So guys I want to get ready for the deer season a little early. I was looking into broadheads and I've had a few people tell me that the Rage broadhead is the best bang for the buck. I was looking into these and noticed that the pack comes with a practice "Field Tip". So can you guy fill me in on what I need to look for when it comes to a broadhead please. Thanks.
Broadheads are probably the most debated subject in archery. Most of it is personal preference. Anymore, just about any broadhead will shoot out of your bow, providing it's tuned properly, and hit right with your field tips. I personally HATE expandables of any type, but thats just my opinion. No, I have not used them, but have heard many horror stories, albiet they are not legal in Idaho anyways. For me if I can make my fixed blade fly at any ethical distance I see no reason to shoot a mechanical head. Just doesn't do it for me. However, if I lived in the midwest and whitetail was my primary target I might consider them. When dealing with elk I want a strong head that won't possibly get hung up on ribs, open too early/not at all, or bust blades. My first choice would not be rages, however, because I do not agree with their marketing scheme's. Don't sit right with me. Again, this is just my OPINION. I believe almost every broadhead has it's place at least somewhere in the world. Best thing I could suggest would figure out some qualities you want out of your head then go from there.
as stated above everyone has their own opinions on broadhead preference. any sharp broadhead will do the job if your set up properly and hit where you aimed. shot placement is way more important than the broadhead you choose. i have shot both and after seeing the damage and results of using the rage, i was hooked. here's some pics of the entrance hole. the best pic i have is on my phone and i have no idea how to get it onto the computer
So how much does practicing with your broadheads should you do? hunterace- Nice deer!!! :D Great shots! And were both of those shot with the Rage Broadheads?
i practiced a few times with the broadhead that is for target practice, and found they flew the same as the field tips. no, the solo pic and the one on the right is my buck shot with the 3 blade rage. my brother used mechanical broadheads also, he was going to buy the rage 2 blades but someone bought him undertakers it think, as a birthday present. like i said though nothing beats a good placed shot
Like everyone else has said, it is all about what you like and what works for you. If you wanna know if I like rage broadheads.......you bet I do. I didnt ever think I would shoot an expandable, but one day my hunting buddy convinced be to shot a doe with the 2 blade. I can say that I was hooked when that arrown entered the deer. Thats just me though.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm relatively new to the bow hunting scene, though I've been hunting by other methods for quite some time. I must say that after the Russian Boar hunt that I partook in about 2 weeks ago I will not shoot anything except Rage broadheads. 5 guys participated in the hunt and we all had different broadheads that we shot. Of the 5 guys (myself included) my Rage 2 blades had the deepest penetration and did the most damage. Don't get me wrong... everyone got their hogs, but the Rage 2 blade proved itself to me that morning. Just my two cents for what it's worth.
NOT QUITE!!! The best BANG for the buck is gonna be a STEEL fixed blade head with replaceable blades or something like Magnus with a lifetime warranty. For what it's worth, I shot Wasp Jak-Hammers for years, and loved them, but hated the fact that I might only get 2 animals out of a head before it was messed up enough that it wasn't going to do it's job efficiently. I shot some T-Heads, Muzzy's and even some cheap Eastman stuff (which the Ti-100's flew really well in all honesty, and did the same thing other BH's do. I settled on Slick Tricks because the design, while simple is also very effective and TOUGH, and they fly so well. Here are a couple big does, both over 200# that fell to my Slick Tricks, and both BH's had already been through a couple other animals before they killed these big old girls. Both were heart shot, both died in short order with GOOD blood trails. Deer #1, look at her legs, she ran about 50-55yds, and stopped and looked around for a couple second before she fell over, bleeding out onto both front legs like I've never seen an animal do before, and this BH had already been through 2 deer and 2 coyotes when I sharpened it and punched it through this old girl... Deer number 2, I'll give you 3 pics, one of what the last 20yds of the blood trail looked like and one with the "tracker" that found the deer for me....enjoy.....:D The trail... Entry hole....(looks like a slug hole don't it???) That's the ST Trademark!!! And finally, the HERO SHOT... Yes, that little 5yr old w/ the little LED light to the left of her tracked this doe, and she was as proud as any kid in the world when she found her for me!!!! :D At $25 per 3 pack and w/ replacement blades being about $11-14, I truly believe that ST's are the very best BANG for the $$$. I've shot several of mine hundreds of times into my BH target, and just put a little time to re-edging them, and they're ready to kill again. If you can feel confident to shoot your BH regularly, and then be able to edge it up and put it back in the quiver and get these type of results, wouldn't that make you a more confident hunter??? I believe it does me. And I never replaced the blades on either of those BH's between animals, just re-sharpened and put them back to work!!!
