6 Best Fixed Blade Broadheads 2023: Find the Right One For You!

The chances of you making a kill on your hunts depend on how accurate you are, how well your equipment is tuned, and the type of broadhead you use. For this reason, all hunters take broadheads very seriously and I’m no different. I use both fixed and mechanical broadheads, but if I had to choose, I’d go with a fixed blade broadhead.

Fixed blade broadheads are great to use for two reasons. One, I like how reliable they are and if I’m taking a make or break shot, I would always go for my fixed blade broadhead over a mechanical one. Two, they are a lot more simple to handle. But not every fixed blade broadhead out there would be a good fit for you, I had to go through several to find ones that I liked, too.

That's why I know choosing the right broadhead for you can be stressful; there's so much to consider, including the game you hunt, shooting conditions, and personal preferences. So, I’ve put together a list of the best fixed blade broadheads I’ve used. Broadheads are a very personal choice; what works for one person may not work for the other and vice versa. My advice here is to read the reviews and then go try them out for yourself until you find the one that's right for you. So, with that out of the way, let's take a look at what fixed blade and mechanical broadheads are.

The argument of fixed blade vs mechanical broadheads is an ongoing one in almost every archery forum and that's for another article. Knowing the difference between fixed blades and mechanical broadheads can help you decide which one is right for you.

Take a look at the comparison I’ve done below.

Both fixed and mechanical broadheads have their own advantages and disadvantages. Mechanical broadheads can be more aerodynamic and accurate because the blades are retracted into the ferrule and are only released on impact, while fixed blade broadheads are more reliable and durable because you don't have any moving parts to worry about.

At the end of the day, finding the right broadhead is really a matter of preference. Mechanical broadheads are good for you if you want something that doesn't lose a lot of power in flight and don't mind the slight chance of them malfunctioning. Otherwise, fixed blade broadheads are a good choice. Here's a quick rundown of every fixed blade broadhead I’ve picked.

Below is a table of the specs for each broadhead. Click the name of the item to jump to that review.

Here is our list for the best fixed blade broadheads:

Here are the detailed reviews of all the broadheads I’ve listed along with a side-by-side spec table on each. While they are all good broadheads, I feel that some of them have certain standout features that make them the best for their category.

3 blade fixed blade broadhead made from steel available in 85, 100, and 125 grains.

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The G5 Outdoors is one of my favorite broadhead brands and the Montec is one of their best designs, if I do say so myself. It's not the best broadhead in any individual category, but overall, I don't think you can go wrong with it.

The G5 Montec is a stainless steel, one-piece broadhead with three deadly blades. The upside of this design is that I don't have to worry about any moving parts and it is very easy to sharpen, but the trade-off is that if I break a blade, I can't replace it. That said, it's not really a killer for me because they make these broadheads to last and are very hard to break.

The Montec comes in several weights from 85 grain to 125 grain, so you can use them with almost any crossbow and bolt. I have a bunch of different crossbows and they all have different broadhead and bolt specs, so I really appreciate the versatility of these broadheads.

If you use a 125 grain Montec broadhead, you’re going to get a cutting diameter of 1⅛ inches and this usually gives you a good blood trail to follow. They are also very affordable, durable, and have great reusability, so I’d say they are a fantastic investment for any crossbow huntsman.

The Montec has a cut-on-contact tip that can easily cut through the muscle and sinew of your quarry without losing energy. Now, the only problem with this is that cut-on-contact tips can be stopped or diverted if they hit hard bones. This means you would need to be fairly accurate when using these broadheads.

Now, while it's a great broadhead, there are a few things to look out for. The blades are pretty durable, but they are not the sharpest ones out there. You might want to make sure your sharpening stone is around because I always have to sharpen them before a hunt.

I would have also liked to see a 150 grain broadhead for heavier game, but I’m glad that there's a 125 grain version at the very least. You’d be hard pressed to find another broadhead as versatile and powerful as the G5 Outdoors Montec.

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3 blade fixed blade broadhead made from stainless steel with replaceable blades available in 85, 100, and 125 grains.

