I've read most of the search results but most of the post are kind of dated now. Anyone still shooting them? Especially curious about the lighter options, 125-145. Any elk taken with them? Just bought a bunch and like what I see so far.
I shoot Ribbies...both 160s and 190s. Just got a bunch of them this past year to take me a few more years in case they stop making them. Easy to mount, easy to sharpen with files, hold an edge great, very tough and durable heads. Only other heads I ever use are some old Snuffer 160s and got a set of Grizzly Kodiak 200s last year I am seeing how I like them but not shot enough stuff to make opinion.
Ribteks are still my go to head... just mounted 6 brand new 190s on a new set of doug fir shafts fletched with natural barred fletching (thanks Magnus) in a plain mahogany stain and wipe on poly. :) the other six have field points to practice before our season opener 15 Aug.
Great broadhead and underestimated by those who have never given them due consideration. My favorite is the 160 but I've taken many a whitetail with 125 and 145's as well. No domestic source that I know of unless you find someone who has a stash and is willing to part with some. I was lucky enough to get 2 dozen of the 160's lately from a private source. As long as your equipment is tuned I see no reason why the 125's or 145's wouldn't do the trick on elk.
I started buying them domestically in 90s but as you know that is over... a year or more ago I started ordering them from Australia. I buy a bunch as the shipping is ridiculous but evens out if you buy enough. I bought enough. LOL :)
I think Kelly has some extras in his bunch he might sell if you ask him....
If you want a tough head that is easy to sharpen, the Ribtek is hard to beat. You will probably lose them before you break any. Awesome heads...would like to see someone take over a domestic supply....but not at designer prices.
I used a 160 all summer long as my rockchuck arrow and shot it dozens of times into the lava rocks before it finally couldn't be straightened out anymore. I did manage to take a couple of chucks with it among all the misses. A tough head, especially for the money back then. They also penetrate a mule deer shoulder pretty good, too.
think i have a few i might let go if you want...both 190 and 160 but need to keep enough to keep my stash full for a few years in case the supply dries up. :)
I have about four dozen from years ago, mostly 160s, some 145s. I shoot and hunt wth them regularly. Probably the best broadheads, along with Snuffers, I"ve ever used.
Ottertails, those are good looking arrows but I think you put the broadheads on the nock end...just kdding. Always thought about that but thought it might slow my arrow if they were flying backwards....ok, ok.
Are you all using any kind of special point taper with your ribteks? I saw one post where someone said the taper should go all the way in bit mine off a standard "pencil sharpener" setup, about a 1" taper are about a 1/4" short. Any problems there?
I have a bunch of 125W and 125S that I use for small game and varmints. They are the best stumping broadhead I have used. A few licks with a file and you're back in business.
Have a few deer with them as well. Once they became hard to get I switched over to Stos.
I live in Australia and ribteks were quite common as were Davies broard heads too.Ribteks are no longer made but Davies has become Tuskers from what I can gather.Possibably some enterprising person may be able reserect Ribteks and the supply may return to normal like the good old days.Ribteks have taken some big game Asian water buffalo and Indian samber deer(elk size).They always looked cheap and nasty to me but they had a good reputation here in Australia.I just preferred Davies broard heads but nothing wrong with ribteks.Simplicity at its best. I will look into it and get the low down on it for you. OSR
I have done some research this morning at a local archery shop and also online archery supplies here in Australia. Ribtec broadheads are still available in Australia. Rumour is that the original manufacturer has retired and sold his company to someone else and they have taken over manufacture of the broadheads. They are available from www.archeryshop.com.au. Freight could make them expensive though. Rumours of $40 AUD for a small pack of broadheads is expensive when you consider that twenty will fit in your hand. I have twenty left from fifty I bought many years ago. Between OSR and myself we should be able to get the complete story. JS
The question was asked: "How would you say they stack up with a Zwickey or Ace head?"
Honestly I've shot a whole bunch of deer with Zwickey, more with Ribteks, and started using Ace last year since it was getting hard to find Ribbies. My first choice is Ribtek, second would go to Ace as I was impressed with them last year. Third for me would be Zwickey. I know a lot of guys just love Zwickey and they're a good proven head. Just last of the 3 for me.
