Help! Need mechanical broadhead recommendation for Mathews MXB 360

I had bought a Mathews MXB 360 this summer, and was all excited about how well it shot. At the time I was shooting field tips for practice, and didn't give much thought to how a broadhead would shoot in it, although the rail did look a bit narrow to me. On the eve of opening day for deer archery season, I got a nasty surprise...I went to transfer my G5 Montecs over from my old crossbow to the 360, and to my disappointment I found out that the diameter of the broadheads was too wide for the rail. They simply would not fit. Luckily I had a spare Rage expandable broadhead that someone had given me a while back, and put it on one of the bolts, thus saving Opening Day for me. I personally do not like expandable broadheads, and after reading an online review of this crossbow model, I found out that you have to use mechanical broadheads with the 360. This being said, it's totally my fault for not doing more research about this model before I bought it, and I'm a little upset with the guy at the bow shop not letting me know this piece of info beforehand either.
In any case, I've had this crossbow for several months, I like the way it shoots, but it's painfully obvious that I will have to use a mechanical broadhead with it from now on. Do any of you have a recommendation for which one? I'm trying to find something simple and easy to use without a bunch of moving parts and accessories to mess with on the broadhead itself. Appreciate any help you can provide.

I'd use Scwhacker over Rage. That's what my wife used this morning to zap a big tom out if her crossbow.

I have been using Grim Reaper with great accuracy out of my mxb 360. No issues at all. It's a simple spring loaded broadhead.
You have an awesome bow, hope you enjoy it. I couldn't be happier with mine.

I shoot Grim reapers. If you want a real durable broadhead that will penetrate just as good as any fixed try the stainless fatal steels. The 2" whitetail specials will leave a hole in a deer big enough to fit a 2x4 through. Very rarely you don't watch em drop.

If you ask 10 different hunters they will tell you different things. I'm shooting rage hypodermics, the spike I shot last night had a hole I could stick my hand in. I was against Expandables all the way until I saw first had what they do.

Rage Hypodermic, blood trail a blind man could follow!

I also have a MXB360 and I use Montecs. We also discovered the small opening at the end of the rail for the fixed broadheads. I learned that some arrows were situated so that the three sided Montec broadhead would have one cutter pointed down and lay in the opening without hitting the brackets at the end (pictured). My brother used expandables (I do not recall the brand) in his 360 and had a shot that cleanly missed. He believes that the broadhead expanded in flight and caused the arrow to waiver. We do not know this for sure.
I like that some have used the Grim Reaper with success, I may have to try that.
The 360 is an awesome bow, glad I bought mine.

Thanks everyone for the info. After taking out all the crossbow bolts I had bought for the 360 and tinkering with each one individually using the Montecs I had, I did manage to find 2 of the 9 bolts I had were able to hold the broadhead cutter side down, like In the picture Simple Searcher had shown. Ironically enough, the 2 that did fit on the rail were not on the Mathews bolts, but the spare Easton bolts I had bought (I still couldn't get the other 7 bolts to thread the Montecs at the right angle no matter what I did). I figured two was better than none, so I put the two good bolts with the Montecs in my quiver and went hunting. I shot a doe earlier this week...sliced right through her like a ninja sword, and she never made it past 50 yards before she dropped deader than a door nail. I used the other Montec last night on a really large boar hog. It hit him pretty good (buried at least half the bolt in him); however, I shot a little too far back on him, so he ended hauling off my bolt and Montec still lodged in his guts. Went out this morning to look for him, but it rained last night, and I was unable to find any blood. Oh well, at least it's good to know the 360 works, and quite well I might add. I may have to look at the Grim Reapers as a replacement and see how they perform on my 360.

Another brand to look at is the ramcat. I haven't used them, so can't speak from experience but I have a few friends that love the ramcats. Had a friend take a giant elk using them last weekend and it didn't make it but 20 yards before dropping.

Does Ramcat make an expandable broadhead?

I have heard of using a rubber O ring to adjust the broadhead to fit in the location needed? Don't know if this is true.

The oriNg can work

You can also use a field tip and propane torch and heat the field tip just enough to soften the glue enough to remove the insert then glue it back in where you want it indexed. Care must be taken though to not over heat the carbon shafts.

If they are aluminum bolts then it is easy, heat index and allow them to cool. Good to go.

Interesting. Think I will experiment on an old bolt and see how re-indexing goes.

I am looking at moving to a crossbow in the near future and have been looking at the MXB line. What do you guys think about them? They seem to be very well made but I want to know what you guys using them in the field think before I drop that kind of money. Thanks!

I sent Mission a note about the broad head indexing issue. Their reply of adding a washer was one that I had considered, but was afraid that the added weight may be an issue. Then it occurred to me that adding a washer when shooting with practice tips would correct that, and a little brass washer would almost be an insignificant weight issue anyway. I guess you could sand down a washer a little till you finally get the indexing right.

Here was there reply:

Sir,

If you get a brass washer to put behind the broadhead it will allow you to index the broadhead to the desired location/angle to get the clearance you need. You can find these at a local hardware store

Thanks

Mathews Technical Services
919 River Road
Sparta, WI 54656

I've been shooting my MXB 360 since this summer, and absolutely love how it shoots. I only recently found out the problem about the fixed broadheads (finally went ahead and ordered some Grim Reaper mechanical broadheads online, will see how they perform when they arrive next week). The only other quirk that I'm still getting used to is the safety lever; it sits over where the cable is cocked, vs. in the very back like my old Parker crossbow. Other than those two issues, it's still a pretty sweet crossbow.

The safety does suck. I also don't like how loud it clicks. I no longer put it on once I'm in position and waiting. The click made a doe pause and walk away last Saturday.. no more safety for me unless moving.
The bow is awesome. Very quiet, very strong,light and beyond accurate and reliable. Not a single issue yet. I'm sold on the mxb line

I went ahead and picked up an MXB Dagger the other day. Have not had a chance to hunt with it yet but so far have been extremely impressed. Very compact and very powerful. Not as quiet as the 360 but it's a trade I wanted to make for the smaller size. Thanks for the input guys!

Rage

I have the rage and wonder, what makes you take the rage over the Reapers? I'm curious as I have both and prefer the simplicity of the reapers