How to pick a quality broadhead for elk and solid options to consider. Picking a broadhead is a personal decision based on what you value: accuracy, penetration, and durability
Chris Neville with an elk taken with Sevr Titanium 1.5 broadhead.
Before I get too deep into it, this isn’t an article debating whether mechanical or fixed blade heads are better for elk.
I have killed several elk with both fixed blades and mechanical broadheads, and they are all…still dead. Personally, I have my preferences, but I also have a lot of respect for many other hunters who are wildly successful every year on elk, and their broadhead of choice is different from mine. My recommendation is to shoot a sharp, accurate broadhead and, most importantly, a broadhead that you’re confident in. In saying that, I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for some suggestions because it’s not practical to buy and try them all. For that, I can offer personal experience, but it would also be silly if I didn’t borrow from the recent study that James Yates put together in conjunction with Easton, Precision Cut Archery, Sound Analytics, and Black Ovis. Check out the results from the broadhead test here. Let’s look at some good options for elk.
The cutting diameter of the Sevr Titanium 1.5 broadhead is 1.5 inches with a swept back blade cutting angle. In flight, the blades are held within the ferrule by a silicone band near the base of the broadhead. The blades open upon impact, slide back in a rear deploying fashion, and lock and pivot around bone. The pivoting feature works as needed to keep arrows driving straight through even on steep quartering shots and bone impacts. This feature increases penetration versus regular rear deploy non-pivoting heads. The ferrule is made from machined Grade 5 titanium with a precision ground tip and blades made from .032-inch thick stainless steel. In addition, every broadhead comes with a locking screw that can be inserted into the ferrule to ensure that the blades won’t deploy, which allows you to practice with the broadheads without overly dulling the blades.
One of the claims by Sevr is that you get field point accuracy. In saying that, I dove into the recent study I cited earlier to see how this broadhead performed. The Sevr 1.5 tied for second among all broadheads tested in regards to aerodynamics. The Sevr 1.5 was listed as one among four broadheads as the most accurate. The shooting machine consistently shot field tips in two- to three-inch groups at 70 yards, and the Sevr 1.5 shot the same size groups as the field tips, according to the study. So, the claim that this broadhead offers field tip accuracy is as close to truth as it could be, although I would suggest that because there’s more exposed surface area, you’ll likely see slightly more drop at 80 plus yards than you would get from a field point.
I have successfully used this broadhead several times to kill elk and have had good experiences. When I’ve made a good shot, the arrow has flown well, penetrated well, and delivered good blood trails. Sevr also makes a 1.75-inch and 2-inch model, and I regularly get asked if those options would be good for elk given the larger cutting diameter. To that point, my preference has been the 1.5-inch because I think it yields better penetration potential. In addition, although anecdotal, it would seem that the shorter ferrule on the 1.5-inch should offer tighter tolerances in terms of strength and straightness. It’s available in 100-and 125-grain options directly from Sevr in custom quantities.
The Sevr 1.5 Hybrid essentially has the same dimensions and functionality of the 1.5-inch, but it has two fixed “bleeder” blades in addition to the rear deploying mechanical blades. The 0.7-inch wide fixed bleeder blades give you a total cut of over 2.2 inches, which is an increase of 46% compared to the standard 1.5-inch. The Hybrid still offers the pivot feature for the expandable blades and, once again, you can use the locking screw to keep those mechanical blades from deploying so that you can practice with them.
In the recent Yates study, the 1.5 Hybrid ranked 10th among the broadheads tested in regards to aerodynamic drag. The Sevr 1.5 Hybrid performed well for accuracy, shooting groups in the 3-inch to 3.5-inch range. Overall, the 1.5 Hybrid ranked among the best in terms of accuracy, and with the added cutting dimensions, it’s a great choice, in my opinion, for elk hunting. I’ve killed an elk with this broadhead ,and it performed well. It’s available in 100 grain and 125 grain options directly from Sevr in custom quantities.
