ASH556
Senior Member
I've killed 4 (maybe 5, you'll see) deer with the QAD 100gr Exodus, swept blade model. I'm a 29.5 draw. I shot the first at 22yds from my 2007 AR32, 70lb on the front of a Beman 400 spine cut to 28". She flinched like a fly bit her, kept feeding calmly, and then fell over dead about 10 or 15 seconds later. The next 2 were shot with the same setup: a doe at 40yds, double lung, she ran maybe 20 yds and expired; and a spike shot at 17yds who ran maybe 40yds and crashed.
Number 4 was a six point last season out of a Mathews Vertix at 70lb on the front of a Gold Tip Velocity 300 spine cut to 29.5 with a 20gr FACT weight in the front, 14yd shot, heart and lungs. That deer ran 125yds before expiring. Look at the hit in the pic below.
I was less than thrilled with the distance this deer ran, but sometimes it happens I guess.
Fast forward to this past weekend. I'm now shooting a V3 31 at 65lb, Gold Tip Blackout 300 spine cut to 29.5 with a 20gr FACT weight in the front, 22yd shot, double-lung, full passthrough. Pink and bubbles on the vanes:
5 steps from the shot:
75yds from the shot:
I looked for 3 hours and never found this deer. Last blood was 150 yds from the shot.
Beyond the issue of these last 2 recoveries (or lack thereof) I'm also frustrated with accuracy. The bow is in-tune per my local pro shop. It's dialed perfectly to 60yds, which is is far as I can shoot at home. I always confirm with broadheads at my ranges. Last night I went to confirm with the shot/dulled head from Saturday before putting new blades in it and getting ready to hunt again. First shot at 20 was dead on. Second and third shots at 40 were good. Shot at 60 missed the target completely. Went back to 20 and was off by 4". So, I grabbed a new fresh head out of my quiver and shot it at 20: dead on. Shot it at 40 to confirm, also dead on. Didn't get to shoot it at 60 because it got dark.
This is the Exodus and a Field Point at 40:
At this point my confidence in the head is just completely shaken and I want to try something different. I've never shot a mechanical before and am thinking about it. I hunt hardwoods in Georgia from 20+ feet up in a Summit. I want something I can confidently shoot out to 60 if need be, but usually as you can see from my track record I do not take long risky shots. Hoping for more consistent flight from a mechanical, maybe the G5 Megameat? I don't have any more Exodus blades, so I have to buy something regardless. The question is just whether to buy more Exodus or something different.
I just need some recommendations and to get back on track before an all-day sit I took off work for tomorrow.
Thanks!
Number 4 was a six point last season out of a Mathews Vertix at 70lb on the front of a Gold Tip Velocity 300 spine cut to 29.5 with a 20gr FACT weight in the front, 14yd shot, heart and lungs. That deer ran 125yds before expiring. Look at the hit in the pic below.
I was less than thrilled with the distance this deer ran, but sometimes it happens I guess.
Fast forward to this past weekend. I'm now shooting a V3 31 at 65lb, Gold Tip Blackout 300 spine cut to 29.5 with a 20gr FACT weight in the front, 22yd shot, double-lung, full passthrough. Pink and bubbles on the vanes:
5 steps from the shot:
75yds from the shot:
I looked for 3 hours and never found this deer. Last blood was 150 yds from the shot.
Beyond the issue of these last 2 recoveries (or lack thereof) I'm also frustrated with accuracy. The bow is in-tune per my local pro shop. It's dialed perfectly to 60yds, which is is far as I can shoot at home. I always confirm with broadheads at my ranges. Last night I went to confirm with the shot/dulled head from Saturday before putting new blades in it and getting ready to hunt again. First shot at 20 was dead on. Second and third shots at 40 were good. Shot at 60 missed the target completely. Went back to 20 and was off by 4". So, I grabbed a new fresh head out of my quiver and shot it at 20: dead on. Shot it at 40 to confirm, also dead on. Didn't get to shoot it at 60 because it got dark.
This is the Exodus and a Field Point at 40:
At this point my confidence in the head is just completely shaken and I want to try something different. I've never shot a mechanical before and am thinking about it. I hunt hardwoods in Georgia from 20+ feet up in a Summit. I want something I can confidently shoot out to 60 if need be, but usually as you can see from my track record I do not take long risky shots. Hoping for more consistent flight from a mechanical, maybe the G5 Megameat? I don't have any more Exodus blades, so I have to buy something regardless. The question is just whether to buy more Exodus or something different.
I just need some recommendations and to get back on track before an all-day sit I took off work for tomorrow.
Thanks!