Best Crossbow Broadheads for Deer Hunting

Did you know that the only part of your weapon that comes into direct contact with your game is Broadhead? Therefore, you have to pick the right one to hunt your prey down.

It is a simple tool used by humans since ages to target their prey. Fortunately, the modern broadhead is engineered to maximize penetration with better aerodynamics; making them practical and more lethal than ever.

When it comes to crossbow hunting, it is an activity that requires hours of chasing and positioning to get one flawless shot, as it might be all you get. Therefore, you should have a broadhead that can fully penetrate through your target and hunt it down with an enormous blood trail to follow.

With the recent advancement and improvements in broadheads construction, choosing the right one has become a difficult and tiresome task. You cannot actually go to the marketplace and try every broadhead. If you search the internet, it is swamped with thousands of different options.

That’s why we have done one heck of research and collected some of the best crossbow broadheads available. We also reviewed their specs and features in detail for your convenience. Let’s get going!

Best Broadheads for Crossbow Comparison Table

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS
Rage X Broadhead–(Best Mechanical Broadhead)	Rage X Broadhead– (Best Mechanical Broadhead)	Rage X Broadhead– (Best Mechanical Broadhead)	Type: Mechanical Size: 100-125 grain Blade Thickness: 0.035-inch	Check On Amazon
Muzzy Trocar – Best 100-Grain Broadhead	Muzzy Trocar – Best 100-Grain Broadhead	Muzzy Trocar – Best 100-Grain Broadhead	Type: Fixed Size: 100-125 grain Blade Thickness: 0.035-inch	Check On Amazon
Excalibur Boltcutter Broadhead	Excalibur Boltcutter Broadhead	Excalibur Boltcutter Broadhead	Type: Fixed Size: 150 grain Blade Thickness: 0.035-inch	Check On Amazon
G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead	G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead	G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead	Type: Fixed Size: 100-125 grain Blade Thickness: 0.035-inch	Check On Amazon
Swhacker Crossbow Broadheads	Swhacker Crossbow Broadheads	Swhacker Crossbow Broadheads	Type: Mechanical Size: 100 grain Blade Thickness: 1’’ (closed) and 2’’ (open)	Check On Amazon
NAP Spitfire Broadhead	NAP Spitfire Broadhead	NAP Spitfire Broadhead	Type: Mechanical Size: 100-125 grain Blade Thickness: 3	Check On Amazon
Rage Hypodermic (Hybrid Broadhead Review)	Rage Hypodermic (Hybrid Broadhead Review)	Rage Hypodermic (Hybrid Broadhead Review)	Type: Hybrid Size: 100grain Number of blades: 2	Check On Amazon
Carbon Express XT dual-blade Broadhead	Carbon Express XT dual-blade Broadhead	Carbon Express XT dual-blade Broadhead	Type: Fixed Size: 100grain Number of Blades: 6	Check On Amazon

Our top picks for Best Crossbow Broadheads for Hunting:

1. Rage X Broadhead– (Best Mechanical Broadhead)
2. Muzzy Trocar – Best 100-Grain Broadhead
3. Excalibur Boltcutter Broadhead
4. G5 Outdoors Montec Broadhead
5. Swhacker Crossbow Broadheads
6. NAP Spitfire Broadhead
7. Rage Hypodermic (Hybrid Broadhead Review)
8. Carbon Express XT dual-blade Broadhead

1. Rage X Broadhead– (Best Mechanical Broadhead)

The Rage Crossbow X is intelligently designed for precise hunting with a wider wound channel. It is a 2-blade mechanical broadhead for humane killing, without unnecessary suffering of the target. Depending upon the type of game you plan on hunting, these are available in both 100-grain and 125-grain.

Rage manufacturers are best known for their high-end features, and CrossbowX is one of their finest one. This long-lasting broadhead is made up of solid stainless steel with SlipCam rear-deploying sharp blade and an expandable mechanical tip for a stronger kill rate.

Rage X is a little heavier and requires more kinetic energy to get the perfect reach. Still, with the incorporated ferrule alignment technology, the in-air flight has been significantly improved. Shock-collar technology is also employed for blade retention.

The pointer of the Rage X is so delicate it can easily pierce any solid object in a single attempt. The triangular top has made it faster to penetrate anything. In addition, the pointer is easily detachable if required.

The Rage CrossbowX is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a mechanical broadhead to take down the game with accuracy and speed.

