Elkshape and MFJJ's Reaction Video to the Shwacker Test

Reaction Video to the Levi Morgan SCHWACKER Test Video - MFJJ and Dan from ‪@ElkShape‬ sit down and review the LRP Arrow Video that uses high frame rate cameras to test arrows and broadheads.
Here's a LINK to the original video: • SEE FOR YOURSELF 😲 : T...

[@blackbeard0323]

Lmao, anyone else see MFJJs face when Elk shape said we all want to have two holes! 😅

[@justinwilks3431]

I see I'm not the ONLY one that caught that.

[@DustinApple]

apparently MFJJ is a top. lol

[@grappler84]

Was coming to comment the same thing hahaha. This is why I like it here... same humor 🤣 🤣

[@TheBladeSled]

I’ve killed 75+ whitetail with Swhacker and never bent the alum ferrule. 1” cut entry. And a huge exit holes. The energy saved on entrance helps get complete pass through.

[@N_Will]

I have used a sevr on every animal I have harvested in the past 2 years elk included. Having the option of a 1.5 inch to a 2 inch cutting diameter is awesome. I use the 2 inch for deer and the 1.5 for elk and have yet to have a negative thing to say about them. It’s a shame they don’t use them in these test.

[@callummethley5082]

100% I think the SEVR was intentionally left out

[@cjr4497]

They were not about to put that head in the test.

[@elkoholic9063]

I've killed 2 bulls with the 2.0 My brother has killed one this year My other brother got a spike with the 1.75 we all shoot 80# 30 inch My dad has killed 3 bulls with the 1.5 shooting 65 lbs The rest of our group shoots 1.5 and 1.75 all have had amazing success with SEVR

[@kylekirkland2292]

I have killed 2 dozen plus deer with a schwacker and you guys are 100% correct on the exit issue. If you make it through a blind man can find that deer but if you don't you better call a dog to get on the track. This is why i switched to fixed blades.

[@kelzokelzo9182]

My argument for Dan, just for fun, would be that he shoots a micro Hades 3 blade, 1 1/16th in width. The schwacker is 1" in width prior to deploying. That pinhole you guys keep refering to is essentially the same size pinhole as the Hades. Assuming, in the rare chance, the Hades does not get a pass through! Love the content! Keep it coming!

[@OutdoorShellback]

Mmmmm, the Hades has three blades already deployed and cutting as soon as it's hitting the target. Three open cuts with the center punched out from the ferrule is a far cry from a pin hole. Granted the Shwacker's "pin hole" is a bit of an exaggeration, but still nothing close to a fixed blades entry and not even close to what could be called "essentially the same size".

[@aaronhill2780]

It's also similar size to some of the iron wills on entry.

[@DuoBart0n]

@@OutdoorShellbackto be fair it’s a 7/8” 2 blade entry and fixed blade that’s 7/8s will have the same entry.

[@ryanwoodhouse3220]

So ....I've been a hardcore fixed blade guy for years. IMO.....the Swacker eliminated 2 big issues with mechanicals, the energy dump issue and the crap steel/sharpness issue. I got the 3" 150 grain ones to try for whitetails this year. I just smoked a good 10pt 2 days ago here in Wisconsin with it. Entry was 1/3-1/2 way up straight up the leg broadside. Arrow buried in shoulder on opposite side. No exit hole, just the 1" on entry. Didn't matter as he piled up after 60 yards. Just missed top of the heart but put huge hash on lower part of lung and a major artery coming out the top of the heart.

[@chrispage9471]

I’ve used swhacker for years on whitetail and you’re right. Not much blood on the ground but massive internal bleeding. Almost lost my biggest buck ever last month because of it with the LRP. Quartering away at 25 yards and hit the opposite shoulder. Ran 50 yards and dropped but took an hour to find. Now considering other options that aren’t 300 dollars for 6 arrows.

