FAQ
It’s important to clarify there are tradeoffs with heavy arrows and broadheads, and some of these tradeoffs make lighter arrows and broadheads more marketable to a mass audience.
The disadvantages of heavy broadheads, for example, include
– Trajectory is inferior to lighter broadheads
– Proper bow tuning is needed
– Upgraded, stiffer arrows are required
The net result is:
– greater skill (or a “smart” scope) is necessary to compensate for increased arrow drop
– a greater investment in time and money is required to achieve clean and accurate flight
So it’s not the case that heavy arrows and broadheads are simply better in every way.
But there are advantages to heavy arrows and broadheads, and industry has been slow to adopt the information coming from thought-leaders in arrow and broadhead lethality research.
Dr. Ed Ashby did the initial Natal Study nearly 40 years ago working with the South African governments in an effort to prove the effectiveness of archery equipment and push for the legalization of archery equipment for hunting.
That study was successful, but Dr. Ashby ended up with more questions than he started, particularly regarding the factors for arrow penetration.
Completely self-funded, he continued his research for decades compiling hundreds of thousands of data points from actual field testing on animals.
This is the only large-scale testing ever done specifically for archery so one would think it would be extremely well-known and all of the major companies would be utilizing that data to make better products.
Unfortunately, the major manufacturers essentially had their feelings hurt when Dr. Ashby pointed out weak points and design flaws in their products, to the point that he was pretty much blackballed by the archery manufacturing industry.
None of these companies wanted to admit to any of the issues, and none of them wanted to cut into profits in order to actually make a better product.
Combine that with millions of dollars for marketing and its really no surprise that the broadheads you generally hear about are mostly flashy garbage.
There’s also an issue at the dealer level. Dealers don’t want to admit that they have been wrong and most don’t stay up late at night studying arrow and broadhead lethality.
In addition, shifting dealer recommendations to a limited number of quality products would drastically reduce their profits.
Most of the mainstream broadheads sell for $40-$50 per 3-pack. The dealer is buying them for $20-$30. The manufacturer is making as much profit as the dealer so that 3-pack of heads costs $5-$10 dollars to produce and package. It’s not surprising that broadheads that cost a couple dollars to manufacture won’t perform well or last more than 1 shot.
There are companies out there making good quality broadheads, but as expected the prices are far higher, and the profit margins are far less for dealers. The mainstream broadheads are backed with millions in marketing, so basically they sell themselves with no effort from the dealer, and then the dealer makes 40-50% profit margins. The good quality broadheads have zero advertising and zero marketing behind them. They are a niche in the broadhead industry and make up for a fraction of total broadhead sales.
The good news is consumers are getting more sophisticated and slowly shifting on their own. At some point this trend may force the larger manufacturers and the dealers to adjust. That shift is happening, but it’s going to take quite a bit of time before the mainstream notices.
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Ways to improve arrow/bolt stiffness include:
1. Shortening the arrow
The shorter the arrow is, the stiffer the shaft, the higher the FOC, and the less surface area to be affected by cross winds.
However, the shorter the arrow, the shorter the rear lever arm of the arrow becomes, which makes it more difficult for the fletchings to correct flight. In tests with the 375-grain broadhead, a 22-inch Zombie Slayer arrow ultimately offered cleaner and more accurate flight than a 20-inch arrow, so shorter does not necessarily mean more accurate.
2. Choose the stiffest quality arrows
Stiff, high quality arrows tend to also be the most expensive. For crossbow shooters, as of Jan 30th, 2022, Black Eagle Zombie Slayers are the stiffest 18-, 20-, and 22-inch crossbow arrows on the market, and are approximately 25% stiffer than the Black Eagle Executioner arrows. If your crossbow accepts arrows shorter than 18-inches, choose something shorter.
Archers may select a stiff arrow such as the Black Eagle Rampage 150 spines or the Grizzlystik TDT 170 spines. If you an archer and need assistance with arrow build and selection, Rob Hummel at Dynamic Archery Solutions (not affiliated with Edgetac) can assist. Rob has set up and shot Edgetac 375 and 775 grain heads accurately from his bow.
3. Use of aluminum arrow footers or “shock collars”
4. Double-shafting
Double shafting is how many build stiffer bolts. Double shafting will reduce FOC, but a much stiffer and more durable shaft will result. Ideally try to find a shaft with an OD that is a few thousandths smaller than the ID of your current bolt. One of the stiffer arrows available is the 200 spine Rampage from Black Eagle. Its OD is 0.285. When choosing the internal shaft for a double shaft arrow build, typically look for as stiff a spine as possible. The lower the spine number, the stiffer the arrow. Typically 150 and 200 are the stiffest arrows typically seen in production. The only downside to double shafting is the cost and the lost FOC, but it’s logical to accept lower FOC if it means clean flight.
