5 Best Fixed Blade Broadheads: Finding the Right One For You!

The chances of you making a kill on your hunts depend on how accurate you are, how well your equipment is tuned, and the type of broadhead you use. For this reason, all hunters take broadheads very seriously and I’m no different. I use both fixed and mechanical broadheads, but if I had to choose, I’d go with a fixed blade broadhead. 

Fixed blade broadheads are great to use for two reasons. One, I like how reliable they are and if I’m taking a make or break shot, I would always go for my fixed blade broadhead over a mechanical one. Two, they are a lot more simple to handle. But not every fixed blade broadhead out there would be a good fit for you, I had to go through several to find ones that I liked, too. 

That’s why I know choosing the right broadhead for you can be stressful; there’s so much to consider, including the game you hunt, shooting conditions, and personal preferences. So, I’ve put together a list of the best fixed blade broadheads I’ve used. Broadheads are a very personal choice; what works for one person may not work for the other and vice versa. My advice here is to read the reviews and then go try them out for yourself until you find the one that’s right for you.

How I Chose The Best Fixed Broadheads

As someone who has been hunting for over 25 years, I’ve tried out many fixed blade broadheads on different hunting grounds. Testing them out has been a big part of my hunting trips. From the woods to open fields, each place brought its own challenges, helping me figure out which broadheads work best.

So, I put together this article with the fixed blade broadheads that have been doing the job for me. It’s not just my take. I got some insights from my hunting buddies and family who love it as much as I do. When testing the fixed blade broadheads, I considered things like sharpness, penetration, flight, and value.

Just a heads up, not all fixed blade broadheads are the same. It took a few tries to figure out which ones worked for me. Your preferences might be different, so what worked for me might not work for you.

That’s why I’ve lined up a bunch of fixed blade broadheads, each with its own perks, so there’s something for everyone. Here’s a quick rundown of every fixed blade broadhead I’ve picked. 

Gun University’s Choices of the Best Fixed Blade Broadheads

Best Fixed Blade Broadheads

Best Overall G5 Outdoors Montec		Editor’s choice Allows repeated maximum penetration and devastation Sharp, diamond-cut blades Spin-tested and pinpoint accuracy	Buy on Amazon
Best for small to medium-sized game QAD Exodus		Compact head with field-point accuracy Steep cutting angle Precision spin	Buy on Amazon
Best For Large Game Muzzy Trocar		Aerodynamic blades Superior penetration Solid steel ferrule	Buy on Amazon
Best blood trail Magnus 4-Blade Hornet		Excellent flight Patented diamond tip allows impressive penetration Field-tip accuracy	Buy on Amazon
Best budget Huntingdoor Three Blade		Heavy duty blade for strength and accuracy Precision and piercing power Screw-in insert	Buy on Amazon

Best Fixed Blade Broadheads Specifications

Below is a table of the specs for each broadhead. Click the name of the item to jump to that review.

Best Fixed Blade Broadheads

Here is our list for the best fixed blade broadheads:

1. G5 Outdoors Montec
2. QAD Exodus
3. Muzzy Trocar
4. Magnus 4-Blade Hornet
5. Huntingdoor Three Blade

Best Fixed Blade Broadheads – Reviews

Here are the detailed reviews of all the broadheads I’ve listed along with a side-by-side spec table on each. While they are all good broadheads, I feel that some of them have certain standout features that make them the best for their category.

Buyers Guide for Fixed Blade Broadheads 

Buying a good broadhead can be tricky if you are not familiar with what to look for. Here’s what I keep in mind when I’m looking to buy a fixed blade broadhead. 

Mechanical Broadheads vs Fixed Blade Broadheads

The argument of fixed blade vs mechanical broadheads is an ongoing one in almost every archery forum and that’s for another article. Knowing the difference between fixed blades and mechanical broadheads can help you decide which one is right for you.

