Cutting Edge Not Breaking Bank: Best Budget Broadheads

[leadin]If you are a hardcore bowhunter, you have probably noticed that over the last decade the cost of broadheads has skyrocketed.[/leadin]

Many broadheads now cost $15-$20 each. Combine that cost with the cost of arrows and a lighted nock and every time you let an arrow fly, you are letting go of a fifty dollar bill. Luckily for us, there are a few broadhead makers out there that offer top notch broadheads with features we all demand without breaking the bank.

Below are a few of my favorite broadheads that are priced right.

CARBON EXPRESS TROIKA ST3

Carbon Express has an awesome fixed- blade broadhead called the Troika ST3 ($25/3). Although the name may be hard to pronounce, the large wounds this head is said to create will speak for themselves. The ST3 has an offset cut-on-contact lead blade that increases overall penetration and helps create a massive wound channel. The Troika broadhead is built with a patented three-point locking system that locks the blades in place so bowhunters don’t have to worry about the blades falling out of the ferrule. The head is available in 100-grains and has three scary sharp .031″ blades and offers a 1-1/8″ cutting diameter.

MUZZY TROCAR

When bowhunters think about tough broadheads, one of the first brands to roll off the tongue is Muzzy. The Muzzy Trocar ($30/3) is a bone-crushing broadhead that has three .035″ helix blades that fly true, even when shot at high speeds. The Trocar has a 1-3/16″ cutting diameter, a solid steel ferrule and an extra strong trocar tip. The Trocar is available in several options, including 100-grains, 100-grain Deep Six compatible, 100-grain crossbow and 125-grain crossbow.

NEW ARCHERY PRODUCTS SLINGBLADE

New Archery Products is one of the best-known brands in the industry, thanks in part to products like the Thunderhead broadhead. NAP is always innovating and now they are offering a mechanical broadhead called the SlingBlade ($25/3) that is simple, effective and priced to sell. The SlingBlade is a 2-blade mechanical head that offers a 1-7/8” cutting diameter that promises to deliver massive entry and exit wounds, resulting in quick recoveries.

OLD GLORY

Old Glory Broadheads is a new company that offers American-made hardware that is tough as nails and built to bring down big game but not empty the pocketbook. Old Glory makes fixed-blade and mechanical models and, good news, a 3-pack only costs $20 and is built to last.

The 3-blade mechanical head comes with a trocar tip, has a 1-3/8” cutting diameter and the blades are made of 440- stainless steel. On top of that, the ferrule is built of aircraft grade aluminum. These heads come with some great features without costing a small fortune. Old Glory heads are available in 100 grains.

SWHACKER 2-INCH CUT

Swhacker ( www.swhacker.com) has a 100-grain broadhead ($30/3) with a 2″ cutting diameter. Like all other Swhacker heads, this wider broadhead comes with some unique features including blades with two separate cutting edges. The wing blades cut through the skin to provide deep penetration. Once inside the animal, the large cutting blades open to create an extra large wound. This one-two punch is said to provide amazing penetration and maximize the amount of internal damage to vitals without sacrificing kinetic energy or overall performance.

The Swhacker comes with an extra strong carbon steel tip and the ferrule is made of aircraft aluminum. The Swhacker comes with .032″ blades and is available in a 100-grain model with a 1-3/4″ cutting diameter and a 125-grain with an extra large 2-1/4″ cutting diameter.

WASP JAK-KNIFE

Wasp Archery has been around for decades and is a company bowhunters know and trust. Wasp has a new mechanical head called the Jak-Knife ($32/3). This 2-blade broadhead has a 2-inch cutting diameter and a large stainless tip that combined will quickly bring down big bucks. The Jak-Knife comes with an O-ring retention system so the head doesn’t open prematurely. This 100-grain head comes with tough .036” stainless steel blades.

Best Darned Cheap Broadheads

So there you have it. If you don’t feel like spending a small fortune on broadheads this fall, try one of the heads listed above. If you put an arrow in the boiler room of a nice buck this fall with an arrow equipped with any one of these broadheads, you will have a short bloodtrail in front of you.

About the Author: Tracy Breen is a full-time outdoor writer, wild game dinner speaker and marketing consultant in the outdoor industry. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com.