Specifications

2. Muzzy Trocar – Best 100-Grain Broadhead:

The USA made three-bladed Muzzy Trocar is one of the best-fixed broadheads for crossbow hunting. It is packed with capabilities and features that are probably not present in any of the heads you’ve seen so far.

The classic Muzzy Trocar is made up of solid stainless steel, which is strong enough to pierce through any object easily. The helix-shaped blades offer improved stabilization and less resistance to the wind for consistent and accurate flight. It is designed to withstand water and heat damage so you can enjoy worry-free hunting.

The compact built of the broadhead helps keep the shots precise and decreases the wind’s surface area to disrupt the flight path. Moreover, the blades are removable and razor-sharp with an effective wound channel for lethal hunting.

It is one of the most lightweight models available in the market. This feature ensures that they fly faster to reach the target object and are easier to carry around.

These broadheads are available in 100-grain and 125-grain versions. The package comes with several extra blades to replace the damaged and bent ones after several uses. Be careful while changing the blades as they are very sharp and may injure you.

If you keep the blades sharp, these are the best value broadheads for hunters, ensuring deep penetration with accuracy.

Specifications

TypeFixed

3. Excalibur Boltcutter Broadhead – Best Value 

The Excalibur Crossbow is a famous brand in bow experience. hunting Boltcutter is an incredibly precise fixed broadhead designed for professional hunters. This provides mind-blowing performance when used with quality crossbows, as it flies right into the target with high velocity.

The Excalibur Boltcutter has been skillfully made from durable and strong stainless steel, ensuring it can endure tough surface targets such as bone and yet deliver accurate precision and damage. The 150-grain broadhead features three blades and a tapered chisel point tip for wider wound channel.

While this broadhead has a heavy tip, the smaller design has resulted in increased efficiency and faster flight to the aim. The Boltcutter is extremely lightweight; it can be transported conveniently while hunting. It’s a little difficult to sharpen the blades so it’s suggested to replace the blades with provided extra blades after each kill.

The major aspect of using the Excalibur Boltcutter is that after being shot you can be certain the animal won’t suffer too much. However, with these broadheads the blood trail is often quite minimal; you can track the animal within 25-40 yards of distance.

Considering the excellence and penetration the Excalibur Boltcutter provides, the price is very fair. Getting the same degree of consistency in that price range is a difficult challenge.

In conclusion, this one  is greatly valued and recommended by a vast majority of hunters, because it is a perfect combination of durability and power.

Specifications

4. G5 Outdoors Montec – Crossbow broadheads 125 grain

G5 Outdoors is a family business that prides itself on premium quality hunting products. From its early roots in an old wheat mill, this brand has developed itself into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of archery equipment. If you are a skilled hunter, you would love G5 outdoors Montec broadheads.

This spin tested fixed broadhead has a simple yet impressive design and carbon-steel construction that makes it a solid weapon. In addition to making it effective against thick targets, the cut-on-contact steel structure makes the blade fall deeper into the animal and even move through the bones.

The lightweight Montec features diamond-cut blades for maximum penetration and damage with a slightly narrower wound channel. Therefore, you need to hit the target accurately in a vital area to draw a bigger blood trail. The super sharp tip of the tapered blade can be easily re-sharpened if it becomes dull after several uses.

This broadhead goes through spin, deployment, strength, and sharpness testing to minimize failure rate. The package comes in a pack of three with few practice blades. Using these practice blades on targets will definitely help you to have a better understanding of the broadhead before going out for your hunting journey.

This simple and sleek broadhead is ideal for accurately targeting the prey from short to medium distances.

Specifications

5. Swhacker Crossbow Broadheads

Swhacker has gained a reputation for high quality and creative designs in the hunting sector and this mechanical broadhead is a perfect example of both. It is a fast flying and durable machine for humane killing with a wide wound channel.

The Swhacker broadhead is made of carbon steel, and the ferrule is constructed from anodized aluminum, making it the most lightweight and sturdy heads you can find. Moreover, this material is resistant to rust, and thus hardly likely to corrode for long-time use.

The broadheads use a mix of three distinct colors to make it look fantastic. The pointer is black, the blade is silver and the rest of the body is green. The package includes three broadheads and a practice head.

Swhacker features a two-blade expandable broadhead for an ideal blood-trail. The razor-sharp stainless steel blade of Swhacker with a hardened carbon steel pointer ensures maximum piercing power with high precision. The blades remain quite sharp, despite firing several shots. The Swhacker broadhead requires a bit of sharpening before reusing.

