Choosing broadheads

Broadheads turn a hunting arrow into a cutting tool. The right broadhead threads onto the arrow you have built, flies with its matching practice setup, and matches the hunting job you are asking it to do.

The short answer

Match the head’s grain to your field points, pick fixed or mechanical, and spin-test each broadhead before you hunt.

Field-point grain match

The grain marking in the listing’s size field is the head’s weight. Keep it matched to the field-point weight used for practice so the arrow’s front end does not change when season arrives.

Fixed-blade and mechanical heads

Fixed-blade heads keep their blades exposed; mechanical heads deploy after impact. The blade design in the product text tells you which system you are selecting and what to inspect before a hunt.

Cutting diameter and blade configuration

Cutting diameter and blade configuration affect the wound channel, while the head’s profile affects how it moves through targets and game. Read both, rather than choosing only by the product photo.

Bent ferrule or damaged blade

Spin each assembled broadhead on its shaft before relying on it. A bent ferrule, damaged blade, or poorly seated insert can show up as an arrow that will not tune.

What the listings actually show

The current catalog includes 529 broadheads from 52 brands. Most listings state the head’s grain, and nearly every listing describes blade design and cut.

Before you buy

Practice with matching-grain field points and cover blades during transport.