Is there an accuracy advantage to shooting single bevel broadheads out of an Excalibur?
FatManInaCamoSuit
Single Bevel Broadheads
Not really.
Accuracy wise (externally) generally mechanicals are the most forgiving. The benefits of single bevels come out terminally. I'll note single bevels do grant a little more rotation in the air, which can help or hurt depending on your setup- but It's pretty subjective. The only other thing that might be considered is due to that terminal performance, shot placement may be a little more forgiving- but thats not precisely "accuracy" in the standard sense.
I make and shoot my own single bevels.
![Image]()
Accuracy wise (externally) generally mechanicals are the most forgiving. The benefits of single bevels come out terminally. I'll note single bevels do grant a little more rotation in the air, which can help or hurt depending on your setup- but It's pretty subjective. The only other thing that might be considered is due to that terminal performance, shot placement may be a little more forgiving- but thats not precisely "accuracy" in the standard sense.
I make and shoot my own single bevels.
In and by them selfs no.
Assisted by either helical or my favorite NAP Hellfire vanes its almost a yes. IMO here its more the broad head will better allow rotation.
The goal of a single bevel is to rotate through a deer breaking bone doing damage greater than its measured size not improving flight.
Assisted by either helical or my favorite NAP Hellfire vanes its almost a yes. IMO here its more the broad head will better allow rotation.
The goal of a single bevel is to rotate through a deer breaking bone doing damage greater than its measured size not improving flight.
My experiences with 375 Edgetac/Shartac BHs , my BD400 and AV3 vanes.
A few years ago, I was asked to test these BHs. I thought they were excessively heavy but was willing to test. I had a set of 20”, Zombies, AV3 vanes and 110g inserts.With lighted nocks, the weight came to about 715gs. I’m down to 3 of these arrows. I plan to get/or make 6 more but with the lightest inserts available.
I had serious doubts that anything good would occur, accuracy-wise. Testing with an Optimizer and an XBR (on 10X) at 50 yards, BH indexed ar 6 & 12, I repeatedly got 1” @ 50 and 1 - 1 1/2” gps at 60 yds.
The terminal performance on my largest bear so far (the one that had run me out of my blind twice in 3 years and tore up my blind repeatedly) was incredible. 50 yard run and dead in 5 secs was much better than I’d ever had before. 47 yard shot. Deer don’t even make it that far.
Accuracy: very adequate but not quite as good as TruGlos, Crossbow Tricks or MegaMeats.
A few years ago, I was asked to test these BHs. I thought they were excessively heavy but was willing to test. I had a set of 20”, Zombies, AV3 vanes and 110g inserts.With lighted nocks, the weight came to about 715gs. I’m down to 3 of these arrows. I plan to get/or make 6 more but with the lightest inserts available.
I had serious doubts that anything good would occur, accuracy-wise. Testing with an Optimizer and an XBR (on 10X) at 50 yards, BH indexed ar 6 & 12, I repeatedly got 1” @ 50 and 1 - 1 1/2” gps at 60 yds.
The terminal performance on my largest bear so far (the one that had run me out of my blind twice in 3 years and tore up my blind repeatedly) was incredible. 50 yard run and dead in 5 secs was much better than I’d ever had before. 47 yard shot. Deer don’t even make it that far.
Accuracy: very adequate but not quite as good as TruGlos, Crossbow Tricks or MegaMeats.
Good to know. I purchased a Suppressor Extreme from a member here yesterday and ordered a dozen Kraken (rebranded Zombies) arrows from Wyvern's. So I'm just trying to figure out what works best out of the Excaliburs as I've never owned one.
I've got Slick Tricks, QAD Exodus full and swept, Swat Xmag STXs, and Magnus Stingers...all 100gr. The arrows I ordered are 400gr with a 100gr head. Do I need to shoot heavier broadheads?
Spine. Always a concern amongst crossbow enthusiasts. On railed crossbows, I’ve not found lack of adequate spine being an issue. I do find spine indexing to be helpful.
I used to obsessively test arrows. Same arrow got progressively more accurate up through 80 yards when going up in point weight from, 100 to 175gs. The 375 FP is virtually 1-hole at 60 yards.
Arrows. When I got my 1st Excalibur, M380 the year they came out, I was told that helically fletched Blazer vanes were a perfect match for Excaliburs ! Even my RevX seems most accurate with helically placed Blazer vanes. I ordered custom arrows, built my own custom arrows but could not beat the supplied Excalibur arrows.
I used to obsessively test arrows. Same arrow got progressively more accurate up through 80 yards when going up in point weight from, 100 to 175gs. The 375 FP is virtually 1-hole at 60 yards.
Arrows. When I got my 1st Excalibur, M380 the year they came out, I was told that helically fletched Blazer vanes were a perfect match for Excaliburs ! Even my RevX seems most accurate with helically placed Blazer vanes. I ordered custom arrows, built my own custom arrows but could not beat the supplied Excalibur arrows.
Eventually, if we live long enough and are fortunate enough to experience a gradual slowing down, ideally, we’ll reduce our possessions to just what we use and get rid of the rest. Downsizing should be a part of aging. Hard to do.