For crossbow shooters, enhanced stiffness arrows can be constructed by taking standard crossbow arrows, which have an inner diameter of 7.62mm, and inserting the stiffest possible carbon archery arrow blanks, or carbon fiber tubes, with an outer diameter of about 7.5mm.
5. Adding weight to the tail of a shaft
This can resolve minor spine issues, but when combined with high levels of FOC it can get messy. High levels of FOC essentially make the tail easier to move in flight and thus have a faster recovery, but that fast recovery is dependent on tail recovering and staying recovered. Adding additional mass in this situation gives the tail more inertia and when combined with too much flex it can actually make it worse because the tail will overshoot “center” by a larger amount. There’s a limit in how much weight can be added to the tail and in a situation where there is a high FOC, a fair amount of weight would be needed to actually make a difference in the amount of flex occurring.
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In archery, momentum is largely recognized as the measure of how likely an arrow is to achieve a complete passthough against the target, such as a Whitetail Deer.
The greater the momentum of the arrow and broadhead, the greater the likelihood of a passthough, all other factors being equal.
However, the importance of momentum goes beyond that.
According to FBI ballistics data and research, momentum is a far greater predictor of wound channel damage and overall lethality than kinetic energy or hydrostatic shock.
Key takeaways from the FBI research in this area include:
Kinetic energy is an OK method to compare the damage a projectile can do to living tissue, but momentum is much better.
The FBI data shows that the correlation between momentum and wound channel volume was very high, with a correlation coefficient of 0.73, where 0 is considered no correlation and 1 is considered perfect.
On the other hand, the correlation between kinetic energy and total wound channel volume is only 0.35, which is considered low correlation.
See this chart for the data:
https://www.defensivecarry.com/attachments/bullet-momentum-vs-bare-wound-channel-volume-jpg.87834/
Therefore, momentum more closely associated with “stopping power” than kinetic energy.
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The heavier the arrow and broadhead, the slower it will travel, but the more mometum energy it will impart upon the target.
Realistically, the limiting factor is the minimum speed that results in a trajectory you are comfortable with.
“You should always use the heaviest arrow possible that has a trajectory that you still find acceptable.” – Dr. Ed Ashby
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Edgetac is based in Oregon. Our mailing address is:
Edgetac LLC
12540 SW Leveton Dr., #A8892
Tualatin, Oregon (OR) 97062
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“Trad” bow hunters and vertical bow hunters, particularly those hunting dangerous and large game, are typically the segment of the market buying heavy arrows and broadheads.
However, there are new “electro-optic” technologies coming available to crossbows that make super heavy broadheads a much more realistic option.
There are now 3 manufacturers making “smart scopes” available to crossbow hunters. These new scopes automatically calculate the firing solution (automatically calculate the arrow drop based on FPS and distance to target), and display the “aim point” in the scope. These include the following scopes:
Sig Sauer BDX (Sierra3 2.5-8X and Sierra6 2-12X)
Garmin Xero X1i Rangefinding Scope
Burris Optics Oracle X
These “electro-optic” technologies, combined with increasingly powerful crossbows, make it more possible than ever before to use heavy arrows and broadheads and still make precise hits on the target.
Some people claim that we should use light arrows because they have flat trajectories, so they miss less often, and therefore light arrows and broadheads are a better choice for hunters.
That claim is less valid, however, if the shooter avails themselves of the new “electro-optics” technologies that make all the calculations necessary to compensate for arrow drop. Even with heavier arrows and heavier broadheads, it becomes a simple exercise of just aim and shoot.
So for the first time, there are techologies available that make heavy arrows and broadheads more viable, and this is good. It’s good because, all other things being equal, heavy arrows and heavy broadheads are simply more ethical and lethal hunting tools, they deliver more energy to the target, this means fewer wounded and unrecovered game, and our ultimate goal is reducing the wounding rate as low as humanly possible.
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With heavy broadheads, there is certainly an issue that can arise related to the spine or stiffness of the arrow. The heavier the broadhead, the longer the arrow, and the greater the power of the bow, the stiffer the arrow will need to be.
Beyond arrow stiffness, there’s a balance dependent on the durability of each portion of the system.
The arrow shaft, the components, and the broadhead all need to be durable enough to withstand hard impacts.
The durability of the shaft boils down to the outer diameter and then to a lesser degree the wall thickness (same principle as any other structural tubing).
