Personally, I prefer the mechanical broadhead for their accuracy as they can fly to the same point of aim as a target tip. I must admit though that it leads to energy loss which doesn’t matter much practically. With mechanical broadheads, I don’t have much to do while switching between target tips and broadheads.
Avoid buying lighter arrows/heads than recommended by the manufacturer. While using heavier arrows is safe, it will reduce the velocity (FPS) of your crossbow. Meanwhile, using lighter ones means same as dry-firing your crossbow.
Most crossbow packages include bolts along with target practice field points. Therefore, you will have to buy hunting broadheads separately.
Hence, check out this review to choose the best mechanical broadhead for your crossbow or compound bow.
Top 8 Best Mechanical Broadhead Comparison Table
| Name of product | Weight | Broadhead blades | Cutting diameter | Blades | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MoKasi 12pcs Archery Official SlipCam Broadheads 2 Blade 100 Grain 2+" Cut | 100 grain | 2 | 2'' | 12 | $$ |
| Rage Bowhunting CrossbowX Mechanical Broadhead, 2 blade 2 Inch Cutting Diameter, 100 or 125 Grain, 3 Pack | 100/125 grain | 2 | 2" | 3 | $$ |
| Rage Hypodermic | 100 grain | 2 | 2" | 3 | $$ |
| Swhacker Set of 3-100 Grain 2 Inch Cut Broadheads | 100 grain | 2 | 2" | 3 | $$ |
| Rage Bowhunting Xtreme Series Mechanical Broadheads, 2 Blade, 100 Grain 2.3 Inch Cutting Diameter, 3 Pack | 100 grain | 2 | 2.3" | 3 | $$ |
| Grim Reaper X-Bow Mech Broadhead RT 1 1/2" Cut 3 Bld 100gr | 100 grain | 3 | 1.5" | 3 | $$ |
| Spitfire Maxx 100-Grain Cut on Contact 3-Blade Broadhead (3-Pack) | 100 grain | 3 | 1.75" | 3 | $$ |
| Carbon Express Torrid SS Broadhead, 85-100 Grain Adjustable Weight, 3-Pack | 85-100 grain | 3 | 1.5" | 3 | $$ |
MoKasi 12pcs Archery Official SlipCam Broadheads
The first on the list of best mechanical broadheads is MoKasi. This best broadhead is designed with aerodynamic ferrule to provide field tip accuracy and increased penetration. Each broadhead has 2 O-rings and exclusive hybrid tips.
On top of that, the equipped shock collar ensures proper blade retention. The overall length is 6.0 cm and offers cutting diameter of 2”. It weighs 6g/100 grain and made out of high quality steel. 12 blades are provided with 12 O-rings as an extra gift.
When I was using these mechanical blades, I managed to harvest a nice 8 point at 15 yards. Although there is a little rattle in the quiver and on the draw when using it, it can easily be fixed using a little bow wax. However, it does falls out of place easily though.
To tackle this issue, I placed the shock collar to ensure that the blades do not line up with the open slits in the collar. When the mechanical broadheads are lined up with the slits, I managed to get the blades to come loose with some good shakes or a gentle pressure.
So far, there have been no problems as long as they are offset. I do advise though for you to do frequent sharpening as they are not as sharp as other products but it does its job right nonetheless. I deployed it perfectly and it stayed deployed, at a full 2″ entrance and exit.
Each mechanical broadhead weighs around 100 grain. I shot a number of these at my 30 yard target and they shot identically to my field points. As I mentioned before, if you are planning to hunt with them make sure you have a way of sharpening them first.
It had a few knicks on the broadhead blades from going through ribs but are still shootable. The slightest movement causes the black plastic collars to slip back down the shaft which dislodges the blades and causing them to open and flap around all over the place. This is not a good thing for accuracy or safety.
If we delve into this rattling issue deeper, when the broadhead blades are in the closed position, the play in the center screw that holds them to the main body causes these blades to rattle. You could try to push the little black clip up as far as it can go to make sure that they don’t rattle.
On the positive side, tracking was easy with the amount of blood these mechanical broadhead blades produced.
Overall in this mechanical broadhead review, these broadhead blades that are quite similar to the Rage series works just fine with easy deployment.
