Rhino Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 That experiment sounds familiar Pat. Pretty poor. Makes me wonder with the TV shows that have Rage as their sponsor, how many deer are hit and not recovered that we never hear about. They're not going to show that...bad for business. So far in MO between 3 hunters (including me) we've shot 6 does with Montecs. The one that went the furthest went ~80 yards and slammed into a tree. The shortest was 35 yards. 4 of the 6 does fell within sight of the stand. The 1 buck killed (story posted today) went about 600 yards but exit was just a couple of inches on the off side of the brisket & entry was a little to low behind the shoulder for a 10 yard shot. My buddy learned MO bucks don't duck low like MS deer. Not at all in this case. No problem at all following the blood trail even though ~400 yards of it was in waist to chest high grass. Some day I'll give the VPA's a try that Tom's sold on. Yea Tom...I will. Till then I'll keep sharpening my Montecs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) Glad to see this post - thanks Hoosier. Validates why I switched last year. Years ago I used Muzzy and wanted a better blood trail and a point that was like my field point so I switched to the Rocky Mountain Gators - (Same as a rage - although I'm sure the manufacturers would disagree). My first couple deer were pass through heart shots so I had a decent blood trail and short recovery. Then some less than ideal shots rendered the same results posted by Hoosier. In addition I stuck a buck in the shoulder and never found him - arrow broke with only 3-4 inches penetrating. I now shoot Steelforce phat heads and have found they are as close to my field tips as expandables, all deer shot recovered within 50 yards, blood trail very weak to non-existant, all shots have been heart or lung pass through. They jury is still out as far as less than ideal shots, but my number one selling point these days above blood trails, fly like a field point, or cut diameter is max penetration. Edited November 6, 2013 by fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 SS..and Pat...don't know if dragging comment was directed at me, but was just curious as to what angles the shots were. To the life in me, I do not understand why one would want to hit shoulder at anytime? If that's the only shot, I'd let it walk, even with a fixed blade chisel. Wow, I should of checked back in sooner. :48: MXT, by no means was that directed at you. that was purely directed at myself because of the shot angle I will take. It's admirable of the patience you show for shot angles and that is not in question. I was purely defending the fact on Rage heads and the history I have read for and against them. Nothing on a shooters thought of ethical shot placement. I shoot Muzzy for the shear reason they have been proven for me of the bone crushing ability and killing ability after going through large bone. Dan Fitzgerald sold me on these heads years ago, many years ago for their ability of shattering bone and they have proven to do so. With that confidence in a head and proper KE, it allows me more shot angles to take. It's even been advertised to promote new mechanical's to not be diverted for a steep shot angle, that some designs have been susceptible to diverting the arrow because one blade open before the others on a steep shot angle. Fixed blades,, not an issue. My response was purely directed at a mechanical versus a fixed blade head. OK, why not take a lung shot and not risk the chance of a deflection or poor results...I just don't get the idea of purposely hitting all that bone. I'm not the most patient in most things, but one thing I will wait for is the right time, right position Before I get drug through the coals for my shot angle's, quote from ss No question on your shot placement or position. Please don't take that directed at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 SS..was just trying NOT to bash anybody for a misplaced shot or poor shot, ..sometimes that happens...just questioning the choice to try to slam through a shoulder blade, and still keep things civil....it's all cool, never took your comment personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 I shoot Rages and have shot them for the past five years. In my experience, the blood trails were indicative of the shot placement. Shot muzzy's and slick tricks before that. Just like the rages better. To each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 SS..was just trying NOT to bash anybody for a misplaced shot or poor shot, ..sometimes that happens...just questioning the choice to try to slam through a shoulder blade, and still keep things civil....it's all cool, never took your comment personally. Good deal, didn't won't that:) I just wish true emotions could be seen over the internet, its not like sitting around the camp fire but dang close on this sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Here's my buck from last year with a rage wound from the neighbor two weeks earlier. He shot this deer head on at 18 yards. Believe me I chewed him pretty good when I found out AND made sure I told him that I killed that buck along with sending pictures of his shot. This hole was about 2 inches deep and you can see it barely clipped the esophagus because of the new blood in the wound. I was extremely surprised by the lack of penetration from a 70lb bow and only a muscle hit. I know the kid had buck fever because he told me when it happened that he was 24 inside with 12 inch tines! Biggest deer he'd ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 wow,..Pat that's what really irks me to no end...with a bow you should be like a surgeon with that arrow...a gun, ya totally different story, but even then I don't want to blow up a shoulder and ruin meat if I can get a good heart/ lung