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If you are after medium sized game like Whitetail deer, I highly recommend going with the QAD Exodus. It's a really accurate three blade broadhead that has a large cutting diameter.

The QAD Exodus is one of the most compact broadheads on the market because of its "blade over shaft" design. Unlike most broadheads whose blades are well above the shaft, the Exodus's blades come down the shaft for a bit. When I was fitting on my bolts, I wasn't feeling the most confident because, let's be honest, it is kind of funny looking. Turns out I didn't need to worry, because it's one of the most accurate broadheads I’ve used.

The secret to this is actually the non standard design; because it is so short, it doesn't face much air pressure when flying and the large cutting diameter of 1¼ inches means that it’ll leave huge holes through your quarry. This way, you get a good blood trail and that makes tracking so much easier.

I was really impressed with Exodus's cut-on-contact tip and the thick blades. To test the broadhead's durability, I shot the broadhead through a 3 inch PVC pipe to imitate the toughness of animal bones. I was very impressed with their penetration and durability because the broadhead went straight through the pipe, and none of the blades were bent or broken. Because Exodus is not a one piece like the G5 Outdoors Montec, the blades are also replaceable. So even if the blades get damaged, you can replace the blades and keep using the broadhead. The reusability is top-notch.

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3 blade fixed blade broadhead with replaceable blades available in 100 grains.

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For large game like elk or moose, you are going to need a broadhead that has maximum penetration power so it can crush bone and keep going into your quarry. My recommendation for big game hunting has to be the Muzzy Trocar.

Several hunters swear by their Muzzy broadheads, and I can definitely see why. The Trocar has a sleek aerodynamic design with three blades and a devastating chisel tip. The helix design makes it incredibly accurate while also maintaining enough kinetic energy to penetrate deep—enough to make a kill.

The Trocar also has one of the largest cutting diameters I could find in any fixed blade broadhead. With 1 3⁄16 inches, it leaves massive wounds on the animal and gives you a great blood trail.

The only issue I have with them is how the blades are angled because it's a huge pain to sharpen them. The blades are also held together on the ferrule with a single screw. When I tried to remove that screw to replace the blades, it felt like I was pulling out my own teeth and I said to myself, "I’m not doing that ever again."

So, purely because of ease of use, I tend to use broadheads from the Iron Will S when I hunt large game. But if you are someone who doesn't mind changing blades as much as I do, then the Muzzy Trocar is definitely the one for you.

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4 blade fixed blade broadhead made from stainless steel available in 100 and 125 grains.

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Four blades are really unusual in fixed blade broadheads, mainly because the larger blade area can make them unreliable when flying, but they also guarantee a good blood trail. If you plan to use a four blade broadhead, my recommendation is the Magnus 4 Blade Hornet.

First, it's got a really clever design. The blades and cut-on-contact tip are sharply angled, meaning that it’ll cut through muscle and sinew and won't let the wound close up behind it. Combined with the 1 ¼ inch cutting diameter, the Hornet will give you a reliable blood trail to follow after the shot.

Second, Magnus has a lifetime guarantee. They are a bit pricey, but if you ever damage your broadhead, just contact Magnus and they’ll replace it free of charge. In my opinion, it's totally worth paying a little more upfront because these will last you for a lifetime.

But there's no escaping that the Hornet is a four-blade. When shooting, there's definitely going to be more air pressure against it than your average three-blade or two-blade, so you are going to need a high poundage bow to offset that.

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3 blade fixed blade broadhead made from aluminum and steel available in 100 grains.

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If you are starting out and are on a budget, it doesn't make sense to invest in premium broadheads until you’ve got a good handle on your bow. So, for beginners who don't want to break bank on broadheads, I recommend going with the Huntingdoor 12PK Three-Blade broadhead. They are cheap, good for practice, and don't need a lot of maintenance.

The Huntingdoor Three-Blade comes in 125 grains and has three blades with a chisel tip. Better still, you can get 12 broadheads of Huntingdoor for less than $20 off Amazon and they are great for people who are just learning to use a fixed blade broadhead. Because they are so cheap, you don't really have to worry about losing or damaging them.

