Best Fixed Blade and Mechanical Broadheads for Elk & Deer

No matter where you fall in the fixed vs. mechanical debate, you can’t ignore the upside of shooting a big, tough fixed-blade like the Iron Will Wides. While it’s no guarantee, they can offer a better chance of providing a lethal shot if they hit bone. That’s one reason Mark Kenyon and Janis Putelis have both switched to the Iron Will Wides.

“With a heavy-duty fixed blade like the Iron Will, I feel confident that even if I hit bone—the shoulder blade in particular—I still have a strong chance of hitting the vitals,” Mark said. Janis runs the Iron Will Wides for the same reason but noted that he prefers the single bevel version.

“This year alone, I’ve killed a black bear, caribou, and elk with that broadhead,” he said.

The sticker price might shock you, but both Mark and Janis mentioned the durability of Iron Wills, which, according to Janis, “take some effort” to sharpen after a few uses. However, they stay sharp longer. It’s also worth noting that the price on the front end probably isn’t that far off from mechanicals or other hybrid-blade broadheads that require replacement blades after every shot.

Pros

• Excellent penetration
• Super durable
• More forgiving than most mechanicals

Cons

• Expensive at over $40 each

Tony’s been in the hunting industry for decades, so he’s had plenty of opportunities to try out some of the best broadheads over the years. Recently, he’s settled on the Rage Trypans as his go-to for deer hunting.

“When mechanical broadheads first hit the hunting scene, I had some bad experiences with them. But, that was a long time ago, and the designs are way better now,” he said. “In fact, they are all I shoot for whitetails now.”

Tony prefers the Rage Trypan (100-gr) because they leave a massive wound channel and simplify the tracking process.

“I hunt a lot of small properties, so I want my broadheads to do as much damage as possible, because I don’t want my deer to die in someone’s yard or on someone else’s property if I can prevent it. The best way I’ve found to do that is to put a really big hole in them (usually two). That’s easy to do with the Trypans.”

Mechanical broadheads are known for creating massive wound channels. For urban hunters or folks on small properties, the Rage Trypan can help eliminate a long night of tracking, as long as you make a good shot.

Pros

• Huge wound channels
• Solid arrow flight
• Great overall design

Cons

• Two-inch cutting diameter isn’t ideal for low draw weight shooters

When Steve was on the hunt for a new elk broadhead, he turned to Jason Phelps, who he trusts “implicitly when it comes to elk gear.” Phelps turned him on to Iron Will, so Steve spent some time with Bill Vanderheyden, the mechanical engineer who founded Iron Will.

He recommends Iron Will’s S Series broadheads, which minimize wind effects and maximize big game penetration.

“They shot beautifully from my rig,” Steve said. “The first thing I killed with them was a bull elk, taken with a full frontal shot. It took a few steps and died.”

And the sharp, durable heads continue to live up to the hype for other species too.

“A couple of weeks ago, I ran one through the thick portions of a wild boar’s skull, both front and back. The broadhead looked as good as new when I pulled it out.”

Pros

• Durable
• Easy to sharpen
• Great penetration

Cons

• Expensive
• Some might prefer larger cutting diameter

Choosing the best broadheads can send you down an ever-winding rabbit hole. You can calculate FOC, read plenty of archery forums, or debate the penetration levels of various broadheads in relation to draw weight. In reality, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. There are plenty of great broadheads that are widely available. That’s why K.C. Smith prefers the G5 Megameats.

“I like broadheads that are shot by a lot of people,” he said. “It just means there’s a ton of anecdotal evidence for them.”

Just because a broadhead, or any piece of gear, is popular or trendy, doesn’t mean you should write it off. After all, if it works, and it works for a ton of people, it’s probably living up to its expectation. In that case, you can let that evidence inform your decision.

K.C. used a ton of broadheads over the years. He also hunts to pay the bills, so he can’t waste time with subpar gear. He noted that the three big rear-deploy blades sold him on this broadhead.

“I love that they have three huge blades,” he said. “They just leave devastating wound channels, and I think the rear deploy gives them a bit more penetration than front deploy.”

Not to mention, the Megameats are reasonably priced (about $60 for 3), and they’re readily available, so you can find them at just about any sporting goods store.

Pros

• Available at most sporting goods stores
• Reasonably priced
• Rear deploy offers great penetration

Cons

• Rear deploy sometimes makes them open when putting into quiver
• Not a fan of the plastic collar

I like finding what works and sticking with it. That’s why I’m still shooting the Swhacker Levi Morgan broadheads. They’re accurate out of the box and reasonably priced. To be honest, that’s what most hunters expect from a broadhead.

The Levi Morgan Swhacker broadheads come in 100 and 125-gr, while I’ve seen them listed as high as $50, most of the time you can find this 3-pack for $39. Compared to a lot of other broadheads, that’s more than reasonably priced. Because they’re so budget-friendly, I typically buy multiple packs at a time. You can even place the practice pin in the broadhead, which locks the blades and prevents them from opening. That way, you can practice during the season without having to retune or swap heads.

They’re not the most durable mechanical broadheads out there, and replacing the blades isn’t cheap. I actually had to ditch a few after last season, but this issue isn’t exclusive to Swhacker broadheads. As long as you put in the reps at the archery range, you can put this broadhead wherever you want, and that’s what counts.

Pros

• Large wound channel
• Requires minimal tuning
• At about $13 each, they won’t break the bank
• Accurate out of the box

Cons

• Not the most durable
• Unforgiving on deflections

“My hunting rigs are set around 50 pounds with a 26-inch draw length, so I typically prefer fixed broadheads to maximize penetration,” Emily said. “And the G5 Montecs are some of the best out there. These affordable heads are low-maintenance, dependable, and deadly.”

The one-piece construction means no moving parts to tinker with, and the spin-tested heads cut on contact with diamond-cut sharpness. Similar to the Megameat, the Montec comes in both pre-season heads with rounded points and BMP practice points so you can save the real thing for the field.

“G5 Montecs are the most budget-friendly broadheads on this list, plus you can resharpen the blades to extend their life and get even more bang for your buck,” Emily said.

Pros

• Affordable
• One-piece design
• Durable

Cons

• Some might prefer heavier options

All broadheads require some amount of tuning. Fixed blades generally require more adjustments than mechanicals, because they have historically created more drag. However, more modern designs like vented or concave broadheads help reduce the amount of drag during flight. Contact Archery’s VBS (Variable Blade System) broadhead is one such example.

Last fall, I got both the vented and solid versions to test and shoot, and I’m running them this year. Contact Archery advertises that the VBS broadheads require minimal tuning, and so far, that’s been my experience. With the vented 100 gr VBS, I made a few minor adjustments to my rest before they were dialed in.

If you’re looking to make a quick broadhead change during the season, the VBS broadheads make a great option that won’t force you to start from zero. They’re also reasonably priced at $80 for a 3-pack, considering the materials and durability.

While the cutting diameter (1.25 in.) is pretty standard, you can also get either ⅞ or 1 ⅛-inch bleeder blades that come with the broadheads. Contact Archery is a small company, so the only downside is that sometimes the specific option you want might be out of stock. Otherwise, they’re worth the wait.

Pros

• Easy to sharpen
• Requires minimal tuning
• Easy to replace bleeders

Cons