• Fixed blade broadheads have been in use for almost 68,000 years, and while the design has improved by leaps and bounds, the core concept is the same. They can have two, three, or even four blades fixed to a ferrule (the center of a broadhead where the blades are attached) or are molded from metal into a particular shape. 
• Mechanical broadheads, on the other hand, have retractable mechanical blades. They release these blades from the ferrule when the broadhead strikes a target.

Take a look at the comparison I’ve done below. 

Parameters	Fixed Blade Broadhead	Mechanical Broadhead
Strength	Fixed blade broadheads are stronger than mechanicals because they don’t have any moving parts.	Mechanical broadheads can lead to more breakage because of their complex construction.
Price	Fixed blade broadheads are cheaper.	Mechanical broadheads are more expensive.
Reliability	Fixed broadheads are more reliable since they won’t malfunction in the middle of the hunt.	Sometimes, mechanical broadheads fail with blade deployment, either not opening or deploying too early, which can let your quarry escape.
Maintenance	One-piece fixed broadheads are usually easy to sharpen and maintain, but ones with removable blades can be a little difficult.	All mechanical broadheads have removable blades, so maintenance can be more time-consuming than fixed blade broadheads.
Size	The blades in fixed broadheads are usually smaller to reduce friction when flying.	You can go with bigger blades in mechanical broadheads since it won’t affect the flight.

At the end of the day, finding the right broadhead is really a matter of preference. Mechanical broadheads are good for you if you want something that doesn’t lose a lot of power in flight and don’t mind the slight chance of them malfunctioning. Otherwise, fixed blade broadheads are a good choice.

What to look for when picking a fixed broadhead? 

When buying a broadhead, there are a lot of specs and parameters to keep in mind and it can be hard to figure out which specs are important and which ones don’t matter as much. Here are some of the key specs you need to look for when buying a fixed blade broadhead.

Number of blades – A good rule of thumb for broadheads is that the more blades they have, the bigger the wounds and the better the blood trails. Fixed blade broadheads normally come with two blades, three blades, or four blades, and my recommendation is to go for a three blade broadhead. They have a good three-dimensional shape and can prevent the wound from closing once they go in. 

Four blades are similar, but they are also a lot harder to sharpen. Ask yourself if you are willing to spend a bit more time with the sharpening stone every time you want to hunt. If your answer is no, go with the three blades.  

But one thing to keep in mind is that broadheads with larger blade area face more air resistance and can easily careen off. So, the more you increase the number and size of the blades, the greater the effect on flight.

Cutting diameter – Cutting diameter is how wide of a wound the broadhead can make. Wide wounds give you better blood trails, making tracking a lot easier, but the problem with fixed blade broadheads that have a large cutting diameter is that they don’t penetrate as well and face more friction while flying. 

When looking at cutting diameter, really think about the game you are hunting. Are you hunting elk in Idaho or deer in Alabama? With large game, your bolt should penetrate deep and crush bone, so go with a smaller cutting diameter. For smaller game though, I recommend choosing a broadhead with a larger diameter because they will give you better blood trails. 

Blade thickness – A thicker blade can easily cut through your quarry and it is less likely to bend as it passes through the vital organs since it is more durable. A blade between the thickness of 0.020 to 0.0375 inches is what you should look for.

The tip – You can either go with a cut-on-contact or chisel tip. A cut-on-contact broadhead has a bladed tip, while the chisel tip broadhead has a thick pointed hammer-like tip with the blades located behind it. 

Again, it depends on the game you are hunting and the bow you use. If you are using a high-poundage bow, a chisel tip would be a good choice for it can crush through bone. But for a low-poundage bow, a cut-on-contact tip can help you create larger wounds. 

Material – Stainless steel or aircraft-grade aluminum are usually the best materials for mechanical broadheads and they are also the most common. Other than stainless steel or aluminum, you can also look for one made from high carbon or titanium alloys. They won’t corrode very easily. 