Swhacker has also a unique two-cutting edge feature in their broadheads. Two short wing blades are deployed when the primary cutting blades are retracted and smash through the hide and bones and take off some of the ferrule’s load. It is for an initial attack, as they require less force to penetrate because of their small size. The second edge known as chief blades does not affect anything while penetrating. Once penetrated, they open the virgin edges inside the body and cut through the vital organs for maximum damage.

It is a highly recommended mechanical broadhead for budget buyers for its extraordinary features.

Specifications

6. NAP Spitfire– Crossbow broadheads for Deer

NAP Spitfire is a mechanical 3-blade crossbow broadhead and has been a solid performer for way too long. It has earned a reputation for reliable activity and great results through its iconic Spitfire technology; designed to be shot precisely from high-speed crossbows.

The manufacturer has employed a variety of innovations in this specific design, and you can expect improved and reliable performance from it. It features the proprietary micro grooved ferrule which significantly increases flight precision and power of penetration.

The stainless steel blades are shaped and sharpened by NAP’s unique Diamize process for maximum knock-down power. The spectacular Trophy tip is made of hardened carbon steel and will ensure your shot passes with a wider wound channel and full accuracy.

The lightweight Spitfire uses a mechanical spring-clip blade retention system to prevent the blades from being activated in flight. The system locks up itself, and no O-rings or rubber bands to stress about. It comes in a pack of three broadheads with an extra practice head.

This is one of the most reliable and best crossbow broadheads for turkey and deer hunting.

Specifications

7.Rage Hypodermic – Crossbow broadheads Rage

For years, Rage has maintained a high level of acceptance amongst hunters, thanks to their consistent performance, accuracy and reliability. When it comes to hybrid broadheads, there is one model that tends to receive more positive feedback than the others; RAGE Hypodermic Crossbow Broadhead.

It has a one-piece solid steel ferrule for enhanced durability and robustness. Therefore, it can maintain its sturdiness through even the strongest of impact. This broadhead, designed with improved aerodynamics, can make your bolts fly high and hit the target precisely for a sure kill.

Rage hypodermic is an improved hybrid broadhead with the SlipCam rear-blade deployment mechanism to keep the blades hidden until impact with the target. It has a razor-sharp two-blade design with a massive cutting diameter. If your crossbow bolt has ample kinetic energy and momentum this can result in a lethal attack with a big blood trail to follow.

It also features a unique hybrid tip with surgical accuracy; providing better penetrating power with pin-point accuracy. Furthermore, Rage shock collar technology prevents the blades from premature-deployment while not in use or in flight.

Rage hypodermic is one of the best hybrid crossbow broadheads with surgically sharp blades and substantial cutting diameter.

Specifications

8.Carbon Express XT dual-blade Broadhead

Carbon Express XT is a solid broadhead with a total of six blades, each of them serrated. This fixed broadhead is designed to deliver the maximum damage, with a wider wound channel than the traditional models.

This razor-sharp broadhead is constructed from high-quality stainless steel that cuts easily through any part of the target’s body. The serrated blades have a wide cutting channel to produce large wounds and plenty of blood for the trail. The ferrule of XT is made up of aircraft-grade aluminum so it can withstand extreme weather conditions for many hunting seasons.

It is designed to sustain momentum by spinning, regardless of how long they fly. Therefore, they hit the long-distance target with maximum force and penetrating power. It offers the same level of accuracy as you would get from field points for successful outcomes.

The blades have also been properly spaced out, with the main blade sloping over all the other blades. This aspect of Carbon Express XT certainly makes the broadhead more aerodynamic for long-range hunting.

Corrected with a good spin yield check, it can be used to boost error-free shots. Thereby, guaranteeing humane killings with huge damage to get a clean kill that can be easily tracked.

It is an extremely reliable performer with a high degree of precision and strength. Therefore, to seasoned hunters, this is worth every cent.

Specifications

Latest Buying Guide of Crossbow Broadheads for Deer Hunting

Skilled and experienced hunters believe that choosing the right broadheads is equally as important as picking the best crossbow for hunting. Since your ability to land and kill a target primarily depends on how effectively and humanely as possible your broadheads are built, you should pay special attention to what the market offers.

Types of Broadheads:

Since you have already read about some of the top-rated broadheads above, you may have observed variations in shape, sizes and functionality. There are basically three main types:

 I. Mechanical:

Mechanical or expandable broadheads are pretty much small machines. Throughout the flight, the blades remain hidden into the body and then release upon the contact with the target, widening the wound channel and causing additional damage. The main advantage is that they provide better accuracy as the blades remain concealed, reducing the in-flight crosswind. Sadly, whilst accuracy can be increased, reliability continues to be a problem. Mechanical broadheads are famous for whitetail deer and small game hunting.

