Muzzy Trocar vs G5 Montec Fixed Blade Review

Pick One Based On What You Care About Most

If you want dead-simple durability and easy sharpening, I pick the G5 Montec.

If you want big holes, strong blood trails, and a head that stays tight, I pick the Muzzy Trocar.

I have shot fixed blades for most of my 25 years with a compound, and I still carry both styles depending on the stand and the shot I expect.

Here is what I do when I am packing for Pike County, Illinois versus the Missouri Ozarks, because those hunts are not the same thing.

The Real Choice. Big Hole Versus Easy Life.

You are choosing between a broadhead that cuts a bigger wound channel, and one that is almost boring in how tough and simple it is.

If you like tinkering and you check screws like you check your bow sight, Trocar fits you.

If you want to pull a head out of a target, touch it up, and go hunt, Montec fits you.

I learned the hard way that the “best” broadhead on paper means nothing if it does not fly with your setup and if you do not trust it at full draw.

My Background So You Know Where I Am Coming From

I have 23 years hunting whitetail, and I started with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I grew up broke, so I learned public land before I could ever afford a lease.

Now I split time between a small 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois and public land in the Missouri Ozarks.

I am mainly a bow hunter with 25 years behind a compound, but I still rifle hunt during gun season.

I have sat freezing in Wisconsin snow, chased mule deer in Colorado, and dealt with Texas feeders and hogs.

I process my own deer in the garage, taught by my uncle who was a butcher.

I have burned money on gear that did not work, and I have two kids I take hunting now, so I pay attention to what is simple and reliable.

I am not a guide. I am just a guy who has made plenty of mistakes and wants you to skip a few.

Muzzy Trocar Fixed Blade. Decide If You Want Replaceable Blades.

The Trocar is a replaceable blade fixed head with a tip design that is meant to punch and split on impact.

The main decision is this. Do you want the convenience of swapping blades, or do you want one solid piece of steel you can keep sharpening forever.

Here is what I do with Trocars. I keep a small parts kit in my bow case, and I check blade screws the night before every sit.

I learned the hard way that little screws can loosen at the worst time, and you do not notice until a head looks “off” spinning on an arrow.

Back in 2018 in the Missouri Ozarks, I had a replaceable blade head start to loosen after a dozen practice shots, and it took my confidence with it.

That is not a Trocar-only problem. It is a replaceable blade reality.

G5 Montec. Decide If You Want One-Piece Toughness.

The Montec is a one-piece fixed head, and it is built like a roofing nail that happens to cut.

The decision here is simple. Do you want a head that can’t come apart, even if you wanted it to.

Here is what I do with Montecs. I mark each head and shoot the exact heads I hunt with, then I resharpen them and keep them in rotation.

I wasted money on “super sharp” gimmicks before I learned that a one-piece head I can sharpen myself beats a head I am scared to touch.

My buddy swears by replaceable blades because he hates sharpening, but I have found sharpening gets easy once you do it ten times.

Accuracy And Tuning. Pick The One You Can Make Fly.

If a broadhead does not hit with your field points at 40 yards, you do not have a broadhead problem. You have a tuning problem.

Still, some heads are more forgiving with real-world bows and real-world hunters.

In my setups, Montecs have been slightly more forgiving when my rest timing was not perfect.

Trocars have shot great too, but they have punished me more when my arrows were not matched well.

Here is what I do. I paper tune, then I shoot one broadhead arrow at 20, 30, and 40 yards, and I stop the second something looks off.

If you want a good place to start thinking about deer movement before you even pick a shot distance, I check feeding times first.

Penetration. Decide What Angles You Are Willing To Take.

Most of the time, both heads will zip through a whitetail on a good shot.

The tradeoff shows up on bad angles, heavy shoulder contact, and steep quartering shots.

I am opinionated here. For pure “keep going” toughness, I trust the Montec more because there is nothing to bend loose.

But I have also seen Trocars punch hard and leave nasty cuts that make the blood trail easier in thick stuff.

If you are hunting thick brush in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about a “perfect” blood trail and focus on a head that you trust to get through ribs and keep cutting.

If you want to think about shot placement deeper, this connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks.

Blood Trails. Decide If You Want A Bigger Cut Or A Cleaner Pass-Through.

Bigger cuts tend to bleed more, but only if you hit the right stuff and get an exit hole.

In my experience, the Trocar often gives me more visible blood early because it can open things up fast.

Montec kills just as dead, but I have had a few cases where the blood started lighter for the first 40 yards, then got heavy.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, the 156-inch typical I killed after that cold front went 70 yards, and the blood trail was paint.

That was a fixed blade pass-through, and it reminded me that sharp beats fancy.

