Small Game with Matrix 380?

Significent · Post by **Significent** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:39 pm

I understand elephants have been taken with the Matrix 380. We don't have any elephants in my neck of the woods, but we do have a plethora of pesky red fox. When I'm hunting whitetails with my vertical bow, I usually carry an arrow with a "junk" broadhead for fox. But, when I take my brand new Matrix 380 deer hunting, I won't have any junk broadheads, plus I'm concerned about losing or breaking bolts.

I've seen a few posts about using blunts with xbows that don't have quite the kinetic energy of the 380. (Saunders" is mentioned as a good brand.) Sounds as though they soak up some of the harsh impact and aren't easily buried under leaves.

I'll be shooting 18" Black Eagle Executioners with 100gr broadheads through the deer, so I'd like to find an effective small game tip that flies similarly. Does anyone have any experience shooting small game tips from a Matrix 380? If so, I'd appreciate hearing what, if anything, works well.

MCA · Post by **MCA** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:30 pm

shot a rabbit recently with a judo point, (blunt head with wire claw)
pinned it to the ground, and no damage to the arrow. this was out of my older exocet though.

MCA

Mo wannabe · Post by **Mo wannabe** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:48 am

I shot at a red squirrel last month with a blunt hit a 1/2 in high and never seen arrow again won't do that again

glad I didn't have a lumnoc on it

Hunt it · Post by **Hunt it** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:31 pm

Take a field point of same weight as your broadhead and file or grind tip of it bit flat and go to it! Bound to go through anything you shoot at so I'd look at shoulder hit on a fox to anchor them.

bolt chucker · Post by **bolt chucker** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:09 pm

Check out G5 they have a small game head. One of the best I've ever used. And I've never lost a arrow with one. And they fly like a field point.

Significent · Post by **Significent** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:53 pm

bolt chucker wrote:Check out G5 they have a small game head. One of the best I've ever used. And I've never lost a arrow with one. And they fly like a field point.

G5 Outdoors makes good products. I may just give them at try: http://www.g5outdoors.com/product_detail/27

I thought a blunt might do the necessary damage without bloodying up my bolt, but that's probably wishful thinking. I like the description on the website. Sounds just like what the doctor ordered.

I appreciate everyone's input!

wheelie · Post by **wheelie** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:47 pm

I shoot my deer arrows (GT2 with Rage2 broadheads) at coyotes and anything pretty much I shoot. They deserve a clean kill as well. One year deer hunting I fired all four arrows and got two rabbits. Got home and thought about it and told my wife these rabbits cost me $75. in arrows. Next time I will just go to a rabbit farm and buy my rabbits.

Shooting even a blunt with a M380 will likely go through a rabbit or squirrel. Good luck with that sport!

JPjunkie · Post by **JPjunkie** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:40 pm

wheelie wrote:I shoot my deer arrows (GT2 with Rage2 broadheads) at coyotes and anything pretty much I shoot. They deserve a clean kill as well. One year deer hunting I fired all four arrows and got two rabbits. Got home and thought about it and told my wife these rabbits cost me $75. in arrows. Next time I will just go to a rabbit farm and buy my rabbits.

Shooting even a blunt with a M380 will likely go through a rabbit or squirrel. Good luck with that sport!

Roadrunnr72 · Post by **Roadrunnr72** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:53 pm

I like the G5 head. I don't think it will hold up to the M380. I had one of the hooks break on one, and that was using a Phoenix. Not sure if I hit something solid, like a rock. I still carry one with me, I case an opportunity come up.....RR

otisbrazwell · Post by **otisbrazwell** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:02 pm

could a wood dowel be used ?

Roadrunnr72 · Post by **Roadrunnr72** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:08 pm

otisbrazwell wrote:could a wood dowel be used ?

Only if you like shattered shards of wood flying all over, and possible into your body parts....RR

otisbrazwell · Post by **otisbrazwell** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:12 pm

why not an oak dowel same weight as the arrow..myself a would not shoot rabits with my 380 then cry about the cost..that thing would go through an elephant

Significent · Post by **Significent** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:35 am

Sounds like whatever I use will probably get beat up. Since the G5 SGB reportedly flies just like a field tip, I still think I'll try it.

cdn.redneck · Post by **cdn.redneck** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:10 am

if you shoot from tree stand it's not too bad but from ground blind.... good luck
I got 2 partridge and 1 rabbit with my 380 from ground blind but I had a hill behind to prevent arrows going too far, even though it took over 1 hour to find the arrow from a shot I took for a squirrel, found the arrow but lost the squirrel.

better have a camera so you can play it slow motion for arrow trajectory

strum · Post by **strum** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:18 am

this is a classic case of over gunning the game.
you wouldnt be shooting a squirrel with your 30.06 or 7mm mag..
no dis respect meant here but these are some of the problems from using the biggest, fastest, baddest weapon. not saying you cant kill the small game but you may as well be ready to give up some arrows

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