10 Best Crossbow Broadheads [2022]

Choosing the best crossbow broadheads can be a daunting task. There are tons of options in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and nearly as many different opinions about which ones you should shoot. 

My hope is that this article will help you pick the best crossbow broadhead for the upcoming deer season by narrowing down the choices to 10 of the best fixed blade, mechanical and hybrid broadheads available and providing in-depth information on each. In the end, which you choose will depend on your personal preferences, which perform best in your crossbow, and what you feel most confident shooting.

RELATED: Best Fixed Blade Broadheads for Deer

If you can afford to do so, I would encourage you to try a few of these broadheads to see which ones perform best from your crossbow. If you don’t want to the expense of purchasing multiple brands of broadheads, get a few hunting buddies to go in and each of you buy a different brand to test. Once you’ve tried them all out, then you can each decide which one you like best.

With that, let’s dive straight into my top crossbow broadhead picks, since that’s what you’re really here for. However, I would encourage you to continue reading beyond just the broadhead choices to learn about some of the features to consider when choosing the right broadhead, as well as some frequently asked questions you may have.

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Best Fixed Blade Broadheads

Best Mechanical Broadheads

Best Hybrid Broadheads

Broadhead Features to Consider

Fixed Blade or Mechanical

The debate over whether fixed blade or mechanical broadheads are better is as old as mechanical broadheads themselves. I’m not here to sway you one way or the other when it comes to choosing the best crossbow broadhead for your use. I’ve used both and killed deer with both. I’m currently shooting a fixed blade broadhead that I’m very happy with, but that doesn’t mean next season won’t find my Black Eagle arrows tipped with the latest, greatest mechanical broadhead. If you’re undecided on which you want to shoot this year, I will offer some thoughts to help you make the best decision for your needs.

Personally, I lean toward using fixed blade heads for a few reasons. First and foremost, since they lack any mechanical features, there is a much less likelihood of broadhead failure in any way. You never have to worry about whether the blades deploy upon impact or if the blades deployed early. Secondly, I like the immediate cutting action on contact that maximizes the momentum of the arrow. Again, since no blades are having to move during deployment, there is less energy lost by the arrow upon impact. This improves your odds of a pass-thru shot even if the shot fails to hit the intended mark. 

Having said that, fixed blade broadheads face at least one issue that most mechanicals don’t: they don’t always fly true from a particular bow or crossbow, and those issues can really be compounded with today’s fast-shooting equipment. Mechanical broadheads often feature larger cutting diameters than their fixed blade counterparts, which can create more damage and much more obvious blood trails. On the flip side, though, that larger cutting diameter requires more momentum to push all the way through the animal, reducing the chance of a pass-thru shot. 

If you do choose to go with a mechanical broadhead, be aware that they come in both rear deploying and forward deploying models. Rage and G5 both produce popular rear deploying broadheads where the blades are pushed straight back and deployed upon impact. On front deploying broadheads like the Swhacker, the blades actually pivot from the back of the broadhead and have to rotate over the pivot point as they get pushed back from the front. In my mind, this requires a lot more energy than a rear deploying configuration. There is also concern with the broadheads deflecting on sharp quartering shots. If I’m going to use a mechanical broadhead, it’s going to be a rear deploying model for those reasons. 

So as you can see, there’s no clear “best” option here. Each has its pros and cons. My advice is to shoot a cut-on-contact fixed blade broadhead if you can get them to fly true and group well from your crossbow. If not, then a good mechanical, rear deploying broadhead with a moderate (2 inch or below) cutting diameter should do the trick. 

Broadhead Weight

Most crossbow broadheads are going to come in either 100, 125 or 150 grains, with 100 grains being the most common. Any of these will work effectively. It’s really a matter of your overall arrow or bolt setup as to which weight you choose. If you’re just going with a standard mid-weight bolt setup, then I’d recommend sticking with a 100 grain broadhead because they are readily available and will get the job done. However, if you’re like me and prefer a heavier arrow/bolt setup with a little higher FOC, then a 125 or even a 150 grain may be your best bet.

The past two seasons I’ve shot 150 grain broadheads on my compound bow setup, and I’ve been extremely happy with the results. This year I may go with the 125 grain Slick Trick Magnum, which should still work fine. I can always add another 25 grain weight to my insert if I wanted to keep the overall weight the same, but I really don’t think that will be necessary.

FAQs

Summary

Broadhead selection is a somewhat complex and personal decision. If you’re like me, you probably like trying different things, which is why you’re here checking out new options rather than using what you used last season. Or maybe you’re new to crossbow hunting altogether. Either way, I hope this information helps you choose the best crossbow broadheads for you specific needs, and that you have your best deer season yet. Shoot straight!