[@WMBCS]

If it only ran 50 yards and you almost lost it that’s on you lol

[@jakeanderson3112]

As a mechanical engineer, I appreciate your analysis of the tests. I am constantly picking apart gear tests like this. Haha. I think the test should be some kind of container filled with animal insides (hearts, lungs, etc from a butcher shop) and wrapped in hair-on deer/elk hide. A 35 or 55 gallon poly water barrel filled with gelatin (not ballistic gel) might work well, although the poly wouldn't fracture like a rib bone and may cause an un-realistic amount of drag on the shaft/vanes. Maybe a box made out of plywood. Or a milk jug full of gelatin sandwiched beteween two pieces of plywood. Anyway, you get the idea. Hit me up if you want to brain storm more ideas. My engineer brain is non-stop thinking about problems like this. Thanks for the great content.

[@YoureSoVane]

Pretty fair idea for a target medium. However some research suggests that even plywood doesn't replicate live bone nearly well enough. Certain resins and fiberglass show promise in a packed random fill inside a tube or shell of fiberglass. Very expensive to replicate, though.

[@african7498]

Plywood is not always consistent between layers. Something like MDF is probably more consistent medium @@YoureSoVane

[@rugerhoyt]

The “will it exit” test. Leather, 3/8 plywood, full milk jug, 3/8 plywood, leather

[@melvinsacromentoe]

I love broadhead discussion lol. Might be the thing people are most passionate about!

[@houghtonic1975]

This video makes me agree more and more with quality fixed blade broadheads. If I were to test for getting out the other side, I'd probably put the test hide, ribs, thinner gel, ribs, then air and a foam target downrange to stop the broadhead. I'd design the test such that the gel is thin enough to allow the broadheads enough energy to exit the gel, thus giving them a chance to break through the exit ribs.

[@craigholland2274]

I agree 100%. I actually put that comment on their video.

[@Kujjiman]

These types of tests always make me chuckle. For billions of years people hunted with a chiseled stone point. Feels like splitting these types of hairs should be taken with a grain of salt.

[@brianbaumtrog4762]

billions?!

[@tristonstarling3756]

I will say this, Lusk’s Archery Adventures has tested both the Swhacker (aluminum feral), and the Slick Trick (Steel feral) as of late. The aluminum Swhacker held up MUCH better in all of his testing, spanning across various models.

[@cjr4497]

I don't thing FMJJ is up on his metallurgy. There are a lot of grades of aluminum that are much more durable than some grades of steel.

[@bigz5262]

Maybe the aluminum is thicker because it’s a lighter material and the broadheads weigh the same?

[@cjr4497]

@@bigz5262 aluminum is less dense than steel so typically for aluminum to weigh the same as a piece of steel it wouldn't have a much larger volume.

[@bigz5262]

@@cjr4497 so maybe being thicker it’s as strong? They’re both probably 100 grain heads I’m guessing

[@royhoglund1322]

I like your idea Josh, a one piece glue in broadhead. That's what I've tried to do with the Iron Will Snyder Core System. I screw a 50gr insert on the Snyder Core broadhead and epoxy the whole thing in with an impact collar. And I spin test them before the epoxy sets.

[@dbuckner902010]

Levi and them did a fantastic video they put in a lot of work and I appreciate you two guys discussing your point of view as well on the test

[@bradleythomas3010]

Lung shot doesn’t always need a exit hole to leave a blood trail. Lungs will bleed out of the nose

[@macdaddy32]

The schwacker does leave a whole on entrance bigger than a pin whole. It slices a little bit as it opens up the blades.

[@ryanwiebe6472]

Yup I can attest to this.. it’s a good sized hole

[@mikehigginbotham7547]

At least a inch and a half which is more than most fixed blade broadheads

[@stick__shooter]

I picked up a pack of Swhacker 1.75 heads to try on whitetails this year. From the tests I've seen they are more durable than the 2" versions because of the shorter ferrule. The Grim Reaper Pro 1-3/8 worked great on a small buck I shot last year quartered away, but no exit because it nailed the offside shoulder.

[@olwenaplyr]

I love videos like these where you break down or the mechanics of how things work.

[@michaiahsoares7854]

This is a really good video for the Bowhunter. Good work gentlemen

[@perryknetter8577]

Great episode Loved it. Great Job to you both God's Blessings on all your adventures

[@deimos6792]

I’m a knuckledragger of the highest order as well. I’ve never understood why someone would want to complicate a simple system with more moving parts. It’s Iron Will’s Single Bevel or the old titanium Savora VanDyke’s for my Western Washington hunts. I appreciate the reaffirmation, guys. Thanks for the content!

