Important Note: please remember that the weight of your arrows can have a significant impact on accuracy and sighting-in. To get a better understanding of how this will impact your crossbow shooting experience, see our article: arrow drop – charted test results.
Choosing the best crossbow broadheads is easy if you know the manufacturer’s recommended arrow head weight. In the majority of cases, the best crossbows are designed for broadheads that weigh 125 grains. If you aren’t sure what you should get for your model, there are three ways to find out:
- Check the weight of the field points that come with your crossbow. If they weigh 125 grains, then you want to get broadheads of exactly the same weight.
- Contact the manufacturer by phone or e-mail and ask them.
- Weigh the arrow heads that came with your crossbow yourself. You will need a very accurate scale to do that (accuracy up to the gram). Multiply the weight in grams by 15.43 and you’ll get the weight of the head in grains.
Once you know the weight, it’s time to choose the exact broadheads you’ll be getting. Below are our recommendations.
Best Broadheads For Your Crossbow
There are three main types of hunting broadheads: fixed-blade, removable-blade, and expandable-blade broadheads. We go over each of them in detail in our crossbow arrows guide – you should give it a quick read if you are unfamiliar with these three types.
#1: Barnett Outdoors X Expandable-blade Broadheads
Check Amazon.com pricing and user ratings here. The Barnett expandable-blade broadheads come in both 100 and 125 grain versions, and should be used with arrows that are 20″ to 22″ in length. They come in a pack of three and a five year warranty from Barnett. The opening and collapse of the blades in these broadheads is very dependable and we’ve never experienced (nor heard of) an instance of them failing during a hunt; they do not expand mid-flight and always expand on impact. The wound they create is very large, leaving a blood trail that is very easy to track. The blades come razor-sharp out of the box and you should be careful not to cut yourself while screwing them in; we recommend using a Broadhead Wrench (amazon link) – not just for these, but for all broadheads.
#2: Allen Company Grizzly Three-Fixed-Blade Broadheads
Check Amazon.com pricing and user ratings here. These fixed-blade broadheads are available in 125-grain weight and come in packs of three. Very sharp and very well-balanced despite the low price. This design has been used since the early 1980’s and it has proven to be more than dependable. They’ll go right through any game if you hit it properly. If you’re looking for a “no-brainer” type of purchase, these broadheads fit the bill perfectly.
#3: Muzzy® Broadheads
Check Amazon.com pricing and user ratings here. These removable-blade broadheads are legendary for their design quality, balanced weight, razor-sharp blades and perfect penetration. They come in packs of 6, and you should avoid using them for target practice as they will tear up your target apart pretty quickly – only for hunting! Come in 125 grain weight and each broadhead has 3 blades. The pack includes instructions on blade attaching and detaching.
Things To Keep in Mind
- Never use broadheads that weigh less than what is recommended by your crossbow manufacturer, as it will result in severe damage to your weapon and possibly serious injury; I once had the entire limbs on my crossbow crack for exactly this reason.
- Get a broadhead wrench; it’ll make screwing-in the broadheads much easier and will make it almost impossible for you to cut yourself in the process.
- It’s best not to buy broadheads from an unknown brand just to save a few dollars; arrow heads made by established manufacturers (Barnett, Muzzy, Allen Company) come with warranties and have proven their reliability time and time again.
Happy harvesting!
I am thinking about buying a Mission 400 crossbow by Mathews. Does anybody have any suggestions on what broadhead I should shoot out of this bow?
Hi Edward,
Depends what you plan to hunt – and in what State?
100 gr. Spitfire will put venison on your table. Not cheap to buy, but worth every penny. They open up to 1 1/2 inch hole and leave a good blood trail
i have a bowtech stryker solution I’m using gold tip bolts that came with the bow and 125gr field points its shooting 343fps i would like to use mechanical broad heads but im not sure which ones to buy any help wod be appreciated
Hi Matt,
What exactly do you plan to hunt using the crossbow?
Hello, I use a mission 360 crossbow…and use it to hunt whitetail deer. I was wondering which broadhead you’d recommend to use with it. I have been using slick trick broadheads but have read that Mission does not recommend using a 4 blade broadhead. I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Hi Rick,
What State(s) do you hunt in? I would need to know that before I can make a recommendation.
I hunt in PA.
I have a excaluber axiom they come with 150 grain field tips the only broads I can find that are 150 bonecolectors do I have to use them thank you.
I purchased a Barnett Brotherhood crossbow. It shoots at 350 fps. I will be hunting whitetail deer in TN. What grain would you recommend using a mechanical boadhead? Thank you for the assistance.
Hi Ron, just to make sure: are you asking about the weight of the broadheads alone? If so, then I would go with 100-125 grain, nothing below. The brotherhood comes with carbon arrow shafts if I remember correctly – if so then 125 grain broadheads will be perfect.
