roosclan

Wow, what to use this year?

German Kinetics 125XL, RFA Phoenix 125gr, Buzzcut 125gr.


Boy, it's great to have choices! I wasn't sure when my German Kinetics 125XLs would come in, so I decided to try my son's RFA Phoenix that he won. I'm very new to archery after a 22year hiatus from my teen years, so needless to say broadhead tuning has been an exercise in frustration, as I've never done it before.

I've had a heck of a time getting good groups with the Phoenix, and Stan really helped me figure out what was going on. Finally got good groups so I could start broadhead tuning (even chipped a blade when my broadheads made contact on the back side of my target -- yeah, I'd say Phoenix group OK), then things went to pot on me on Thursday. I couldn't tell if I was getting FOB contact with the cables, or if it was the arrows, or it was just me, or what, as suddenly I couldn't group them to save my life... again. We're talking 10-12" spread at 30yds.

So, I did what any "smart" archer would do: I bought some Buzzcuts to see if they flew all over the place also or if they would group. The results were right at the POA, but fairly big (about 4", all around the 2" spot). I have to say, for a broadhead that was advertized as being razor sharp, they wouldn't even shave hair off my arm out of the package. I almost didn't bother shooting them, but I figure I'll take advantage of the warranty after I shoot them a bit. Using my Spyderco Sharpmaker to sharpen them isn't working, so I'll have to send them back to get replacements. That's the awesome thing about Magnus!

I was completely bamboozled at this point, so I switched back to the Phoenix and tried again. Shot a field point that went basically right where I aimed, then shot some Phoenix.

They grouped 4" right and 2" high (keep in mind, I have done essentially no broadhead tuning yet). Yeah, it's gotta be me. Pay no attention to the low left Phoenix. The sun came out from behind a cloud right as I released, and I had a bright sun right in my eyes -- major flinch! However, I'm not sure I can use these Phoenix because they keep destroying my FOBs! At least the Buzzcuts won't destroy my arrows.

As for the 125XL German Kinetics, they arrived in the mail the day after I bought the Buzzcuts. Yes, my timing in life usually works like that. This head is a beast! 1 1/2" cutting diameter, 440B carbon stainless steel, hair popping sharp. The hair practically jumped off my arm to get away from this thing. They look like the Porsche of the broadhead world -- works of art in addition to highly effective.

Oh, did I mention that I have RFA's RazorHawk coming in a few weeks?

I'll see how the G-Ks fly out of my setup in a few hours. Speaking of which, it's my bedtime.

cartman308

Let us know how the SilverFlames work for ya! I may have a bucket list hunt coming up next year and those heads are topping the list for that hunt!!!!!

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Broadheadtalk Moderator
Athens Factory Staff Shooter

187BOWHUNTER

I like the XL Silverflames !!!

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Elite Answer 70#, Spot-Hogg Hunter, G5 Expert II, Harvest Time HT-1's, Tight Spot

roosclan

1st: Please don't call these SilverFlames. ABS has registered that name, so German-Kinetics is no longer allowed to call their own broadheads SilverFlames here in the US, even though Markus (of German-Kinetics fame) is the one who designed the things and brought them to the world. These are German-Kinetics 125XLs, made by the originals in Germany with German-quality steel and crafstmanship, not the ABS SilverFlames.

Please don't confuse these with ABS broadheads, as I have never even seen one in person, let alone shot one.

As for my German Kinetics 125XLs -- they sure fly straight! I still didn't get any broadhead tuning done, but they're only 2" off of my POA right now. I didn't dare shoot the 3rd one since the first two did this:


The problem is that the 2nd G-K hit the back of the 1st G-K. Instead of breaking or having major damage, all that happened was this:


Yes, I'm a newb when it comes to broadhead tuning and I didn't shoot one per spot. Fortunately, it should be fairly easy to reprofile that part of the blade (what with all the practice I have sharpening knives), and it shouldn't affect accuracy.

Now, I'm just waiting on my RazorHawks to arrive, and I should be done buying broadheads.

cartman308

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! liking the GK XLs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Broadheadtalk Moderator
Athens Factory Staff Shooter

roosclan

Yeah, both the G-K and the Phoenix were far more consistent than the Buzzcuts. Our season started last Monday and I haven't even broadhead tuned yet, so I'll probably go with the G-Ks since they are only 2" off my POA, and I am limiting myself to 30yds at the absolute max for my first year bowhunting. If I can hit that well consistently at 30yds, then I'll be fine until I can broadhead tune.

As tough as the G-Ks are, the Phoenix are just as tough! A couple weeks ago I missed my broadhead target (again due to the sun blinding me) completely and buried a Phoenix into the 4X4 post next to my target. The Phoenix disappeared all the way to the insert, and since it was rotating (love that single bevel design!), I couldn't just pull it straight out. I had to dig it out and left a rather large hole in the post. Absolutely no damage to the Phoenix, or to my HT-2 Harvester arrows. The circle highlights the hole where my Phoenix hit (the same one in the first pic, as a matter of fact):

Dsotm223

They are scary tough I went cinder block hunting (tourqed the bow missed target hit cinder block) with them one day while i was shooting, no damage to BH, or arrow. The cinder block not so lucky. LOL

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Bear Buckmaster BTR 71lbs @ 28" 308 fps Gold Tip Kinetics 468 gr. 98.61 ft/lbs

187BOWHUNTER

They are still called "Silver Flames" on the German-Kinetics site

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Elite Answer 70#, Spot-Hogg Hunter, G5 Expert II, Harvest Time HT-1's, Tight Spot

187BOWHUNTER

I just bought 6, 125g standards

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Elite Answer 70#, Spot-Hogg Hunter, G5 Expert II, Harvest Time HT-1's, Tight Spot

roosclan

The G-K site is based in Germany, and US registration/trademark laws don't apply to the rest of the world. Markus & Ingo have only one dealer in the US, and he was sent a cease & desist letter by ABS regarding calling G-K's broadhead a SilverFlame. I think fair should be fair, though, and ABS should remove from their web site the claim that theirs are "sometimes called German Kinetics broadheads" since they are now definitely NOT German Kinetics broadheads.