The components reinforce and support the shaft; the length of the internal footing plays a much more significant role than the actual material.
Material is important to a degree, but a 2-inch long aluminum component will typically be able to withstand a larger impact than a 1-inch stainless steel version without shaft damage occurring.
Then the broadhead needs to be able to withstand impact. But the longer the broadhead, the greater the force it applies to the components and the shaft on impact. A 3-inch long broadhead will apply 3x the force against the component and shaft than a 1-inch long broadhead.
This doesn’t mean choose a short head, but it does mean that longer and larger broadheads require better components throughout.
Bottom line, it’s all a system and it needs to work well together. It does no good to have an extremely durable 375 or 775 grain broadhead paired to a component and/or shaft that is going to fail if a hard impact occurs.
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Order Tracking
You will receive an email with tracking information after your order is placed and we have processed the shipment with the carrier.
FedEx, DHL, and UPS Shipments
Deliveries are made Monday through Friday only. Weekends and Holidays do not count as Business Days. If you need to schedule a Saturday delivery, please contact customer service. Please note that while Second Day Air is a shipping option available to Alaska and Hawaii, Second Day shipping cannot be guaranteed to all areas. Please contact customer service if you have questions about your shipping destination.
Return Shipments
Your satisfaction is important to Edgetac. If we have made an error while fulfilling your order, please e-mail us immediately and we will do everything possible to correct the situation. Qualified items purchased from Edgetac may be returned for a replacement item or refund within 15 days of delivery. All returns require a Return Authorization Number. The RA number must be printed on the outside of the return shipment. To request a RA number please use our contact form.
International Duty and Import Taxes
Duties and Import Taxes are the complete responsibility of the customer and are not included in the purchase price of your order.
Domestic Claims for Damaged or Lost Shipments
For all shipments, we provide tracking information for you to ensure dependable service. USPS claims for lost packages require at least 30 days from the shipping date for the package to arrive, before any claims may be filed. We recommend that critical orders be sent via FedEx or DHL whenever possible. If your order is missing anything or is damaged, please check the contents carefully and then inspect the shipping carton. If the carton is undamaged, please contact us immediately, but in no case beyond 7 days from receipt. If you receive a damaged, crushed or torn-open package and the merchandise inside is damaged or missing in any way please keep all the packaging material and contact your local FedEx, DHL, UPS or USPS service center for assistance in filing a claim. If your local carrier is unable to assist you then please contact us. Please Do Not return the package to us until you have contacted the shipping company or USPS and received instructions on how to proceed. You may lose your right to file a claim. For further information on filing a claim, please visit UPS at www.ups.com or USPS at usps.com.International
Claims for Damaged or Lost Shipments
Claims for lost packages require at least 30 days from the shipping date for the package to arrive, before any claims may be filed. Contact customer service to report a claim.
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Free Shipping is offered to qualifying orders shipping to the US 48.
A “Free Shipping” shipping option will be offered during checkout. By selecting this option, the customer agrees to have their package shipped by a carrier chosen by Edgetac. The customer cannot specify a carrier when they select Free Shipping.
Packaging
All orders are packed by hand into the smallest box or boxes that will accommodate the entire order. This helps us to keep shipping costs under control and provides additional savings for customers who use freight forwarding services.
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A broadhead’s mechanical advantage is something to consider as it can alter hunting effectiveness.
With something like a traditional bow, selecting an efficient broadhead is useful as there is a lack of force due to the equipment, so there’s a need to maximize the use of what force is available. Same thing for most women and kids shooting compounds.
Wise equipment choices explains how guys can manage to consistently pass through some of the largest game in the world using traditional equipment, and yet every year we deal with guys shooting compounds and crossbows that are failing to penetrate whitetail deer.
With higher poundage compounds, the “required” mechanical advantage is not as much of a concern, and the same is true of crossbows, but it’s better not to reduce base effectiveness and eliminating the advantage of using more powerful equipment.
Mechanical Advantage of Broadhead = Length / Height / Blades
Example:
3 inch long, 1 inch wide, 2 blade head gives us 2 blades that are each 3 inches long and 0.5 inches tall
3(L)/0.5(H)/2(BL) = Mechanical Advantage
3/0.5=6
6/2=3
3=Mechanical Advantage
Work = Force x Distance
The reference provided is looking at a broadhead as a number of ramps which provide a specific mechanical advantage over the distance of the head
Imagine having a handful of 2 blade heads that are all 3 inches long but different widths
L x H x BL
3 / 0.5 / 2 = 3 MA (1 inch wide)
3 / 0.75 / 2 = 2 MA (1.5 inch wide)
3 / 1 / 2 = 1.5 MA (2 inch wide)
3 / 1.25 / 2 = 1.2 MA (2.5 inch wide)
3 / 1.5 / 2 = 1 MA (3 inch wide)
3 / 1.75 / 2 = 0.86 MA (3.5 inch wide)
3 / 2 / 2 = 0.75 MA (4 inch wide)
Now, how much force is needed for each of these to accomplish the same level of work?
