First hand feedback on Rage Hypodermics

[RadSav]

Yeah, I believe Coach has first hand experience with failure (broken blades). 

I was a spotter as another hunter experience a failure.  I've also watched and partook in blood trailing in three other cases where it performed just fine.  Two of those were deer and two were antelope.  The failure I witnessed was on an antelope.  So I guess it depends on your interpretation of "First Hand".  If first hand means you need to have actually held the bow in your hand and shot the arrow yourself then that's a story for Coach.

The outfitter we used in WI on the whitetail hunt last year told us he was thinking of refusing to allow anyone using Rage broadheads to hunt his property.  On the other hand last time I hunted Texas with an outfitter he wished everyone would shoot Rage heads.  That seems to be the positions of most outfitters I've worked with...not much middle ground!  Seems 49% love them and 49% hate them.  Not sure I have experienced any other head where those who guide a lot of hunters every year are so divided.

[MLBowhunting]

Coach please share your story. 

[RadSav]

Here is what Coach said on the other Rage thread.  Doesn't sound like it was the Hypo, but...
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,174084.msg2327931.html#msg2327931

The failure I witnessed was a nice buck antelope shot solid in the front shoulder (quartering toward the hunter).  The Hypo ferrule broke off on the shaft side of the screw hole.  Arrow fell out almost immediately.  We watched that buck for the next three days.  Usually bedded not far from water.  Saw him get up twice in those three days.  On the fourth day he got up when some does came into water and he chased them off the ranch.  Guess he was feeling better

The other three animals were shot well behind the shoulder.  All three traveled about the same distance 80-100 yards.  Not great, but I've seen worse from two blade broadheads with similar shots.

[MLBowhunting]

Thanks Rad.  There it is Ken.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I am really excited about the new law .. I can not wait to see the results of those using mechanicals this year ..Hopefully it will be positive feed back .. I will still be using fixed blades ...

[RadSav]

I am really excited about the new law .. I can not wait to see the results of those using mechanicals this year ..Hopefully it will be positive feed back .. I will still be using fixed blades ...

I doubt we will see much of a difference.  Maybe better than usual results the first year, but same ole' same ole' next year as folks start using old dull blades as usual.  I just hope most bowhunters will make the smart choice and steer clear of barbed head styles (fixed and/or expandable).  Really hard to believe this state decided to lift that rule.

[earlmarne]

I have not shot anything besides my 18 and 1 and some gravel with the hypodermic.
I wish the blade angle was a little less severe but the new stamped blades seem to hold up pretty dang well (never shot the old ones).The one that ended up in the gravel the blades are useless but intact and the ferrule is still in good shape.I have yet to send a fixed or mech head into the gravel and have the blades be anything but chewed up.I have broke blades off of slick trick mags and grizz trick 2 and shuttle ts on the same shot
I have really been trying to talk myself into having these in my quiver come elk season but may just shoot a lighter arrow with some fixed van dykes or phat heads.
I dont have many kills with my bow to add much substance to any of this but if I do end up running a mech head I will put it on top of a heavy arrow.

[Rock7]

I have shot my fare share of animals with a rage 2 blade. In my own experience I have never had one fail. I never got a complete pass through using rage bh's but never need it. The entrance hole was huge. I never liked any of the flip open style mechanicals and have never used one. And can someone tell me what the hell is a barbed broadhead?

[RadSav]

Barb - a projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) preventing easy extraction.

[scoutdog346]

if you're planning on using Expendables for long range shots dont 4get that sometimes long range shots might have less momentum and inertia or whatever you call it and Expendables are known for their large blade diameter and that increase in blade diameter might decrease the penetration due to the surface area factor as the broad head is trying to push through the animal. I'm no physicist so im probablycompletely wrong.  I was planning on keeping 1 large like 2" expandable broadhead in my quiver in case I have a short range shot.  I was thinking about using Expendables for mule deer but for some reason I just don't have the confidence that I'm going to have a kinetic energy at the long range situations I'm normally in when mule deer hunting so I am deciding to use mechanicals for elk in fixed blades for long range mule deer. Im @68lbs with my bow and i just dont see a mechanical opening completely up at a 70 yard shot on a mule deer when its cold outside.  I would love to be corrected if I'm wrong because I want to use mechanicals on mule deer. 

[Rock7]

RadSav, thanks for the info. I have never seen a barbed broadhead before.

Here is my last 2 cents on mechanicals versus fixed blade. What kind of hunting are you planning on doing? Spot and Stalk or stand/blind? If you are spot and stalking with mechanicals pay a little attention to the arrow when you have them nocked. The blades have a tendency to deploy (especially on rage) if you bump them on brush or anything else. In my opinion that is just one more thing I don't want to think about when I am closing the final yards on an animal to make a shot.

[RadSav]

It's amazing how bad an arrow can fly with one blade at full extension.  I've experienced that a number of times with mechanicals, including Rage.  Although that was back before Rage started using the new plastic collar.  I've done very minimal testing since they dropped the Shock Lock o-ring.

[scoutdog346]

I dont know if a 2" expendable would pass through a mule deer at 70 yards?

[RadSav]

About the same as a 1.25" three blade with the same cutting angle and blade thickness.

You lose a little in the inefficiency of the mechanical action, but not enough to worry about.

[scoutdog346]

I don't know if my bow would shoot a 3 blade 2"mechanical broadhead hard enough to pass through a mule deer at 60 or 70 yards?. Lung shot or heart shot.  Z7 extreme. 68lbs 30" draw, Maxima hunter carbon express, 350 arrow 4 fletchings.  Thats just seems like alot of material and resistance.