[@vfonte218]

There are a few other single bevels that perform as well and better for less than half the price of iron will.

[@nootnuh]

@@vfonte218I love the Iron Wills but they are outside my price range. What specific broadheads are you referring to? Thanks.

[@lynnenelson2353]

Josh’s face when he hears ‘I like two holes, I think we all do’ 😂😂😂

[@allenshafer7666]

Well done. I appreciate your thoughts on arrow weight!

[@derrickcunningham5067]

I used the 2 inch Levi Morgan (blue) Swhacker broadhead this season. Got a doe. Complete pass thru. 470 grain arrow. broadside. double lung. Good blood trail. The broadhead performed well.

[@bernardlennon8368]

Great content and information, I had already watched the Levi Morgan and Tac video. And I was a bit sceptical on some of their test and findings

[@scottsellars6708]

Having the blood dispersion with cough “Two Holes” is definitely going to enable easier tracking of that animal. Additionally if the entrance is small and no exit well that’s where clotting comes into play and you only find small drops of blood. Additionally get rid of the plywood and use a beef scapula and shorten the depth of the gel down and have a water jug. Regardless love the truth and relentless push to provide honest feed back. Keep kicking ass.

[@debowhunter1]

I can give some practical experience with the shwacker. I hunt the mid Atlantic states and have been bow hunting since the 80s. The last 70+ of over 240 deer I have shot have been with the 1.75" shwacker. (8 weeks of vacation in the fall😊)So far I have had a 100% success rate with them and unless I hit the off side shoulder they always pass through. My set up is 380 grain arrows 26.5" draw and 58 lb bow. However this said the blades seem dull and I take them apart and sharpen the blades myself. It seems a lot of the blood during blood trails is coming more out of their mouth then the exit or entrance hole. Keep the great videos coming love them.

[@logangreen2706]

Hey I tried the Schwacker last year and had issues with blades not being open on the first lung. Have you experienced this?

[@debowhunter1]

No I can't say that I have the only problem I've had is dull blades.

[@wyohntr]

I take serious issue with people who question whether or not mechanicals should be EVER used on elk. Like everything in an arrow setup, there are pros and cons to mechanicals and within the mechanical (or fixed) world there are many pros and cons to different brands and styles. The only valid con I really see to a well designed and constructed mechanical is a decrease in penetration (the opposing pros would be a much larger would channel and less wind drift). I hunt exclusively with mechanicals and have killed numerous antelope, deer, and yes elk. I've never lost an animal that I've hit with a mechanical. I've settled on SEVR 1.5's for elk and have been given no reason to change. I used schwacker's for a couple seasons and had issues with blades breaking. Sure, if you are a low draw weight and/or short draw length person you may want to go with a fixed blade or limit your max shot distance for penetration reasons. But to question whether anyone should use a mechanical on elk, even when they may be getting significantly more KE and momentum than you are, is asinine.

[@floydallen9885]

That was a great video. When I was hunting Elk, I used to use Jerry Simmons Landshark broadheads. They were fantastic. Total pass threw. I was always afraid to use a mechanical broadhead on elk. The last elk that I shot was with my 50 pound bow. Still no problem with Total pass threw.

[@stephencarmean7891]

In regards to the arrow trajectory segment, and assuming they were aiming at the 100 yard ball of foam (all the arrows were grouped at that distance), the arrow flying the lowest past the camera at the 75 yard point proves the flattest trajectory. And if I remember correctly, the DAC vane was lower thus showing a flatter trajectory…the TAC vane was higher thus showing a higher trajectory path. I hope that made sense.

[@Thedudeabides803]

I’ve always used old school muzzy’s since 2000. I can’t stop using something when it works.

[@goldtip34]

Test the Beast mechanical by Bomar.