Weight in grains – Broadhead weight adds to your arrow weight and the general advice is to go for lighter broadheads for lighter arrows and heavier ones for heavier arrows. Lighter arrows fly faster, but have less penetrative power than heavier arrows. 100 grains is the most common weight you’ll be seeing and, unless you are hunting very large game, that should be plenty! 

Legality – Broadheads are heavily regulated and the laws about their usage are different from state to state. Your state has specific laws around what broadheads you can or cannot use, so I recommend looking that up before buying  (the Wasp website has compiled the laws for each state) and contacting your state’s gaming board to make sure those are the actual laws in use. The standard fixed broadheads are usually legal in most states and the common requirements for them are to have at least two blades and a minimum width of  ⅞ inches.  

What you are hunting – So much of your broadhead depends on the game you plan to hunt. If you are hunting large game, you are going to need something that has more penetration, while a broadhead with a large cutting diameter would be a better fit for smaller game.  

Best practices in storing and maintaining your broadheads

Broadheads are designed to make a crossbow deadly, and they are a dangerous piece of equipment. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when handling them to make sure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself or anyone else. Here are some safety and maintenance tips on handling your broadheads. 

Sharpening your broadhead – A sharp broadhead is dangerous, but I’d say a dull one is worse. If you hunt with a dull broadhead, it will wound your animal instead of killing it. It is not just unethical but also illegal and you really want to avoid this. 

The best practice is to sharpen your blades after every practice or hunting session. Here’s how you can do it. 

First, mark the sides of the blades on your broadheads with a permanent marker. This will help you make sure each side is equally sharp. Then, attach your broadhead to a shaft and press it against the sharpening stone. Apply a little pressure to remove a bit of metal from each blade and you should be good to go.

Installing your broadhead – Broadheads are razor sharp and you should be very careful when attaching them to your bolt, because you can seriously injure your hands if you mishandle them. The easiest and safest way to do this is to use a broadhead wrench. They are small devices that’ll cover the blades and hold the broadhead in place when you install it. This way, you can keep your hands safe and also prep your bolts more efficiently. 

Aligning your broadhead – Always make sure your broadheads are aligned properly, or else you can wave goodbye to your accuracy. Badly aligned broadheads are terrible to shoot with; they don’t fly well, you can lose bolts and they will not be accurate. 

To check your broadhead’s alignment, get yourself an arrow spinner. These are two-pronged stands you can rest your arrow on. Place a cardboard box at the tip of your broadhead and slowly spin the arrow using the shaft. If the broadhead is not properly aligned, the point will make a small circle on the cardboard. If your broadhead tip doesn’t move, your arrow is aligned well and you can take it hunting. 

Practicing with your broadhead – Before you take your new broadheads, I suggest you practice with them as much as possible until you get the hang of it. This will help you test out their performance and deal with any issues in a safe space. During practice, try to replicate your hunting environment by using the same type of broadheads and practicing from the distance you’re most likely to shoot your game. For example, don’t practice with a Muzzy Trocar at the range and then shoot with the G5 Outdoors Montec when hunting, because each of them will feel different and give you very different results. 

Storing your broadhead – Before storing your broadheads, take the time to inspect them for any damage. Pay attention to whether the broadhead blades are bent or broken and carefully examine the ferrule as well. If you’re using replaceable blade broadheads and find that the blades are damaged, you can swap them out with new ones. However, if the ferrule is damaged, it’s best to discard that broadhead. 

Once you’ve checked and cleaned the broadheads, it’s time to store them. I use a broadhead case, but some styrofoam in a Tupperware box can do it in a pinch as well. Just make sure your broadheads are secure and in place when you store them. 

Conclusion

A good broadhead can make or break your hunt, and spending the time to research and test them can help you find the ones that are just right for you. After all, with hunting gear, it is all about finding what works for you. So, even after reading all the reviews, the best way to find the right broadhead for you is to check them out yourself. Good luck.

Fixed Blade Broadheads – FAQs