trifecta fixed blade broadheads review

Trifecta Fixed Blade Broadheads Review [The “Perfecta” Broadhead?]

In this review, I tested a really cool broadhead called the Trifecta.

I had gotten quite a few requests for this, and I was able to connect with Rob Schneider, the owner of Trifecta, and the designer of this broadhead.

I was super excited to test these out!

For the testing of the Trifecta Fixed Blade broadheads, I I used my Bowtech CP28 set at 72 pounds. I used a Bishop FOC King Arrows for most of the shots, and the Bishop FAD Eliminators for the really hard impact stuff.

The Trifecta Fixed Blade Broadheads Up Close

Let’s zoom on in here and check out this cool-looking Trifecta Fixed Blade.

trifecta profile view

Here’s a good look at the Trifecta head. Man, this is one wicked-looking broadhead! So much to go through!

trifecta profile all steel construction

First of all, it’s all steel construction. It’s all made out of 420 stainless steel and it has a super short overall profile.

trifecta broadhead cut width

You get 1 and 1/4″ of cut one way, which is a really nice size cut for a fixed blade…

trifecta leading blade cut width

And, then you’ve got the leading blade that’s 3/8 of an inch of cut. So, the total cut is over 1.68″. The leading blade is really small, but it’s a stout 0.040″ of thickness, which is good on the upper end of thicknesses as far as blades are concerned...

trifecta broadhead main blade thickness

But, the main blade has a thickness of 0.078″. Wow! It’s almost twice as thick as the other blade. It’s more than twice as thick as most fixed blade heads on the market. So, I was really impressed with that.

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The main blade of the Trifecta is pretty vented in the 100-grain model. But, in the future, they’re coming out with 125-grain and a 150-grain that are going to be solid. So, I’m really looking forward to that.

But, with the current version’s blades being this thick, even though it’s vented, I imagine they are going to be pretty durable. And, I imagine that tip, because is supported so well, and it’s so small, that it’s going to be pretty durable too.

trifecta single bevel blades

The Trifecta has a nice, single beveling all the way around on both of the main blades and the front blade. So, they’re really easy to sharpen it because they’re at a really steep angle. I would imagine they are going to hold up well and not get much edge chatter because of the incline there to that bevel.

So, I love the fixed blade. But, what’s really cool about it is that you can just use the same ferrule and switch out the blades and put in a mechanical blade or a hybrid broadhead because there’s a fixed blade in the front, and then the mechanical blades in the back.

And, it either comes in this model which is 1.87″ of cutting diameter or this model that’s 1.65″ of cutting diameter.

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trifecta various models of fixed and expandables

The neat thing about the Trifecta heads is that you can switch out the fixed blade for expandables on the same ferrule.

So, you can just switch out the blades with the same steel ferrule, based on your setup and based on what you’re hunting. If you’re going after a smaller animal, you might want to use mechanical.

If you’re going after a bigger animal like a deer or elk, you may want to use the fixed blade or in between. There are all kinds of modularities to it. So, I love that!

But, for this test, I tested the fixed blade version.

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Trifecta Fixed Blade Testing

Let’s see how the Trifecta fixed blade broadheads performed!

Flight Forgiveness (1 Field Point, Then 1 Broadhead At 30 yards)  

The Trifecta had very forgiving flight in this test, with both the fixed blade and the field point hitting on top of each other.

Initial Sharpness Test

trifecta broadhead initial sharpness 225

For the out-of-the-box sharpness test, it took 225 grams of force to cut through the wire.

Penetration Test 1 (2/3″ rubber mat, 1/2″ MDF, FBI Gel)   

trifecta broadheads in ballistic gel

The Trifecta penetrated 8.5″ into the ballistic gel that was fronted with a rubber mat and 1/2″ MDF.

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Edge Retention Test (sharpness after Penetration Test 1):

trifecta post ballistic gel mdf sharpness test

It took no additional force to cut through the wire which gives it a 10 on a 10-point scale!

Penetration Test 2 (layered cardboard):

trifecta fixed blade broadheads layered cardboard penetration test

It penetrated through 61 layers of cardboard.

Angled Shot Test (1/4″ MDF/Carpet):

trifecta angled mdf test

The angled MDF test was no problem at all for the Trifecta.

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Durability Test (1/2″ MDF max 3 shots):

The head is in perfect condition after 3 shots through the MDF.

trifecta broadhead after 3x mdf

After 3 consecutive shots through the MDF, the Trifecta head was still in perfect condition!

THIS broadhead was also a high scorer!

Durability Test (22 gauge steel plate max 2 shots):

trifecta steel plate test

And after 2 shots through the steel plate, it held up extremely well. There’s just a slightest little nick in the blades.

And then check out these holes on the steel plate. Man! For a single bevel like this, that’s one of the best S-cutting I’ve ever seen. You could see the rotation of the blades opening up a really nice wound channel.