While they give good value for the money, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. The cutting diameter is barely an inch and if you use them for a serious hunt, you risk a bad blood trail. They’re also very easy to break and don't fly well, so I don't recommend using them with expensive bolts. With their reputation for messing with the weight and flight, your bolts will easily get lost.

Some might prefer the Sinbadteck broadheads over the Huntingdoor because they are slightly more accurate, but I actually don't see much of a difference between them except that the Huntingdoor is sharper. If you are on a budget and are unfamiliar with fixed blade broadheads, Huntingdoor 12PK Three-Blade is a good choice.

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Buying a good broadhead can be tricky if you are not familiar with what to look for. Here's what I keep in mind when I’m looking to buy a fixed blade broadhead.

When buying a broadhead, there are a lot of specs and parameters to keep in mind and it can be hard to figure out which specs are important and which ones don't matter as much. Here are some of the key specs you need to look for when buying a fixed blade broadhead.

Number of blades – A good rule of thumb for broadheads is that the more blades they have, the bigger the wounds and the better the blood trails. Fixed blade broadheads normally come with two blades, three blades, or four blades, and my recommendation is to go for a three blade broadhead. They have a good three-dimensional shape and can prevent the wound from closing once they go in.

Four blades are similar, but they are also a lot harder to sharpen. Ask yourself if you are willing to spend a bit more time with the sharpening stone every time you want to hunt. If your answer is no, go with the three blades.

But one thing to keep in mind is that broadheads with larger blade area face more air resistance and can easily careen off. So, the more you increase the number and size of the blades, the greater the effect on flight.

Cutting diameter – Cutting diameter is how wide of a wound the broadhead can make. Wide wounds give you better blood trails, making tracking a lot easier, but the problem with fixed blade broadheads that have a large cutting diameter is that they don't penetrate as well and face more friction while flying.

When looking at cutting diameter, really think about the game you are hunting. Are you hunting elk in Idaho or deer in Alabama? With large game, your bolt should penetrate deep and crush bone, so go with a smaller cutting diameter. For smaller game though, I recommend choosing a broadhead with a larger diameter because they will give you better blood trails.

Blade thickness – A thicker blade can easily cut through your quarry and it is less likely to bend as it passes through the vital organs since it is more durable. A blade between the thickness of 0.020 to 0.0375 inches is what you should look for.

The tip – You can either go with a cut-on-contact or chisel tip. A cut-on-contact broadhead has a bladed tip, while the chisel tip broadhead has a thick pointed hammer-like tip with the blades located behind it.

Again, it depends on the game you are hunting and the bow you use. If you are using a high-poundage bow, a chisel tip would be a good choice for it can crush through bone. But for a low-poundage bow, a cut-on-contact tip can help you create larger wounds.

Material – Stainless steel or aircraft-grade aluminum are usually the best materials for mechanical broadheads and they are also the most common. Other than stainless steel or aluminum, you can also look for one made from high carbon or titanium alloys. They won't corrode very easily.

Weight in grains – Broadhead weight adds to your arrow weight and the general advice is to go for lighter broadheads for lighter arrows and heavier ones for heavier arrows. Lighter arrows fly faster, but have less penetrative power than heavier arrows. 100 grains is the most common weight you’ll be seeing and, unless you are hunting very large game, that should be plenty!

Legality – Broadheads are heavily regulated and the laws about their usage are different from state to state. Your state has specific laws around what broadheads you can or cannot use, so I recommend looking that up before buying (the Wasp website has compiled the laws for each state) and contacting your state's gaming board to make sure those are the actual laws in use. The standard fixed broadheads are usually legal in most states and the common requirements for them are to have at least two blades and a minimum width of ⅞ inches.

What you are hunting – So much of your broadhead depends on the game you plan to hunt. If you are hunting large game, you are going to need something that has more penetration, while a broadhead with a large cutting diameter would be a better fit for smaller game.

