Epek X-C3 Broadheads

[lousyGooseHunter]

Hello everyone,

Although I am new around here, I am not new to archery. I have trying to decide on a new broadhead and keep coming back to the Epek X-C3. I am trying to find out if anyone has had any personal experience with this broadhead. I will be shooting the 100grn set up. The reason they really caught my attention was the fact that the blades can be locked in place to not deploy on impact. Which means you can use them for a few practice sessions, which would be nice. Seems like a young company with a neat idea. Anyway, thanks for looking or responding!

Respectfully,
Justin

[jamaro]

Justin
We recently did a show from Greg with EPEK... He had alot of interesting things to say... You can listen to the show by following this link and pressing play...
http://www.bowcast.com/content/view/602/57/


But if pictures are worth a thousand words look at this entry wound on a cow elk one of our team members made with an EPEK...
DEVASTATING...
ps you can buy them on our store.. :)

[lousyGooseHunter]

Jamaro,

Thxs for the feedback. I actually found the excert on bowcast. I listened to the whole thing. I am very pleased with the design. Like I said, I really like the locking the blades in place so they don't deploy. I am tired of buying another set of blades every time I want to verify point of impact. It get s expensive after a while. Anyway, I am probably gonna order a set, just wish they were more available around here... PA that is.

Respectfully,
Justin

PS- I gained the nickname LGH because my uncle and I decided we were gonna be goose hunters. Three boxes of shells and 30 minutes later a single goose fell to our demise. It was almost priceless when I looked over and said hand me some rounds. We looked down and just started laughing. We learned alot that day when he looked at me and said, "your the lousiest goose hunter I ever met!" And yes, I am still laughing..........:)

[jamaro]

LGH
That is a great story... BECAUSE I have been there....

Just a heads up... I asked Greg about shooting them in Lock-down mode and he did mention that it is just for verification and that he doesn't recommend shooting the heads in to a target multiple times... It is just too hard on the head...

J

[pjf]

I have six 100-grain Epek XC-3 broadheads at the tips of my arrows. By removing a hex screw, the outer shell of the broadhead can be rotated so the blades cannot deploy through its open slots. The outer shell can then be secured by replacing the hex screw through a second screw opening.

All is not perfect. Here are some issues:



Converting the Epek between hunting and practice modes is not time consuming but one can easily lose the tiny hex screw or get a finger cut.




There are differences between the hunting and practice configuration that may affect the impact point. In the practice mode, the outer shell is not only rotated but must slide up about 2 millimeters which lengthens the broadhead. The O-ring is removed to avoid losing it in the target.




The Epek’s blades will not deploy when used with thick arrow shafts and the Epek website does not specify a maximum shaft diameter. When the broadhead tip hits the target, the outer shell is pushed back to deploy the blades. The outer shell slides back about a centimeter and goes over the arrow shaft. Luckily, my Easton ST Excel arrow shaft is only 9/32" in diameter and permits the outer shell to slide over it. Other archers have indicated that thicker arrows, such as the Gold Tip Ultralight 22, do not permit the Epek blades to deploy. When I placed a size 6 broadhead adapter ring (Easton BAR #6) between the Epek and the arrow shaft, the blades could not deploy because the ring prevented the outer shell from sliding back.




The Epek tip is made of aluminum. I would hate to dull this tip during practice. The instructions recommend minimizing practice with broadheads you plan to hunt with. I have 3 broadheads configured for practice. The other 3 broadheads will be saved for hunting.


Since the Epek tip appears to dull easily, I would prefer a separate hunting and practice broadhead system. Converting the Epeks between practice and hunting modes does not seem to be worth the trouble. My opinion may change if Epek retails a stainless steel tip.

Later this week, I'll let you know how easily the Epek can be pulled out of a target.

[lousyGooseHunter]

PJF,

Thanks for the really great info. Right now I am gonna stick with my aftershock heads. They fly true out to 60 yards and I can't really whine over that (Mechanicals). Plus, they have done an excellent job in the past. I did see Field and Stream with a issue comparing them to the rage... But I don't wanna start any wars..... LOL! I ordered the heads already but wanna do some of my own testing. As long as they get the job done next year on Bear, I will definitely make the jump. I say that like I am guaranteed a dead bear... Another story another time... :chair: But hey, nice to know there are people out there to help when you lack the information to make a decision. Thanks! Look forward to the next post.