Suitable for:
- Blood trail
- Easy deployment
- Tracking games
Rage Bowhunting CrossbowX Mechanical Broadhead
The second mechanical broadhead in our list of best mechanical broadhead is from Rage. Rage is known for their accuracy and their wound channels are exceptional. The ferrule alignment adapts the (F.A.T.) technology which promotes aerodynamic flight.
These mechanical broadheads are razor sharp .035″ stainless steel blades with 2″ cutting diameter and comes with the improved Shock Collar Technology to ensure proper blade retention. The included free practice head ensures you will be on target when it counts.
The purchase did come with 3 replacement collars as well. Do bear in mind that the o-ring breaks away upon impact and has to be replaced regularly. Sometimes, they can last for more than one shot.
Regarding the installation, aligning the slots with the broadhead blade is only the first step. Then, you twist the collar to make sure that the arrow on the bottom points to the blade. This effectively locks the broadhead blades down under the collar until you screw the mechanical broadhead to the bolt.
If you don’t do that, the collars can be very loose on the broadhead and it will slip off to possibly get lost. You would have to line one of the broadhead blades with the arrow mark on the shock collar. The arrow mark faces you when installing on the bolt.
Don’t mistake it to be the blades to the notches. The notch (6 of them on each shock collar) allows compression upon impact. The mechanical blades can be binded if you align them with the notches.
The provided shock collars play a major role in preventing the blades from prematurely deploying if you were to bump your bolt or your broadhead when you are standing or stalking.
When deploying this mechanical blade, the furthest any of the deer made it was 25 yards. I was skeptical if the regular archery Rage broadheads could work with the crossbow since the crossbow bolt flies much faster than a regular arrow.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to test it, since Rage came out with this mechanical broadhead that is specifically designed for the use with crossbows with greater velocity of the bolt from a crossbow.
Hunting using these was great as there was a great blood trail because of the large 2 inch cut in the hide where the animal bleeds. Due to the huge wound channel, they bleed out quickly and can’t go much further. In my opinion, a good quick clean kill is the most humane way to take down any animal.
However, I prefer if the broadhead orientation can be lined up properly with the fletching. It’s difficult to achieve it without several O rings but more O-rings means more weight which could potentially mess up your point of impact.
Suitable for:
- Great blood trail
- Crossbows with greater velocity
- Prevent premature deployment
Rage Hypodermic Arrow
The third mechanical broadhead blade in our best mechanical broadhead review would be also from Rage. Rage is well known for is devastating accuracy especially their wound channels and blood trail. The mechanical blades’ wound channels range from 1.5″ to a gaping 2″.
Its deadly designs further add penetration power as well as conserve kinetic energy in order to allow you to set up lower poundage bows or to hunt bigger game.
The steel ferrule equipped with hybrid tip design allows the Hypodermic to have the aerodynamics and accuracy as required from a leading edge blade. These tough, razor sharp .035″ stainless steel blades are coupled with the bone crushing performance of chisel tip.
These mechanical broadhead blades are available in standard and deep six models and include free practice head as well. They could be used with the standard inserts and are available in 100 or 125 grain.
This mechanical blade will work just fine with almost any crossbow bolt. You will notice a small lip in which the diameter of the mechanical broadhead threading is slightly smaller compared to the diameter of the bolt itself.
The only issue however with using this mechanical blade with a crossbow is the practice head. The practice blades are made for thinner traditional arrows which is really hard to thread onto the bolt. They work just fine nonetheless.
There would be an arrow on the bottom of the black collars to show you where to line it up with the broadhead blade. As a side note, do not line the blades up with the slots!! The black cups hold the blade closed during flight. Upon impact, the black cup section will break away and the mechanical blades will open up.
They fly just like my fieldpoints but after shooting and recovering 3 deer I was a little disappointed with the blood trails and subpar penetration as I was expecting better from Rage. Though all the 3 deer were inside 35 yards with all 3 shots penetrated completely through the boiler room; the blood trails were faint and hardly visible.
If blood tracking was necessary, the dismal blood trail would have been very difficult to follow. So far I’ve had no issues with them opening prematurely when used with my crossbows. The included 3 extra slip cams were very useful as I had extras when practicing.
