An entire deer season ran through my mind in slow motion, like a scene from the Matrix movie. The flashback included hundreds of hours in the tree stand, long nights thinking about strategies, scheming to get out of work to hunt more, all to hunt one big buck. With two days left in the season, all the cards were on the table. Tall tines dancing back and forth in a rhythmic fashion instantly brought my heart to racing speed. It was the buck, and he was on a collision course with where I sat in anticipation.
The rut was waning, and the old buck was on the prowl to find one last doe before the annual festivities he lives for ended. The drive to complete the circle of life had the wise, old deer moving during daylight hours, paying little attention to its surroundings. I shouldered my TenPoint crossbow in anticipation, and when the buck was about 30 yards away, he stopped to work his nostrils on some fresh doe tracks. The slight hesitation was all I needed, and an arrow launched off the rail. I fell back into The Matrix, watching my arrow as if in slow motion. The flight was perfect, hitting the buck low behind the front shoulder. What happened next is every archer’s dream—the buck jumped and kicked his back legs, took two steps, leaned against a tree, and crashed to the ground less than eight feet from where it had been standing. I sat in awe, trying to determine what just happened.
On close inspection, the heart shot was devastating to the deer, bringing a quick and humane end to his neighborhood prowl. The broadhead severed the heart, and the immediate blood loss was hard to believe. The tree the deer had leaned against, seconds after being shot, looked like it was painted red. I used a SEVR Titanium 2.0, and the slap cut on the entrance looked about four inches long. The exit was just as crazy. The big buck was about my 30th animal taken with the SEVR, and each time I was in awe of the performance.
The following spring, a huge black bear boar wandered into range. At 21 yards, it stopped and raised its nose in the air. My arrow and broadhead once again cut hide, ribs, and heart. The behemoth roared, ran six yards, and somersaulted, falling in a heap. I sat shaking with excitement at the quick end to the hunt, with a ridiculous blood trail that required no tracking, as the bear was in full view the entire time.
A big part of archery is confidence. I have hunted with a vertical and horizontal bow for decades. I love the up close and personal experiences generated with the critters pursued. Over the years, I have used dozens of different broadheads and have appreciated the attributes of most. The first moose I harvested was with a fixed three-blade head. The bull was 28 yards away and only went 15 yards after the shot. I recovered my broadhead in the far shoulder while field dressing. It had penetrated bone and vitals and looked nothing like the precision cutting device I attached to the arrow. One of the blades was missing, and the ferrule bent at a steep angle. The moose died quickly, but the equipment left doubt for terminal performance in the future. The experience led me on a mission to find the best broadhead available.
Fixed vs. Mechanic
Anyone who has bowhunted for any time has hero and horror stories about broadhead performance. For many years, fixed-blade broadheads were traditional favorites. The thought was that fixed blades provided optimal penetration and chiseled through bone. There were issues, including tuning and sighting each arrow and head for flight and accuracy.
Mechanical broadheads—also known as expandable broadheads—permit you to get out hunting quicker, with little or no tuning. A mechanical head will usually fly like a field point, making a simple transition between the target range and hunting. Mechanical blades open on impact and lock into place, cutting with the arrow’s energy.
When mechanicals first hit the market, there was skepticism regarding the potential for malfunction. The good news is that modern mechanicals are engineered to work with advanced technology from early models. Like most hunting equipment, product evolution keeps improving over time. Riflescopes, bullets, compound bows, and clothing continue to advance, and broadheads are no different.
The bottom line is knowing your equipment and ensuring a single, well-placed shot for a clean kill. The right broadhead to use is the one you can shoot with consistent accuracy and confidence, developed over time.
New Kid On The Block
My introduction to SEVR broadheads was in Florida on a hog hunt. Big, feral hogs are formidable creatures with thick skin over the shoulders and dense bones. I shot three big hogs and had little tracking on any of them. It was the start of my journey to fill the freezer and continue with testing.
Over the years, I have taken moose, elk, deer, bears, antelope, and hogs with SEVR heads. The more I used them, the more it became apparent that there were plenty of benefits and not a sigle malfunction. I dug deeper into the operation and engineering to understand where the exceptional performance came from, shot after shot.
SEVR broadheads have Lock-and-Pivot blades. The blades open on impact and lock in place. The real magic occurs with the blades that can pivot as needed if hitting bone. The pivoting blades allow the arrow to maintain its trajectory and direction without being pulled off track. The results speak for themselves, and they have taken dozens of big animals, even when hitting bone. The broadheads have always flown true, with killing results.
A feature that is easy to appreciate is the SEVR Practice Lock screw, which inserts to keep the blades from deploying. The lock screw means hunters can practice with the same broadheads used on a hunt. There is no fear of dulling the blades, and each arrow and head can be verified for flight and accuracy. When it’s time to hunt, remove the screw, place an O-ring over the blades and ferrule, and head to the field with confidence. The blades of SEVR broadheads stay contained with an “O” ring near the base of the ferrule, allowing it to maintain a smooth aerodynamic surface during flight, before deploying and cutting through the o-ring.