The G5 T2 Broadhead is engineered with an expandable two-blade design, offering a 2-inch cutting diameter. The T2 is constructed entirely from steel and features the Socket-Lock retention system, which ensures it will not rattle nor deploy before intended. The T2 has rearward sliding blades, similar to the Sevr heads. While I haven’t tried the T2, it’s been a broadhead that’s interested me and has seemingly done very well for bowhunters I know who have tested it. The study ranks the T2 7th in the aerodynamic test and, although not expressly noted in the accuracy test that I saw, it was stated that all other mechanicals (assuming the T2 in this group) shot groups in the 4-inch to 5-inch range from the shooting machine when tested repeatedly at 70 yards. The T2 is available at most G5 archery dealers, so it’s likely that they are readily more available than other heads that are only sold directly.
The #261 was engineered with input from Levi Morgan who has certainly killed his fair share of big game animals, including elk. The #261 has a somewhat unique arched blade design that reduces blade resistance after entry. The claim is that the swept back design of the blades retains greater arrow momentum and delivers increased penetration potential. The ferrule is reinforced through a ribbed design that delivers up to 20% greater strength and rigidity. The #261 also includes Swhacker’s blade lock feature, allowing the expandable blades to be locked in the closed position so hunters can practice with the exact broadhead they’ll be using in the field. The #261 is 1-inch in flight and 2-inches after penetration. The ferrule is made from anodized aircraft aluminum with stainless steel .031-inch thick blades. The #261 has two wings that have a sharp cutting edge that serves as the deployment feature as well, folding back as the larger cutting blades are deployed. This design is what most refer to fold back deployment, which historically hasn’t been my favorite. While I still believe the #261 will penetrate well, I don’t believe that it will penetrate as well as a rear deploying slip back design and I have concerns about not having an entry hole. In the plus column, the #261 did well in the study for both aerodynamics and accuracy. It ranked fourth among tested broadheads for aerodynamics and was listed among the top for accuracy. It shot field tip sized groups from the shooting machine in the 2-inch to 3-inch range. I haven’t tested this broadhead, although there’s a lot to like about it, including the accuracy and aerodynamics. It’s also sold in three packs and is available at major sporting goods stores at a reasonable price. As previously stated, it’s also backed by one of the most prolific bowhunters and archers of our time. I wouldn’t suggest that the blade deployment method and the aluminum ferrule is my favorite. Overall, it looks like an interesting option based on the accuracy and it is readily available.
The Beast Broadheads broke onto the market last year and have been growing in popularity. More recently, they launched their broadheads in a titanium version as well, which makes them even more enticing. The Beast broadheads are a mechanical head with a unique design and method of blade deployment. They utilize a spring mechanism where the blades are held within the ferrule, but deploy to the rear when the tabs meet just 1.2 pounds of force on either tab. One intriguing thing about the deployment is that there are no rubber or silicone bands or collars required to retain the blades in the ferrule, and you can reengage the blades by pushing them back into position. I commonly get feedback about other mechanical heads opening up while in the quiver during a stalk or hiking, which, in those cases, essentially makes the broadhead useless. The Beast allows you to push the blades back into place. I haven’t shot the Beast broadhead while it’s open, but I’ve seen other content where people have shot them and still had good results. Additionally, the spring within the ferrule allows each blade to yield when contacting bone, which should preserve the forward path of the arrow. The blades have a curved, swept back design and are German Lutz stainless steel. The blades are extremely sharp. As stated above, they offer broadheads in 7075 spacecraft aluminium with a hardened stainless steel tip or the all new titanium version. They also have them available in 100 grain and 125 grain versions in both a 2-inch and 2.3-inch options. The Beast broadheads can’t be shot without deploying the blades for practice, but they do include a practice head that closely resembles the shape.
The last piece of information that adds to the case for the beast broadheads is that they did very well in the Yates study. They ranked second in regards to being the most aerodynamic and shot 3-inch to 3.5-inch groups consistently from the shooting machine at 70 yards. The Beast broadheads appear to have a lot of attributes in the “pro” column and, while I haven’t killed an elk with one yet, I think it would be a great choice. Beast broadheads can be purchased directly online at their site or possibly at your local pro shop as they are leaking out into third party shops more regularly.