This mechanical broadhead blade is an improvement over the old models as the lock mechanism that survives the impact can be used again. Just twist it about and replace with a new part of the holding rim.
They do not plane in flight as expected from the one piece ferrule. The lethality is also above average due to the cutting diameter. I put a little bow string wax near the tip to avoid any blade rattle.
Do take note that the grind on the broadhead blades are at a different angle. Also, the blade retaining collars have imprinted instructions which are contrary with raised instructions.
Suitable for:
- Improved lock mechanism
- Increased lethality
Swhacker Hunting Broadheads
Each set of this mechanical broadhead includes 3 100 Grain expandable 2-Blade broadheads. These mechanical blades flies just like a field point and opens up to a 2″ cut. It is 1-inch wide closed and 2 inches wide open.
One of the unique features of this model is the blade design. The blade design provides you with two separate cutting edges. The first set of edges which are also known as the wing blades, are primarily used for cutting the hide or the first set of ribs.
They take the most abuse by cutting through the hair, dirt, hide, and bones during entry. The smaller blades take lesser energy to pass through the first side compared to an ‘open on impact’ broadhead. During impact, these wing blades also offer a load bearing surface for the ferrule.
Meanwhile, the second set of edges which are the main blades do not touch anything during the initial penetration phase. This allows the main blades to remain sharp to penetrate through the internal organs.
Although they can be used for a crossbow, they are more compatible for an x-bow. If your x-bow is very powerful, just put an extra band on to keep the blades closed during launch. If you’re a fast shooter, I recommend the 125 grain. 2.25 cut.
They work even when you make a shoulder shot but it is not recommended though. Blood trail won’t be as good but shot placement is more important than the head you shot at any poundage.
If I was shooting at 55lbs, I would drop to the 13/4 cut instead of the 2″ cut. It just takes less kinetic energy to open the smaller head which leads to better penetration. It really depends though on several factors such as arrow weight and speed.
Swhacker recommends 50lbs of kinetic energy when using these. Although Swhacker is a great broadhead, at 40lb draw you will need to switch to a fixed blade.
The mechanical broadhead blades come with one practice broadhead and an extra shrink band. They will fit on any arrow shaft but heavy set compounds and crossbows are best suited for it.
If your shooting setup does not have much kinetic energy, then I would shoot using the smaller cutting diameter. I used the 2″ cut 100grain and had 65.66 lbs. 0.495 slugs of momentum (Pull 29″ draw 421 grain arrow @ 265 fps).
Do take note that it is not the size of the hole that matters. It is where you make that hole that matters. When I replaced the heads with the practice heads of same grain, the bolts flew about 1″ to the right and a 1/2″ low consistently.
Overall in this mechanical broadhead review, although this mechanical broadhead takes a fair bit of energy to shoot these ethically and the entrance wound is small, it still functions well.
Suitable for:
- Heavy set compounds and crossbows
- 50lbs of kinetic energy
- Unique blade design
Rage Bowhunting Xtreme Series Mechanical Arrow
It is an undeniable fact which I would like to mention in this best mechanical broadhead blade review that Rage is considered by an overwhelming number of professionals as the most accurate broadhead.
As a side note, bolts could impact flight as much as they do so choose the best bolts for your need. My shots from 25.3 yards were slightly higher due to that mistake.
Due to the speed it shoots (around 390 fps), two issues you must take care of are either pre-deployment of mechanical blades after leaving the crossbow but before hitting your target or partial deployment after hitting your target.
The razor sharp mechanical blade expands well upon impact and does an excellent job on harvesting animals. The shock collars are very small and I find it a little difficult to install them correctly on the broadheads.
However, once you install it and put the broadhead on an arrow or bolt, it locks it into place well. Also, the practice broadhead could catch on the mesh filling in some targets and pulls the mesh out of the hole when removing the arrow.
The blood trail was easy to follow and the deer I hunted only made it about 150 yards before he gave up. They shoot straight and have a serious cutting diameter.
My concern when using mechanical blades was that the blade would catch on a branch or weeds. This causes the blades to be reset under the O rings. However, I didn’t have these concerns anymore when I am using this best mechanical broadhead.
