G5 T3 Expandable for Bow Hunting Plains Game

Hey guys,

What do you think about the T3 expandable broadhead in 100 grains for africa?
- is it sharp enough?
-other than the blades wanting to pop out, has anyone experienced any problems using them?
- any good experiences?
- prefer a different expandable?

I'm shooting the hoyt carbon element
My bow shoots 295 ft per second
My arrows weigh just under 400 grains

Background of why I personally prefer expandables- even in Africa.
At home I shoot expandables. My first trip to Africa they wanted fixed blades and I lost two animals. I just wasn't confident with their flight and was constantly feeling stressed and pressure.

My second time in Africa I was shooting the 3 blade rage expandable (that they don't make anymore- now it's the 2 blade) and I was shooting lights out. My confidence was high and my kill rate was close to 100% on the 11 animals I took. I did lose one baboon.

Anyway- any thoughts would be appreciated.

I have zero experience with the G5 T3 s but I did go to Namibia with G5 montecs in 140 grain ...they worked flawlessly . My PH also said "NO" to mechanicals . G5 do make great products ...my only suggestion is talk to your PH .
Glen

50x50,

Lots of info and opinions on this topic here and every other bow hunting forum that exists... It's a very controversial subject and lots of bow hunters get emotional over the subject.... Brand loyalty is a powerful thing I guess..

You should check out this post to start, and there are plenty more along with it to gather information on the subject: http://www.africahunting.com/posts/37508/

It sounds like you have already had success with expandables in Africa, so why entertain a new style of broadhead? Stick with what has worked in the past... I personally have had the opposite experience from yours with expandables in Africa. I can only assume that with your success, your bow produces enough kinetic energy to get decent penetration with an expandable? Unfortunately, most bow hunters using these style of heads do not enjoy the same results.... Penetration issues aside, I have yet to see an expandable broadhead manufactured that is constructed well enough to keep the ferrule and blades from bending or breaking upon impact with bone only adding to the issues resulting in deflections and poor penetration.

I personally have seen more failures than successes with these style of broadheads, and we do not recommend them to our guests hunting with us. As for the G5 T3, they also make a 2-blade version. From what I see, the blades appear to be of a heavier gauge steel than the Rage, so I guess they have that going for them at least... Still, I always recommend one of the many styles of heavy-duty, compact head, fixed blade broadheads for African game. Accuracy with broadheads is a tuning issue that can easily be corrected.... Even so, most of these newer short, compact head designs on fixed blades fly like field points right out of the package, and their reliability is undeniable. I would take a serious look at one of these styles for your next safari.

Thanks Dan and Glen.

Glen, that was a good thought to make sure it's okay and I've reached out to the head PH and he was fine with expandables. He's had good luck with them with his hunters. It's a very interesting topic and there seems to be pretty strong opinions on both sides although there are more guys that don't like them it seems like.

Hey Dan. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. As far as your question of sticking with what worked- rage doesn't make their 3 blade expandable anymore. They switched to a two blade which I've heard a lot of bad things about.

I do get what you're talking about with suggesting to stick with a fixed blade. I have read some other posts on here about expandables and there is a definite mentality to leave the expandables at home. And I actually agree with all the points:

- It does take kinetic energy to open the blades which means less penetration
- they aren't as heavy in construction so don't do as well when they hit big bone
- they are "mechanical" so there's the added risk of malfunction you don't get with fixed blade
- just tune your bow so the fixed blades will shoot
- etc etc

At the end of the day, I am just extremely confident in my shot placement with expandables. So much so over fixed, that it just makes sense for me to shoot them. I know I can hit the bread basket at 50 yards or closer so if I'm patient and take a great broadside shot, I'm confident of a kill. Of course it won't happen every time- but it certainly didn't happen every time on my first hunt with fixed blades either. I bought and paid for an eland I drew blood on with my fixed blade and then a month later the PH sent me a picture of the eland alive and well with a nice little scar.

Last trip I shot nice big warthog at 50 yards. I didn't get a passthrough but the blood trail was awesome. I shot a waterbuck at 40 yards and it didn't pass through either. Not as much blood but we found him stone cold dead within 200 yards. My gemsbok was at 50 yards- no pass through but deader than a door nail, and my kudu was not a pass through either and we found him dead.





I did get a passthrough on caracal, zebra, 3 other warthogs, and believe it or not- a couple baboons and a vervet , but those shots were all in the 20-25 yard range.

Geez- I've made quite a stand here... we'll see if I'm eating humble pie in September when I get home.

The thing I like about the T3 is the head is solid and big. Not sure if it's sharp enough though and the blades look like they aren't very sharp either so thought I would jump on here and see if anyone has ever used them.

50/50 your braver than me, I just won't take shots that far in Africa, to many variables, except for a follow up.

I agree with Jeff, I don't take that long of shot any where with a bow.
like Dan has already said ,tune your bow and fixed blade broadheads fly like field points. But you have to have confidence in them. I don't no anything about T3 broadheads.
I guess you can tell I am a fixed blade man, 175 grain VPA ,2020 Easton aluminum 615 grains

50/50 I have to agree with Jeff and Kathy LOL !...keep those shots in the 20 t0 30 yard range .
Glen

LOL! I'm sure you guys are right. 50 yards does give the animal a lot of time to jump the string.

Still- kind of surprised to hear you say that Jeff. You're from Idaho where a 50 yard shot on a muley is par for the course. Most of our shots in this wide open country is in the 40-50 yard range, wouldn't you say? I do understand for folks back east where the woods are so thick, a 30 yard shot is considered long, though.

