How to Choose a Broadhead

Start with your quarry

The animal sets the priorities. For elk and big-boned game, prioritize penetration and durability — a tough fixed or single-bevel head. For whitetail and pronghorn, you can favor cutting diameter and blood trail, which opens the door to mechanicals. Turkey hunting uses specialized oversized or guillotine-style heads entirely.

Grain weight

Broadheads are sold in 100, 125 and 150 grain weights most commonly, and your head weight should match the field points you tuned with. Heavier heads raise front-of-center (FOC), which improves penetration and bone-busting at the cost of a little trajectory. A common modern approach is a heavier total arrow with a 125–150 grain head for momentum.

Cutting diameter & blade count

Wider cuts and more blades mean more tissue damage and better blood — but more drag, less penetration, and more energy required. Fixed heads run roughly 1"–1.5"; mechanicals 1.5"–2.3". Two blades penetrate deepest; three and four blades trade some penetration for a bigger wound channel and more reliable blood.

Kinetic energy & momentum

Make sure your setup can drive the head you choose. As a rough guide, plan on about 25–40 ft-lbs of kinetic energy for whitetail and 40–65+ for elk, with wide mechanicals sitting at the top of those ranges. If your draw weight or arrow is on the lighter side, choose a narrower head — it needs less energy to penetrate.

Tune, then trust

Whatever you choose, broadhead-tune your bow so the head hits with your field points, and shoot it enough to trust it. The best broadhead is the one that flies true from your setup and that you're confident in when the moment comes.

FAQ

What grain broadhead should I shoot?

Match your broadhead weight to the field points you tuned with — most hunters shoot 100 or 125 grain. Heavier heads (125–150) raise FOC and improve penetration, which many elk hunters prefer.

How much kinetic energy do I need to hunt?

Roughly 25–40 ft-lbs for whitetail and 40–65+ for elk, with wide mechanicals needing the most. Narrower heads penetrate with less energy if your setup is light.