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Concrete Test:

trifecta broadheads concrete block test

I shot the Trifecta into a concrete block and it stuck!

trifecta broadheads fixed blade after concrete test

So here’s a good look at the head after going through the MDF 3 times, the steel plate 2 times, and then embedding in the concrete. And man, it held together very well. These thick blades did the job. Even with the rotation, it held together.

Sometimes with a hard impact in a single bevel rotation, you get a bit of twisting, but these blades are thick enough to where that didn’t happen.

The tip got a very slight bit of a twist to it from that rotation, but very, very little. Ane, the edges just have normal wear from hitting the concrete, but very impressive durability.

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Final Thoughts On The Trifecta Fixed Blade Broadheads

Well, what do you think?

Man, this is a winner of a broadhead!

There are a lot of broadheads that are kind of in the middle of the pack that you go, “Yeah, they did pretty good.” And, every once in a while, there’s that rare one that really stands out. This one definitely stands out!

I really was surprised. this head got the highest score of any fixed blade head that I’ve tested so far through 2022-2023.

trifecta fixed blade broadheads lusk scorecard

The Trifecta fixed blade was the highest scoring fixed blade broadhead that I’ve tested to date!

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So, these are really worth a look. I mean they flew incredibly well. I couldn’t believe how well they flew. Honestly, they’re just so forgiving.

The Trifecta penetrated super deeply, with super good rotation. I did a separate rotation test and it penetrated into the clear ballistics gel 13″ and rotated 90 degrees. That’s a lot of rotation in gel! And in animal, it’s a lot more than in gel because that’s pretty restrictive.

That little blade in the front held up super well and it adds a little bit of FOC to your setup there. The super thick blades did well even sticking in the concrete and blowing out the back, a back chunk of a concrete. I’ve never seen that before.

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So man, I can’t wait to use this head on some hogs and really eager to see the 125-grain version and 150-grain solid. I look forward to testing those.

Fantastic job, Trifecta! This is really a winner and it’s definitely worth a look.

John Lusk archery goat
John Lusk of Lusk Archery Adventures
muzzy trocar hbx hybrid

Muzzy Trocar HBX (Hybrid) Broadheads Review

After receiving many requests to test the Muzzy Trocar HBX broadheads, I finally got to do just that!

This head has been around for awhile. It’s a 100-grain, fixed and mechanical blade broadhead combination; a “hybrid” broadhead.

For these tests, I used my Bowtech CP28 set at 72 pounds. I used Bishop FOC King Arrows for most of the shots, but for the really the hard impact ones, I used the Bishop FAD Eliminators.

The Muzzy Trocar HBX Up Close

So, let’s zoom on in here, go through some of the design features and specifications of the Muzzy Trocar HBX…

muzzy trocar hbx profile view

Here’s a good look at the Trocar HBX hybrid broadhead. It’s called a “hybrid” because you have a fixed blade, which is actually two separate blades that slide into ferrule with a one inch cutting diameter, and it doesn’t open or close, it’s just fixed.

trocar hbx in open position

There’s also a mechanical blade that in the closed position is 9/10 of an inch, and then the open position, it expands to 1 and 5/8″ when fully opened. The cut is 2 and 5/8″ when combining the cut of the mechanical blades with the the fixed blades.  

The bladed are 0.35” thick, and the the ferrule, chiseled tip, and the blades are all stainless steel.

muzzy trocar hbx blunt gator blades

The opening is a rear-deploying, gator style, opening system to where it’s the pressure on these two blunt blades that force these blades open.

Now, I will say it takes a lot of pressure, even just to pull the blades apart. And, they don’t lock open, but they remain open when there’s a pressure on that little gator end, that causes them to open.

So, I was a little concerned about how that opening was going to work and if it would stay open. But, even if it didn’t get the full cut, it would still be a lot of cut.

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Muzzy Trocar HBX Testing

So, I was super eager to put this head to the test and see how it performed.

Flight Forgiveness Test 

For the flight forgiveness test, I shot 1 field point and then 1 broadhead at 30 yards.

muzzy trocar hbx flight forgiveness tests

The broadhead flew very true to the field point in the flight forgiveness test.

Initial Sharpness Test

I tested the “out of the box” sharpness of the head (the lower the number indicates that it takes less pressure to cut the wire, indicating a sharper blade).

muzzy trocar hbx mech blade initial sharpness test

The mechanical blade registered 200.

muzzy trocar initial sharpness test fixed blades

The fixed blade registered 300.

