What are the Top Turkey Arrowheads for Hunting?

If you have ever gone on a turkey hunting adventure, you probably know that it is one nerve-wracking task. The bird’s sharp eyesight coupled with excellent hearing makes things harder.

The moment you bring a bow into the equation, it becomes a near mission-impossible. Doubtless, a stick and string are best left to experienced turkey hunters who are just looking towards a challenge in the woods.

Here’s a fun fact. Before modern technology introduced mechanical broadheads, bow hunters could go into the woods and go back home empty-handed. Not that they couldn’t hit the birds, no! 

Their big-game broadheads could go right through their flesh just for the poor creatures to slip away and die painfully. None of their hacks seemed to be working. 

Not even their attempts to add washers and metal ‘stars’ to the broadheads bore fruits. The intention here was to slow the rate of arrow penetration and in effect impart some shock, paralyzing the birds.

However, things would turn out to be better with passing time. Soon, so many bleeder blades were saturating the markets, and the rate of recovered dead turkeys increased significantly.

Today, bow hunting is not a nightmare as such, even though it still can’t match gun-shot hunting. You just have to find the perfect broadhead that is going to cut huge holes and voila, you will be enjoying your turkey at dinner.

Here are our top picks.

1. Rage Bowhunting CrossbowX

To reduce the number of wasted game (by this we mean the number of turkeys that flee away regardless of having been hit by your broadhead), you should try these broadheads from Rage.

The broadheads feature blades that are made from stainless steel, and they have a cutting diameter measuring 2 inches. This is impressive as it means the blades will cut big holes when they get into contact with the gobblers, increasing their death rate.

Even better, the blades are mechanical. This increases the amount of damage caused to the vitals of turkeys. In effect, the birds won’t be able to slip away.

This model boasts of a streamlined design that significantly reduces the resistance to arrow movement caused by air currents. As such, the accuracy of these rage broadheads is unmatched.

It also features a shock collar technology that improves blade retention and reduces damage and breakage that can result from the high impact with the bird.

Pros

  • Comes with a free head for your practice
  • Made from durable stainless steel
  • Features a streamlined design for accuracy

Cons

  • It’s costly
  • Loading takes a long duration


2. NAP Spitfire

This product from New Archery Products earned the second slot on this list. It is a mechanical broadhead that guarantees to do some irreparable damage to your flight-risk target. Wondering how?

The blades’ cutting diameter measures 4 inches. That’s a pretty big hole, right?

Their mechanical nature means that the arrows will remain inside the birds, acting as a hindrance to escaping. The more the movements, the greater the damage caused. Even if the arrow exits and the bird slips, it will be dead on its feet due to massive bloodshed. 

The product is made from stainless steel for longevity and immense sharpness, which is key when it comes to penetrating the thick feathers and skin of a gobbler.

It also features a streamlined design that gives the arrows a smooth flight and resultant high-speed impact forces.

Pros

  • The blades have a big cutting diameter
  • They are made from durable stainless steel
  • The streamlined design gives the arrows a smooth flight

Cons

  • The prongs are noisy
  • Loading takes a long time


3. Swhacker 

For an economical yet high performance broadhead, Swhacker is an excellent buy. The product consists of a 2-blade expandable broadhead and has a cutting diameter measuring 2 inches. 

This is big enough to cut a large hole as it enters the body of the gobbler and as it exits. In fact, the broadhead can turn a mere marginal hit into a lethal shot that can cause the death of the bird.

The Swhacker blades are made from stainless steel which is strong enough to enable the broadhead to stand the test of time. Besides, they are also built with a razor sharp construction to effectively penetrate through the bird’s feathers.

Also, the broadhead has a ferrule that is made from anodized aluminum. It directs the energy from your arrow to the animal and keeps it away from the broadhead, minimizing damages and thus maximizing its durability.

Plus, it also features a steel point constructed with hardened carbon which performs almost the same task; shielding the broadhead from impacts that would otherwise deform it.

Pros

  • It has a hardened high-carbon steel point
  • It is durable
  • It can create deep wounds increasing kill-rate

Cons

  • It has 2 blades
  • Aluminum can still be damaged 


4. G5 Outdoors Montec

At number 4, we introduce this broadhead from Montec that has a single-fixed blade. Although it may not cut a big hole like the other blades, you cannot underestimate the power of this product. It is very common among bowhunters.

The biggest selling point of this product is that it’s very sharp and lethal. G5 Montecs have a deep penetration, blowing right through the gobbler’s bones and ribs that come its way and exiting from the other end.

The 1/16-inch cutting diameter of this blade is just as impressive, boasting a hostile attacking angle (whichever shooting angle you adopt, you can always count on it to bust through as it shoots approximately 305 feet per second).

To add to the advantages, the blades are made from carbon steel which is very easy to sharpen and is durable. Regardless of how many times you use it, you can be confident that it will still function at its best.

