In the mechanical vs. fixed blade debate, what if the correct answer is Yes?
Probably the fastest way to start an argument in hunt camp is to ask: Who’s got the best college football team this year? But the second-fastest way is by asking which type of broadhead is the best: fixed blade or mechanical.
Bow hunters have been arguing about fixed blades versus mechanicals ever since the first mechanical broadheads hit the market in the late 1980s, which coincidentally was also one of THE best decades for music. Ever. But that’s another argument for another time.
In fact, the point of this article isn’t to convince you to choose a side in the Team Fixed vs. Team Mechanical debate. Maybe you’re still on the fence. Maybe you see pros and cons on both sides. Maybe you’re new to bow hunting and don’t know where to start. Or maybe you’ve been bow hunting for years but want to broaden your horizons.
If any of these sound like you, then here are three reasons maybe you should consider using a hybrid broadhead.
1. Hybrid Broadheads are Devastating
Hybrid broadheads feature both fixed and mechanical blades, essentially giving you the best of both worlds. The fixed blades on hybrids are typically larger than the small “first-cut” blades found on most mechanicals, thereby creating a wider cut-on-contact entry wound. Once the hybrid broadhead penetrates the hide, the larger mechanical blades open to create a larger wound channel and wreak havoc on muscle, tissue, and organs.
2. Hybrid Broadheads are Accurate and Versatile
One of the biggest benefits of mechanical broadheads is that in their in-flight, closed state, they fly like field points with very little drag. Like mechanicals, hybrid broadheads tend to create less drag than traditional fixed blade broadheads; Not to mention they can also be used with both crossbows and compound bows. However, it is worth mentioning that critics argue hybrids are somewhat less effective than mechanicals at minimizing drag due to their larger fixed blades.
3. Hybrid Broadheads are Forgiving
Fixed-blade fans often characterize mechanical broadheads as less-forgiving than traditional heads. The most common complaints are that mechanicals will sometimes fail to open on hard-angle hits, or that they are prone to deflection when hitting bone. (It’s worth noting that Swhacker mechanicals are engineered specifically to address both of these concerns.) But with a hybrid broadhead, you get the full strength of a fixed cut-on-contact blade in the event that your shot is less than ideal, especially if it hits bone. As a result, some people feel hybrid broadheads provide the forgiveness of traditional fixed blade head without sacrificing the expanded cut diameter provided by a mechanical head.
So that settles it, right?
As with debates about college football program supremacy, differences of opinion about “the best” type of broadhead will continue for as long as bow hunters gather. At least we can all agree on the best decade for music. (Answer: 1985–1995)