The Hyde broadhead has grown in popularity in recent years and is fast becoming one of the best choices for archery elk hunters. It’s a hybrid design, with two ¾-inch total diameter fixed blades and two 2-inch total diameter expandable blades. The expandable blades have a curved design that fold back upon impact and are made from 420 stainless steel. Blade thickness for the front blades is .060 inches while the mechanical blades are .030-inch thick. They offer 100 grain heads that have a 7075 aircraft grade aluminum ferrule while the 125- and 150- grain versions are hardened stainless steel. Evolution Outdoors states that they are machined and assembled with tight tolerances in the U.S. You can’t shoot the Hyde for practice without dulling the blades, but they do offer practice heads for purchase or if you buy six heads, they’ll give you a free practice head. You can buy blades and replace them as well. What makes the Hyde broadhead so intriguing to me is how well it performed in the study. It ranked third in aerodynamics, only behind two other purely mechanical heads. For a hybrid broadhead, it’s very impressive in that regard. In the accuracy testing, it shot 4-inch to 5-inch groups.
The other Evolution Outdoors broadhead, the Jekyll, is also worth talking about. The Jekyll is a fixed blade broadhead with four total blades. The front blades have a 3/4-inch cutting diameter while the blades further back on the ferrule are a 1-inch cutting diameter. Front and main blades are robust with a thickness of .060 inches. The Jekyll was the most accurate fixed blade broadhead in testing with groups in the 3-inch range. That’s very impressive for a fixed blade head. It was also 4th in aerodynamics among other fixed blade heads, but it was the highest ranked four-blade broadhead in that test. Both the Hyde and Jekyll performed great in the testing that Yates conducted and, while I haven’t personally shot them, they’re on the short list of broadheads I’m very interested in, and I believe they would make a great elk hunting broadhead.
Iron Will broadheads are among the most highly touted fixed blade broadheads and are commonly placed at the top of the heap for elk hunters. The only real downfall is that they are a bit more expensive and are only sold directly from their website. What makes the Iron Will a good option? It starts with materials. The Iron Will broadheads are engineered to be extremely sharp and retain their edge. They use A2 Tool Steel, commonly used in metal stamping dies to cut other steels, which has an unmatched combination of impact toughness and edge retention. They further cryogenically treat and triple temper to a hardness of 60HRC their blades, producing edges that remain honed. This unmatched edge retention requires less force for a complete pass-through. The ferrule is made from Grade 5 titanium for lighter weight heads and hardened stainless steel for the heavier versions. If you look at an Iron Will broadhead, the tip looks different from others on the market. Their Tanto tip geometry is wider than others. The shape adds rigidity, extra bone splitting strength and reduces surface area for better aerodynamics and accuracy. Iron Will also makes insert systems, which when added to their broadhead and your arrow, make for a very robust, durable combination.
The S series is a solid broadhead without venting (no holes of gaps in the blades). They can be purchased in a variety of weights, including 100- and 125-grain versions. They can also be purchased as a two-blade option, which they call buff, or in a four-blade version (two larger/two bleeder blades). The diameter of the larger blades is 1-1/16-inch and the bleeder blades add an additional 3/4-inch cut.
Perhaps, the most impressive story with the Iron Will S series head is how aerodynamic and accurate it is for a fixed blade head. It ranked ninth in aerodynamics, but was the second most aerodynamic fixed blade broadhead. Although not expressly called out, it was indicated that it shot groups in the 6.5-inch range from the shooting machine. One final note: because the S series is a solid head with no venting, it's quieter than many other options on the market that are vented. They do make a V (vented) version of their heads as well, which are likely to shoot tighter groups, but would be a bit louder in flight.
The Slick Trick Standard Pro Series Broadhead is a four-blade fixed broadhead with a total cutting diameter of 2 inches due to each blade section offering 1-inch of cutting surface. They offer a super short low profile design to handle the high speed produced by modern compound bows. The blades are unique with two-blade sections that interlock within the ferrule. The blades themselves are made of .035-inch stainless steel Lutz material and are vented for better accuracy. Slick Trick makes both a pro version and a standard version. The pro version has a hardened stainless steel ferrule while the standard version uses what they call Super Steel for the ferrule.
I have used the Slick Trick standard pro broadheads to kill several bulls and they always performed well. To add to my experience, in the study referenced they ranked 17th in aerodynamics and sixth among other true fixed blade heads. They did have slightly better results in terms of accuracy, shooting 5.5-inch to 6-inch groups. While I have had great success with the Slick Trick heads, the only feedback I might offer is that they did seem to be louder in flight. I also didn’t regularly get great bloodtrails, but in saying that, I often heard or saw the bull expire.
