Crossbow Broadheads: What to Consider Before You Buy
/ June 22nd, 2025So, you are thinking about buying a crossbow?
Well, you came to the right place! We know there are a lot of crossbows on the market and there are many important considerations, features, and factors involved in picking out the best crossbow FOR YOU!
In this article, we take a closer look at crossbow broadheads – but don’t miss these other articles that detail other important factors to consider before buying:
Crossbow Speed: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Size: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Weight: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Style: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Cocking (Pulling it Back)…and De-Cocking: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Optics: What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Arrows: Unlighted vs. Lighted – What to Consider Before You Buy
Crossbow Broadheads
Most broadheads on the market fall into the category of being a fixed blade broadhead, or a mechanical/expandable broadhead.
Fixed Blade
A fixed blade broadhead is a broadhead with blades that do not move and typically comes in a 2, 3, or 4-blade configuration, with the 3-blade design being the most popular. Fixed blade broadheads typically offer the highest durability (if encountering bone or rocks after passing through an animal) because there are no moving parts. Most fixed blade broadheads have cutting diameters from 1 to 1.25” and usually offer the greatest penetration due to their cutting diameter and swept-back blade design.
One challenge of fixed blade broadheads is that the fixed blades can steer or “plane” the arrow slightly off course, meaning that fixed blade broadheads almost always impact differently than practice points.
While fixed broadheads have benefits such as durability and penetration, it is important to remember that they require practice and sighting prior to hunting. The faster the crossbow, the more likely hunters are to see arrow grouping challenges or larger deviations from field point accuracy.
Mechanical/Expandable
Mechanical/expandable broadheads feature blades that are “retracted” or closed during flight and open up/expand on contact with the animal. Since most of the blade surface area is recessed in the body of the broadhead, there is much less opportunity for “planning” to occur during flight, which is why broadheads of this type typically have the same point of impact as practice points. Additionally, these broadheads typically have larger cutting diameters, creating more damage. Modern crossbows generate abundant power and have more than enough energy to provide complete penetration on whitetails.
While fixed-blade broadheads have their loyalists, we have found mechanical broadheads to work extremely well with crossbow hunters. They do not require sighting in and create the most damage, both of which contribute to greater success in the field!
