GMMAT, No head that I know of will go through the thickest part of the leg/shoulder bone. No argument from me there. However, move an inch either side and that same fixed two blade head will penetrate and a large expandable will not. I can say that with confidence because I have seen it go both ways more than once. For me, there is no dispute that the fixed will do a better job on marginal hits that involve bone. They are also far more likelly to deflect and continue into the body cavity. There is no question as to which head will do the job for me. Again, any head will do the job in the middle of the deer, I will use the head that gives me the best chance on other hits. I am using 30 years of experience and the word of many outfitters that have seen it all. Thats good enough for me. If Rage in the cage is your preference that is great. Just be prepared to use something else if you hunt out West or with an outfitter. For big bodied midwest deer, fixed is your best odds, no question.
As many know I am a G5 guy. However I did try these heads and to say the least I am impressed. They did the trick. I shot a deer @42 yards and it passed through the upper shoulders and out the other side. This deer did not go more than 25-30 yds. That said, I am still a G5 Montec shooter and plan on remaining that way. I have complete confidence in the Montec head, that is why I shoot them. It is ALWAYS about shot placement. The fact is that we can kill deer with field points if we shoot correctly. Again, not bashing the Rage heads, they are a good head.
i used the 3 blade rage for the first time this season. i love em, i will continue to use them. i didn't get a pass thru because of the angle of the shot( any other head wouldn't have passed thru either ), but with only one hole he only made it 50 yards and dropped. i was amazed at all the blood there was from one hole and it was on the upper half of the body. i should have taken some closer pics of the hole it made, these don't show it that well, but i also didn't take any pics of me with my bow on the deer . rage broadheads are great :D
Was it a 5 1/2 year old buck that weighs close to 300 lbs.??? I have done it on young midwest does with muzzys, but that really isnt what I am talking about here. I guess when I say "deer" in this debate, I am speaking of a slob buck that will wreck the best of equipment.
No but it was on a 250+ Mule Deer. It did not pass through but just enough penetration to get into the vitals and act as a blender.
I've had great success...I even killed 2 deer with the same head, same blades, this year. Just a quick resharpen needed.
I killed a Mule Deer last year with a 2 blade rage and let's just say, it wasn't at a short distance. The arrow didn't pass through (amost did) however I double lunged it and the deer only went about 50 yards and piled up. Since the deer ran for about 20 yards with my arrow in it the blades were slightly bent and couldn't be re-used but the ferrule still works fine with new blades on it. Heck, even from the distance I shot it at the guide and I could see the blood spray when the deer turned to run... As far as some western states not allowing them, these are probably the same states that still have the 65% let-off rule.
I've been shooting Rage 2 blades for 3 years now, 3 bucks, 3 does with 4 pass throughs. One buck was a quartering away hard, the shot entered at the back of the cage and ended up breaking the front leg just below the shoulder. Not a pass through but devistating results. The other was on a midwestern "slob" 152" 5.5 year old at 35 yards quartering slightly towards caught hard bone on the way in and lodged in the back wall of the cage. All but one died within sight, none went more than 75 yards. I've shot fixed and expandables and can say I've found Rage to be my favorite. No lost deer here.
These threads are the best. Threads like these when a bunch of hunters get together and start pounding their chests.. spilling out why their broadhead is so great... tripping over their own words. "I shot my deer with brand X and it went 40 yards." "Oh yeah.. I shot my 200 pound deer with brand Z and it went 30." We all know if you hit a deer in the right spot.. it gonna go down.. whether you "throw an axe at it" or not.:D With that being said.. All 3 of my deer taken this year went a COMBINED 80 yards between them... if that. And I shoot a head so tiny you'd think it was illegal. NAP Nitron. (i'm sorry.. i just felt the need to pound my chest with ya'll).
I'll likely use a fixed blade broadhead forever. I mess up enough on my own. I don't want to take the chance the broadhead will. If I can get a low exit hole, I'm a happy camper. I shoot Muzzy's right now, but am looking at the Slick Tricks or Nitrons for next year. I know people that SWEAR by the Rage BH. Use what you want. Who cares.