The QAD Exodus broadhead is a three-blade low profile fixed blade head that is designed and manufactured in the U.S. QAD is known for their archery rests, but also brought the Exodus broadhead to market a number of years ago. Since then, it’s had a loyal following and generally really good reviews. One interesting take is that QAD matched the overall length of a field tip to the Exodus head. The back of the blades actually sit below the top of your insert. They state that this design increases the accuracy of their heads. The total cutting diameter is 1-1/4-inches. They state that the solid blades are .04-inch stainless steel, making them one of the thickest blades of any head of a similar nature that I’m aware of. The ferrule is also SST material.
In testing the Exodus, it ranked 14th in aerodynamics and shot groups in the 6.5-inch plus range. I’ve used the Exodus on elk and my experience was good. They were durable, the blades were very sharp and they flew well. In regards to accuracy, I did have to do additional tuning to get them to fly really well. That isn’t a bad thing per say, but in my experience, they were not as easy to plug and play as other broadheads I have used. They did penetrate well in my experience. You can buy Exodus heads at almost all pro shops and sporting goods stores and they are very reasonably priced. They are available in both 100- and 125-grain options.
The G5 Montec broadhead has been around for a number of years and has traditionally been among one of the most popular fixed blade broadheads for elk hunters. It’s a three-blade fixed broadhead. One reason I think it’s been popular is that the Montec is constructed from a solid piece of steel. There are no removable blades or parts and pieces and people report it being very durable. The Montec can be screwed onto the end of the arrow and shot without any assembly required. G5 states that each Montex is 100% spin tested for great alignment and straightness with your arrow’s insert. They also state that each blade has diamond cut sharpness. While you can’t replace a dulled blade, G5 does sell sharpeners specifically for their broadheads. Each blade is vented for added accuracy down range. They are available at your local pro shops or in gear stores like ours across the country in both 100- and 125-grain versions. They are very well priced for what you get. I’ve witnessed bulls being shot with a Montec and the results have been good; good flight and good penetration. While I can’t suggest how the Montec ranked because I don’t think it was tested, I have played with Montec heads and found them to be quite accurate with some tuning. Since the blades are vented, they aren’t the quietest fixed blade on the market, but I didn’t find them to be especially loud either. Overall, I still think the Montec is a great broadhead for elk, offered at a great price point.
Picking a broadhead is a personal decision based on what you value: accuracy, penetration, and durability. Your personal setup will also dictate what might be the best option for you. Additionally, price and how readily available the broadheads are a part of that equation.
Here are some generalities that I’ve observed over the years that may help:
1) Fixed blade broadheads generally have better penetration potential. 2) Mechanical broadheads are more accurate and shoot smaller groups. 3) While I’ve had some good blood trails with fixed blade broadheads, I’ve had more poor blood trails with fixed blade broadheads than I have with mechanicals. I’ve had some poor bloodtrails with mechanicals, but I’ve had more that were great. Blood trails are finicky. It depends on so many different factors, but in my personal experience, the blood trails made by a mechanical broadhead have been better. 4) Fixed blade broadheads are more durable. 5) No matter what broadhead you shoot, I suggest that you practice with them regularly. Because I encourage practice with the broadheads you will hunt with, I think that it makes good sense to be able to replace the blades of those broadheads so that you enter the field with the sharpest blades possible. In saying that, there are quality broadheads like the Iron Will that will hold an edge better than pretty much everything else on the market and they can be resharpened. 6) Low poundage, low FPS, lower total arrow weight bowhunters should strongly consider a fixed blade broadhead to increase the potential for better penetration.
Lastly, the broadheads noted above are my recommendations. There are literally hundreds of more options on the market — some of which are also good broadheads. Whatever the broadhead you choose, do due diligence by practicing with them prior to your hunt.
You don’t want to question the accuracy, durability, and penetration of your broadhead when the bull of a lifetime steps within range. With that, make your selections and start shooting and tuning your broadheads. September will be here in short order, and thank goodness it is!