Man....looks like I have to just shoot some I guess. I'm glad to have all this info. Thanks for all the help.
i have only used rage, so i dont kno about the rest, but the reason i tried them was cuz they were so popular, i glad i did check out these pics from my 09-10 season facing me, want thru chest bone and into heartbarely went 20 yrds hunting from ground deer jumped back want across his neck went like 100yrds this doe quartering away ducked when i shot hit her neck only went 50yrds
Well, it certainly looks like someone took to heart "Expand your killzone" from Rage...... Try that frontal shot on a MATURE deer, it won't end up quite the same much of the time, and the neck shots turned out very lucky for you. You might try shooting them in the VITALS.....next time....
i hunt public land only, very spooked deer cant blink without them hearing it, this was my first ever hunting season, shot 3 deer recovered 3 deer, i would say im 100%, thanks to to rage, and with the 2010 release of the titanium rage, the best gets even better. and theres a long story behind why i took a frontal shot, i know where to aim and will out shoot most people, and he was mature just very bad genetics due to over population, witch is the reason why we can kill so many here. anything else buddy?
You will learn someday, I promise you that. Sounds to me like you just got lucky. Whitetails are jumpy no matter there public or private. Relying on your "rage" to carry you through on an iffy shot is just asking for trouble, hopefully not on a nice P&Y buck for your sake. Also, just because a deer is immature or has bad genes does not warrant the excuse for a marginal shot, shoot ethically or don't shoot. Period.
i dont rely on the rage, i aim for vitals, every shot, if your talking about the heart shot and calling that marginal, your mistaking, that was a perfect shot. deer are jumpy and thats why its good to have a broadhead that will get the job done if the deer jumps the string. i shoot and hunt ethical, and what i have learned is that it only took 6 post for me to find a bunch of a$$holes, no wonder this site is one of the smallest. people like you fellows putting down new guys like me, trying to get into this sport, good job, i was very happy with every deer and every shot i took,
Trust me bro, unless your forearm is about 18" in diameter, that deer has a REALLY SKINNY neck for a "mature" deer. I'm not bustin' your chops anymore beyond that, being a first year bowhunter, you've done well. But shot selection improves with experience and knowledge. I've seen a few deer shot on a frontal shot that were not recovered or ran a LONG way. I've also seen a couple die in short order, including one I personally killed, which was also a smallish deer shot w/ a high poundage set-up. Take a little time to learn a little more, and you'll be a better hunter for it in the end. If deer are really skittish as you mention, then you should refrain from taking 50yds shots because you already have learned what can happen, and even the QUIETEST bow in the world is still gonna make enough sound that they are going to hear it MOST of the time. You were indeed lucky that all 3 of those shots turned out the way they did, shoot those same three shots next season and you may end up 0 for 3 rather than 3 for 3. There's a learning curve in bowhunting....to this point, it's been quite kind to you, don't push the envelop more than you have to or it may sharply turn on you, trust me that's experience speaking. And each of those lessons were learned the hard way because there was no one to offer me the advice that is now available quite readily on-line.
I bought the Rage 2-blades and sold the damn things. I'm having good luck with the Epek XC-3. I wonder how much these broadheads would cost if they didn't have 15 TV celebrities pushing these things . Rage! Its like throwing your wallet at an animal :D