W / MA = F
1 inch wide = 0.33
1.5 inch wide = 0.5
2 inch wide = 0.66
2.5 inch wide = 0.83
3 inch wide = 1.00
3.5 inch wide = 1.16
4 inch wide = 1.33
So the 1-inch wide head would need 1/3 of the force as the 3-inch wide head to accomplish the same amount of work.
As the bow changes, the recommendation can change. Take 3 bows:
Traditional Bow 700gr@181fps = 50.9ft-lbs, 0.56slugs
Compound Bow 700gr@254fps = 100.26ft-lbs, 0.79slugs
Crossbow 700gr@283fps = 124.5ft-lbs, 0.88slugs
For traditional bows, we might recommend something extremely efficient like a 3 to 1 ratio head. With a mechanical advantage of 3 we are effectively tripling the amount of work we can do with the available force so for comparison sake we can now consider the traditional bow to be 152.7ft-lbs, 1.68 slugs.
For compound bows we might suggest broadheads that are around 2 inches long as there is less chance of bending when dealing with the higher levels of force.
Even though the compound started with double (200%) the kinetic energy and 40 percent more momentum, with a mechanical advantage of only 1 it realistically will have less penetration potential than the traditional bow since it will still be at 100.26ft-lbs and 0.79 slugs.
For crossbow if we use the same 2 inch long and 2 inch wide head as the compound its a similar story. Even though it started with triple the kinetic energy and nearly 60 percent more momentum, it would still have less potential than our traditional bow using the 3 to 1 head.
Is all of that potential truly needed? Not necessarily, but there are many factors that play into it. How much mass the arrow has, whether its a clean hit on the animal or if bone is encountered, how big the animal is (how much penetration is needed for a pass through).
A 2-inch wide head works well on deer size game assuming that major bone isn’t encountered. If a leg bone or shoulder socket is encountered the chances of a pass through greatly reduce unless the arrow is greater than 700gr. So could one set up a huge head that is 3 or 4-inches wide and be successful? Yes, possibly, but it would require very high mass to make it consistent.
With a normal “heavy” crossbow bolt around 500-600gr, we would not want to use anything below a 1 mechanical advantage simply because we want to error on the side of caution and plan for those worst case scenarios.
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We currently accept Paypal and cryptocurrencies Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). We offer a 15% discount for all purchases made by cryptocurrency. We will be setting up a cryptocurrency gateway shortly, in the meantime those wishing to pay by crytocurrency may contact us though our contact form.
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Simply put, the sharper the better.
Blood vessels and especially arteries are thick walled and rubbery. Combine that with the fact that they are in muscle which acts semi-fluid in nature, and they have a tendency to move.
Just as when a nurse is trying to draw blood from your arm using a needle with an extremely sharp point and the blood vessel keeps rolling off to the side preventing the needle from penetrating; the same thing will happen with broadheads if they are not sharp enough.
If you pay attention when performing autopsies on animals you can sometimes see this especially towards the end of a wound channel if the head was losing its edge or was damaged at some point during penetration.
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You are responsible for following all local laws in your jurisdiction related to purchasing, importing, and using archery broadheads.
We are not responsible for shipments lost to customs.
We ship to all countries in the world except for embargoed countries.
Currently the list of countries we can’t ship to are:
Crimea
Cuba
Iran
Kosovo
Myanmar
North Korea
Sudan
Syria
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We use a proprietary tool steel which shows high resistance to impacts, chipping, dulling, and edge chatter, while maintaining excellent edge sharpenability. We do not publish our Rockwell hardness numbers.
While it outperforms stainless steel, it is somewhat susceptible to moisture and can develop rust.
These are thick blades which will not be compromised by rust, but to avoid spots developing, some options to consider include:
– storing in a low-humidity dry box
– applying a light coat of DW-40, machine oil, Remington (Rem) gun oil, or Beoshield T-9 Rust & Corrosion Protection
Spots of rust may be easily removed with a rub of vinegar or rust remover.
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There are a lot of sharpening tools and contraptions out there.
The KME broadhead jig is an example of a contraption which does not work well with Edgetac broadheads.
Everything you’ll need is listed below and usually available on Amazon.