II. Fixed:

Fixed broadheads are an old classic. It’s just a large bit of sharp metal at the end of a flying stick. Their blades remain intact and unconcealed during the flight. They are heavy-duty broadheads with sharp and solid blades. They are relatively precise and accurate, but they really excel with their reliability and deeper penetration.  The only drawback the larger cross-section catches wind during flight. They have preferred broadheads for large game hunting like elk, bear etc.

III. Hybrid:

Hybrid broadheads are a combination of both of the above broadheads. The tip is much like the one we see on fixed blades for a cut-on-contact effect. Rest of the part is like a mechanical broadhead like expandable mechanism for larger cutting diameter. They incorporate the advantages offered by the other two types of broadheads, however, they have inconsistent flight patterns and require high maintenance. They are mostly used by experienced hunters.

What factors to consider before Choosing the Bowhunting broadhead:

Once you have settled on the type of broadhead you need, there are few more things to consider before making a final decision.

I. Legal Issues:

The legal aspects must not be taken lightly. The type of broadhead to be used should be legal within the state in which you live. Using a weapon that is considered criminal in the eyes of the law will put you behind bars. Better be cautious than to be sorry.

II. Durability:

The ability of the broadhead to endure everything and anything is one of the key factors while selecting one for use. It has to be robust enough not to bend or twist even after multiple hard hits over targets. Maintaining the broadhead after purchase will also add to its durability and prevent it from factors such as rusting.  

III. Weight:

Weight can be a major deciding factor while selecting a broadhead. Heavier broadhead might have a postural effect on your body. Choosing a best fit that can penetrate the object to an acceptable level and is also easy to carry around would be a very wise decision.

IV. Diameter:

Diameters can play an important role in your overall hunting experience. A compact cutting diameter can be convenient as it provides more penetration, is relatively lighter and is compatible with most crossbows.

V. Tip:

Whether you’re using a fixed or a mechanical broadhead, pick the tip very carefully as it can affect the hunt. You can either choose a chisel tip, which is a simple pointed tip, or cut on contact tips that are razor blade tips or small blades installed at the tip of the head.

VI. Number of blades:

Broadheads can come with a varying number of available blades. That simple factor determines how destructive the shots can be. They will also ensure bigger blood trails that will enable you to follow your target easily.

FAQs

Is there a difference between crossbow broadheads and regular broadheads?

There is no significant difference between them other than the cutting diameter. Manufacturers have successfully used the crossbow heads with compound bows in testing.

Should I use a 4-blade or 2-blade broadhead?

The more cuts you make, the greater the muscle damage. 4-blade can provide more damage than the 2-blade. We recommend that you try both of them and take the one you’re most comfortable with.

Are heavier broadheads better?

The arrow’s flight and penetrating power are decided by kinetic energy (KE) and momentum. A heavier arrow has a lower kinetic energy but more momentum and therefore deeper penetration.

What tool should be used to screw on broadheads

Always use a wrench to screw your broadheads. It will cover the blades while the blade is tightened to the arrow. If the wrench is not used, the slightest slip can lead to severe injury.

Can I practice shooting before the real hunting?

Yes, some heads come with a practice broadhead. They normally replicate the size, features, and weight of the actual one.

Wrapping Up:

In this article, we have tried to provide you with some of the most insightful advice and tip to consider before making a Broadhead purchase. Based on various metrics and categories, we have selected some of the best options. Let’s have a look!  

Our choice for the best fixed blade broadhead is the Excalibur Boltcutter because of its outstanding performance and durability.  For the best mechanical broadhead, the Rage X would be our best choice, considering its lightweight, durability and fine steel construction.   

For the Large game hunting Broadhead category our best pick is the Muzzy Trocar because it has been the hunters’ weapon of choice for decades and does certainly provide a brilliant hunting experience.  

Watson R

Master of Modern Bowhunting, Watson knows archery equipment forward and backward. An accomplished bowhunter in his own right, his successes in the field demonstrates to novices that bowhunting isn’t something to be kept behind closed doors. Making it more accessible to beginners and advanced bowhunters alike; Watson has become an expert in the construction and use of longbows, compound bows, crossbows, archery and bowhunting gear; he now shares his knowledge openly.