Wondering what the difference is between crossbow broadheads vs regular broadheads? Some archers find they can accurately shoot their favorite vertical bow broadheads on their crossbow. There is a fine line, but there are differences in design to account for higher bow speeds and kinetic energy.
If you are struggling to get good groupings with your normal compound bow broadheads, then it’s time to move on to a “crossbow broadhead”. Broadhead companies are coming out with more and more products designed specifically for crossbow shooters. This guide covers all the best crossbow broadheads for deer and the various factors you should consider.
Best Crossbow Broadheads Compared
Crossbow Broadheads vs Regular Broadheads
Many old-school bowhunters will tell you that crossbow broadheads are nothing but a marketing ploy, that the only difference is the word “crossbow” on the packaging. At one time that may have been true, but as crossbow hunting has exploded in popularity that really isn’t exactly true anymore. If you hunt crossbows, why wouldn’t you want to shoot broadheads made for crossbows?
- Heavier – 100 to 150 grains are quite normal for crossbow blades, where most vertical bows are in the 85-125 range. There is some overlap, but the heavier heads give the bolt some weight-forward balance to let the vanes work their magic. The heavier FOC flies straighter, hits with more momentum than a lighter, perfectly balanced arrow.
- Shorter Fixed Blades – Look closely at fixed blade crossbow blades, you will see they are a little shorter. Shorter blades compensate for the shorter length of crossbow bolts, helping the arrow fly truer, with less impact from wind and air resistance.
- Stronger Blade Retention – Many crossbow shooters rely solely on mechanical broadheads over fixed blades. The reason is simply due to the fact crossbow bolts are shot at higher speeds, and are thus impacted more the by the wind. The main issue with mechanicals is premature deployment at 400fps.
- Blades Clear the Foot Stirrup – Some mechanical broadheads designed for vertical bows can actually catch on the stirrup on some crossbows, triggering blade deployment. The result is dangerous and potentially damaging to the crossbow and the archer.