The slip collar is fantastic and at 42yards, it was a complete pass through on a quartering shot. The shock collar is plastic so you just have to unscrew the broadhead, set the mechanical broadhead blade, then screwit down.
The best of all is that it won’t move until it opens on impact. My purchase of 3 included extra shock collars as well. The chisel tip is aerodynamic with a slight twist to the blade. This is a very unique design and it appears to create a spin that almost acts like a high speed drill.
I noticed that the practice broadheads and the real ones shoot exactly the same. Additionally, they both shoot exactly the same way as my field points. Both of these blades are consistently reliable with 4″ groups out to 60 yards.
Unfortunately they are not reusable and needs to be replaced. To be fair, any fixed blade would have also needed to be replaced.
Also, the problem with rubber O-rings has been fixed with the new shock collars. I believe the angle of this best mechanical blade upon entry is a bit shallower on the point and on the slip cams which keeps the blade cutting instead of getting bent extensively or breaking.
Overall in this mechanical broadhead review, the blades do need a little sharpening but other than that, it is ready for another shot.
Suitable for:
- Avoid moving until it opens on impact
- Easy blood trail
- Accuracy
Grim Reaper X-Bow Mech Arrowhead
The next best mechanical broadhead is the Grim Reaper. This best mechanical 3 blade broadhead weighs 100 Grain with a 1.5 inch cut diameter. It is the perfect solution for crossbows and high energy compound bows.
There is a practice head included in every pack. I’ve found these to be very accurate and shoot just like the real mechanical broadheads. I sighted in my field tips and used the practice mechanical blades and it was off at 40 yards about one inch to the left.
The blood trail was very impressive and the exit wound was massive. One of the attributes that sets Grim Reapers apart is that they make an excellent entrance wound which is more just like a rear deploying broadhead will.
So far, I’ve never experienced any premature opening. Replacing the blades was very easy. They performed excellent with plenty of blood left behind to follow which may be unnecessary considering that the animals I shot with it so far stayed within eye sight when they dropped.
I shot 4 times with these at ranges from 25 to 42 yards and got 4 deer. All 4 ran no more than 25 yards before collapsing. Two times the arrow broke the front leg in addition to breaking both side of the rib cage. Plus, the mechanical broadheads are reuseable in all of the 4 times.
They opened well and it was a pass through every time I shot. The included practice tip is great for getting on target and I would recommend these for any hunter who wants to bag his target each time.
I would just have to sharpen the blades and assemble them together after each shot. The blade retention system is great with no more rubber bands or O-rings to worry about.
This crossbow mechanical broadhead design allows skin penetration even before blades open. No “O” rings need to be replaces which saves time. The layered looking tip and broadhead blade are strongly constructed and doesn’t break away easily.
Once, when the arrow speed was estimated to be lesser than 1/10th of the second upon impact according to the crossbow rating of 350 feet per second; the shot was broadside with the entry point being right behind the shoulder. It was a perfect pass through in the top of the heart.
The entrance holes were around 3 to 3.5 inches. Quartering shots were not an issue as the trocar tip will hammer through the way for the blades to open and do the damage.
To sum up this mechanical broadhead review, although it is kind of difficult to tighten them down and you may get inconsistent results using these; this is still one of the best mechanical broadheads out there.
Suitable for:
- Deep skin penetration
- Great retention system
- Excellent entrance wound
Spitfire Maxx 3-Blade Broadhead (3-Pack)
The second to last product in this review is the 100 grain Spitfire Maxx. This particular product comes with 3 in a pack.
Each has 1 3/4 inch cutting diameter to make large entrance and exit holes for massive blood trails. The .030″ diamize sharpened blades are replaceable with no O-rings or rubber bands to worry about. It is also available in 125 grain model
They fly just like a field tip and the three blades could expand on contact. They have a bladed cutting tip instead of the pointed black tip which is usually called as ‘trophy tip’. Unfortunately, practice tips are not included so you may have to buy the practice tips separately.
This best mechanical blade is folded in and flies open on contact. Just screw this into the tip of the arrow shaft and you are good to go. In fact, they can be used even with a 330 fps crossbow.
These do not have a replaceable cut on contact tip. Since replacing the blades are pointless without replacing the tip, indirectly this makes that they are a one shot broadhead.