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Penetration Test 1 (2/3″ Rubber mat, 1/2″ MDF, FBI Gel)   

I shot the head into ballistic gel that was fronted with a 2/3″ rubber mat and 1/2″ MDF.

muzzy trocar ballistic gel mdf test

The Muzzy Trocar HBX penetrated 8.25″ into he ballistic gel. But, I do want to note that while the blades opened very well on impact, (they open until almost their full cutting diameter even in the rubber foam mat), they quickly started to close as soon as they hit the gel and they remain closed throughout the entire penetration. So, it really wasn’t cutting its full tissue throughout that 8-1/4″, and that’s not uncommon with gator blades. It usually happens in gel with gator blades, especially with ones that don’t lock. Now, would that happen in animal? I’m not really sure. But, I want to make note of it because it does give kind of false reading in the penetration.

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Edge Retention Test (Sharpness Test After Penetration Test 1):

I tested the sharpness again after the first penetration test.

muzzy trocar post-penetration sharpness test mech blade

Mech Blade: 225.

muzzy trocar post-penetration sharpness test fixed blade

Fixed Blade: 325.

Penetration Test 2 (layered cardboard):

muzzy trocar hbx layered cardboard test

The head penetrated through 48 layers of cardboard.

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Angled Shot Test (1/4″ MDF/Carpet):

muzzy trocar hbx angled mdf test

I shot the head into angled MDF.

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Durability Test (1/2″ MDF max 3 shots):

Man, this test was a shocker. On the first shot through the MDF, it broke a blade. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen something like that happen, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it to happen with this Muzzy.

But, it did.

muzzy trocar hbx mdf broken blade

In the first shot into the MDF, the blade just broke right off and embedded somewhere in my target, and that’s really unfortunate.  So, I was not able to shoot it into a steel metal plate, which is typically my next test. I also couldn’t shoot it into the concrete block, which is usually my last test.

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Final Thoughts On The Muzzy Trocar HBX

So, what do you think of the Trocar HBX?

It has its strengths. For example, it flew very well, has a really good size cut, and a really tough chiseled tip. I also love the all-steel construction.

I was not, however, very impressed with the durability. Actually, it’s lack of durability surprised me.

muzzy trocar hbx lusk scorecard

The Muzzy Trocar HBX scored 74.10 out of a possible 100 points, giving it a Lusk Grade of 7 golden arrows.

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I know these blades are pretty thin, narrow and not very supported, but I expected a little bit better there in durability.

Now, I’m sure it can get the job done in most situations. In fact, I’m sure many of you have used it very successfully in the field.

So, check out the score sheet and see it’s score out of a possible 100 and decide if it’s a good fit for your quiver.

Check THESE determining factors for broadhead choice!
John Lusk archery goat
John Lusk of Lusk Archery Adventures
doe smelling deer scent

Deer Scents | How And When To Use Them

It happens every deer season. Someone walks down the hunting aisle of a local sporting goods store, sees the deer scents and attractants section and begins to wonder how they can tip the odds in their favor during their next hunt.

When it comes to using scents and attractants, success comes from knowing the right scent to use at the right time. For example, you might not want to use an estrous scent in October, but it might be the best thing to use in Mid-November.

Let me give you an example…

It’s not just the scent that’s important… it’s using the right scent at the right time!

A Lesson In Scent Usage

It was the third week of October in Indiana, the pre-rut was on, and the deer were fired up. I had just climbed into my ladder stand, hung up my backpack, and pulled up my bow. As I prepared for this afternoon hunt, I had no idea what was about to happen.

I had just pulled an SD card from one of my trail cameras on my way to the stand. I had gotten to the stand a little earlier than normal, so I figured I’d have time to go through some of the pictures and check activity from the previous couple of days.

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Mock Scrape Magic

I had hung a dispenser of a new scrape blend scent that we were trying out and the results were extremely positive. I had bucks coming to this mock scrape nightly, but a new buck had shown himself that I had not seen before.

As I was going through the pictures, I randomly picked my head up and scanned the woods I was hunting, as well as a nearby cornfield.

Mock scrapes an provide some of the best buck intel you can get.

Then, I saw movement.

I got ready and then a deer came into full view. It was a spike, and he was on the move. So, with the opportunity of some interaction, I let out a few soft grunts. He stopped and looked, but that was all.

I decided to see what he would do if he heard a bleat, so I did. He turned and came in on a string.

Now, on my way to the stand, I had broadcasted some Battle Ballz in front of me. When the spike hit the scent; he walked in figure 8’s trying to pinpoint the source.

Success using scents and attractants comes from not just know what scents to use, but specifically when to use them.

Bleat, Grunt, Broadside

That’s when the hunt changed even more. While watching this young buck walk around in circles, I looked to my left and saw a second deer. It was him, the 9-point buck I had seen on my SD card just saw on my SD card just moments earlier!

I grunted at the buck and he put on the brakes. He didn’t look like he was going to commit, until I bleated once again. This bigger buck wasn’t about to let a little spike be near a willing doe, so he turned and walked in.

The buck gave me a clear, 35-yard broadside shot. Let’s just say I recovered him 125 yards away.

