fly Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Not a rage or expandable fan. Too many stories of them not opening. However, thinking of trying them (again) since my fixed blade heads have been giving me a dismal blood trail. Which expandable has a near perfect deployment rate which should produce a heavy blood trail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Most 3 blade expandable so should do the trick. I have grim reapers now and it blew a giant hole in the buck I shot. Much bigger exit than entrance. Had the same results with rocket sidewinders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 You using the razor cut (cut on contact) or razor tip (chisel) heads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Chisel tip heads. I have limited experience with expandables, I'd guess about 10-12 deer shot with them. 5 with rage(terrible blood trails/caused massive internal damage but created a slit wound/deer went down reasonably fast) 5-6 with rocket sidewinders(crazy internal damage and great blood trails/busted several arrows due to weak metal piece where attached to the arrow,had to use crossbow oring/very dull out of the package/discontinued) All have been passthroughs although only a few buried in the ground/broke shoulders with rages and sidewinders. A few rages undeployed after impact leaving only a field point entry or exit hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I've never had a Rage not open. On the other hand, I've not had great penetration from time to time with the Rage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I guess I'm just too old school. I tried expandables when they came out, but returned to my faithful Muzzy 3 blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 If I do any bow hunting this year, will be using G5's Tekan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine Hntr Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 tried the G5 T3's a few years back, I won't bash but I did have a couple blades not deploy and not a bunch of penetration, back to fixed blades now. I do like how expandables fly but there's the additional variable of whether they'll open or not that concerns me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted October 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Yea, I've killed my last 10 deer or so with a fixed blade Steelforce Phathead - cut on contact, thick blade, get a pass-through much of the time. I've double lunged deer with them and had specks to follow. Granted most of the time the deer is only 30-60 yards from the impact spot, but the blood trail is always terrible. My son hit a big one (pass through, vanes covered in blood), and pea sized drops to follow. We actually did not find the deer he shot. It was with a crossbow (in KY) so I'm thinking about trying an expandable. I've heard some good things about spitfires - may try those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 shwackers 100gr 2" cut Ill try and post a picture of my last blood trail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 100% I'd shoot the spitfires from a crossbow. My dad and buddy use those. Devastating damage and the biggest exit wounds I've ever seen from a broad head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Be prepared to not have as many pass through's with expandables because penetration is not as good. If you are shooting downward, you won't have blood trails till the insides fill up with blood and you bleed out your entry wound. Now one thing I noticed about your Steelforce Phathead's is a smaller bleeder blade. Maybe you could go with a Slick Trick or a Muzzy where all the blades are the same size. Slick tricks brag about shotgun slug type holes for entry wounds and boy are they correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 depends on your setup. don't recall what you shoot for poundage or draw length. I've always had a pass through and never had issues of not opening with Rage heads. I've used (regular 2 blade and mostly 2 blade titaniums which I prefer) I've heard good things about the hypodermic Rages too. for multiple reasons i stay away from three blade Rage heads for deer. I prefer their slip cam design or similar opposed to folding back to open blades. if, or I suppose when, the time comes I don't get a pass through i'll still have a large entry wound. this won't tell you blood trail outcome but useful info still.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 second time typing this due to server errors..... never had poor results with Rage 2blade regular heads or 2 blade titaniums which I prefer. heard great things about hypodermics too. I prefer slip cam blade deployment vs folding back to open type. if or I suppose when the day comes I don't get a pass through i'll still have a big entry wound. won't tell you blood trail outcome but still useful info... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 third time typing this and will try without a link..... I've had good luck with 2 blade Rage heads (regular and titaniums which I prefer). for multiple reasons I stick with 2 versus 3 blades. also heard good things about the hypodermic Rage. prefer the slip cam type of opening versus folding back to open blade designs. if or i suppose when the day comes I don't get a pass through i'll still have a large entry wound. there's an outdoor life magazine broadhead test with good info. 29 best broadheads or something is the title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Don't know what to say about the bad press of the rage, I only know the last 7 deer I have taken have been with the rage. The longest trail was 90 yards because of a lung liver hit. the other 6 didn't make it 50 yards. I don't shoot a fast bow and I have only had one pass through. I will not change until experience tell me to. I go by proof not opinion. I will say I have hit every deer but one with a double lung shot and I don't shoot over 30 yards. Good luck and if you put it the right place any head will work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Pass throughs are definitely an issue for most expandables. I'm shooting 80lbs and creating over 90lbs of KE and they still basically fall out of the far side. I can't argue about the rages putting deer down rather quick and even on liver gut shot deer too. The issue is the blood trail. I had one of the 5 spew blood and crash in 30 yards, but I broke both her shoulders. Even the liver hit deer didn't bleed externally. My lab actually recovered a doe we lost the blood trail on and she only went between 150 to 200 yards on a liver hit. Hardly any external blood loss with an entry and exit wound. The blades undeployed on exit. I think inlay have actually posted pictures or comments about it a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted October 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Thanks everyone - I heard good things about the schwackers and slick tricks as well as the spitfires. Muzzy's are legendary - I've killed deer with them, but lost some as well. Some of my buddies use rage broadheads - I've never tried them but the tests I reviewed online didn't put them at the top for expandables. One would think that a pass through = heavy blood trail. It just hasn't happened for me on numerous occasions.I think I'll try out the new spitfires crossbow (cut on contact) heads for my TenPoint and see what happens. I'll probably stick with the phatheads or try a newer cut on contact Muzzy for my compound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 I always liked the Grim Reapers, but I also like the fixed heads with the NAP Hell Razors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 I guess I'm a dinosaur in the expandible world. I still use NAP Spitfire over the top expandibles. 100gr. Always left a massive wound and blood trail. They have been to known to be found closed when finding your arrow after shooting a game with it. They snap back closed after penetration and exit. No complaints from me on these broadheads. I know you have heard this a million times...BUT. Shot placement is the key. Rage are the type of head either you love them or hate 'em. Spitfire entrance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted October 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Nice entry wound - just opened my spitfire 3 blades. Only difference is the cut on contact tip. We'll see.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted October 29, 2015 Report Share Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) Thinking of trying the RamCats next fall. Edited October 29, 2015 by Casey 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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