Sharpness. Decide If You Want Swap-And-Go Or Sharpen-And-Repeat.

This is where most guys make their choice, even if they pretend it is about aerodynamics.

With Trocar, you can swap blades, check alignment, and be hunting in 3 minutes.

With Montec, you can keep that same head for years, but you need a system to sharpen it.

Here is what I do. I use a flat stone and finish with a strop, and I do three heads in a row so I stay consistent.

I learned the hard way that “kinda sharp” is how you get short blood trails that turn into long nights.

I also learned that shaving-hair sharp is not required, but clean edges that bite a rubber band matter.

Durability. Decide If You Want Replaceable Parts Or A Solid Chunk Of Steel.

I have broken or bent something on almost every style of broadhead over the years, especially when I hit dirt or rock.

The Montec is the one I worry about least in the field, because there is nothing to rattle loose or shear off.

The Trocar has treated me well, but replaceable blade heads always mean more moving parts and more checks.

Here is what I do for both. I spin test every arrow on a cheap spinner, and I never assume “new” means “good.”

If you want a reminder that deer are not dumb, this ties into what I wrote about are deer smart.

Price And Value. Decide What You Can Actually Practice With.

I am not going to pretend cost does not matter, because I grew up counting dollars and hunting public land.

If a head is so expensive you refuse to practice with it, you will shoot worse and lose more deer.

Here is what I do. I buy enough heads that I can dedicate two to practice and still have sharp hunters ready.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I would rather spend that money on arrows and heads I trust.

My best cheap investment is still my $35 climbing sticks that I have used for 11 seasons, because getting in the right tree beats any broadhead debate.

How I Match These Heads To Real Places I Hunt

Pike County, Illinois has bigger deer and more open edges, and I can often wait for a cleaner angle.

In that situation, I lean Trocar because I want a big cut and a loud blood trail in picked corn and ditch grass.

In the Missouri Ozarks, the cover is thick and the tracking can turn into hands-and-knees crawling.

In that stuff, I lean Montec because I want simple toughness, and I do not want to wonder if a blade shifted when I bumped my quiver.

Back in 2007, I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, and never found her, and I still think about it.

That taught me that broadheads matter, but decisions after the shot matter more.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If you are the type who will replace blades and re-check screws every hunt, do the Muzzy Trocar.

If you see a quartering-to angle in thick cover, expect shallow penetration problems and wait for a better angle or pass.

If conditions change to rain and wet leaves, switch to shorter tracking pushes and give the deer more time before you take the trail.

Gear I Actually Use With These Heads. Decide What Is Worth Buying.

I am not sponsored, and I am not trying to impress anyone with a gear wall.

I buy what lasts, because I have two kids and I would rather spend money on tags and gas.

Arrow Spinner. Do Not Skip This If You Shoot Fixed Blades.

I use the Pine Ridge Archery Arrow Inspector spinner, and it has saved me from hunting with a wobble more than once.

It is cheap enough that you feel dumb for not owning it, and it catches problems you cannot see by eye.

Sharpening For Montec. Decide If You Will Learn Or Keep Buying New Heads.

I use a Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener in my pack, and I touch up edges at the truck if I have to.

My buddy laughs and says he would rather just swap blades, but I have found this keeps me hunting even when shops are closed.

Mistakes I See Guys Make With Both Heads

Mistake one is believing a broadhead will “fix” a marginal shot.

Mistake two is not shooting the actual heads you hunt with, at the actual distance you might shoot a deer.

Mistake three is chasing speed and ignoring arrow flight.

Here is what I do. I would rather shoot a 430-grain arrow that hits where I look than a 360-grain arrow that drifts and planes.

If you want a reality check on how fast a deer can leave the county after the shot, it connects to how fast can deer run.

My Personal Pick By Scenario

If I am taking my kids and the shot will be inside 25 yards, I like Montec because it is simple and hard to mess up.

If I am sitting an Illinois pinch and I expect a 35-yard broadside shot on a cruising buck, I like Trocar for that big cut and confidence on the blood trail.

If I am hunting pressured public ground like the Missouri Ozarks and I might have to sneak in tight, I like Montec because it handles little bumps and abuse.

If you are new to deer terms and you hear guys say “buck” and “doe” like everyone should know, start with what is a male deer called and what is a female deer called.

FAQ

Do Muzzy Trocar broadheads fly like field points?

They can, but only if your bow is tuned and your arrows are straight.

Here is what I do. I broadhead test at 20, 30, and 40 yards, and I fix tune first instead of twisting my sight.

Are G5 Montecs hard to sharpen?

They are not hard, but you need a repeatable method and you need patience.

I use a flat stone or a guided sharpener, and I do not stop until the edge grabs and cuts paper clean.