shot off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 I'm surprised you got so many passthru shots with the Rage. That's my one complaint I have with them, and like you, the blades aren't too durable. For price and performance, I think the Muzzy 100 is my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2013 I'm surprised you got so many passthru shots with the Rage. That's my one complaint I have with them, and like you, the blades aren't too durable. For price and performance, I think the Muzzy 100 is my favorite. Now only one of those arrows has buried in the ground. The rest were all with 1-3 yards of impact sight laying on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcot2773 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thanks for the report! Have questioned rage for years. And got the conformation I need. I will continue to use my Muzzie's which on FL/NC deer look like a 12guage slug went in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Wow I haven't kept up with this thread, about time we had some good long threads lol. I had a Lancaster archery gift card from a generous forum member and the Christmas exchange last year. I couldn't decide what to get but I finally ordered the new hypodermic rage heads. Did my first experiment yesterday evening with a pass through heart shot at twenty steps. Arrow such in the ground, deer never made it out of sight and piled up. Honestly any broadhead would have done the same thing. I do like the improved design though, I'll post results as I get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 confidence is everything in hunting, shoot what you are confident in. IMO you confidence should be from experience. I have a short draw length and have never been able to bust a shoulder, I know this so I avoid them. I have taken 5 deer with the rage, Doe at 18 yards quartering away, ran 31 yards 6pt. at 22 yards, ran 60 yards Doe at 26 yards ran 45 yards Buck at 25 yards, ran 110 yards Doe at 17 yards ran 50 yards I will say that my Mathew Q2 is 70 lbs but only shooting about 235 fps, I have a 25.5 inch draw and am very happy with the way my combination works for me. I am not about to say this works for everyone but in reality there is nothing posted on line that will change my opinion of past experience with this product. I will continue to use the rage heads until they have failed me because of product malfunction, I can't blame human error on any head. Your experiment did not work well for you and I understand the disappointment in the product, but if you look at my list of success I am sure you will understand why I will probably continue to use them. Good luck all, I am hoping to test them again this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 cousin shoots about the same setup jbeck just mentioned. taken a handful of deer with Rage standard 2-blade heads. all were recovered and in under 80 yards. my results are pretty much the same but I shoot the titaniums out of a 345 fps IBO Evo at 65 lbs and 29" draw. that frontal shot was definitely a poor choice. hope you put an emphasis on shot placement more than equipment. i'm sure you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 confidence is everything in hunting, shoot what you are confident in. IMO you confidence should be from experience. I have a short draw length and have never been able to bust a shoulder, I know this so I avoid them. I have taken 5 deer with the rage, Doe at 18 yards quartering away, ran 31 yards 6pt. at 22 yards, ran 60 yards Doe at 26 yards ran 45 yards Buck at 25 yards, ran 110 yards Doe at 17 yards ran 50 yards I will say that my Mathew Q2 is 70 lbs but only shooting about 235 fps, I have a 25.5 inch draw and am very happy with the way my combination works for me. I am not about to say this works for everyone but in reality there is nothing posted on line that will change my opinion of past experience with this product. I will continue to use the rage heads until they have failed me because of product malfunction, I can't blame human error on any head. Your experiment did not work well for you and I understand the disappointment in the product, but if you look at my list of success I am sure you will understand why I will probably continue to use them. Good luck all, I am hoping to test them again this week No doubt if I had great shot placement the results probably would be different. I wouldn't change if I had the results you posted. On the positive I recovered 4 out of 5 deer which is the end goal. On the negative, I'd bet that two of the deer definitely would not have been recovered by novice trackers that we found. I just can't explain the lack of blood given liver hits without the holes plugging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 That is weird..I can see a high lung not bleeding until it fills up inside... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I really like the way the rage preformed on the 4 deer i shot with them, but i never shot one through the shoulder either . I never shoot for the shoulder, I'd rather shot a little back than in the shoulder with any broadhead. got the new rage extremes now, cant wait to put one through the boiler room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I never had a chance to release a Rage. Again what others have said, it was confidence. I had the standard 2-blade heads. I hunt primarily from a ground blind and it seemed like everytime I bumped my bow the dang thing deployed. What finally sealed the deal was I drew on a deer, I took my eyes off my sights to see if the broadhead was ok, then focused again but it was too late, the deer moved away. I couldn't keep checking them. I went back to good ole Slick Trick mags and have never looked back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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