I’m shooting a Barnett Quad 400 in Louisiana for deer and hogs, carbon arrows,100 grain what mechanical broadhead do u recommend
hey guys just got a new brotherhood crossbow to hunt black bears in Georgia .my bolts are 20 inch.please give me advice for a broadhead to use and and what gr in 100 or 125.also fixed or mechanical just want a good blood trail.thanks Rodney
Why is the buck commander crossbow rated number one for hunting and than drops 3 pos. On the next catagories
Hi Ed,
Please keep in mind that the crossbows are not ranked in any particular order. The first crossbow on our “Top 10 list” is no better or worse than the last one on that list. It is up to everyone to read the review and then decide for themselves which of our top recommendations suit them best. Hope this answers your question.
I have read all the reviews and i purchased the Arrow precision wildfire II! Seems to be among the best bang for the buck! I am new to the crossbow hunting family and have great expectations regarding this crossbow!
Hope you’re happy with your purchase, Charles!
How do you think bloodrunner broadheads would work & fly with a jackel crossbow?
I have the Barnett recruit and I could not hit the broad side of a barn with then
100gr switched to rage chisel points after a recommendation and will slit arrows if I
shoot at the same spot hope this helps
Just got a wickedridge warriorHL and I love it had to adjust the scope but it only took me bout 20-30 min and at 20yds and 30yds its shooting a 1in group and for my first crossbow I’m very pleased hope this helps anyone looking for their first x-bow.
Personally it totally depends on what your shooting. For crossbows I go with a heavier grain because I know it can handle it.
Hi mark, I bought a barnett ghost 360. The broadhead can I use MONTEC 100gr or 150gr.. Thanks.
Looking for a good broadhead for my Barnett Raptor, do not know which grain I should shoot.
Love the site. I bought Barnett Jackel after finding your site. I bought the Barnett Game crusher expandable broad heads for it. I took a doe whitetail last year and took one this weekend. I don’t remember the first doe but was not happy with broad head this weekend. After looking at the broad head only one blade opened. I thought that maybe that it just reclosed after going through but after opening the two blades no blood was on the part of the blade that recesses into the broad head. Also on entrance hole you could see that the one blade opened and others did not. Just ordered some Muzzy Mx4 as never had issues with Muzzy with my compound bow. Just thought you would like to know
I recently bought a camx bow made in USA and love it , they have the best arrows .900.00 bt comes with everything youll need and lifetime guarantee
I just got a new fury crossbow and I am going to be using it to hunt whitetail.
I am wondering what kind of broadheads I need to get for it from the bolts that came with it. Can any one help me please.
I too have a FURY and I had two deer this season run 50-60 yards before giving up to my Muzzy’s. You can’t go wrong with them.
I shoot a horton 175hd crossbow. I’m we ondering what broadheads to use for deer.
I love my muzzys!
I recently viewed a small crossbow that was touted for self defense as well as for small game. is there such a platform that advertises for self defense using a silent but deadly crossbow?
Never heard of this before, but I would strongly advise against using a crossbow for self defense – takes way too long to cock and will only give you a false sense of security.
Hi I’m new to crossbow hunting so I don’t know much about bolts and broadheads what would be best for hunting deer
I’m fairly new to hunting with crossbows. I now have 2… a Barnett Predator (375fps) and a Ghost 385 (385fps). I was originally using the stock arrows that came with each… Barnett 22 inch (Pred) and 20 inch arrows (Ghost). I started trying the 22 inch arrows with the Ghost, expecting the loss of some speed, for more “knock down” at impact. Using 100 grain tips and 100 grain Grim Reaper Broad heads for each. What I learned, after reading the manuals for both was, my Pred shoots 375 using 425 grain (total wt) arrows and my Ghost shoots 385 using 400 grain arrows and 376 using 425 grain arrows. The issue was, the stock arrows were heavier than the weights reported for those speeds. I have since found BloodSport Hunter Arrows. In both the 20 and 22 inch versions, both weigh 325 grains. So, I will be going with the 22 inch versions, because I was told the longer arrows offer both more energy at impact and straighter flight over distances out to 50 yds. I’m still planning on using the Grim Reaper Razor Cut SS, 100 grain crossbow broad heads, as I took my very 1st deer with them last season. Have you reviewed those broad heads? Or do you have any advise in general on anything I’ve talked about in this long-winded post? 🙂
I have owned a Misson MXB320 for 3 years . I shoot mission bolts with factory lighted nocs and I use Swacker 1.25 mechanical broad heads . It’s a deadly combo . Highly recommended set up !
On my compound I shoot the Magnus Stinger buzzcut 100 grain, I was thinking of trying them on my PSE FANG crossbow what do you think ? I live in Ks, hunt whitetail deer
I have a Barnett Jackal crossbow, was wondering what type of broadhead I should use with it, since im having so much trouble shooting broadheads from it. They don’t seem to fly right when I shoot it.
