Full disclosure: When I initially brainstormed this article topic, I planned on highlighting three packs of broadheads priced at under $30. But I soon discovered it’s almost impossible to purchase broadheads — at least good ones — for that price anymore.

Sure, you can spend a lot more than this for a three pack of broadheads, but I hope to convince you it’s not mandatory. My hunting partners and I have had outstanding success with the heads listed here. I consider each one to be a “best buy”. In order by SRP, check them out below.

Leading the pack in terms of big-performing broadheads for little money is the Muzzy 3 Blade Screw-In Broadhead. For $39.95 (SRP) you get a six pack. This is Muzzy’s most popular and best-selling head. It has 1-inch cutting diameter on the 75-grain model, and 1 3/16-inch cutting diameter on 100- and 125-grain heads. All models feature Trocar tips, .020-inch-thick SS blades and aluminum anodized ferrule. This proven compact design results in deep penetration on game. As a bonus, it generally flies great from almost any bow. And again, you get a six pack of heads for $39.95 SRP; it’s a killer value for a killer broadhead. Check out the video below for more on the Muzzy 3 Blade.

The Drone (left) from Wasp Archery comes in a three pack and includes two sets of replacement blades, all for $29.99. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re giving up performance for price. The solid-steel ferrule of this fixed-blade broadhead allows for a reduced surface area, which delivers outstanding accuracy, strength and penetration. I also like Wasp’s exclusive Stainless Smart Tip (SST) and legendary razor-sharp blades. The pressed-on tip is always aligned with the blades, and it creates a straight-cutting path for the blades to follow. The head has a cutting diameter of 1 1/8 inches, and most shooters say that the Drone flies as well as their field points. It is available in 100 or 125 grains.

The Slick Trick Standard Broadhead (right) carries an SRP of $42.99, but you get a four pack instead of a three pack, so the cost-per-head is similar to that of the Wasp Drone. Unlike the Drone or the Muzzy 3 Blade mentioned previously, the Slick Trick Standard has four blades. You’ll notice the perfect symmetry with this broadhead, which I believe results in outstanding flight and extreme penetration. It cuts a four-blade hole measuring 1 inch across, and Slick Trick claims that this four-blade design results in 18 percent more cutting area than a seemingly larger three-blade head with 1 1/8-inch cutting diameter. For what it’s worth, the blood trails I’ve experienced after placing a Slick Trick Standard through the chest cavity of a deer have been short and easy to follow. It is available in 85, 100 or 125 grains.

Last but certainly not least is the broadhead I used last season in South Dakota to arrow a decent-sized 4x4 over a doe decoy. The 4-Blade Magnus Stinger Buzzcut (left) is priced at $39.99 for a three pack. Cutting diameter varies depending on weight; the 85-grain head is 7/8-inch wide, the 100-grain is 1 1/16 inches, and the 125- and 150-grain 4-Blade Stinger Buzzcuts are 1 1/8-inch wide. At first glance it’s easy to see what sets the Buzzcut apart from other heads on the market: It features a chisel-cut serrated main blade, which results in superior penetration and massive tissue damage. For me, after a well-placed shot it’s really been “follow the red-brick road” to find my deer. Two final comments: This head comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee (that is not a misprint), and in extensive testing with compounds and crossbows, I’ve rarely found fixed-blade broadheads that fly better than Magnus Stinger Buzzcuts.

The author used a 125-grain Magnus Stinger Buzzcut to drop this rutting South Dakota whitetail as the buck circled a doe decoy.

Honorable Mentions

Even though the SRPs for these two heads from G5 Outdoors takes them out of the category defined in this article’s title, I want to mention them in case you find a few extra dollars in the cushions of your couch. The three-blade, one-piece G5 Montec ($41.95 for a three pack; left) is legendary when it comes to its toughness; there are no components to assemble or replace. And you can re-sharpen it, too. It’s available in 85, 100 and 125 grains.

For only a buck more ($42.99 for a three pack; right), G5 offers its premium replaceable-blade Striker in either 100 or 125 grains. It has a cutting diameter of 1 1/8 inches, three super-sharp Lutz blades and the accuracy is outstanding.