Bleeder Blades

[paleoman]

#7313

I use Magnus heads with the bleeder blade inserts, like the Bear razorheads used to have. Do they make enough difference vs 2 blades? Common sense says yes, more cutting surface….but I’ve had success w just 2 edges many times. I can fit a couple more arrows in my quiver w/o them is why I ask. Logically they make sense, practically I’m not sure? What do you guys think?

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#60480

Well, since you’re asking, my opinion is that bleeder blades are another case of more hype than usefulness (regardless of whether Fred Bear played around with them or not). “More cutting surface” doesn’t automatically equate to more effective penetration – in fact 4 blades create more resistance than two. I’ve never seen anything to persuade me that such a setup is in any way superior to a cut-on-contact 2-blade with a 3:1 ratio.

[David Petersen]

#60527

Bleeder blades are the best way I know to slice and dice your fingers while field dressing an animal.

[wildschwein]

#60769

I prefer bleeders when hunting medium sized thin skinned game that I need to expire ASAP, such as Beavers. I find heads like the Zwickey Eskimo 4 blade kill these critters quicker than the standard 2 blade versions. And since the animals are not large I do not notice any lack of penetration.

I think they would make great Javelina heads.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#60814

Good point, ‘Schwein. I should qualify my thoughts above as being in relation to large game.

[archer38]

#60978

First let me say that I was a compound hunter up to a year ago so my experience with trad bows and penetration is limited.

Having said that, I’ve taken a dozen or so deer and a few black bears with Fred Bear’s Razor Heads. Some with and some without the bleeders. Every arrow has gone at least to the fletch and with the bear I just killed with a 47 pound recurve, the arrow blew right through and hit the barrel on the other side. They also all died within 100 yds so I guess I’d have to say There is very little or no difference using them. I came to this conclusion a few years ago and have not used the bleeders since.

[archer38]

#60983

I’d also agree with David Peterson, it makes you a little leery of dressing your animal when you pick up your arrow and see the blades missing.

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