Best Mechanical Broadheads - Top Picks
(Full List Below)
Best Overall
Razor Sharp
Deep Penetration
- 3-blade, 2″ cut
- Robust ferrule allows reuse
- Rebuild kits available
- Practice broadhead available
- 3-blade design
- Short, grooved ferrule
- Razor-sharp blades
- Replaceable blades
- 2″ cutting diameter
- 2-blade design
- No collar-design
- Hybrid hypodermic tip
- 2″ cutting diameter
- Replacement blades available
When choosing, there are multiple things to consider, such as bow setup, the species you’re hunting, and your intended FOC.
Best Mechanical Broadheads - Full List
(Click photos to view full size)
- 3-blade design
- Short, grooved ferrule
- Razor-sharp blades
- Replaceable blades
- 2″ cutting diameter
The G5 Megameat is an undeniably effective mechanical broadhead. I finally got the opportunity this past Fall (2022) to harvest a whitetail with a Megameat, and let me just say, the reviews are honest.
These broadheads make large wound channels and end with backstraps on the table.
Travis Turner – a.k.a. T-Bone – of the Bone Collector trio, has recorded amazing results with them. His face is even on their packaging.
This broadhead is made up of 3 razor-sharp blades, set in a short, but stout, ferrule. The blades are locked in place with a plastic locking collar that the blades snap into, keeping them secure until time for deployment.
These broadheads are wicked and have brought down their fair share of big game animals, leaving gaping wounds and short blood trails for the thousands that have used them.
(Click photos to view full size)
- 2-blade design
- No collar-design
- Hybrid hypodermic tip
- 2″ cutting diameter
- Replacement blades available
Another 2-blade design from Rage is their Hypodermic N.C. (no collar).
This broadhead utilizes cutting-edge finger-like tabs on the blades’ Slip Cam pivot point to “anchor” them in place while in the closed position. This completely eliminates the need for a Shock Collar, dental band, or O-ring, while still providing reliable blade retention.
It features the lethal, Hypodermic hybrid tip with an even narrower profile and needle-like ferrule. This creates a more streamlined, field point-like flight path.
The 2-blade, swept back design offers a 2″ cut, delivering gaping wounds and larger blood trails.
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- Southeastern Bowhunting approved
- 3-blade, 2″ cut
- Robust ferrule allows reuse
- Rebuild kits available
- Practice broadhead available
I’ve been shooting the Grim Reaper Razorcut Whitetail Special in 100 grains for the past two years. I can say from a lot of experience that these broadheads do exactly what you want them to.
Their 3-blade, 2″ cut leaves gaping wounds that result in short track jobs, which I’ve been fortunate enough to see firsthand on a number of hunts.
The ferrule is super robust, the blades click into place and stay there until they contact hide, and the replacement kits are easy to install and save lots of money in the long run.
In my opinion, Grim Reaper makes the best mechanical broadheads on the market.
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- Titanium, streamlined ferrule
- Swept back blade design
- Polymer shock collar
- Superior blade retention
- 2-blade design
- 2″ cut
I used the Rage Hypodermic Trypan during the 2021 Rut and had devastating results. Well, devastating for the buck I brought down.
Its razor-sharp, swept back 2-blade design couples with its needle point titanium ferrule to cut through prey like butter, offering quick and ethical kills.
The blades are locked in place with a one-time-use plastic collar until deployed. Additional collars are included with each package of broadheads.
The ferrule may not be as robust as the Grim Reaper, but what it lacks in that respect, it more than makes up for with the wound channels it creates. The results speak for themselves.
(Click photos to view full size)
- Hardened, high carbon steel point
- Anodized aircraft aluminum ferrule
- 2-blade design
- 2″ cutting diameter
- Arched-blade design
The Swhacker Levi Morgan #261 broadheads were designed to the exact specifications for one of the world’s most accurate archers.
The unique arched blade design reduces blade resistance after entry, retaining greater arrow momentum and delivering increased pass-through performance.
The reinforced, ribbed ferrule delivers up to 20% greater strength and rigidity. Swhacker’s blade lock technology allows the expandable blades to be locked in the closed position, so you can practice with the exact broadhead you’ll be using in the field.