[@DuoBart0n]

Swhackers are my favorite mechanicals. Put them through Midwest deer and Florida hogs. Only had one non pass through and it went into both shoulders. Broke through the far side shoulder just didn’t go all the way through. Vast majority of the animals only go 40-50 yards. They do leave a 7/8” entry hole if hitting 90 degrees. The hole is a little larger if it’s a 1/4 shot because the wing blades will drag and cut in the way in. The all steel version uses single bevel blades so it will continue rotating like other single bevels will. The 125gr is a 1.75” and has the wing blades like the other ones. I did pick up some sevrs to see what they do because of their similarities with the ulmer edge.

[@stefanc2242]

I believe the closed wing blades are still 1" across so you are still getting a two blade 1" entry on an animal.

[@stick__shooter]

correct, and unlike some other heads like Sevr, the wing blades are sharpened on the Shwackers.

[@jolookstothestars6358]

For the first time I'm using the Shwaker 1.75 because of their test video. Its only for these small whitetail. I really liked that the blades are protected in the head. The accuracy is outstanding. Most guys are getting pass threws with the 1.75 and 2.0. They also said they work good on elk, I think is stick to my Kudus s.b. heads.👍

[@seanwhite4971]

Heard they didn’t like rage and I was like yep this guys know what they are talking about

[@codysmith8042]

You're off when you say NO entry hole or field tip size entry. You get a MINIMUM of a 1" 2blade entry hole. If the shot is quartering your entry hole will be even larger than 1". The 2 Iron Will heads they shot were the Standard and the Wide. If I remember correctly, the standard will only give you approx a 1" entry and exit (if it makes it through). I have killed elk, deer, javelina and a mtn lion with Swhackers and nothing has gone more than 50 yards.

[@blakeumthun8128]

I have shot multiple whitetail with the Schwacker, as has my father and we have had complete passthrough on every deer with them with a 1" entrance and absolutely massive exit wounds. With that said, none of them hit heavy bone. And yes, they will get through the offside ribs. The only issue I ever had with one was the band holding the blades in get loose in cold weather, 10F and below and creates some chatter with the blade and ferule. The sound of that cost me a deer a few years ago.

[@stick__shooter]

MFJJ needs to make a titanium ferrule 1.75" Swhacker with a Grim Reaper Pro tip on it...

[@bensilva29]

Exactly!

[@chrisreed9888]

This will be a little long winded but I wanted to share my personal feedback as a white tail hunter, that uses a saddle, and has used IW and Shwacker. I started the season with a 570g arrow with an Iron Will SB (31” DL, 80lbs). My first harvest should have been a doe but, I miss ranged her. It was last light and I had ranged a tree at 30yards and it looked like she was right next to it when in actuality she was at 40 yards. My shot went pretty low (a few inches above where the front leg meets the body) but given she was up a hill and pretty much level with me (-1% elevation) I thought she would fall pretty quickly. Unfortunately I found ZERO blood after grid searching for 8 hours, Absolutely nothing. I know it was a good hit given her reaction but, and a complete pass through but, no blood? That was the first animal I have shot at and not harvested and it made me re-evaluate my whole setup. After setting up a 510g Sirius Gemini with a 3” Shwacker, it was back to the woods. Given the energy of my bow and the typical ranges of

[@JSANDERS247]

The original trypan with dental bands was the best rage.. I'm a 3 blade guy. I've had popular 2 blade single bevels do some crazy stuff after they hit an animal. The dead meat is a solid, all steel head in the 125 version expandable head.. But it's really hard to beat a qad exodus..

[@mrgifford87]

SEVR,for the win!

[@fredgrowjr2826]

I have been hunting for 45 years and been using shwacker for around 20 years. The entrance hole is 1" and the exit is 2". Only 1 time in all those years I did not have a pass threw was an 8 point whitetail that it lodged in the opposite shoulder. I watched the buck go down in 60 yards. All the other times on whitetails and coyotes in Southern Michigan the arrow blows threw and is sunk in the ground 5-10 yards beyond the deer with pass-through. And they all go down in sight. Very devastating. I would love to hunt elk some day it is on my bucket list and wouldn't hesitate to use a Shwacker.

[@southwestohoutdoors6729]

The test medium I’d use is hide and plywood or leather on the front side of a gallon jug of water, and hide and plywood or leather on the backside of that jug. See if it gets in and gets out.