On a first hunt, you’ll notice the stretch cut from the blade design when using a SEVR. SEVR broadhead blades stretch the hide while cutting, resulting in large wounds and channels. The hemorrhaging caused results with well-defined blood trails and quicker kills. Less tracking and effort to find a shot animal is always a benefit.
You can’t have just one.
A single broadhead design is not always the best option for every hunt. There are considerations, including arrow speed, penetration, and the size of your quarry. SEVR makes four models of broadheads, each providing benefits and options to ensure penetration, performance, and lethality.
The Titanium 2.0 (Ti 2.0) has been my confidence broadhead for many years. The longer cutting diameter blades, swept-back design, and re-engineered deployment arm geometry provide devastating slap cuts and wounds. The deployment arms expose more of the blades’ leading edge for added cutting surface while reducing friction. The 2.0 is a great head for decreasing tracking distance and time and has proven benefits on deer, elk, black bears, and other big game. The blades are .035-inches thick, providing strength and sharpness to create pass-through shots. The chisel-type tip aids with the stretch of the hide with initial contact for the slap cut. The tip design facilitates initial penetration and easily breaks through bone if needed—available in 100 and 125 grains.
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Robusto 2.0 looks like the Ti 2.0 but is a beefy 150-grain head, ideal for increased penetration and use with crossbows and vertical speed bows. The head helps convert speed into energy and, ultimately, penetration. The extra weight increases FOC to improve accuracy, increase momentum, and add devastating penetration.
The SEVR Titanium 1.5 can be considered for bow or crossbow hunters who want penetration and deadly results on even the biggest animals. Less cutting surface equates to better penetration. With a 1.5-inch cutting diameter with swept-back blades, the cutting angle maximizes penetration. The head is a great choice for hunting large, thick-skinned, heavy-boned animals. The Ti 1.5 is a great consideration for lower-poundage and short-draw shooters where reduced cutting effort and added penetration are beneficial. This head is also perfect for hunts where you want to minimize hide damage to a trophy and is available in 100 and 125 grains.
SEVR recently introduced the Ti 1.75, developed and optimized for both penetration and cut diameter. Like all SEVR broadheads, it is suitable for vertical bows and crossbows with no speed limitations. As the name suggests, the Titanium 1.75 has a swept-back blade angle and a 1.75-inch cut diameter. If you cannot decide which SEVR to start with, this is a no-brainer. This multi-purpose head is available in 100 grains.
SEVR Ti 1.5 and Ti 1.75 blades are made of 420-grade stainless steel with a .032-inch thickness for superior strength and durability. The two models are offered for use with Deep Six threads. The Ti models are sold individually or in any quantity desired exclusively through sevrbroadheads.com.
All SEVR broadheads have a precision 7075 alloy ferrule and precision stainless-steel tip. SEVR broadheads are assembled with a machined one-piece titanium ferrule and accuracy-ground tip. All SEVR broadheads are standard 8-32 threads, compatible with various arrow diameters. SEVR broadheads are available in four models with 100-, 125-, and 150-grain options. SEVR broadheads are available at www.sevrbroadheads.com.
Confidence
I had an assortment of SEVR broadheads on a recent trip to Africa on safari with Hunt the Sun (www.huntthesun.com). The Ti 1.5 was the first to see action and passed clear through a 650-pound blue wildebeest bull, penetrating both shoulders. The arrow was launched off my TenPoint Flatline 460 and the performance was phenomenal. The Robusto 2.0 was used with the hopes of finding a zebra or kudu. However, when a trophy impala ram offered a shot quartering toward me, there was no doubt about success. The arrow penetrated the front shoulder and exited in the far flank. The Ti 2.0 saw action with springbok, and nothing went far.
Seeing the results of a well-engineered broadhead gives me the confidence to tackle any big game. The SEVR advantage means quick kills and the knowledge I have the equipment to do the job quickly, efficiently, and humanely.
SEVR Max Grip Five Arrow Quiver
SEVR collaborated with TightSpot, the industry leader in archery quivers, to make the SEVR Max Grip Quiver. The quiver features contain SEVR broadheads without compromising O-rings or deploying blades. The SEVR Max Grip holds five arrows and showcases TightSpot’s vented hood, ensuring the proper fit and containment of any fixed or mechanical broadhead. The hood Max Grip offers a compact length with a woven-corded hood loop for hanging in a blind or stand.
A three-way adjustment system allows the quiver to be positioned tightly to the bow, helping to maintain shooter balance and eliminate torque. BullDog arrow grippers are individually adjustable for any arrow diameter and offer 20 times more gripping power than other quivers. The Max Grip is 16.5 inches long, features a carbon fiber rod frame system that reduces vibration, and uses an easy, quick-detach mounting plate. The included second arrow gripper is adjustable for positioning around bow accessories and provides a second connection point.