The #261 is 1-inch in flight and 2-inches after penetration. Its wing blade design cuts through the first layer of hide, bone and fat, causing the swept blades to deploy internally to deliver lethal damage to vital organs.
This two-slice technology assures greater retained momentum and a higher percentage of pass-through shots – a winning combination from one of the best mechanical broadheads on the market.
(Click photos to view full size)
- Micro Grooved Slimline ferrule
- Diamize sharpened blades
- Hardened Trophy tip
- 1.5″ cutting diameter
- 3-blade design
- Practice broadhead available
The NAP Spitfire has been a trusted mechanical broadhead for a long time, and for good reason.
Its Micro Grooved Slimline ferrule greatly increases flight accuracy and penetration power.
NAP’s Diamize sharpening process creates extremely sharp blades, resulting in massive hemorrhaging and knock down power.
The Spitfire’s Trophy Tip point is specifically designed for maximum bone splitting power and unbelievable durability.
This broadhead’s 1.5″ cutting diameter allows for less friction as it works its way to a full pass-through. All-in-all, a great option.
What is a mechanical broadhead?
A mechanical broadhead is different than a fixed-blade – or cut-on-contact – broadhead. A mechanical broadhead is typically made up of a ferrule and multiple blades that are locked in a closed position until they strike an animal. A mechanical broadhead with closed blades make a much smaller profile than a fixed-blade broadhead.
The blades are typically locked in place by some sort of collar, band, o-ring, or “cup.” However, some broadheads, such as the Rage Hypodermic N.C. seen above, are designed in a way that eliminates a collar altogether. The ferrule is the center piece that screws into your arrow shaft’s insert/outsert, and comes to a sharp point. It is the first point of contact on a mechanical broadhead.
How does a mechanical broadhead work?
The ferrule starts the penetration into the animal, and as the blades make contact, they are forced backwards into the open position, exposing their sharpened edges. As they penetrate through the hide of the animal, they become completely open and typically make gaping wounds, due to their often wide cutting diameters.
The Swhacker Levi Morgan #261 broadheads, as seen above, were designed so the backside edges of the blades begin the cutting process through hide and bone before they open, revealing the long, swept-back blade edges. This allows for greater penetration.
Pros and Cons of mechanical broadheads
Pros
- Extremely close to field point accuracy
- Less tuning involved
- Large cutting diameters available
- Blades can be easily replaced after deployment
- Gaping wounds for shorter track jobs
Cons
- Mechanical parts allow for possible, but rare, malfunctioning
- Wide cutting diameters increase friction for lower pass-through rates
- Blades typically cannot be resharpened
- Thinner blades are easily bent and dulled after one use
What is FOC and how many grains should I shoot?
FOC is an acronym that you hear a lot in bowhunting. FOC is short for Front of Center. It is referring to moving the center of gravity forward from the center of the arrow.
To do this, bowhunters will increase the weight of their broadheads, and even install outserts instead of inserts. As you increase their weight, you move the center of gravity further to that side of the arrow, or more Front of Center.
Bowhunters do this for myriad reasons, but mainly because the added weight increases penetration.
Another reason is that it stabilizes arrow flight by fighting against the lift at the front of the arrow. So, the higher the weight of your broadheads, the better the penetration and flight – to a point.
As with most things, you can reach a point of diminishing returns, which will be dictated by your total arrow setup.
So, how many grains should you shoot? It depends totally on your setup as a whole. The weight of your nock, fletching, shaft, and insert/outsert need to be taken into account to find just the right broadhead weight. Trial and error is a great teacher.
Should You Shoot A Heavier Arrow?
Before choosing your arrow, it’s important to decide whether you’d prefer a heavier or lighter arrow setup.
For help determining if you should be shooting a heavier arrow, check out this article that I wrote on the subject.
Questions and Comments
I’d love to hear your thoughts on broadhead selection, so leave any questions or comments below!
And if you’re interested in checking out the best fixed blade broadheads on the market, see them here. And if you’re looking for the best broadheads for turkey hunting, you can find them here.
You can connect with me on Instagram or Facebook @southeasternbowhunting.