[@CatfishCody]

My swhacker penetrated a whitetails shoulder earlier this year. Clean pass through. 70# 30 inch draw out of my bear resurgence. 2 inch cut. I use the 3 inchers for my crossbow. Never had a problem with pass throughs out of either platform. I dont know why you call the entry a pin hole. Its a one inch cut. Even if those blades fail to deploy you still got a one inch cut broadhead

[@megangregneace4684]

I did a hemorrhage test on this broadhead today. Swhacker 2.5 Levi morgan 269… 125 grain head… 470 total weight 15.1 foc.. gold tip xt hunter 300… 29.5 draw 72.7 lbs at 300fps… took a washcloth and glued it to a piece of cardboard to mimic hide and skin…. 1 gallon milk jug.. shot it 2 inches up from bottom of jug, at 7yds… blades opened on exit completely 2.5 inches.. it took 2 minutes and 52 seconds for the water to drain down to the 2 the line.. was hoping to see a different result but it just didn’t open up a big hole. Just the arrow hole and 2 slices from the blades…I killed a buck last year with this same broadhead… 18yd shot quartering away, heart shot and it hit offset shoulder did not pass through. Buck died in 25yds, but little blood on the ground. Chest cavity was full of blood on the gut job. Just thought I’d share.. Love the content thanks Greg Neace from KY.

[@matthewsplant6754]

I have used rage hypodermic +p nc for elk with great success. I have also used swhacker for deer. You have to make sure with rage the blades close with a tight fit. Pumpkins and leather are the best medium I have found to be accurate for consistency with animal bodies.

[@davidbilliter5619]

Shwacker cuts a 1+ inch entrance hole . The deploying blades that are exposed in flight are single bevel sharp and cut an entrance hole .

[@andythies7133]

I shot a buck this year at 54 yards with. 2” swacker and got a complete pass through including going through the off side knuckle with a 450gr setup 29” draw at 70 lbs. I didn’t recover the head because my shaft broke so I don’t know how messed up the ferrell was but it made it through regardless.

[@JakeThomasFSU]

I used a shwacker last year on a Michigan whitetail. Although I did not plan on blowing through the shoulder, it did it. Deer died in 40 yards. Problem is the head was toast after that. Bent it literally 90 degrees. I don’t think if I had a lower poundage bow or short draw length I would have recovered that deer. If you make a great shot, it’s an awesome head, if you make a bad shot, it’s up to how lucky you get.

[@zachstiver6825]

I shot a buck in 2020 with the swhacker 261. It went through like butter, and buried 3” into the ground. I also had a good friend that shot two deer with them no exit hole the doe went 20 yards and fell over, but his buck turned into a grid search. Hunting from a tree stand having a high entry and a small hole high on the animal with no pass through won’t bleed.

[@brutallyhonestmf5578]

Razor sharp Magnus Bee Stingers for life 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@Harvestlandtv]

Rick Forrest (the engineer) has already killed multiple elk with those shwackers

[@markwilson9800]

I'd like to see a test where you layer hide-ribs-balistics gel-ribs-hide (obviously the layer of ballistics gel would be much thinner). If there's anyway you could match the density of an elks body with the thickness of ballistics gel that would be deadly. I always see people use pork ribs and always wonder why they don't use beef ribs. I think that'd would be more comparable to elk ribs. Elkshape please like this comment if you see it. Big fan keep up the work, you've made me very passionate about bowhunting.

[@kurtmcclelland8731]

Stopped using them after 2015 season, hit a quartering away white tail with a 1.5 inch shwacker and no exit wound hitting the opposite side shoulder. No blood trail and the longest search ever. I did recover the deer the next day and I have the broken arrow I recovered from the chest cavity of the deer. Only fixed broadheads for me.

[@NickolausHillman]

A good test would be a hide and plywood for initial impact, center should be a mold of jello and boiled rigatoni pasta to represent the organs and veins, and finally for the exit plywood and hide.