I have a Bernett WildCat C5 crossbow and use a fixed 125 gr brodhead and I killed a 9 point buck at 70 yds and that was one of my best shots ever, the key thing to killing deer is to practice shooting before goine out in the woods to get your deer
I have a Barnett Vengeance, first production. I did some target shooting last weekend before heading to the woods. My groupings with field points were a quarter at thirty yards, one almost a robin hood. Went to practice heads (100 grain NAP Hellrazors) first shot high right 8″ high, 7″ right. Second shot low left, 6″ low, 7″ left…..Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. My bolts are 22″ carbon express weigh 478 grains and balance 11.25″ from the tip w/o a broadhead, and 10.25″ from the tip with a broadhead. From What I understand this is good balance as long as you’re heavy in the front half of the bolt. What am I missing, am I plaining? Are the broadheads too light or just terrible broadheads for this crossbow?
The style broadheads, particularly mechanical, that work in vertical bows are of course, difficult to compare with crossbows. The speed and energy of a crossbow creates a new set of standards for comparison. I think that many forget this when they look at a lot of product reviews that are often geared toward vertical compounds. Just because you may not always get the penetration or blood trail with one broadhead using a vertical bow, doesn’t mean it will be the same results with Xbow.
Seeking advice y’all. I hunt Whitetail in Michigan’s U.P. with a Excalibur Phoenix Crossbow. In 2013 Arrowed a Buck at 28 yards with Excalibur 150gr Bolt Cutter broadheads on 20″ firebolts. It was a clean pass through, bloody bolt recovered, but we found ZERO blood otherwise, tracking was a nightmare. I’m looking to switch to a mechanical with a larger cutting path for quicker drops and better blood, but I’m concerned about whether or not my Phoenix has the speed to effectively use a mechanical and achieve sufficient penetration. Thinking about the new Rage Chisel Tip X Crossbow or NAP Spitfires but would love any and all thoughts.
Thanks,
SM
Hi I am trying to find out some information, I am using a Barnett Ghost 410 with 22″ Black Eagle Executioner arrows or Black Eagle Zombies Slayer Both are 22″Arrow weight is 322.7 grains and I am using the Pro-Tracker System the carrier with Transmitter is 282.0 grain total weight including 100 grain Brodhead with a luminocks lighted end. How do I figure out all the information about , speed ,arrow drop Etc. Also using the Hawke 1.5-5×32 XB1 SR Scope. Any Help would deeply appreciated.
I purchased a Parker Tornado F4 shooting the Red Hot arrows from Parker with 100 grain field tips can get a 2 inch group easily at 50 yards. I also purchased the 100 fixed blade broadhead from Parker and found that at 50 yards the drop is about 12″ couldn’t believe it at 30 yards the drop is about 3″. I am thinking about getting some mechanical broadheads and hope for a group similar to the field tips what would you guys recommend.
Hi, I have the Excalibur Micro Suppressor 380 and was looking for some advice on vane length. Someone told me the longer the vain the better the accuracy, is this true and what would you recommend ??
Thank you
I have shot 2 bucks, an 8 and 10 point with a Pse Gladiator Whisper 405. Both shots were 50 yards with Montec 125 grain solid broad heads.. Both deer dropped within 25 yards and both arrows went through and stuck in the ground. I highly recommend this bow and broad head, especially at the 500 dollar price range. I feel that it’s extremely important to only take good quality shots, and take the time to site in your cross bow..
I have been looking at the barnett droptine str. Been seeing a lot of reviews about the string constantly popping off. is this a flaw within the xbow or could it be more operator flaw? THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP ON THIS
Will pile driver bolts with 400 grains work great with my recruit. Im new at this but i see 400 grains or more the better
I run a guide service, so I have seen every brand of broadhead in existence. There is only one broadhead that flies exactly like field tips. They stay closed without rubber bands and they leave a devastating wound channel. They come in a pack of 3 for around $30.00 – $35.00, but they are worth every penny. The two blade and three blade are equally good. For as much as you spend on hunting gear, fuel, place to hunt, and crossbow, spending around $10 on a broadhead that will fly as true as your practice tips is worth every penny. If Spitfires were $50 a piece I would still buy them. Every other brand out there shoots a little different than field tips. They may fly high a few inches or left a few inches, and that is enough to miss a shot of a lifetime. Spitfires fly EXACTLY like practice tips, so if you miss with a spitfire you only have yourself to blame. If you buy another brand after reading this then you deserve what you get. You have been warned.
Slick Trick advertises that their broadheads fly like target arrows but I have had mixed results. What is your experience with them?
what kind of scope can I use in SD
i shoot a covert cx1 crossbow with 299 gr bolt with a 150gr field tip (449). I was wondering about broadheads and thinking about bolt cutter (150gr ). would that be a good match or not ?
I’d really like to know where I can purchase a quiver for my son’s barnett wildcat c5 crossbow… if somebody could steer me in the rite direction it would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Chris
I have a Barnett Jackal crossbow, was wondering what type of broadhead I should use with it since I’m having so much troubleshooting broadheads from it. We hope to guide enough to figure out one of the best mechanical and fixed crossbows broadheads from the rest of all. Before visiting the market or purchasing online any broadhead, we suggest you pay keen attention to the buyer guide to make a valuable transaction.