What works best for Edgetac broadheads is using the following Youtube video as a guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHl4q1Id7Y
And use these two sharpening stones, first the 600, then the 1200:
1. UltraSharp D38F-600 Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone
2. UltraSharp D38E-1200 Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone
Then use this video as a guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rh2IpKnJKE
and strop the broadhead using the following strop:
3. KNIVES PLUS Strop Block, Leather Sharpening Strop, 8 Long
Recommended hand protection:
4. Nitrile or similar gloves
Optional:
5, Original Krud Kutter Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser – 32 oz
(used on the Diamond stone as a lubricant instead of water)
6. Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser – 13 oz
(used to clean the Diamond stone after use)
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Momentum continues to increase long after trajectory becomes unacceptable.
At some point, the arrow becomes too heavy to be pushed forward by the bow, but for that to happen, the arrow would need to weigh more than the holding weight of the string at full draw. For perspective, a 70 pound compound with 90% let-off has a holding weight of 7 lbs, which is a massive 49,000 grains.
So choose the heaviest arrow possible which has an acceptable trajectory.
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Achieving perfect flight with heavy broadheads
Achieving perfect flight with heavy broadheads takes a little more effort than with conventional 100-grain broadheads.
FOR MAXIMUM ACCURACY, USE THE STIFFEST ARROWS POSSIBLE
All of the following factors will result in improved flight and accuracy:
2. Stiffer is better and arrow quality matters
For crossbow shooters, as of Jan 30th, 2022, Black Eagle Zombie Slayers are the stiffest 18-, 20-, and 22-inch crossbow arrows on the market, and are approximately 25% stiffer than the Black Eagle Executioner arrows. So far, in our tests with crossbows, the Zombie Slayers are proving to be the most accurate option with both our 375 and 775 grain heads.
Archers may select a stiff arrow such as the Black Eagle Rampage 150 spines or the Grizzlystik TDT 170 spines. If you an archer and need assistance with arrow build and selection, Rob Hummel at Dynamic Archery Solutions (not affiliated with Edgetac) can assist. Rob has set up and shot Edgetac 375 and 775 grain heads accurately from his bow.
3. To enhance accuracy further, consider these measures:
Orient or “index” the broadhead to minimize planing
Planing is an issue for ANY fixed blade broadhead. The more the arrow flexes upon launch, the more planing will occur, and the less predictable the accuracy will become. Any unnecessary flex or deviation from the intended path will angle the broadhead and result in some degree of planing. The greater the surface area of the head, the more noticeable planing becomes if launch is not clean. Edgetac broadheads are large and therefore launch will have a significant impact on overall flight quality and accuracy. Because of their weight and large surface area, arrow selection is even more critical to achieve accuracy with the larger 775 grain Edgetac heads than with the more conventionally-sized 375 grain head.
Solving broadhead planing issues
One way to address planing is to consistently set the orientation of the broadhead using a rubber o-ring or washers over the stem of the broadhead (so that it is sandwiched between the broadhead and the arrow to allow a range of rotational adjustment) and orient or “index” the broadhead so that it lies flat and parallel with the string before firing or alternatively, vertically, so it stands perpendicular to the string.
Examples of products that enable “indexing” orienting the broadhead include:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG9HE0P
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0072X0QQ6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093RY1H9D
If the heads fly more accurately oriented a specific direction, that indicates how the shaft is flexing. If they fly better with the blades parallel with the string (horizontal) that means there is minimal deviation vertically at launch. If flight quality decreases with the blades perpendicular with the string (vertical) that indicates unwanted horizontal movement.
Spinning inserts
Ethics Archery sells a product called a “Spinning Insert” which claims to reduce broadhead planing. It has received mixed reviews in forums. We will test it and release the results of our tests shortly, but it’s another potential option.
Aluminum arrow footers or “shock collars”
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001271429156.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32995584677.html
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WLLRZ5C
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YCHFN8F
Vertical bow shooters have the option of choosing commercially available “shock collars” and footers. Some archers tune by
Double-shafting
For crossbow shooters, enhanced stiffness arrows can be constructed by taking standard crossbow arrows, which have an inner diameter of 7.62mm, and inserting the stiffest possible carbon archery arrow blanks, or carbon fiber tubes, with an outer diameter of about 7.5mm.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT TO TRY TO GROUP MULTIPLE BROADHEADS
Edgetac broadheads have a 1.5 and 2 inch cutting diameter respectively and the bevels cause them to rotate through the target. Shooting multiple broadheads into the same target area can result in broadheads bumping into each other within the target medium, which can damage or destroy a broadhead.
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