May 20, 2015
By Tony J. Peterson
Broadhead debates are alive and well amongst bowhunters. The focus of most back-and-forth arguments is fixed-blade versus mechanical broadheads.
When it comes to making critical shots on game animals, I tend to lean toward the fixed-blade side of the debate, especially if I can find a head that is not only razor sharp, but also extremely accurate. And if it's durable as well, it will definitely end up in my quiver.
In a conversation about broadheads during a Texas whitetail hunt last fall, a fellow bowhunter suggested I shoot Wac 'Em broadheads.
Having never tipped an arrow with one, I was intrigued. The hunter, whom I happen to know is a killing machine and quite proficient with a bow, said that he opts for the Wac 'Em 4-Blade.
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I picked up a couple of packages of both the 4-Blade and the 3-Blade to try them out and found his advice was spot on. This didn't come as much of a surprise given the recent purchase of Wac 'Em by industry heavy hitter Mike Stroff.
Stroff, along with industry veteran David Langston, have gone all-in with Wac 'Em and it's a safe bet that the current broadhead lineup is going to grow and change to include new offerings designed to fly well and perforate lungs.
Sharpness Counts
A funny thing happened in the world of broadheads somewhere during the late '90s. Collectively we stopped caring about sharpness and started focusing much more on cutting diameter.
This was a shame for two reasons. The first is that cutting stuff is how our broadheads kill, so they need to be as sharp as possible. The second is that while cutting diameter (1 1/16-inch/4-Blade) is important, cutting surface is equally important if not moreso.
How many inches of lethal razor edge you have on your broadhead goes a long way toward slicing through hair, hide, bone and whatever lies beneath.
The first time I held the Wac 'Em 4-Blade and 3-Blade heads, it was clear that the sharpness aspect had been taken care of. Not only were the replaceable blades extremely sharp, but the hardened steel point was pretty wicked, too.
Ultra-Accurate
Out of a well-tuned bow, quality broadheads will hit like field points. If they don't, there is something bigger going on. Some bowhunters tune strictly for broadhead flight to skirt this issue, but I don't.
I simply don't like having to shoot broadheads every time I practice. Instead, I spend some time on my bow to get it shooting well, and then I select only quality broadheads that are built to tight specs and should theoretically fly like my field points.
Some do, some don't. This goes not only for fixed heads, but mechanicals as well.
When I first shot Wac 'Ems, I was preparing for a Texas hog hunt. Knowing that I'd be spotting and stalking, as well as sitting on feeders, I spent quite a bit of time shooting out to 50 yards.
Both the 4- and 3-Blade heads were interchangeable on my setup, and both shot extremely well.
In fact, when I broadhead-matched my arrows to individual broadheads, I only had one arrow/head combination that wouldn't group with the rest out of a dozen.
That wild flier could have been due to the broadhead, or it could have been a fletching issue, or a slightly askew insert, or a nock problem, or a simple matter of my form slipping while launching it.
Who knows? But that hardly matters when I can get such good flight out of the rest of them, especially when considering it makes a broadhead's job much, much easier if I shoot where I am supposed to.
Built For Durability
The one thing I want to survive every time I shoot at a wild animal is my broadhead, which means it has to be durable. Flimsy blades, poor ferrule designs, and anything generally weak need not apply.
Wac 'Em uses .027-inch thick replaceable blades and hardened stainless steel in the construction of their 85-, 100-, and 125-grain heads. Their overall design is short, stout, and built to withstand tough hits.
I never had the chance to run one through a hog on my hunt, but I will (and hopefully deer and western game, too).
If you're a take-no-chances bowhunter who values near-indestructible broadheads, consider Wac 'Em's lineup. In addition to the 3- and 4-Blade heads, they offer a Crossbow version; a 1.25-inch cutting diameter 3-Blade XL; and for the tradbow-or-nothing crowd, a Primitive two-blade beast that is available in 125- and 150-grain options.
All are ideal for bowhunters looking for top-notch arrow flight, wicked sharp blades, and a head that can bust deer shoulders and make it through — intact — to the far lung.