[@AbBowhunter]

While the expandable broadhead discussion is always interesting, I just can’t think of any scenario in which I’d ever shoot an expandable. There are so many great high quality fixed heads out there. You don’t have to worry about when (or if) a fixed blade will deploy, there are no flippy flappy blades to worry about, and no o-rings or elastic bands. I think the main reason most people shoot expandable broadheads is the claimed “field point accuracy.” This marketing claim is rarely true though. Accuracy is important, but so is having equipment that you can rely on and have confidence in. Personally, I think a guy is far better off just putting in the effort to tune your bow correctly so fixed blades will fly perfectly. After that, you just hunt and don’t worry about your broadheads. So far I have hunted with Magnus stinger buzzcut broadheads for over 15 years and only once have I not had a pass through on a deer, and that was because I screwed up and shot high and hit the spine. But it still killed the deer. Only once did I have to go more than about 40 yards to retrieve the deer, and that was on a liver shot on a large mule deer buck. There was good blood and he was easy to track - he bled out in about 100 yards. I do have some cutthroat single bevel fixed blades that I bought mainly for elk hunting, but I have not killed anything with those yet. All that said - if expandables are your thing, go for it. There seem to be some decent ones out there these days, and I’m glad for that because as someone else pointed out many of the earlier iterations were just garbage. For me though, I just can’t see ever being convinced to use them.

[@robertwilliamson6958]

Is it going to get out of the other side? Here’s my take. Fixed blade guy these days. HOWEVER, I shot the 100gr swhacker a long time. 2 deer in particular. Whitetails, I shot two, one @62 yards 65lb elite victory 39, and a 440gr arrow. 28.5” draw. Quartering to me, the entire arrow was inside the animal before exiting in front of the opposite hip and never found arrow. The other deer, was 81 yards, slightly quartering away, buried the broadhead into the opposite leg bone, couldn’t get it back out. Same bow. I also shot MANY frontal whitetails inside 25 yards with 60lb bows, and typically got half an arrow of penetration with the swhacker. I also shot a whitetail at 51 yards, slightly quartering to frontal, (between the point of the rib cage and the shoulder), got equal penetration to the typical 25 yard frontal shot about half my arrow and it backed out as animal was running. I typically recovered my animals inside of 50 yards with good shot placement. Now with fixed heads I expect snimals to go 25 or feel I made a mistake. Out of box Blade sharpness is an issue the the green 100gr schwackers.

[@crankbaitmaster9000]

Shot a big doe this year with a shwacker 261 quartering two and it went completely passed through and left a massive hole. The wing blades did leave a 1" entry hole and there was a lot of blood.

[@michaelb2076]

I find it interesting that every pro shop I ever visit. Swhacker broadheads are always stocked full and QAD, Magnus, and Grim Reaper are almost always gone

[@mikestackz854]

Don’t know where you shop but they good here

[@michaiahsoares7854]

Some old carpet is very similar to hair/skin and also has that webbing on the backside that is almost like the fibers in meat/skin. I personally shoot both, the Grim reaper Pro 3 blade and the NAPs and i love them both! The NAPs are alot cheaper, but Grim Reapers are worth the $ and a clean kill

[@cjr4497]

True penetration testing can only really be done on animals. B Gel is not a predictor of penetration whatsoever with arrows. 1/4" MDF is the most consistent medium to shoot to simulate bone, but I think 1/4" lauan may better represent ribs or a tougher part of the scapula. I would make a jig to hold 8" x 8" squares of lauan that were soaked in water over night. Then I would staple deer hide to the face of the squares. The squares need to be shoe one time in the very middle at 20yds. Shooting it on the edge would yield better penetration as there would be less give on impact. Put some get or a foam target 15" behind it to capture the arrow. The results would yield a measure of blade integrity, entrance hole size, and edge retention, not penetration. For penetration I would make a jig that held several of the hide covered squares and see how many get penetrated. This would show how much work the arrow/head combo could get done.

[@adkinssj1]

Going to make some new arrows for next year and would love to see what your thoughts are on the DCA vanes with fixed-blade broadheads. They seem like an awesome product.

[@stevie9361]

Omg I told you elk shape would do tac vanes video!

