QAD Broadheads
QAD is best known for the Ultrarest drop-away rest, but the Exodus broadhead line quietly built a whitetail reputation as strong as any chisel-tip head on the market. 1.25 in cut, 3 blades, .040 in stainless. Legal in all 50 states. Priced under Iron Will and Slick Trick while cutting a bigger channel than either.
Flagship broadheads
- QAD Exodus Swept-Blade 100. 1.25 in cut, 3 blades, .040 in stainless, chisel tip, swept blade angle. MSRP around $45 per 3-pack.
- QAD Exodus Full-Blade 100. 1.25 in cut, 3 blades, .040 in stainless, full-cut blade angle. MSRP around $45 per 3-pack.
- QAD Exodus 125. 1.25 in cut, 3 blades, .040 in stainless, 125 gr for heavier arrows. MSRP around $48 per 3-pack.
- QAD Exodus 150. 1.25 in cut, 3 blades, .040 in stainless, 150 gr for FOC-focused rigs. MSRP around $50 per 3-pack.
Brand technology angle
The Exodus swept-blade geometry moves the primary cut back from the tip so the chisel tip drives through hide and bone before the blades engage. That transfer preserves KE for the wound channel that follows. The .040 in stainless is thicker than Slick Trick .035 in and thinner than Iron Will .062 in, hitting a genuine middle ground.
Honest strengths
- 1.25 in cut on a chisel tip is best-in-class for the price.
- .040 in blades survive routine bone hits.
- Available in 100, 125, and 150 gr for FOC-focused setups.
- Priced at $15 per head assembled.
Honest weaknesses
- 3-blade cut produces smaller wound channel than 4-blade at same diameter.
- Replaceable blades cost $18 per 6-pack, not the cheapest.
- Chisel tip loses penetration versus cut-on-contact on quartering shots.
QAD Exodus 125 on my elk rig for 4 seasons. 2 bulls, both pass-throughs, both under 100 yd recovery. Same head my dad runs on whitetail. Best broadhead nobody talks about.
Rokslide, Elk Hunting Forum, 2024
Broadhead law by state
Fixed blade: Legal in all 50 states for big game archery seasons.
Mechanical: Legal in ~44 states for big game. Restricted or discouraged in Idaho (mechanicals prohibited for big game archery), Oregon (mechanicals prohibited), and check current-year Wyoming regs. Legal but not preferred for elk and moose where cut-on-contact fixed heads penetrate through heavy shoulders.
Cut-on-contact: Legal in all 50 states. Preferred or required in some traditional-archery-only hunts.
Minimum cut diameter: Most states require 7/8 in cut for big game. A handful (Georgia, Mississippi, others) require 1 in. Always confirm current-season regs with your state fish and wildlife agency.
Blade count: Some states specify minimum 2 sharpened edges. Most modern broadheads exceed this by default.
This is a research summary, not legal advice. Confirm the current season regulations with your state fish and wildlife agency before you buy or hunt.