The mechanical blade mostly stays in place but if you are calling back and forth and walking through the woods, I would advise you to make sure they are all secured before you draw. I had a complete pass-through at 25 yards or so using this broadhead on a mature doe.
She didn’t make it past 25 yards before falling over dead. I wouldn’t recommend using this mechanical blade though if you are hunting in a super thick wood where vines/limbs may cause the blades to open prematurely and fly weird.
I replaced the blades after each hit because the blades will bend after hitting any bone. I didn’t have to adjust my sights to shoot them and I like the concept of the three blades.
I’ve shot two deer with these mechanical broadheads. The first deer I shot was at 27 yards and I was about 20 feet up in the stand. This gave me a pretty steep angle.
I shot high behind the front leg and got a pass through at the opposite side. He went about 40 yards before lying down and died. I was impressed with the great stopping power.
Overall, I would like to sum up this mechanical broadhead review by saying that this mechanical blade is the perfect choice for game animals of all sizes.
Suitable for:
- Game animals of all sizes
- Bladed cutting tip
Carbon Express Torrid SS Broadhead
The last on the list of best mechanical blades (at last!) is the Carbon Express. This 3-blade expandable design is for increased cutting action and has a Trocar, hollow-ground chisel point with a weight adjustment collar to allow for either an 85 or 100 grain broadhead.
The ferrule is made of aircraft-grade aluminum for increased strength and penetration with 1.5″ cutting diameter and blade thickness of 0.031″. There are 3 broadheads per pack.
These best mechanical broadheads do work with crossbows. It is a general fact that crossbows have a minimum weight for the bolt you are shooting with to avoid any damage to the limbs.
Do make sure that the weight of this mechanical broadhead and the arrow doesn’t fall below your minimum. You could consult the manufacturer of your crossbow or search up on the net to guide you on that.
The downside of this best mechanical blade is that they do not open mid-flight if you are using a high speed bow. To fix this issue, double the rubber bands used.
These mechanical broadheads work by expanding when they enter the target. Friction drag which acts against the mechanical blade wings pulls them open.
Therefore, the faster your arrow is traveling upon impact, the more the kinetic energy is generated to transfer to the blade wings which makes them open easier.
In my opinion, a 40 pound draw weight is a little light for any mechanical broadhead so you might want to avoid it but my opinion may vary with yours after all. This best mechanical blade will go on any arrow for compound bow or Crossbow bolt.
Using a single band, the blades can be deployed with my 370 fps crossbow but with 2 bands they performed better. The bands can get old and cracked so they have to be replaced with fresh ones when any cracks appear.
50 lb draw weight is sufficient for these mechanical broadhead blades. A small quantity of the arrows energy is used when the mechanical blades open upon impact. However, this does not create any significant difference.
50 lbs draw weight will provide plenty of power to open the blades as well as penetrate the animal. The broadhead blades won’t “fly open” at moderate crossbow speeds of 305-335 fps (the slower one being a recurve)
They flew very accurately at 110 grains and could be used on a doe at 10-12 yards. If you use these with a crossbow, I would suggest you to use two 1/8 inch rubber bands on the blades to prevent them from opening in flight.
My furthest retrieve with these was about 30 yards. Also, I have noticed that the blade hole does not always have the screw centered in it. You may need a very small screwdriver to fix it.
Suitable for:
- 50 lbs draw weight
- Accuracy
Key Considerations when purchasing a mechanical broadhead for a crossbow:
- Weight
- Broadhead blades
- Cutting diameter
- Number of replaceable blades
- Price
Weight
To choose the best one for you, make sure that both the field points and broadheads are of the same weight. This weight should be exactly the same as the weight of the heads with the bolts that you received with your crossbow.
Broadhead blades
2 blades are better for penetration while 3 or 4 blades are more ideal for better blood trail.
Cutting diameter
Cutting diameter is a way to show how deep the blades could penetrate. The deeper, the more damage is done which could essentially be the killing shot.
Number of replaceable blades
For the money you are spending to buy these, you may want to make the most out of it by preferring those that offer more blades for the same price range.
Conclusion
I hope that this review has been helpful for you to choose the best mechanical broadhead for your needs!