For me, I’ll likely keep more than most: BD400 for bear hunting UNLESS I can get equal or better Edgetac performance out of my X1s. 3 X1s each with a different optic but shooting the same arrows. My modified XP for experimentation and maybe hunting. There is a special feeling using the simple BD400 for bear hunting.
For me, I’ll likely keep more than most: BD400 for bear hunting UNLESS I can get equal or better Edgetac performance out of my X1s. 3 X1s each with a different optic but shooting the same arrows. My modified XP for experimentation and maybe hunting. There is a special feeling using the simple BD400 for bear hunting.
Single bevel BHs have been incredibly hyped. I think much of it started with Ranch Fairy a few years ago. The claim to fame for single bevels is that the geometry can assist with twisting and breaking through bone/joints, especially when using very heavy arrows coming off of slow bows (think vertical recurve and long bows pushing about 200fps on a good day). I would argue that it would make little difference on WT deer when using modern crossbows pushing 350fps and above. It also makes little difference on clean broadside shots at any speed since the ribs are quite fragile as is, and any BH will typically just slice right through. The benefit comes in when the shots are quartering. If going after larger game with bigger bones, then there certainly would be increased benefit.
What is almost always a myth surrounding single bevels is that the rotation through the vitals helps to kill. This is nonsense. The rotation you will see through vitals is often 5-10 degrees at the very most. Often it is measured at just 2-3 degrees when shooting though gel. A rotation that small through such a short area is completely inconsequential. People somehow get the impression that the rotation is so great that it creates a little lethal blender as it passes through the deer. Nope. But that very small rotation WILL help to crack through a bone when needed.
What is almost always a myth surrounding single bevels is that the rotation through the vitals helps to kill. This is nonsense. The rotation you will see through vitals is often 5-10 degrees at the very most. Often it is measured at just 2-3 degrees when shooting though gel. A rotation that small through such a short area is completely inconsequential. People somehow get the impression that the rotation is so great that it creates a little lethal blender as it passes through the deer. Nope. But that very small rotation WILL help to crack through a bone when needed.
I think single bevel broadheads are something to consider when shooting lower poundage vertical bows. In that market, they offer some advantages.
If I am using a crossbow, I have the horsepower to throw a small hatchet through a deer. I want a good 3 or 4 blade cut!
If I am using a crossbow, I have the horsepower to throw a small hatchet through a deer. I want a good 3 or 4 blade cut!
I agree with post #19, too!
A 2" mechanical looks somewhat impressive, but it's also a one-dimensional cut. A tiny 4-blade Slick Standard has the same total cut (1" + 1" = 2" total cut). A Slick Trick Magnum/Xbow has a 2.25" total cut.
When it comes to penetration, I don't just look at the width of the broadhead blades. I also look at their angle. When I dropped to 60 pound compound bows years ago, I went with the Viper Tricks (1 15/16" total cut) because I like the angle of the blades. It's almost like a cut on contact broadhead. Make your Viper Trick a Wick Trick, & you get 2 5/16" total cut (which is slightly more than the Magnum/Xbow).
I think these things come into play when shooting at lower speeds. If I have a crossbow shooting at higher speeds, I may need the compactness of a mechanical for good arrow flight. I would also take advantage of being able to cut a larger hole while still getting a pass through. 150 grain/3" Swhacker seems pretty impressive. Some of the 3-blade Grim Reapers & 4-blade Swat broadheads would also interest me.
I haven't gone down this road myself, & I am not suggesting Slick Trick are best. I shoot Slick Trick & know their sizes. Thus, I tend to use them as examples of a fixed blade broadhead. I wouldn't hesitate to use an QAD Exodus with my vertical bow, too. Once I start hunting with a crossbow, however, I will be exploring a larger cut mechanical broadhead for sure.
A 2" mechanical looks somewhat impressive, but it's also a one-dimensional cut. A tiny 4-blade Slick Standard has the same total cut (1" + 1" = 2" total cut). A Slick Trick Magnum/Xbow has a 2.25" total cut.
When it comes to penetration, I don't just look at the width of the broadhead blades. I also look at their angle. When I dropped to 60 pound compound bows years ago, I went with the Viper Tricks (1 15/16" total cut) because I like the angle of the blades. It's almost like a cut on contact broadhead. Make your Viper Trick a Wick Trick, & you get 2 5/16" total cut (which is slightly more than the Magnum/Xbow).
I think these things come into play when shooting at lower speeds. If I have a crossbow shooting at higher speeds, I may need the compactness of a mechanical for good arrow flight. I would also take advantage of being able to cut a larger hole while still getting a pass through. 150 grain/3" Swhacker seems pretty impressive. Some of the 3-blade Grim Reapers & 4-blade Swat broadheads would also interest me.
I haven't gone down this road myself, & I am not suggesting Slick Trick are best. I shoot Slick Trick & know their sizes. Thus, I tend to use them as examples of a fixed blade broadhead. I wouldn't hesitate to use an QAD Exodus with my vertical bow, too. Once I start hunting with a crossbow, however, I will be exploring a larger cut mechanical broadhead for sure.
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
