Skip to content 
100 Grain Vs 125 Grain Broadheads For Crossbows
When you’re first starting out with your crossbow, you may not care about the weight of the arrow grain and how it can impact your hunt.
Especially if you’re just being pushed out into the field with a kit that pretty much comes pre-assembled. Once you gain more experience, you might start to wonder if there’s more efficient way to do things-Especially if you’ve gone home a couple times empty handed…
Most arrows come standard with the 100 Grain Crossbow Broadhead and it works for the majority of people, so why even consider switching to something like a 125 Grain broadhead Crossbow ?
Well, let’s compare the differences between the two.
What grain broadhead should I use for crossbow: 100 or 125 grain broadheads?
Better Momentum
Your average 100 grain broadhead is lighter which means it will fly faster. This isn’t necessarily a good thing when you’re hunting larger stock like moose or elk.
While the arrow may hit the animal, it will probably bounce off and not actually deploy. The larger broadhead will fly slower, but it will have a bigger impact when it hits the animal.
Improved FOC
A heavier broadhead also means an increased front of center. This refers to how the arrow balances after all the extras have been installed. This includes: nocks, inserts, etc.
An arrow that has a low FOC can cause the arrow to fly in an unpredictable manner causing you to miss your target. Most will recommend staying between 11 and 7 percent when it comes to the FOC, but some hunters prefer to test their limits with higher FOC’s.
Ease to Purchase and Other Considerations
The 100 grain is the easiest to locate and purchase compared to the 125 grain broadheads. The main downside to the 125 grain broadheads is that they fly slower.
This might be an issue if you’re further away from your target by more than 60 or so yards, but that slower speed makes up for it with impact.
If you’ve ever tried to hunt with a 100 grain broadhead and had the experience of an arrow bouncing off a shoulder or rib bone on your target, then you know this fact well.
A good 125 grain broadhead will typically penetrate well into the target and some will pass right through leaving no doubt that your target is going down.
For Quick Referencing:
Speed-Which Faster?
100 grain broadheads are.
Thickest Blades- Which Is Thickest?
125 grain broadheads usually are.
How Easy to Locate and Purchase?
The 100 grain broadheads are easiest to locate and purchase and are available at most local hunting shops.
Penetration- Which Has the Highest Success Rate?
It depends on the target.
A Word About Blood Trails
If you’re inexperienced with hunting, you might rely solely on blood trails to track down your injured target.
We’ve noticed that people who used 100 grain broadheads frequently complained that the blood trails are frequently minimal and sometimes impossible to track down.
This might mean you never find your target/s and you leaving empty handed. Larger grain broadheads usually have more of an impact and cause more damage which means more blood.
Naturally, you should expect to have an ample blood trail to follow in order to track down your target.
Where Each Shines Best
100 grain vs 125 grain broadheads for deer? If you are only into deer hunting, then using either 100 or 125 is fine.
100 grain vs 125 grain broadheads for elk? If you are hunting bears or elks, we would advise using 125 instead.
The added weight, plus other tunes up in your bow, will result in a deeper penetration that is needed for larger animals beyond a deer.
If you are using 125 for smaller animals, and at a close distance, the blood trail will be much more obvious as the impact damage is stronger than 100.
This will make your blood trail tracking much easier.
Rage Hypodermic
Available only as a 100 grain broadhead
- Leaves blood trails that even inexperienced hunters can use to track down injured targets.
- Comes with a practice tip to practice with, so you don’t screw up the actual field point.
- Works great for smaller animals like deer and small bears.
- Make large wound holes- up to 2″- The animal bleeds out quickly for a quick and humane death.
- Tips can bend easily if they hit a hard-solid surface like a rock when they pass through.
- The shock collars can be a hit or miss.
Rage CrossbowX
Available as a 100 or 125 grain broadhead
- Large wound holes up to 2″Leaves blood trails that are easy to follow- never lose a downed animal ever again.
- Can handle deer and smaller bears without bouncing off ribs.
- Can be used over and over again without frequent sharpening
- Shock collars can be a hit or miss.
- Some don’t deploy or penetrate.
Muzzy Broadheads
Available in 75, 100, 125 grain broadheads.
- Fly true unlike most other broadheads
- Won’t bounce off when encountering bones.
- Assembly is quick and easy- but be careful because these are sharp.
- Comes with practice blades.
- Occasional packages with broadheads missing blades.
- Sharpening the blades can be difficult.
>>Check out my recommendation for the Best Arrow Puller
The Verdict – 100 Grain Vs 125 Grain Broadheads For Crossbows
All three products receive rave reviews from avid hunters, but Muzzy is a name you’ll hear repeated over and over again by newbie and experienced hunters alike.
The main differences between the Muzzy broadheads and the other two products are: they don’t deploy quite the same (smaller wound holes), and their blood trails are less obvious which can make tracking difficult for inexperienced hunters.
So which one would we pick?
The Mozzy’s for the sheer fact that there’s very little risk that you’ll be going back home empty handed- which can happen when your arrow encounters a rib or shoulder bone and bounces off (common with the other two products).
It also completely depends on the type of target you’re going after. Hunters who are going after larger game or targets will have better luck with the 125 Grain broadhead Crossbow compared to the 100 Grain Crossbow Broadhead.
If you’re going after smaller game like black bears or deer, then the 100 grain broadheads might work well for you.