Rage Broadheads

Alright... I have asked before about fix blade broadheads and mechanicals. And the consensus seemed to be that the archery hunters who have been doing this for a long time don't like the idea of a mechanical not opening, and the young guys seems to like the expandables. I know that's a generalization, but that's just how it seemed. I like to read Randy Ulmers advice, I figure he knows what he is doing about as well as anybody. He talks about using Rocky Mountain Broadheads which I know nothing about, but he also uses Rage Expandables. And I have to admit, the 2"+ holes sound very appealing.

My question is this... Is he pushing them because he is getting paid, or are they really that good? I killed my deer last year with a Montec G5, which did just fine. He ran about 50 yards and piled in a heap. But I am liking the field tip accuracy idea, as well as the bigger cutting diameter especially with my pending elk hunt.

Please give me your thoughts as I have very limited bowhunting experience...

Thanks,

Brandon

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killerbee
first, im 32. if i answer fixed blades do i get thrown in with the "old" guys? lol lol

but i do like fixed better. i HAVE used expandable and had some bad experiances with them. BUT i've also had my hunters used expandables that worked great. in my own theory, i think you need to be a bigger person for them to work good. meaning if your a bigger person you probably shoot a 30"draw with alot of kinetic energy. THATS what i think makes them work well. I, on the other hand, shoot a 27"draw and the year i tried them was shoting for speed[ ](*,) stupid me] and did not have enough KE to open them up AND get penatration. lost a bull that year with a shot that should have been fatal. unfortunatly when he ran off, he had 3/4 or more of my arrow hanging out of the entrance side. :>/ i've heard they are better now but i will stick to fixed heads from now on.
and you had good performance last year why would you want to change?
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I've been shooting 3 blade 100gr muzzies for as long as they have been around. I bought a much faster bow this past year and my shot pattern expanded form the size of a half dollar to about 3 inches at thirty yards. It spreeds further at 40 and 50yrds. I tried the rage and it stays very tight out to fifty yrds, happy with that. I haven't harvested any critters yet. A rancher I know wants me to take some hogs of his place next month I'll let you know on the two inch rage does as soon as I can. If they work well on a hog they'll work on anything.
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Killerbee - Well I'm 31, so yes, you are very, very old! lol

The reasons why I would consider switching is because first I am new to archery and want to try things out, and they (mechanical broadheads) seem to be more forgiving than fixed blade, could get a better grouping, and if....IF... it opens properly then a big opening in the animal as well. But you have a good point, as far as staying with what works. My draw length is 29 1/2 if that really makes the difference. Also when you shot the mechanical at your bull and it didn't open, how long ago was that? How long had mechanicals been out at that point?

47- The grouping is very appealing. Good luck with the hogs, let me know how it goes!
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killerbee
i think it was about 6-7 yrs ago. i was using wasp jackhammers. i have seen the same broadhead work unbelievably great. i have a buddy who has used them for probably 6-7yrs. and they perform great for him. he has a 31 inch draw and can punch threw anything. for me it just seems that the process of opening took that much more away from my penatration[ boy that sounds a little personnal lol ]
but we cant even use them here in oregon so i dont have a choice. but in new mexico we were the same way, wanted to find a more accurate head. now with my new bow my tuning seems to be great and the fixed g5 montechs fly real close to my field tips anyway. but good luck and keep me posted on how it works out for you
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for me it just seems that the process of opening took that much more away from my penatration[ boy that sounds a little personnal lol ]
Now that's funny! I found a couple articles about the subject, and I have to admit they made me feel a lot less inclined to go the mechanical route. I was really happy with the way my G5 flew right through that deer. Here is what these guys have to say on the subject...

http://www.bowhunting.net/huntwest/99Broadheads4Elk.html

http://www.alphatrilogy.com/0211/what-is-the-best-broadhead-for-big-game.html
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6x6 bull
I was always a fan of fixed blade broadheads and still am but my friend and I switched tto Rage broadheads last year and between he and I we killed 2 bulls, 1 mule deer, 3 whitetails, 3 turkeys, 1 coyote, 1 raccoon. All of these animals were quick humane kills that left massive blood trails. The Rage worked just like it was supposed to. We do change the o-rings out often so we won't have a problem with the blades opening up to soon. My daughter had braces when she was little and she had hundreds of little rubber bands that you put on the braces. These work great around the middle of the broadhead if you plan to stalk with the arrow on the string. When you shoot the blades slide back and cut the rubber band.
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6x6 - Great feedback thank you. Anyone else?
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southwind
Well I'm 48 so I must be ancient. Anyway, I have been a fixed blade guys up until two years ago. I witnessed a Rage broadhead on another hunters harvest and was amazed at the wound channel. Thinking it could of been a one time thing I started checking around and found that performance was typical.

I decided to give them a try. When I first got them I already started having buyers remorse and thought " I hope I didn't just make a really bad choice". I stayed with them and was very please with accuracy I was getting in practice. So, first season out I get my first chance at a buck at about 35 yards that had been spooked and was moving pretty quickly through the woods. He did stop and I released my arrow as he started off again making my arrow hit back a little. It did not matter because the wound channel was so great he bled out within 50 yards.

I have only taken 4 animals with them so far but the other three were even more deadly and quicker kills than the first with massive wound channels and big blood trails.

So, until they prove me wrong I am sticking with them.

As far as Ulmer and Chuck Adams for that matter money is always in play but I believe they would not endorse these heads if they didn't believe in them. I won't say that about all of today's outdoor celebs but especially with Ulmer I feel this is true. ($$)
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I like the G5 Montecs, but I've used NAP Shockwaves and have never had one fail. I put the Shockwaves on when there's lots of wind because they fly much better. Make sure you try your heads in calm and windy conditions before you change anything. I haven't used the Rage broadheads because I don't trust the design in the light poundage bow I like to shoot. I also have 2 people I trust and are good shots warn me off them because they got little or no blood and lost deer after good hits. One went back to Muzzys and the next buck he shot died in sight.
Mark
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Southwind - 48? Wow, I'm surprised you are even able to hunt! lol lol

Mark - Shockwaves look almost identical to Grim Reapers. I have heard good things about them. And as you mentioned, it's not a bad idea to carry a mechanical in case of wind as well. Logic, I like that!

Also, the new blade from Montec - the G5 CS looks to be sweet. Same exact structure as the G5, but made with a different alloy and I've felt them, they are extremely sharp.
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