V/R,
Justin

[jamaro]

Don't take this as me being a jerk but to your issues...

1) that is a user issue and those issues can pretty much happen with all heads... I had no problem... IMO it is alot easier to just pull the nut and shift the shroud than to play with the replacement blades... You don't even have to touch the blades but with other heads you do... Think Muzzy...

2) 2mm as opposed to practice blades that are totally different and if you use real blades they are very dangerous... The O ring is pushed back... I have never lost one and EPEK includes a few extra...

3) UL 22 are just like Fatboys... those are specifically made for 3-D and are not typically used as hunting arrows.. the walls on those arrows are very thin and fragile... BUT if you choose to hunt with those 3-D arrows then you are right you will have issues...

4) If it really worries you you can take a stone to the tip.. Studies have shown that most tro-car style tips should all me sharpened with a stone.. I do on all my heads... it just makes sense...

J

[woodsedger]

i am curious to try them also.i have not physicaly seen one,but by looking at them and comparing them with other expandibles;i see no need to even practice with them. jmo

[pjf]

4) If it really worries you you can take a stone to the tip.. Studies have shown that most tro-car style tips should all me sharpened with a stone.. I do on all my heads... it just makes sense...

J
Does anyone have any advice on how to sharpen an aluminum XC-3 trocar tip? All of the honing instructions that I have seen assume that your broadheads have steel edges.

Has anyone tried honing a broadhead with a sharpening rod? The trocar facets of the XC-3 are concave so honing with a flat sharpening stone would not be ideal. The cutting edges are also curved inward.

Must an aluminum tip be repainted or anodized after sharpening? The XC-3 tip is either anodized or painted. Presumably, this protects it against oxidation or keeps it from glimmering.

By the way, the tip of the XC-3 differs from that in the illustrations. If someone would please show me how to post a photo, I'll be glad to. Thanks!

[jamaro]

Let me get you an official answer so I don't start any inaccuracies... I use a little sharpening rod but let me see if there is a better way.
J

[pjf]

The photograph below shows an Epek XC-3 broadhead in practice mode. The outer shroud has been rotated to keep the blades from deploying through the open slots. In practice mode, the shroud cannot slide back to deploy the three retracted blades.
http://www.elitearchery.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=99
Note that the aluminum tip is a modified trocar with three concave facets. Even the cutting edges are curved inward. A flat stone cannot be used to hone the concave facets.

[pjf]

The photo below shows the Epek XC-3 in hunting mode with the blades retracted.
http://www.elitearchery.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=100
Note that the rubber o-ring keeps the shroud from sliding back and deploying the blades. When the arrow impacts the target, the shroud will slide back, force the o-ring back, and deploy the blades.

[pjf]

The photo below shows the Epek XC-3 with blades deployed.
http://www.elitearchery.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=101
Note that the shroud slides back about a centimeter to deploy the blades. The arrow shaft must be narrow (probably 10/32" diameter or less) in order for the shroud to slide over the shaft. My Easton ST Excel arrow shaft is 9/32" in diameter. Archers have reported that the XC-3 cannot deploy its blades when coupled to the 0.337" (between 10/32" & 11/32") diameter Gold Tip Ultralight 22 shaft.

The hex screw protruding from the bottom of the shroud must be removed in order to rotate the shroud between hunting and practice modes.

[lousyGooseHunter]

Nice Stuff, still waiting on mine.

[pjf]

To improve the XC-3 broadhead, my suggestions are:
(1) Replace the aluminum tip with a stainless steel tip so it would not dull as readily during practice.
(2) Flatten the concave trocar facets so they can be honed with a flat sharpening stone.
(3) Market or suggest a cold-bluing compound to reduce reflections from a honed facet.
(4) Disclose the maximum diameter of the arrow shaft that can accommodate the XC-3.

EDIT (24 Oct 2009):

I was just informed today by the US Air Force Academy Archery Club that the XC-3 will be treated as a mechanical broadhead and will be restricted to the broadhead range. Apparently, the barbed tip of the XC-3 causes too much damage to the targets even in practice mode.

I was informed by the archery instructor that aluminum tips like those of the XC-3 cannot be sharpened and must be replaced when dulled. The instructor also stated that if the XC-3 was made of steel, it will weigh over a couple of hundred grains.

[WYelkhunter]

why would you not be able to sharpen the tip just because it is aluminum?

[HoPaLONg]

those who can..do. Those who can't... Teach! Nuff said.