In the past I've experienced no noticable performance difference in using a regular point taper on wood. However, when I make my own wood arrows I do set my jig up a bit different for Ribteks in order to get a longer taper. Just feels right.
What do you expect guys - there are made right here in Australia. They are very easy to get a hold of here and the only head I use. They are so cheap here - I even use them on rabbits. Glad you guys in the States think they are so cool!
Sorry guys I looked into the local purchase and shipping to US last year for a fellow Leatherwaller. Postage is the killer. Welcome to our world. We have the same postage problem when we buy all our gear from US. Which is our main source for Trad gear. Good luck Ribteks are good. Tony from Oz
tradmt, I think he liked them best for "him." Not that they were necessarily better overall. I would like to have some but not interested in spending a lot of money to get them when we have great heads here....like Ace and Zwickey. *^))
.....yeah, I sincerley doubt we'd see any improvement in killing game in one verses the other two mentioned. I've been using the Zwickey Delta for deer the past couple seasons(two blade version) and it is a beast of a head - just shy of 1 1/2" wide. Other than large 3 or 4 bld mech's, I've never seen wound channels that devastating......always curious though. :)
I just purchased a dozen 160 's,and they are nice,and sharpen very easily with a file.Im going to place an order for 12 dozen heads, but not with the $245.00 shipping cost! Anyone here from Oz, that can ship at a fraction of what they want.I dont care if you ship it snail mail, ,just wanted to save some money on shipping?
when I run out of Ribteks and can no longer find them....I am guessing the Tusker will be my next head unless I warm up to the Grizzly Kodiaks I bought.
I like the nostalgic look of them. I have not harvested anything or have shot them as of yet but, I've got a dozen 135gr coming my way. I also like the fact that everyone says they are easy to sharpen.
I like the look...i like that there is no ferrule to come apart like on the Zwickey. That is what made me try them first is I had a couple Eskimos come apart with the spot welds on the ferrules. I like that they sharpen easy once you get the first edge on them with a file...I like that they hold an edge very good and take touchups great even with the carbide touch up devices. I also like they are very durable.
when available they were low priced, durable, easy to sharpen, and held an edge great, were easy to mount for me....plus I liked the look that was similar to an old pearson vintage head.
now I like them as I have confidence in them...they are not flashy or pretty or easy to find but I have confidence in them and know they will do the job if I do mine. I am not much for jumping from head to head or shaft to shaft if I find something i like.
i like woodies with 5 inche fletching and heavy points....shooting a bateman tab out of recurves and longbows by just looking at what I want to hit. I am set in my ways I guess...haha
For me it was two reasons: I thought they looked like the old Ben Pearson skeleton ferrule heads - and they were among the least expensive and most durable of broadheads.
I have several broken Zwickey Eskimo heads that did not hold up to roving/stumping/small-game hunting that RibTeks shrug off. They split along the weld.
Have not ttried Ace heads (though I have a few in my collection and they look good). I shoot Stos and Magnus II and have had excellent results on whitetail deer with both. I bought two dozen Magnus II heads still in the bubble packs a couple years ago for $25 from someone who was convinced he needed to switch to single beveled heads. When I use them up and if Stos stops producing heads I may seek out a new broadhead. It will be glue on with two edges.
Any harvests in the last few years with Ribtek heads? I just bought most of the remaining stock of the 145 and 190 grain heads and I can't wait to put them to use.
Shot this nice Pa. buck with a 125w ribtek. Very tough head, was still sharp after penetrating deer. Went through scapula and exited opposite leg. Heads sharpen easily and stay sharp.
I normally use home made case hardened trade points but may go to ribteks.For me here in Australia they are cheap and readily available.The only other heads I sometimes use are Tuskers javilins.Ribteks do look cheap but vitally indistructable.Looks make no differance to dead game.Sometimes import cost are not worth it either from Australia to the US or vice versa.Your locally produced broad heads are every bit as good as ribteks .Better than home trades. OSR