Broadheads: Reviews & Rankings
Fixed, mechanical and hybrid hunting heads, scored on cut, steel and value.
A broadhead is the only part of your setup that touches the animal, and the market splits into three camps: fixed blades that fly like field points and never fail to open, mechanicals that trade reliability margin for 2-inch entry wounds, and hybrids that try to do both. Our CareScore weighs cutting diameter, blade steel thickness, ferrule material, per-pack price, grain options and crossbow speed ratings — the specs that actually separate a $43 pack from a $140 one.
How to read this: Prices are per three heads (the standard pack). SEVR sells per-head, so its figure is 3× the single price — an equivalent, not a packaged SKU. Cutting diameter for hybrids is the main-blade figure; bleeder blades add more.
Broadheads CareScore Leaderboard
All 8 products ranked by overall CareScore™. See the full best-of breakdown →
| # | Product | Use | Price | CareScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEVR Titanium 2.0 4-Blade Hybrid | Compound + crossbow | $65.97 | 76 |
| 2 | G5 Megameat | Compound + crossbow | $69.95 | 69 |
| 3 | Rage Hypodermic Trypan NC | Compound + crossbow | $49.99 | 68 |
| 4 | QAD Exodus (Full Blade) | Compound + crossbow | $44.99 | 54 |
| 5 | Iron Will S Series (S100) | Compound | $139.95 | 50 |
| 6 | Grim Reaper Razortip | Compound + crossbow | $54.99 | 48 |
| 7 | Muzzy Trocar | Compound + crossbow | $42.99 | 47 |
| 8 | Slick Trick Magnum | Compound | $49.99 | 28 |
Best Broadheads for…
The same data, re-weighted for how you shoot.
Best Broadheads for Deer
Top pick: SEVR Titanium 2.0 4-Blade Hybrid
Best Crossbow Broadheads
Top pick: SEVR Titanium 2.0 4-Blade Hybrid
Best Broadheads for Elk
Top pick: Iron Will S Series (S100)
Best Mechanical Broadheads
Top pick: SEVR Titanium 2.0 4-Blade Hybrid
Best Fixed Blade Broadheads
Top pick: Iron Will S Series (S100)
Head-to-head comparisons
All 28 comparisonsWe auto-generate a spec-by-spec breakdown for every possible matchup.
Broadhead buying guide
- Fixed blade or mechanical?
- Mechanicals cut bigger holes (2" is the benchmark) and fly closest to field points, but the deployment mechanism is one more thing that can fail. Fixed blades penetrate better on bone and can't malfunction — they just need real broadhead tuning. Rule of thumb: mechanicals for broadside whitetail, fixed for elk, quartering shots and marginal poundage.
- How much do good broadheads cost?
- Value fixed blades like the Muzzy Trocar run $37–50 a pack and kill deer just as dead. The $50–70 tier buys titanium ferrules and crossbow-rated retention. Premium heads — Iron Will's $140 tool-steel fixed blades, SEVR's $22-per-head titanium mechanicals — buy durability and re-sharpenability, not more lethality.
- What grain weight should I shoot?
- 100 grain is the default and matches most pre-built arrows. The heavy-arrow trend has hunters moving to 125–150 grain (sometimes 200+) for more momentum and front-of-center balance. Match your arrow build first — a broadhead swap that shifts FOC will move your point of impact.
- Do I need crossbow-specific broadheads?
- At 400+ fps, yes — air pressure alone can pop unrated mechanical blades open mid-flight, and the impact forces bend lesser ferrules. Look for an explicit speed rating: SEVR rates to 525 fps, and most crossbow-specific Rage variants beef up the retention. Fixed blades generally handle any speed but become harder to tune as velocity climbs.
What the CareScore measures
The complete formula, bounds and data rules are published on the methodology page.
Cutting Diameter
24% weightThe width of the wound channel. Bigger cuts bleed more and leave shorter tracking jobs — it's why mechanicals dominate whitetail counters. Smaller heads penetrate deeper on heavy bone.
Price (3 heads)
21% weightBroadheads are consumables — you'll lose them, bend them and re-sharpen them. Per-pack price decides whether practicing with your actual hunting head hurts.
Blade Thickness
18% weightThicker blades survive rib and shoulder hits. .035" is the industry floor, .039–.040" is the quality tier, and .062" tool steel is the premium benchmark.
Ferrule Material
16% weightThe ferrule is the broadhead's spine. Titanium gives the best strength-to-weight, steel is dependable, and aluminum is the budget compromise that bends first on bone.
Crossbow Rated
11% weightModern crossbows push 400–500 fps — speeds that rip unrated mechanicals open in flight. A manufacturer crossbow rating means the retention system holds at those speeds.
Grain Options
11% weightHow many weights the head comes in. The heavy-arrow trend rewards brands offering 125–250 grain options; a single 100-grain SKU locks out high-FOC builds.