The team at HuntStand conducted a thorough field test during 2022 to compare these eight premium 100-grain broadheads (three mechanicals and five fixed-blade heads):
- G5 Deadmeat V2 (mechanical)
- Iron Will S-100
- Muzzy Merc
- QAD Exodus Full-Blade
- Slick Trick Standard
- Swhacker 261 Levi Morgan Signature Series (mechanical)
- Wac’Em 3-Blade
- Wasp Z-Force (mechanical)
Three awards were up for grabs in the test: Editor’s Choice; Silver Award; and Best Value.
Test criteria included broadhead weight consistency (three heads), 40-yard accuracy, penetration, and deflection.
Editor’s Choice Award
The four-blade Slick Trick Standard topped the other seven premium broadheads in HuntStand’s annual Best Broadhead Field Test, earning the Editor’s Choice Award for the third time.
"How about Slick Trick; can this company build stellar broadheads, or what?” said HuntStand Executive Editor Melotik. “This is our seventh year testing the leading broadheads on the market, and the third time Slick Trick commanded the top honors; including two in a row after last year's win by the mechanical Slick Trick Assailant.”
The 100-grain Slick Trick Standard impressed in the accuracy test, posting a 40-yard, three-shot group of 1 15/16 inches; this was the best out of all the fixed-blade broadheads tested. The four-blade design of the Slick Trick Standard tied for first in the penetration test, plunging 9.25 inches into the gel medium after passing through carpet and 1/8-inch-thick plywood, which was meant to simulate the hide, bone and flesh of a big game animal. When it came to testing for angled penetration, the Slick Trick Standard plunged 20 inches through angled plywood and emerged on other end with barely a scratch and “looking brand new,” Melotik said.
Lastly, a four-pack of Slick Trick Standards has an MSRP of $44.99 (most broadheads are sold in three packs) and was the stand-out when it came to value with the lowest per head price out of all the broadheads tested.
Best Value Award
The Best Value Award went to the Wac’Em 3-Blade. Standout performances from the compact design were noted in the penetration category where the 1 1/16-inch-wide, three-blade design posted the test’s best score while penetrating 9.25-inches through carpet, a 1/8-inch-thick piece of plywood and ballistic gel medium. In the accuracy test, the head posted a consistent three-shot group of 2.25 inches at 40-yards, which measured less than 1-inch greater than the control group shot with standard field points. When combined with a solid performance in the angled deflection test shot through a piece of premium half-inch-thick birch plywood, the stainless-steel construction of the Wac’Em 3-Blade fixed broadhead “built an impressive case for medal contention,” said Melotik.
Adding to the broadhead’s value is the included Red/Green Strobing Nockturnal FIT Nock (a $15 value) designed to fit most arrows on the market today. With an MSRP of $46.99 for a three pack, the cost was less than HuntStand’s 2022 Best Broadhead Field Test average price, while also including a bonus lighted nock. “Add it all up . . . this head’s steady performance, serious bang for the buck and you have our test’s value leader,” said Melotik.
Silver Award
The two-blade, 2-inch-cut Swhacker 261 Levi Morgan Signature Series mechanical won the Silver Award. It was one of two broadhead models to have a perfect score in the broadhead weight consistency test, and it also performed very well in the deflection test.
“More impressive,” said Melotik, “is that it was the only mechanical to not lose a blade. In fact, after being shot through the through the half-inch premium birch plywood, both heads looked brand new. The blades weren’t even bent. That’s pretty impressive for a 2-inch-cut mechanical.”
You can check out the 2022 Best Broadheads Field Test summary video below. Note: HuntStand also produced individual videos with a deep dive into each of the eight broadheads tested. Click here to find those videos.