[@andrewfernandez8330]

Crimson Talon Bone Crusher X Broadheads 175 gr us and all steel (A2 tool steel) with the similar design. They are also almost half the price

[@trentsmith8497]

I’ve shot swhacker on whitetails for years, years as in 10+ I personally haven’t had trouble with them ever. I have seen a guy that was hunting with me have a poor blood trail. But I couldn’t say for the shot. I’ve seen that they usually punch a 1”-1.75” on entrance holes. Idk if it over extents, or punches through. But they have always worked for me

[@user-hb1km1cd8x]

I used the shwacker #261 Levi Morgan series 2" cut on a bull elk at 30 yards perfect broadside 2 seasons ago. Ultimately, I never recovered the bull . I never found my arrow, and I never found a smidgen of blood . This bull would have been my biggest to date and searched for him for 9 days and could not turn him up .

[@wildpigremovalinc.executio8028]

Nice recap video. As you said accuracy is key. The arrow must hit where your aiming. I kill hogs, and I only use Swhacker's. Swhacker's fly like my field points, and are accurate. The point is steel, the ferrule is alloy/ aluminum, the initial blades measure just under an one inch, not a pin hole. I have had many pass throughs. 99% of my arrow shots are for the lungs. I have recovered all but one pig that I hit with an arrow, I was aiming for the heart at night, 10-12 yards. I know I hit the leg, where unknown. I have never killed an elk, but elk can't be any harder to kill than wild pigs. I'm not affiliated to Swhacker. I only use them one time, hunting. Then the used tips will become practice tips. Looking forward to see your tests.

[@paulgroniger4494]

I used to shoot Shwackers but after a couple of failures, both early deployment of the blades 1 causing a complete miss and 2 a hit but failure to penetrate I have changed to... wait for it... Iron Will Wide Single Bevels. Best broadhead on the market!

[@olehemlock]

You need to test the original GrimReaper 1 3/8 razor tip. It’s a do all head. I shoot them in the open position. They fly extremely well in the open position. When closed they do not get dull in the quiver and you are not waving around a sharp broadhead when knocking your arrow.

[@jpughinreallife]

I use Schwacker broadheads and love them. They do a lot of damage from my point of view.

[@marcuskadau648]

Hide/ leather, foam camping mat, 3/8 plywood, foam

[@collinslangley361]

I love these vids

[@Exrimordonaj]

I’ve never hunted elk, but I use the schwacker for whitetail and I’ve never not gotten a full pass through, keep in mind I’m picky on shot selection. +the exit hole from the schwacker is huge.

[@derrickwarner9578]

Ive shot three bucks with rages and never recovered any of those bucks. It wasnt 3 years back to back, i always went back to fixed blade broadheads

[@deathsucks13]

so what is the list of mechanical broadheads you would use on elk?

[@kylemacdonell1450]

Best expandable - SEVR.. nuff said !

[@rickjames2618]

I’d substitute MDF for plywood since it is consistent and doesn’t have directional grain like plywood.

[@UrMom_says]

Josh grinning like that when you said we all want two holes 😏

[@devenstone3426]

Xecutioner broadheads are some of the best expandable heads ive used. Should check them out.

[@fastcamo]

Take it for what it’s worth- in all the failures I have had or seen over the years- everyone has been a mechanical. Only a broadside shot on a soft target would be a high percentage for any mechanical. Anything larger than a deer or a angled shot the fixed head will do you better in the long run.

[@ThumbsMcThumb]

For deer, look no further than Catman Outdoors piling up deer each year with swhackers. Mostly all pass through

[@davidholliday2703]

Nice video. Agreed with a lot of what you said. For me, I'm not even going to play, single bevel all the way. Sorry Josh, I prefer more mass for longer shots with a trajectory I can live with because lighter arrows decelerate faster down range, losing both kinetic energy and, most importantly, momentum. Good video.