Which is better for thick cover tracking in the Missouri Ozarks?

I lean Montec because I trust it to stay intact if I clip a branch or hit dirt after a pass-through.

But if you shoot Trocars and you keep them tight and sharp, they will also put deer down fast.

What broadhead should I pick if I might hit shoulder?

I pick the Montec because the one-piece build gives me more confidence when things go wrong.

I still avoid the shoulder on purpose, because shot choice beats head choice every season.

How long should I wait before tracking if my shot is back and I am not sure?

I wait longer than I want to, because pushing a hurt deer is how you lose it.

I learned that in 2007 on that gut-shot doe, and if I could go back, I would have backed out and waited at least 6 to 8 hours.

Does rain ruin a blood trail with either head?

Rain can wash it fast, especially on leaves, and that is true no matter what you shoot.

If you want to think through what deer do during weather shifts, I check where deer go when it rains before I decide how aggressive to be.

My Final Take After Carrying Both

If you made it this far and you still cannot decide, buy the one you will actually practice with.

A sharp head that hits where you aim at 40 yards beats a “better” head you do not trust.

Here is what I do before season. I shoot my actual hunting arrows at 20, 30, and 40 yards, then I pick the head that groups best with the least drama.

I learned the hard way that confidence matters, because buck fever is real and doubt makes you rush.

What I Tell My Buddy At The Tailgate. Decide What You Want To Worry About.

If you want the least headache, I stick with the G5 Montec and I keep a sharpener in the truck.

If you want the most obvious blood trails and you do not mind checking hardware, I run the Muzzy Trocar and I keep extra blades and a tiny wrench.

My buddy swears by replaceable blades because he likes “new sharp” every time, but I have found a Montec I personally sharpened makes me slow down and pick better shots.

Back in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, I killed my first deer, an 8-point buck, with a borrowed rifle, and even then the lesson was the same. Put it where it belongs and keep your head clear.

One Last Mistake To Avoid. Do Not Let A Broadhead Pick Your Shot.

I see guys get locked into, “My head will break shoulder,” and then they take a shot they should not take.

If you are hunting tight timber in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about proving how tough your broadhead is and focus on a clean broadside or slight quartering-away.

I lost a doe in 2007 after a gut shot and pushing her too early, and that mistake still sits in my stomach every fall.

That is why I care more about angle, patience, and an exit hole than I do about any marketing video.

What Matters More Than Either Broadhead. Make This Decision First.

Decide how far you are willing to shoot on a real deer, in real wind, from a real stand.

Here is what I do. If I cannot keep three broadheads inside a paper plate at that distance, I move my self-imposed limit closer until I can.

This connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind because wind and swirling thermals change shot windows fast.

It also connects to deer habitat because open edges and thick bedding cover create very different shot angles.

How I Think About Recovery After The Shot. Decide How Aggressive You Will Be.

I do not care if you shoot Trocar, Montec, or a rock tied to a stick. You can still mess up the recovery.

Here is what I do every time. I watch the deer until I cannot, I pick a landmark, I wait, and I start at the arrow and first blood like it is a crime scene.

If I have good reason to think it is liver or gut, I back out even if it hurts, because pushing is how you turn a dead deer into a lost deer.

When I am getting serious about recovery and meat care, I pull up my own notes on how to field dress a deer and I keep my kit simple.

My Call For Different Places I Hunt. Pick Based On Your Reality.

In Pike County, Illinois, I often have a clean lane and a calm deer at 28 to 38 yards, and I want an easy-to-follow trail in ditches and standing grass.

That is where I lean Trocar, because big holes and heavy blood make my life easier when I am alone.

In pressured public land like the Missouri Ozarks, I bump deer, I crawl through brush, and my gear gets beat up.

That is where I lean Montec, because one-piece steel forgives my clumsy moments and still stays hunt-ready.

Spend Your Money Where It Actually Helps. Make This Tradeoff.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that did nothing, and I will say it again because guys keep doing it.

If you have $60 to spend, spend it on extra arrows, a spinner, and range time instead of chasing some magic head.

If you want to keep your expectations honest on how much you are dealing with after a good hit, read how much meat from a deer and plan your cooler space ahead of time.

If you want the quick reality check on how deer act when they feel pressured, I still point people to are deer smart because yes, they are, and they learn fast.

Where I Land. Pick One And Go Shoot It.

If you want tough, simple, and repeatable, I would rather you buy the G5 Montec and learn to sharpen it.

If you want big cuts, strong early blood, and you will keep screws tight, I would rather you buy the Muzzy Trocar and keep spare blades in your pack.

Either one will kill deer fast if you put it in the ribs and you do your part after the shot.

Now go shoot the heads you plan to hunt with, because paper opinions do not fill a tag.