Today’s crossbows are faster, quieter, more accurate and more user-friendly than ever before. But not a single crossbow will kill a deer this fall. That’s a job for the broadheads attached to the ends of the bolts those crossbows fire.
Crossbows can deliver projectiles at extreme speeds and all that sizzle is best handled by broadheads designed specifically for the application. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorites.
One of the most-tenured names in the broadhead business, the HBX takes the proven durability of Muzzy’s Trocar tip and pairs it with a set of rugged fixed blades with a two degree offset so the broadhead spins and stabilizes quickly, next to a paid of pair of expandable mechanical blades that combine for an impressive 2 5/8-inch cutting diameter. Each head weighs 100 grains.
This 100-grain, fixed-blade head features blades that are sharpened on both the leading and back edge, a feature that can come in handy on hard quartering shots where passthroughs are less likely. This is a stout, rugged head that Ramcat touts to fly exactly like a field-point, no matter what speed your crossbow delivers. The heads are available in 100- or 125-grain versions.
Crossbows are known for their speed, and that speed allows for the use of big, aggressive broadheads like this. The Grim Reaper Hybrid boasts two fixed blades with an impressive 1 1/2-inch cutting diameter paired with mechanical blades that add an additional 1 3/16-inch of cutting surface. They weight in at 100 grains.
Rage makes some of the most popular mechanical broadheads on the market. The Hypodermic is a best seller thanks to its 2-inch cutting diameter and stainless steel blades. The crossbow model boasts a high-energy retention collar to handle the increased speeds produced by today’s crossbows. It’s available in 100- or 125-grain models.
What’s better than two blades? Three or four. And what’s better than three or four? Well, Carbon Express thinks it’s six blades. The XT Dual features six fixed blades and adds in serrations to boot. The head has a 1 1/8-inch cutting diameter and Carbon Express claims the serrated blades stay sharp longer than standard single or dual-bevel designs. They’re available in 100- or 125-grain models.
New Archery Products was one of the first to make over-the-top mechanicals mainstream. That classic design defines the XXX, which features three flip-over blades that expand to a two-inch cutting diameter. The 100-grain heads are made in America.
Excalibur knows a thing or two about making top-notch crossbows. The Boltcutter is the xbow manufacturer’s foray into broadheads. The stout head features three fixed blades with 1 1/16-inches of cutting diameter. And they’re heavy, weighing in at 150 grains.
No broadhead roundup would be complete without a model from one of the original names in the game. Wasp’s time-proven Jak Hammer is available in a crossbow-specific model, the Jak-X.
The head features a 1 3/4-inch cutting diameter and utilizes a dual O-ring retaining system designed to handle bows that exceed 380 fps. It features Wasp’s stainless steel smart tip with cutting edges that align with the blades for optimal penetration. They weigh 100 grains, are made in the USA.