Thanks to the scent I had spread on the ground earlier, those bucks were able to keep their minds and their focus on other things. The grunt call, coupled with the scent, allowed me to take this nice 9-pointer.

As you can see, each “tool” we haul into the woods can make or break our success and overall hunting experience. In this case, the scent was the difference maker. But it’s not just the fact that there was a scent involved. It’s that it was the right scent at the right time.

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You see, this was mid-October, and my scent selections were a scrape blend, and Pay Dirt, a fresh earth scent, (I also used a dabble of another scent we were also testing for the next season.) As scrapes were popping up daily, one of our buck tarsal scents could have been another good choice.

On this hunt, the cover scents proved extremely effective, as a slight breeze was blowing straight toward those two bucks that afternoon.

Please note that it’s very important to follow your state’s laws when using scents and attractants. For example, Indiana’s game laws dictate that you can’t pour scent on the ground, but you can use in a scent dispenser which, makes the scent non-edible.

What Scents To Use… And When

When hunting with scents, I recommend the following guidelines, to ensure the best hunt possible.

Beginning Of The Deer Season

When deer season starts, regardless the month, use food scents!

Food scents are what separate a scent company from a urine company. What do I mean? Well we all know that urines have a time and place, but urines (deer, fox, skunk etc.) are used mostly during hunting season. A food attractant, however, can be used any time of the year.

Now, why would you want to attract deer any time of the year? The answer is simple, scouting.

Food Scents + Minerals

Scouting cameras are used more than ever before, and having a way to attract deer to those cameras are just as important as the camera itself. Lots of people say they use mineral or salt licks. Yes, using those is a great idea. Food scents however, can last for such a long time – even longer than mineral – because when used in a scent dispenser, the scent is protected from weather, such as rain or snow.

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Now, using scent with mineral is a deadly combo. We’ve found that using scent at your mineral site attracts game to that location faster, and from a further distance. This is helpful when taking deer inventory, promoting antler growth, and scouting for sheds. As I like to say, “the scent brings them in, but the mineral keeps them there.”

Pre-Rut

In mid-to-late October, as bucks are starting to rub and scrape, and pre-rut action is in full-swing, use scrape and tarsal scents.

During this time of year (pre-rut), scrapes are one of the best locations to use scent that you could ever ask for. The reason? Well, because scrapes are spots that you can predict bucks will visit.

I’ve kept a scrape active for months by changing my scents up through the various stages of the rut, drawing in countless big bucks. Use multiple scents together to simulate buck and doe activity. For example, when using a scrape blend or buck with tarsal, try adding some fresh dirt as well. By doing so, you will give the impression that the buck was just there, and you might just be able to get that dominant buck to shrink his home range and visit that scrape more often.

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During The Rut

The beginning of November is a great time to use this estrus doe scent. However, because all does don’t come into estrus time, Buck Nuggets and Battle Ballz are also a great choice through first of December, or what is sometimes referred to as the secondary rut.

Post-Rut

Post rut, in my opinion, is one of the hardest time of the year to hunt. Temps are dropping, deer are tired, and food is scarce. During this time of year, I switch gears and go back to the food scents, using them like I did in the early season. Remember, tree foliage is bare during this time of year, and anything you can do to draw the eyes and nose of a whitetail is critical.

Hide Yourself… With Food

One tactic is to hang a dispenser of food scent where I would want to attract the animals, and hang the same scent in the stand or ground blind with me. Now I’ve doubled the attractant and doubled the cover scent at the same time.

Food scents are a good cover scent as well. So what if you walked into the woods smelling like apples, sweet corn, or acorns? That doesn’t sound too bad at all!

A comment I hear a lot is… “How will apple scent work if you don’t have apple trees on your property? No way Jose!”

Well, let me ask you a question. Do you know what a steak smells like? If all of a sudden you smell a steak, what’s the first thing you think? Probably something like, “Man that smells good… where’s that coming from.” You don’t think “nope, that couldn’t be a steak… there’s no butchered cows around her.”

Well, deer have the same thinking.

Scent Control Is Key

Proper scent control starts at home! Clothes stored in a sealed container with a food or cover will lessen the human odor you leave while walking, sitting, working or scouting in the woods.

Tips To Remember

  • Use food scents as an attractant as well as a cover scent.
  • Use cover scents all year long
  • While using scent in or around a scrapes, use multiple scents. Try using a buck and doe combo in your scrapes. Another trick is use a buck scent and dirt scent at the same time.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with different scents, even in the off-season. Scent sites are very effective ways to scout shed heads after the season ends.

In Conclusion

Hunting scents surely have a time and place. Keep in mind that your camo, tree stand, bow, and hunting scents are all tools we as hunters can use to have more success in the field and possibly create opportunities you’ve never had before.

Bryan Hussung, CEO of Scent Ballz