[@theruggedarts2751]

OK so here’s my thought. What if somebody took 10 to 12 ounce veg can leather from like a Tandy leather supply. With that on a 3-D gear. Over the insert area. Maybe make it three or four layers deep. On both sides of the 3-D target. In the middle of the 3-D target, where the insert would be what if somebody made a gelatin filled balloon With a viscosity similar to a stomach or a chest cavity, but not as thick as ballistics gel, which is designed to stop it fully. I think you could still get a pass through in that situation, and some level of idea on as to what a potential blood trail might look like. The downside is, you can ship the same target more than maybe twice. Ideally, you would only shoot at one and you have to set this up for however many broadhead you plan on testing so if you ran seven Brodhead, you would need seven targets. If you wanted to simulate ribs or some type of bone mass, then I would use a quarter inch thick plywood underneath the 2 to 3 layers of 10 to 12 ounce leather on full size that might be a little overkill but that might get you close to representing what shooting elk at 50 yards would be like with one of those broadheads

[@gisconstruction1977]

I would say if you use an expandable that maybe you should be using a 5mm arrow, it would have way less friction from the arrow, which would ultimately help with complete pass through

[@Mitch2974]

Shot through shoulders with swhacker. Been shooting them for 12 years. Small entrance is only downfall, except ALL pass throughs and none required tracking. Oh and the swhackers all have steel chisel points. And have burried many into dirt on other side and Reused them many times. OOps except the buck I shot last year was a liver shot. still pass through and using that same broadhead this year again.

[@TheHorribleOutdoorsman]

I used the 3” swchaker with a 650grain arrow going slow out of a Z7 Mag. Blew right thru a Texas Whitetail. The exit was like a hatchet wound. 30/70.

[@EvanRoshad]

Texas whitetail are about the size of small dogs so makes sense 😂

[@TheHorribleOutdoorsman]

@@EvanRoshad there’s a reason I said Texas whitetail 😂 big dogs though!

[@lukepatrino8668]

Every deer I’ve shot with a shwacker complete pass through. Even shot a doe at 50 yards complete pass through haven’t had a deer run past 50 yards. That’s at least 7 deer. The shwacker is the real deal

[@j-yakk]

Big fan of this video...Hoping to deploy an Afflictor hybrid x and QAD Exodus for the comparison. Hunting Midwest whitetail...I've know the QAD to be tried and true...will be interesting to see if the Afflictor is usable.

[@african7498]

Totally agree with fixed blade only for larger game. From real life experience there is NO way I believe that those wide mechanicals will out penetrate Iron Will SB. What you are seeing is how effective gel is at stopping arrows. The Iron Will blade is spinning due to SB losing some KE to rotation against dense gel - and more surface area for gel to work on. I know which one I will choose on elk sized game - no question. Forget the gel - it does not replicate animals.

[@79travisdee]

I have ALMOST always had a pass through using shwacker on deer using the 1.5 and 2 inch. I’ve used nap killzone and rage. Always go back to shwacker

[@coreyj2035]

How come the SEVR isn’t in this 🤷🏻‍♂️ Thoughts on sevr????

[@toddsoileau9029]

I'm curious about the swacker "opening inside"... at a glance (and without a tape measure) i'm gonna guess the wings that open the blades on a swacker are 1"-1.5" behind the tip so the blades will open up once they're 1.5" deep into the animal?

[@kennethlukens9054]

The same problem with Rage BHs. Pre deployments and deployed on the draw.

[@renurenovationsllc7780]

Wait, the Swhacker has NO entry hole….but the Swhacker is 2” has an 1” entry blades, and the Iron Will has an entry hole and is 1-1/16th” big difference there folks!!

[@leejhinkle]

Love the discussion about mechanical vs fixed on elk. Anything new to consider if pursuing Bison?

[@Kodyanderson402]

I do use mechanical and one thing that needs to be tested on mechanical is pass through. Mechanical has got to the point that most blades open no matter what but once they are open will they pass through?

[@gmatthewpaul]

Some of best mechanical heads are in my opinion. Rocky Mountain Warhead SS 2 blade 1.5 inch ( penetrate and flys like field point), and the other is very rare Carbon Express F15 mechanical also front deploy! They both penetrate like crazy but are smaller cut. Lost a big buck with Killzone this year and murdered one last year! I want penetrating small mechanicals for everything.

[@Nick__C]

Josh, what are your thoughts in the new beast broad head from bowmar. Aluminum but the deploy system seems interesting