We practice our shot out to 100 yards so that those 40-50 yard shots feel just right and a 20 yard shot feels like you're too close.

I have been bow hunting with G5 T3's for about 4 years and they are great, I used to use rage broadheads but the T3 just grabbed my attention as soon as it launched.
Ive taken numerous african game with the T3 and have not had any problems. They open well and cuts great! They go through hard bones like nothing as well. I wouldn't change my T3 for any other broadhead at this stage.

Thanks Petrus! That's what I was looking for and hoping was out there- someone that has been using them and can vouch they're doing well on African game. Awesome.

Just my two cents..... (which everyone obviously has them). I would be more concerned with your arrow weight than your broadhead. Some outfits are not going to let you shoot the expandables and I understand why given that so many people show up with a light setup for deer and a broadhead with weak blades like a rage. I have shot the G5 T3s for a long time now, along with the DRT's. No question they don't penetrate like a fixed blade, but those are the closest to a fixed blade I have found (And I love them). Your arrow, while it will take down nearly any animal you shoot given a proper shot, is far too light to deliver the kinetic energy that is desireable for larger animals, especially with an expandable blade head. I do want to pass through, or at minimum, get an exit wound channel. The light arrows are great for long range and if you misjudge your yardage, but I sacrifice that for a heavier arrow and more KE. I wouldn't hesitate to take the G3s to Africa for animals such as a kudu or smaller given I shoot a minimum of 560 grains (FMJ 340's) and have shot up to 680. Clearly not target arrows but pass through nearly everything I shoot with fixed blades and most on expandables.

Wildside Outdoors said:

Just my two cents..... (which everyone obviously has them). I would be more concerned with your arrow weight than your broadhead. Some outfits are not going to let you shoot the expandables and I understand why given that so many people show up with a light setup for deer and a broadhead with weak blades like a rage. I have shot the G5 T3s for a long time now, along with the DRT's. No question they don't penetrate like a fixed blade, but those are the closest to a fixed blade I have found (And I love them). Your arrow, while it will take down nearly any animal you shoot given a proper shot, is far too light to deliver the kinetic energy that is desireable for larger animals, especially with an expandable blade head. I do want to pass through, or at minimum, get an exit wound channel. The light arrows are great for long range and if you misjudge your yardage, but I sacrifice that for a heavier arrow and more KE. I wouldn't hesitate to take the G3s to Africa for animals such as a kudu or smaller given I shoot a minimum of 560 grains (FMJ 340's) and have shot up to 680. Clearly not target arrows but pass through nearly everything I shoot with fixed blades and most on expandables.

Click to expand...

Very good point! My setup is as follow. 500gr arrow with 100gr T3, Shooting at 290 fts when bow is set at 80lb

Pro Hunting Safaris said:

Very good point! My setup is as follow. 500gr arrow with 100gr T3, Shooting at 290 fts when bow is set at 80lb

Click to expand...

You're getting a lot of speed out of a 500 grain arrow! That's awesome. I have a setup for giraffe that's 500 grains but I'm not close to 300 fps. (no- I'm not planning on using the T3's for the giraffe. I was thinking of a two blade fixed)

My bow is maxed out at 74 lbs. To upgrade the limbs and get into the 80 lbs is a few hundred bucks and since I'm close to needing a new bow I figured I'd roll that cost into upgrading the limbs of the new one.

With my new setup I will likely go with a heavier arrow so I can increase my kinetic energy without giving up a ton of speed, but I don't completely agree that 400 grain arrows at 295 fps is a little light for Africa. Mostly because I've used this weight arrow on two africa hunts and they've done fine, but also because of my North America experience. If you've hunted a 900 pound bull elk, you know how tough they are, and this arrow setup has been perfect for them. I may not get a passthrough at 40 yards but if I put the arrow where it needs to go, the penetration is going to kill the animal.

My philosophy is shoot as heavy an arrow as you can while sticking as close to 300 fps as you can. Then shoot broad heads that you are super confident with (regardless of fixed or expandable) and then practice until you can hit a 5 inch spot on a target at 60 yards. If you do that, then these 20 to 40 yard shots are going to be dead animals regardless of whether you're shooting a 400 grain arrow or a 600 grain arrow.

Hey guys, I just spotted this chat. Ive been using the t3's for a number of years and used them successfully in Africa in 2013.

The PH was a bit skeptical at first, so we moved up the critter scale starting at impala, warthog, porcupines, then onto a blue wildebeest cow and a waterbuck cow. No dramas on any of them full penetration, though not all full passthroughs. Hard life helping with culls.

I was shooting out them out of a hoyt 70 lb alphaburner at 29 in draw doing around 285fps.

heres some videos of what they could do

Hey Jim! Thanks for weighing in on this thread and giving your experience on this broadhead. I'm sold. I'm heading to cabelas tomorrow to pick them up.

On a side note- how heavy was your arrow?

oh- watched those videos... awesome! I could sit and watch bow hunts over waterholes all day!

Hey mate, the arrows are early version St axis arrows, total weight was 520gr. The old burner certainly does pump em out for a 6yr old Hoyt

wow! that's pretty heavy. Your bow "pumps em out" great! I'm surprised you can get that kind of speed only pulling 70 lbs with a 29 inch draw. I just did the math and your kinetic energy is really good.

From memory its around 94 foot pounds of KE. The wildebeest certainly didn't like it.

Heres some more for your viewing pleasure

hey jim,

watched those videos. Loved the warthog and especially that kudu!