Broadheads are designed to make a crossbow deadly, and they are a dangerous piece of equipment. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when handling them to make sure you don't accidentally hurt yourself or anyone else. Here are some safety and maintenance tips on handling your broadheads.

Sharpening your broadhead – A sharp broadhead is dangerous, but I’d say a dull one is worse. If you hunt with a dull broadhead, it will wound your animal instead of killing it. It is not just unethical but also illegal and you really want to avoid this.

The best practice is to sharpen your blades after every practice or hunting session. Here's how you can do it.

First, mark the sides of the blades on your broadheads with a permanent marker. This will help you make sure each side is equally sharp. Then, attach your broadhead to a shaft and press it against the sharpening stone. Apply a little pressure to remove a bit of metal from each blade and you should be good to go.

Installing your broadhead – Broadheads are very sharp and you should be very careful when attaching them to your bolt, because you can seriously injure your hands if you mishandle them. The easiest and safest way to do this is to use a broadhead wrench. They are small devices that’ll cover the blades and hold the broadhead in place when you install it. This way, you can keep your hands safe and also prep your bolts more efficiently.

Aligning your broadhead – Always make sure your broadheads are aligned properly, or else you can wave goodbye to your accuracy. Badly aligned broadheads are terrible to shoot with; they don't fly well, you can lose bolts and they will not be accurate.

To check your broadhead's alignment, get yourself an arrow spinner. These are two-pronged stands you can rest your arrow on. Place a cardboard box at the tip of your broadhead and slowly spin the arrow using the shaft. If the broadhead is not properly aligned, the point will make a small circle on the cardboard. If your broadhead tip doesn't move, your arrow is aligned well and you can take it hunting.

Practicing with your broadhead – Before you take your new broadheads, I suggest you practice with them as much as possible until you get the hang of it. This will help you test out their performance and deal with any issues in a safe space. During practice, try to replicate your hunting environment by using the same type of broadheads and practicing from the distance you’re most likely to shoot your game. For example, don't practice with a Muzzy Trocar at the range and then shoot with the G5 Outdoors Montec when hunting, because each of them will feel different and give you very different results.

Storing your broadhead – Before storing your broadheads, inspect them for damage. Look closely if they’ve been broken or bent and check the ferrule as well. If blades are damaged and the broadhead has replaceable blades, you can replace them, but if the ferrule is damaged, then it's time to throw that one away.

Once you’ve checked and cleaned the broadheads, it's time to store them. I use a broadhead case, but some styrofoam in a Tupperware box can do it in a pinch as well. Just make sure your broadheads are secure and in place when you store them.

A good broadhead can make or break your hunt, and spending the time to research and test them can help you find the ones that are just right for you. After all, with hunting gear, it is all about finding what works for you. So, even after reading all the reviews, the best way to find the right broadhead for you is to check them out yourself. Good luck.

My picks for the sharpest fixed blade broadheads are the QAD Exodus and Muzzy Trocar. The QAD Exodus is one of the sharpest fixed blade broadheads out there. It has a massive cutting diameter and leaves large wounds in your quarry. The Muzzy Trocar has a lethal chisel tip and one of the largest cutting diameters I’ve seen in fixed broadheads.

The Muzzy Trocar is one of the deepest penetrating fixed blade broadheads. Its devastating chisel tip and unique design help it penetrate deep into the animal's body

Yes, you will have to tune your bow and align your fixed blade broadheads. Some of the broadheads will require less tuning than others and fixed broadheads with large cutting diameters can be slightly more difficult to tune.

The Huntingdoor 12PK is very efficient and also is the best value you will get for the money. You can get a 12-pack for less than $20.

For fixed blade broadheads, I recommend an arrow speed ranging from 260-270 FPS. When you shoot at speeds higher than that, the chances of your arrow going off course increase.

The most popular fixed broadhead would definitely be the G5 Outdoors Montec. It's powerful, flies well, and is versatile enough to be used by any crossbow hunter.

It really depends on the blade width. For a fixed blade broadhead to fly like a field tip, it needs to have an aerodynamic design to reduce friction when flying. Plus, your broadhead should be a good fit for your bolt as well.

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