Tested Rage 3 blade

[PotashRLS]

At the risk of catching more "Heck" on the forums, my brother and some buddies and I shot my used Rage 3 Blade broadhead this past weekend. This is how it went...

We put a sheet of standard corrogated cardboard a foot in front of a box target we made with spray foam. The box works well for broadheads you want to push through instead of pulling out. My broadhead was in fine working order and was not bent or beat up. The blades were actually still quite sharp yet. We shot my used 3 blade head repeatedly replacing the O ring after shots. We were surprised to find that the blades did not deploy on the first sheet of cardboard and still did not deploy upon entering the box of foam insulation on any of the shots. Now we would be the first to admit this is not an official or ultra scientific test by any means, but I surely thought the blades should deploy, especially at the speed an arrow is pushing that head.

I did call Rage last week and stated that I thought the O ring was too hard and rigid and may not be allowing the blades to deploy consistantly. I was told that they are all the same and that it should deploy correctly.

This is purely FYI and to generate discussion. I am not a mechanical engineer, but I do know that there are 4 serious bowhunters here that are not confident in the broadheads they intended on hunting with. Is the cardboard an adequate test? What do you think?

[Guest saladshooter_t2]

I wonder if the density of spray foam is close to that of a living deer? Perhaps its just not dense enough for the blades to deploy...What one of us needs to do now is get some of that ballistics gel and give that a try...That would be a pretty conclusive test in my opinion. However, I too think that the foam would have triggered the blades, but who knows?

[Tominator]

I don't think cardboard and foam is an adequate test. Not even close to the density of skin/bone/living tissue.

[VermontHunter]

However, I too think that the foam would have triggered the blades, but who knows?

What you have to remember and realize with Mechanical heads, is that the blades tend to reclose on exit, making it appear that they never opened to start with .. ;)

I don't think cardboard and foam is an adequate test. Not even close to the density of skin/bone/living tissue.

I couldn't agree more Chris ..

[LifeNRA]

Find some ballistics gel, and shoot into that stuff! Its see through, and the blades should be able to open in that. Maybe. LOL! Ill stick with my Muzzy's. But the two bladed model sure leaves a HECK of a hole!

[Guest saladshooter_t2]

What you have to remember and realize with Mechanical heads, is that the blades tend to reclose on exit, making it appear that they never opened to start with .. ;)

True, true. But wouldn't it be relatively obvious by looking at the exit hole whether not the blades did indeed deploy? I'm not haggling, just making an observation:).

[VermontHunter]

What you have to remember and realize with Mechanical heads, is that the blades tend to reclose on exit, making it appear that they never opened to start with .. ;)

True, true. But wouldn't it be relatively obvious by looking at the exit hole whether not the blades did indeed deploy? I'm not haggling, just making an observation:).

Yes,, the entrance and exit would be a definate tell tail ,, if the proper materials were used... Other than that your are most correct .. ;)

[RangerClay]

I was talking with the owner of the archery shop where I bought my new bow. I was asking him about fixed broadheads and mechanicals because I am trying to decide what to use. I mentioned what I had read here on the forums. He told me that a cardboard box is not a good test for mechanicals. He said that when customers have this complaint, he tells them to cover the box with a garbage bag. Then the blades will deploy.

[Abear]

My spitfires mechanical blades are doing the same thing. I can't tell if they are deploying the supposedly do it on impact and when they exit they go back in but i don't know. Hopefully i will find out this weekend

[Guest saladshooter_t2]

I'm no expert on broad heads by any means, but it seems to me that the accuracy advantage gained from using a retractable doesn't seem worth the worry of it not deploying properly. If your one who isn't skeptical that it will deploy, go ahead and use them. Plenty of people have killed plenty of deer with them. If you do worry about it, it seems to make the most sense to use a fixed-blade to eliminate this issue. Use what you are most comfortable with, not what all the hype tells you that you should be using. Both broadheads have their pros and cons, its up to you to weigh them. Thats just my 2 cents.