G5 is a perfect broadhead that can be used for any bow.

Pros

  • It is extremely sharp
  • Can be easily sharpened
  • Can be used with all bows

Cons

  • It needs regular maintenance
  • It has a relatively small cutting diameter


5. Carbon Express XT

If you want to try something out of the ordinary, this broadhead from Carbon Express are your go-to option. 

Unlike most of the broadheads you can find in the market, this product features six fixed blades that have been serrated to increase their destruction rate. You can be sure that they will chop off a huge chunk of the gobblers as they bust through its vitals.

Besides, the serrated blades also add to the broadhead’s durability as they are not easily destructed like normal blades.

With a cutting diameter of 1 1/8 inches, this is the best ‘murderer’ that you can obtain from the models in the market.

Its body has been designed out of anodized aircraft aluminum material for increased durability. Likewise, the blades have been constructed from stainless steel which is strong enough to withstand high-speed impacts and defy dents.

Due to its slick design, you can be sure that you will make accurate shots as your arrows will pass through the air smoothly and land with a lot of force and impact.

Pros

  • Features a streamlined design
  • Has serrated blades
  • Made from durable materials

Cons

  • Relatively small cutting diameter
  • Serrated blades need high maintenance


How to Obtain the Best Turkey Hunting Broadhead; A Buying Guide.

There are hundreds of options when it comes to the brands of broadheads that have already been manufactured. If you happen to stop by an archery shop, you won’t be able to single out an arrow for your head if you don’t know what you want.

Ask yourself questions like what type of broadhead works best with your arrow? How durable are the materials used? What size of animals do you want to hunt down? 

In this section, we discuss the factors that will determine whether a given product is a good pick for you.

The Type of the Broadhead

There are about three types of broadheads that you can find on the shelves of any archery shop. While each of these types has its advantages and disadvantages, it all boils down to, which of these will work well for your next hunt?

Is it the fixed-blade broadhead, expandable broadhead, or the guillotine broadhead? To answer this question, we go ahead to consider each type highlighting its main features, advantages, and disadvantages.

Go through each and weigh your options before that big decision to invest in a particular model.

Fixed-Blade Broadheads

By far, these are the most common and reliable types that exist in the market- they have been in existence longer than the other types. From the name, you can infer that the blades of these broadheads are attached or fixed onto a ferrule that is compact.

Most bowhunters tend to gravitate towards the 3-fixed blade broadheads, as they have a greater chance of making large cuts and thus leaving huge blood-trails if the turkey tries to slip away.

But why do most hunters prefer using this type of broadhead? Its advantages include the fact that the blades remain intact and penetrate deep into the gobbler’s skin, cutting through any bones they come into contact with then exit from the other end.

In essence, therefore, the chances of making bad shots are kept at the minimum. Regardless of your shooting position, the impact of the arrows will be too much for the bird to survive.

This makes them the ideal type for hunting turkeys as they have tough and dense feathers.

Also, they are an excellent buy for bowhunters who prefer using bows that have minimum draw weights and arrows that are light.

On the downside, however, getting these fixed broadheads to fly properly can be painstaking as the blades propel them towards a particular direction (they fly straight when released). In response, the cutting diameter of the broadheads is often reduced.

While this might help in their flight, the cut surface reduces lowering the chances of making ‘kill-shots’.

If you want any of the features discussed here, then you know what to ask for when you reach that archery shop.

Expandable/Mechanical Broadheads

Let us take you down the memory lane. Before innovation led to the introduction of mechanical broadheads, many bow-hunter found turkey hunting frustrating. This is because they used the big-game broadheads that turned out ineffective at times.

Put different, the arrows would hit the birds, bust through its vitals, and exit from the other end. So the problem was not with the shots. The problem was recovering the shot birds.

After being hit, the gobblers would slip away just to die in some other place. You can choose to call that ‘wasted meat’. 

With the introduction of mechanical broadheads, most bowhunters were relieved as they remedied this problem. Over the years, they have gained popularity and are almost the most preferred by hunters. So what are they called mechanical broadheads?

Just like fixed-blades, these broadheads feature a compact ferrule onto which blades are fitted. The difference is that the blades here are not fixed. 

Instead, the blades can expand (like those ‘over the top’ expandable broadheads) or deploy (like the rear deploy broadheads) upon coming into contact with the gobbler.

This increases the cutting diameter, thus inflicting wider wounds and leaving a heavy blood trail.

Consequently, this reduces the kinetic energy of the blades as well as the resultant arrow speed. What this means is that the arrows cannot cut through the turkey’s bones or make an exit.

They just punch the thick feathers then remain in the body. On the bright side, however, they cannot easily fall off. Also, they reduce the chances of the turkeys slipping away as the damage increases when they try to move.

