Slick Standard vs Shuttle T vs Wac Em Triton

[MrFurley]

I'm new to the forum, first post. I know this topic has been brought up before but it's time to beat the old dead horse again. I just can't decide between these three heads.

I've shot them all extensively at 60-80yds, and accuracy is pretty much a wash. I've shot quite a few animals with the ST Standards, and they have always done a great job. My ONLY complaint is weak bloodtrails, and I know bloodtrails are a result of shot placement but I'm telling you I have never had a good one with the Standards no matter how low the exit hole is. Like I said everything else about them is awesome, accuracy, penetration, durability etc.. Just looking for a little better bloodtrail but I'm not sure those other two heads will be much better in that department.

Just thinking thinking about trying something different this year. (In the end it probably won't make much difference, small fixed blades don't usually equal good bloodtrails from what I have seen.)

Any input would be appreciated.

[planebow]

I have been shooting shuttle t's for the last couple years but this year I am going to switch to Viper trick 100's

[ElkNut1]

Have used the Slick Tricks & Viper Tricks & both did very well in the killing & blood loss department! I'm using the Viper Tricks this year as well, again!

If you want more blood loss you will need razor sharp heads & a bigger wound channel opening which means a larger cutting head!

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

I just had the same discussion with Elknut1 the other day, I recently switched to the Viper trick from the Wac em, only in 125 gr. The blade thickness on the 125's is substantially different, not as much on the 100 gr. though. I have lost confidence in the Wac em, hits I thought should have been lethal, one elk, one blacktail buck, the blades bent on impact with a rib, and back edge of shoulder, I recovered both heads, but not the animal. The Viper is as close to the old days and Zwickey heads I have seen tin the replaceble heads we have today, there are cutting edge blades, followed by bleeders. I don't know if this helps, but I can't wait to kill something with them

[MrFurley]

I ordered a pack of Viper Tricks to try out, because everyone on this forum seems to love them so much. Right now I'm kind of leaning towards the Shuttle Ts because they are so forgiving at long range. I'm shooting a 428 grain arrow at 310fps and it can be a little touchy at times with the larger heads.

[otcWill]

You're looking at three great heads. That said, accuracy is of paramount importance so shoot the one that groups best. I have yet to come across a better flying fixed head than the Shuttle Ts.

[Deafirishman]

I started shooting Shuttle T's last year and I love their accuracy. They happen to fly just like my field tips so I don't have to do any adjustments. Like most people say, they are all great broadheads. Some people have so better preference over others. Good luck in choosing the one that's best for you.

[PREZ]

I'm going with125 gr. Viper Tricks on a FMJ. Total arrow weight is 442gr. Deadly accurate out to 60 yds.

[Toby]

I am using Viper Tricks this years as well, 125 grains from my compound set up.

[Backcountry]

I am currently shooting 125 grain ST Razor Tricks (COC). When I run out of these i will likely go to Vipers or Shuttle T's.

[MrFurley]

Update: I tried an Easton FMJ 340 and my bow really seems to shoot them well, they weigh 460 grains. Anyway my set up doesn't seem as picky and several other heads are flying awesome now. If I can shoot the QAD Exodus or Wasp Drone I might go that route. I shot the Shuttles, ViperTricks and Drones today and they all flew awesome, I couldn't tell a difference in any of them. If I could get the VPA Terminators to fly perfect, those might be an option too.
I only got to shoot them out to 30 yds today, we'll see how they do at 80 yards, I'm not willing to give up anything in terms of accuracy.

[ElkNut1]

Thanks! I look forward to hearing about your 80yd results!

ElkNut1

[MrFurley]

For those that have killed with the Viper Trick, how has the edge retention been after a pass through?

[ElkNut1]

Well let's see, hmm! We've taken a few bulls with the Slick Trick & Viper Trick heads, mostly the Viper Tricks! To date no pass throughs yet! As a matter a fact we rarely get pass throughs on elk with any head! No matter the head used they generally hang up inside somewhere, the biggest reason for this is we don't get too many broadside shots, when vitals are exposed the arrow is on its way no matter the angle presented as long as there's a good chance to put the arrow where needed! I would guesstimate that we get a passthrough aprox 25% of the time, maybe even less! As far as blade sharpness after abuse, it's one of the best we've ever used this is a big reason we've stayed with them! It's one tough head!

ElkNut1

[MrFurley]

Interesting, I've only shot two Elk (Bull and Cow) and both were pass throughs. I never found the arrow on the Bull. That was with a Rocky Mtn TitAnium and ACC 360. Called for a couple of other guys and we had two pass throughs and two that hit the offside shoulder and stayed in the Bulls.

On the Mule Deer and Whitetails I've shot with the Slick Trick Standard I thought the edge retention was horrible. Dull as a butter knife on over 12 deer. Most of the blades were wavy and trashed after hitting ribs.

[MrFurley]

Now the older blades that came on the original Slick Tricks, way way back before Lutz starting making them seemed duller out of the package but seemed to hold an edge MUCH better to me.

[ElkNut1]

Interesting! Those Tricks have been very tough with no trouble on re-sharpening blades if a guy wanted too. We've killed two bulls with the same head, just honed the blades back up after the first bull & good to go for a 2nd, they were still good enough for a 3rd if we had wanted. What heads are you familiar with that are still razor sharp after pass throughs & into the dirt?

ElkNut1

[MrFurley]

It's not so much that I want them razor sharp but not wavy like I just shot them into a pile of rocks, my fear is that when I hit a rib going in, the blades are trashed all the way through the animal.
Most of the other brands I have shot seem to have blades that hold their edge a little better, Wasp, Rocky Mtn., Muzzy etc..

I will probably end up using the Viper Tricks this year, I absolutely love the design, just wish the blades were made out of a better steel. I'm thinking the increased blade surface and overall length of the VT might help it retain it's edge.

[POk3s]

Personally, I could never get the shuttle T's to be perfectly accurate....especially in the wyoming wind. Any breeze seemed to knock them some direction...BUT that was just my experience. Started shooting the slick tricks this year and ruined arrows at 70 yards.

[ElkNut1]

I wouldn't be concerned with the blades coming apart or getting so beat up if a rib is hit that they are no longer doing their job of cutting. I would put the Tricks up against any head out there for toughness if they both had to endure the same hit. I hit a bull in the spine with the Viper Trick & dropped him in his tracks, the head was so buried into him that it required my leatherman to get it out, it took 15 minutes of careful extraction to evaluate the head, it was completely intact with no blade loss. I took that same head & sharpened the blades up on a KME Sharpener & my son killed his bull with it a couple days later. It's as tough as they come & I've put a lot of different heads into elk!

ElkNut1

[MrFurley]

I know one thing is for sure, the ferules on the 125 grain Viper Trick and 125 grain Standard are built like a tank! I don't see bending those things.

[MrFurley]

After a lot of experimenting with different arrows shafts and 100 and 125 grain heads, I think I've settled on AC Pro Hunter 340s with a 125 grain Exodus head, the Viper Trick was close but the Exodus shot every bit as well. In a 100 grain head the Viper beat it at 80 yds but the Exodus in 125 edged out the Viper. Love the .040 thick blades, and the full 1 1/4" cutting diameter. This set up ended up having an FOC of right at 14% and weighs 450 grains at 301 fps.