical broadheads developed for crossbows have stronger blade retention to avoid premature deployment.
Top Crossbow Broadhead for Deer
Fixed blade and mechanical broadheads are both useful if it is deer you are pursuing, however, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration.
Some are determined by your skill, and others are more practical.
Fixed Blade vs Mechanical
Whether you choose a fixed blade or mechanical broadhead when hunting deer is a personal preference. The main point you will need to consider is your skill with the weapon, no matter what kind of buck or game is in front of you.
Mechanical broadheads provide more accuracy and shoot similarly to field points used in practice and are a good option for beginners. Fixed blade broadheads will deliver a more efficient kill, but are harder to shoot.
Broadhead Weight
When hunting deer, 100 or 125-grain broadheads are both good, but any lower and you will lack the penetration required to finish the job.
If you have a particularly powerful crossbow, 150 grain might be an option, but the benefits are negligible.
Blade count
Any number of blades will do the job, as long as you have a sufficient cutting diameter, more blades create a larger wound channel but don’t offer anything in the way of lethality.
Cut Diameter
As long as you have a cutting diameter larger than an inch, your broadhead should provide enough lethality to take down a deer quickly and humanely. The blade angles can also impact the shots wound width on the animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I practice with broadheads?
When it comes to practicing your archery skills, we would always recommend using broadheads. Broadheads are the more ethical option to use when hunting, and you will want to practice using them to ensure you are shooting them correctly.
You should always practice before the season to ensure that you are confident and comfortable using the broadheads. While they are an arrow that is typically more difficult to use, in recent years they have become easier.
When you are using the newer design of broadheads, they do travel better through the air. Even so, you will want to practice using them prior to hunting to ensure that you know how to shoot them correctly.
In addition to this, by practicing, you will be able to determine whether or not the arrow head needs to be adjusted in any way. If they have not been used for a while, or they are new, then this will likely be the case.
When you are using arrows, you will need to practice your shoots to ensure that they hit a target accurately. If you are not practicing, then when it comes to hunting, it is going to be more difficult to have a clear and concise shot.
Why do my broadheads shoot right?
If you are using broadheads and are finding that they are shooting slightly to the right, this means that you are not quite using them correctly. However, it is good to know that all you will need to do is slightly adjust your technique. After you have done this, you will be able to shoot the broadheads correctly.
When the broadhead shoots right, this means that you are moving slightly too far to the right, and will need to adjust your positioning so that you are more central. The positioning of your bow is so important, and this is something you will not want to rush.
You will want to take your time to help prevent the arrow from shooting right. In addition to this, you will want to keep practicing. The more you practice your technique, the easier it will be for you to line up your shot accurately.
In addition to this, you will need to ensure that you have adjusted the arrows correctly, as this is something that can also affect the direction of the arrows. Broadheads are notoriously more difficult, and this is why it is important to have all of these aspects correct before taking your shot.
Why do my broadheads shoot high?
If your broadheads are shooting high, just as when they shoot right, this is typically because there is an issue with your positioning. If the broadheads always end up just above the target you are aiming for, this means that you are aiming too high.
To resolve this, you will want to aim downwards slightly. As the arrow flies through the air, it will dip slightly. As a result, your changes should be minimal. It is worth noting that if there is wind present, this can also affect how high and low the arrow is.
You will also need to ensure that your broadhead arrows are tuned after each use. If they are not tuned correctly, this will ultimately affect how they fly through the air. If the tuning is off even slightly, this can cause the arrows to shoot slightly high.
When shooting, you will want to take into consideration your positioning. You will want to tilt your bow down slightly, and adjust the positioning when you are practicing to ensure it is correct for you.
Summary
By now you should be knowledgeable about the types of broadheads available, and their common features and have an idea of what will suit your needs. If you are still unsure of how to pick the best crossbow broadheads, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and give our people a chance to respond to your products on a case by case details.
If I were to load up for a hunt today, I would bring along a quiver of bolts equipped with what we think is the Best Crossbow Broadhead – The Muzzy Trocar Crossbow Broadheads.
The simple design ensures they will work as intended every time, without having to worry about mechanical failures and if any of the blades become damaged in use, the parts are easily replaceable.
Looking for a new Crossbow? Make sure to check out our guides on the best Recurve and Tactical Crossbows!
If there is anything you think that we have missed, or have any hints and tips to share please comment below and let us know. We are always trying to deliver the most up to date relevant content for hunters and archers, so if there is a topic you would like to see us cover please get in contact.
Maifield Archery Broadheads
- 1 1/8” Cutting diameter
- 0.028” Blades Thickness
- Fixed 3 Stainless steel blades, chisel tip
- Stainless Steel+ Aluminum
- 6 Broadheads per Pack
