4 blade here. Been that way for many years. Quite early in my hunting years I had an arrow get deflected by a tree branch, and fortunately one of the four blades caught the aorta. If not for that extra blade, I would not have killed or found that deer. For that one reason alone, I stick with the 4 blade broadhead. (The probability of that every happening again is exceptionally low - but the point is the extra blade may slice something important and result in a kill or make the difference.) Proper arrow placement trumps all. As long as they fly the same as field points, 4 blade > 3 blade > 2 blade.

 

What ever suits your fancy. Bottom line its all about shot placement.

 

What ever suits your fancy. Bottom line its all about shot placement.

👍 And even just as important........ blade sharpness.

 

I use 3 & 4 blades often. If I won a lifetime supply of broad heads then I'd pick 3. Mainly because they just work. I don't like 2 blade fixed heads as much and while 4 does offer more cutting surface even for the same cutting diameter I just haven't seen a difference I can put my finger on between the two in the field. There is an old saying the more blades the harder it is to get them to fly and I think there is a little truth to that.......but maybe less forgiving to tune might be a better way to say it.

I have had 2 blade heads get clogged easier by the guts or the hide shifting etc because they leave a slit not a hole per say. Now when you start going really big like 2 inches (on the larger mechanicals) that starts to go away but you really don't want a 2 inch fixed head on a fast compound............lol

3 or 4? I'd worry more about design, how they fly, structural integrity and sharpness more than that. Good luck

 

I like both. Personally I'd stay away from NAP broadheads and go with Grim Reaper or Slick Trick.

 

4 blade for me

 

I've used Wasp Drones(3 blade) and Darts(4 blade) and both perform well. No real difference in performance. Keep your blades sharp and aim true and you will be fine.

 

4 blades get my vote. More total cut is a huge advantage over a 3 blade.

 

I have and use both, fixed and mechanical, and have for decades to kill a couple hundred deer. Cut diameter/blade height, and the vented area on the blades can make a difference. BH materials and construction makes a difference. The angle of the cutting surface can affect penetration, but not by a lot. If you put all of the factors into a calculation you get "Form Factor", and that has an effect on momentum, (under controlled conditions that don' exist when you're in a tree somewhere). If all blades, sheer angles, and cut diameters are the same, three blades could, would, might penetrate better than four blades. But not by much.

The best answer is pay attention to what you're equipment has for delivering energy to the cut, a combination of physics and experience, and buy those. I've used Muzzy 3 blade and 4 blade heads with a 1" cut Diameter on and off for ??? years. I've never seen anything that suggests there's any difference at all when you can see the critter hit the ground from your stand. And I typically can. Like the same question in the monotonous discussion of fixed or mechanical, it depends. If you're counting on cut diameter, or one more blade to make any difference, at all, you need to be more selective when taking shots.

 

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. Sounds like I'll just stick to what I know for now. Maybe look at other options when I run out of stock.

 

I started bowhunting in 1956 & had a so, I have shot many in practice. 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 blades. It's a given we want sharp & shot placement. Next is "HOW DO THEY FLY?" This is my biggest concern as I take care of the other things. At times, all will need some adjustment to get perfect flight but for me, a 3 blade fly's pretty much perfect right out of the package. I have used some model 3 blade 125gr Rocky Mountain the last 50 years. In that time, I have "practiced" with other BHs just cause I like to tinker. I have seen no reason to change & they have served me well. I have a Son & 2 G-sons that have done the same practicing with various heads & they all shoot 125 gr 3 blade Monteks the last 7-8 years. We have taken Elk, Buffalo, Whitetail, Hogs, Antelope, Mule Deer, Caribou & more with them.. Never disappointed. They did use Muzzy's a few years too with great results.

 

What matters is a strong broad head, one that flys accurately, one that’s scalpel sharp, and one thats put through the vitals. Number of blades is not important.

 

Agree, and it’s a hair splitting rabbit hole with tons of factors. I prefer more cut width vs more cut surface, because I think it’s a more efficient way to do more tissue damage and overall flight/penetration, fewer angles to sharpen, etc

I would rather shoot a 2 blade with bleeders vs a 4 blade with equal cut both directions… I would even rather add the bleeder’s cut to the main blade (within reason)

 

The 125 muzzy is probably my second favorite behind the mx3. I think the blade angle is great on it. I never had a deer more than 50 yards with the 125 and always a pass through.

 

Standard three blade Muzzy, Montec and Muzzy Ones all have worked for me out of both a compound and a recurve. Never a much reason to change to a four blade.

 

Quality robust head with structural integrity 2 blade, 3, blade & 4 blade all work well. Keep them scalpel sharp & they all work very well when shot placement is proper & penetration is adequate. Strive for full penetration & short blood trails are to be expected.

 

I use one piece three blades. I like taking variables out of the equation and they’re easy to sharpen without a special sharpener.

 

One piece, non Chinesium steel 3 blade. Being able to lay flat to sharpen without any special jigs is preferable for me.

 

non Chinesium steel

These days some of the best steel alloys available are from China.
You might not like that, but most of the products made with steel for the last few decades have come from steel alloyed in China. When Trumps tariffs hit the market, everything made of steel will go to the stars for cost. It will take years for America to catch up with foreign steel from any source, and the cost of domestic production will be huge. Most Americans are clueless for the realities.

 

For me and my experiences helping others the QAD is king of 3 blades I wouldn't shoot any other 3 blade. The blades thickness cuts crazy holes. If I had to go fix I'd pick slick trick Grizz trick. I'd say QAD gets nod in toughness but Grizz leaves a bigger hole.

 

I've always shot 3 blades and they have always worked so I've never seen the need to go to 4 blades. As Dale stated above it's all about shot placement no matter how many blades are on the broadhead.