The last benefit of this type is that it still guarantees accuracy just like the first type. Before you release the arrow, you have to retract the blades back into the ferrule. They will only spread out upon impact, increasing accuracy.

They will generally work better if you are using heavyweight arrows. Plus, if your arrow is fast, you can give this a try.

Guillotine Broadheads

Unlike fixed-blade broadheads and the mechanical broadheads, guillotine broadheads are more purpose-specific. They feature large blades that are designed to stick out from the ferrule.

Also, they are specifically used to cut off the head or neck of the turkey. While this will give you an instant kill, the broadhead seems to have a long trail of disadvantages.

For starters, a turkey’s head is never stable. It is always moving its neck from one side to the other. So then this means that you will either get everything or lose everything.

Besides, the long projecting blades are problematic when it comes to the flight pattern of the broadhead. You can never achieve ‘field-point’ accuracy with these blades. Any slight collision, say with a branch or even some blowing wind almost results in a fail.

You might want to use a decoy if you are to be successful. Make sure you position it close enough to your blind spot. A short shooting range might give you a clear shot.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what the individual hunter is comfortable with.

 Blade count

Generally, broadheads with more blades give you a competitive advantage over your gobbler friends. This is because it increases their cutting diameter and as a result, they make big holes when they cut through the birds.

So you should try as much to avoid single-blades. If you must, settle for those crafted with crosscut styles.

Although most bowhunters may tend to gravitate towards heads with three blades, they are a bit more expensive. But if you are working within a budget, you can settle for those with 2 blades. 

The only disadvantage the blood-trail will not be as heavy.

The cutting diameter

This point has been more or less covered in the preceding features. In summary, go for broadheads with larger cutting diameters for increased damage and more kill rates.

The larger the cutting diameter, the more effective the broadhead.

Durability 

This should be a constant factor whenever you are thinking of investing your money in any product. Our guess is that you would not want to waste your money on something that won’t last a few weeks.

Therefore, check on the materials that have been used to construct the broadhead. They should be strong enough to stand the test of time.

Weight 

The question as to whether you should settle for the 100-grain broadheads or the 125-grains broadheads largely depends on what the hunter is comfortable with. 

While the two have no notable difference in terms of their penetration rate or their projectile motions, some features set them apart. For instance, the 100-grain cohort is cheaper, lighter, and much easier to use than the 125-grain.

Also, 100-grain broadheads have fewer success rates when it comes to hunting down large animals like deer and boars. For turkey hunting, they work just fine.

The last difference has to do with the type of bow the hunter is using. For traditional ones, 100-grain should be your go-to option. If you have a crossbow, the 125-grain broadhead will be a good buy.

Why should you buy a broadhead?

Turkey hunting broadheads have several advantages that might attract your attention if you are a die-hard bowhunter. Here are a few of the advantages.

Reliability 

Unlike your traditional arrowhead, these killer beasts will give you a much higher success rate when it comes to bagging those gobblers for your dinner or Thanksgiving Day. They are perfectly crafted to murder. They don’t deliver anything short of that.

Plus, their field-point accuracy makes them much better at their job. With enough training, you should be able to capture up to 50 gobblers in a year.

Durability 

As we noted from our review, most of these broadhead brands are made from quality materials that will last you a life-time.

You don’t have to invest your money in a different broadhead each month just because the one you bought broke or developed some dents due to the high impact resulting from a collision with the birds’ thick feathers or their bones.

Therefore, you get to save some bucks. Who knows, you might find something else that is worth investing in.

Safety precautions

To stay on the safe side, you should take some safety precautions when dealing with broadheads as they can cause serious injuries if mishandled.

For instance, you should consider using a wrench to cover the broadhead’s blades when you are attaching it to your arrow. Given how sharp they are, they can cause severe cuts if they fall.

Nobody wants that to happen.

Conclusion 

Finding the best broadhead for turkey hunting is much more about how effectively it can cut a big hole in your target gobbler than how good it is at busting through the game to the other end.

While this means that a good broadhead doesn’t have to necessarily pass through the flesh, it does not downplay the importance of a sharp blade. The former helps in making those ‘shoot-to-kill’ shots while the latter helps to penetrate through the tough skin.

Having considered the available options of broadheads, we recommend the Rage Bowhunting CrossbowX to anyone who wants to purchase one for their next hunt.

Rage has a 2-inch cutting diameter which is good enough to damage the vitals of a turkey when the blades penetrate. Upon contact, the blades cannot fall off easily. That means they will remain in the turkey and consequently cause more damage if the bird moves.

The product features an aerodynamic design which increases the accuracy of your shots as the arrows pass smoothly through the air.

High-quality materials have been used in the construction of this product, thus they will withstand the test of time. The shock collar technology used contributes to this by preventing dents and other damages.

Invest your money in this product and get to enjoy a free head delivered for your practice.