Is there significant risk in using aluminum broadhead adapters, rather than steel ones? The aluminum ones are the right weight for what I have in mind, but are they strong enough? I guess that if something was going to "give", it would be where the adaptereyes the arrow insert. Has anyone had that happen?

That should read "where the adapter meets the arrow insert".

I have not had one fail on whitetail, but anything can happen ....that said I will be using them as well because it makes the weight I need as well...I think the only time you would have trouble with them would be on a heavy bone hit....

I used them last year to kill a doe in the early season. entered right in front of the shoulder and exited on the opposite side right behind the shoulder... She ran 50 yds at the most. Broadhead and adapter were fine.

Many screw-in broadheads have aluminum ferrules, and work well. So why would an aluminum bh adapter be a problem?

My only concern would be the glue failing. Either epoxy or black 'impact resistant' cyanoacrylate should work fine.

Up until the need for tip weight for carbons aluminum was all they made. They work fine on any game.

I've used lots of them over the years. I've had a few break and bend. Not many. Hot melt is no issue working with them.

Never had one break. I have had them bend. I thought it might be because I was using an "O" ring to keep the broadhead tight and to be able to adjust my broadhead position. I quit using anything and now and line up the broadhead with adapter tight against the insert.

I had one break when I um, um, hit a buck slightly too far forward and high. I hit his antlers. Not the least bit afraid to use them again though. MP

Non issue.

If they are a risk, most of us have been living dangerously for decades now. I agree - non issue.

I don't know if I would call it "risky". Aluminum adapters may bend if you hit solid bone or miss and hit something hard. I have had this happen multiple times. I much prefer to use steel adapters for this reason. However, steel is heavy and sometimes I need to use an aluminum adapter to get the weight where I want it. Abowyer makes and sells titanium screw in adapters but they are quite expensive. Weight is just a little more than aluminum. I would use them if the price was lower.

Alum adapters have been used for decades. Failures are so rare that no one talks about it.

I think the first I used them would have been 1972 and haven't stopped since. Before that I used glue-in broadhead adapters. Only one I ever bent was testing a broadhead by shooting it into a cinder block. Lots of other things will screw you up a lot quicker than that. I would think the bent one mostly would come from a head working loose out of the arrow. If they are in tight, you would need to bend the arrow before then adapter...rare indeed.

Non issue

I've bent broad heads without the adapter bending. The trick is to make sure it's tight then it can't bend without stripping off the threads first.

Abowyer makes Titanium adapters. Pricey of course but stronger than aluminum with similar grain weights.

I use these adapters an glue on broadhead. In essence it creates an internal footing in the front portion of the arrow shaft and is much stronger than am aluminum adapter. Makes it similar to the swaged aluminum arrows of the past. There are some made for carbon arrows also.

Some people spend a lot of time looking for solutions to non- existent problems.

Funny how you guys dismiss those who have had aluminum adapters bend.

I think the question could be answered by just looking at the number of years aluminum adapters have been made. If they were faulty millions of them wouldn't have been sold and continue to be sold,.

Bob

I have had steel blunts and field points bend. And have had SGTs snap at the thread rod within the insert.

Anything can fail. Even one's aim. An aluminum adapter has never been and never will be a concern for me. All those old Bear Razorheads had only aluminum adapters when used with aluminum or fiberglass arrows.

Ollie, so how many have been bent out of the millions of them used? And how many of those were because they weren't seated properly or worked loose? We recognize the "fact" that the issue is a tiny concern at best. I don't dismiss a person getting struck by lightning, but it's still a very rare occurrence.

George D. Stout:

I appreciate that you took the time to weigh in on this. I always read and value your posts. I hope you don't think that I am just a silly person who "spends a lot of time looking for solutions to non- existent problems". I am asking about this question because there are some experienced archers who seem concerned that aluminum adapters might not be strong enough in comparison to steel ones. I thought that could be an issue in hunting hogs, because they are big boned animals and the boars have heavy gristle shields around the front and sides.

I have had one bend on a buck I shot.I really don't like the aluminum screw in inserts because of that experience.

The swaged inserts like the one pictured above is much better IMO for hunting.

Ofcourse steel screw in inserts are superior in durability over aluminum.

The only experienced archers worried about it are the younger or less experienced ones who have used steel to get more point weight and have very little experience with aluminum. Millions were used as long as screw in points have existed. If they were faulty, steel (which by the way are cheaper to make)would have replaced in 40 years ago. If theres a market for something companys are fast to make that item. No market existed for steel inserts before carbon arrows made the need. Actually coc heads that screw in still use em.

I believe it became an issue following the Ashby reports. But again, unless hunting heavy African game, it seems to me a non- issue.

oldnewby:

They certainly are not as strong as the steel inserts, that's a given. I think the experienced archers that your referring to are not as experienced as you believe, unless your referring to Dr. Ashby and if I were shooting cape buffalo or Asian water buffalo, I two would use the steel. You need to put things into perspective.

Bob

I've had both to bend in critters whether hitting bone or the critter fall on the arrow that is still in him, her or it. I try to remember to spin test my arrow after a kill or if it embeds into something else. No big deal, just take out the bent one and replace it with a new one and spin it for trueness.

I've used them for years in carbon and have never had an issue, even after having shot them into and through bone.

Here are some numbers to consider:

Aluminum: Tensile Yield Strength - 276 MPa 40000 psi

Port Orford Cedar:Tensile Strength - 1.65 MPa 240 psi

So, if aluminum is risky, cedar is pure madness!

That is all there was for many years. Answer to the OP is no problem. To others how much weaker do you think the adapter is compared to the shaft.Steel shafts would have to be thin walled and would probably still be the week link.>>>----> Ken

I would be more worried about the shaft then the insert. carbon wood are aluminum . all aluminum arrows and inserts and adapters have been used together for years and have worked fine we never had a real problem tell people like to test there equipment on rocks.

Why would you not look for strength in the arrow system? Behind the point if you have ever shot a wood arrow is where they tend to fail. Many moons ago, man said lets make that area stronger, hence footing in wood arrows.

So an aluminum BH adaptor has a possibility of failure because the thinnest point-weakest point is right at attachment, and if not screwed all the way down increases the possible failure in the arrow system. Why not shoot an adapter that is more inherently break resistant in that area, be it at cape buffalo or a rabbit?

What have you lost to set up your tackle in that way? What have you gained?

For what it is worth, the only adapter that ever broke for me was made of steel. It was 75gr and apparently hollow where the head met stem because that is where it broke.

tip weight with steel adapter weight is to much for some set ups. there are many that do not need are want 200+gr. on the front of the arrow. aluminum 32 gr. and steel 75gr. plus broadhead

I've crushed, broke, and bent many a broadhead mounted on aluminum adapters. Never once had an adapter break.

I have bent a few, but then again I've bent all steel also.

It's a non issue if they are well mounted.

Don't worry about it

Rick

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