I just gotta wonder Mike, why there is so much focus on the fastest bows in today's world. And why most of us shoot well over the required poundage to effectively kill a deer. I guess folks are looking for maximum performance, but for some reason folks buying the fastest bows, cranking them up to peak, doesn't draw the attention expandables do. Maybe it has to do with the fact that it's the broadhead penerating the animal, not the bow itself.

The question must also be asked, why have rage come out with new "stronger" heads ? Probably to address of the concerns in the market. The market usually reveals the truth.


Here is a comment from rage that justify's my point.


4. Features
Slipcam Rear Blade Deployment System keeps energy and power through impact on into the target. Accuracy of a field tip with deadly impact of a fixed blade broadhead.


http://www.ragebroadheads.com/Products/Titanium-Broadhead.php

ORIGINAL: SilverKype



I did not use the word all. I did say always defending. If you want to play the manipulation game, we can go there.

 
"But it certainly is interesting that it's the expandable guys always defending their broadheads yet every 2-3 years, they are trying something new."
 
When you refer to "the expandable guys" you're painting with a broad brush. To me it sounds as if you grouping all the guys who shoot expandables together, and saying we all switch heads because we've all had performance problems. If that wasn't your intent then it's fine, I just interpereted it differently. It looks like esox did too.
 
One a side note...all mechanical heads are different. There's no doubt the large diameter heads lack penetration at times. That's why I avoid them. Before I shot the Tekans I shoot now, I was shooting rocket steelheads. They're cutting diameter was 1.25", which is half the diameter of a Rage and would penetrate just as well as anything else i've used. I guess what I'm trying to say is, not all mechanical heads are comparable. Comparing the rage to all the other mechanicals would be the same as comparing the core maxx to all the other fixed blades, when it's obvious they're not going to penetrate as well.
 
The heads I use serve me well. I haven't had a deer go out of my sight in the past 6 years. I'm not going to claim they are better than fixed, but they are as good. I judge that by all the deer I killed with them, all the short blood trails, and all the pass throughs.
 
If my mechanical heads ever fail me. I promise to let Jon know so he can start a thread titled "I told you so". Maybe that can replace the tired sucker jokes about me that he and Dardys seem to be running out of.
 
 

"Maybe that can replace the tired sucker jokes about me that he and Dardys seem to be running out of."

The sucker jokes are not tired and we certainly have not run out of them.  We are just taking it a little easy on you.  Its a long ride to the One Fly you know.

And thanks for admitting you switched from sidewinders because of performance. Proved my point in which you were questioning. Which begs the question.. what good are large expanding blades once they hit ribs and bend to all hell. Less effective for sure.

Nice try to "manipulate" what I said.

I switched because of the reviews I had heard from of the archers in my area. But, when I am speaking of durability, the chisel tips on them would dull and sometimes chip and were unable to be sharpened. There was nothing wrong with them and I had no trouble putting deer down with them, I was just ready to try something else. Plus my shop didn't carry the replacement tips/blades so I got tired of ordering them.

You speak about how much technology has increased in bows and other equipment; so why wouldn't broadheads be the same? The Rockets I was shooting were likely a 15-20+ YO design and believe it or not technology has increased since then....

Do the chisel tips on fixed blades dull or chip?

So after you shoot a deer your blades/tip don't dull? Never have chipped? Do you have to sharpen/replace blades after shooting/killing a deer with them?

Since I know you are really good at splitting hairs let me explain this a little better; it really wasn't a durability issue with the Rockets per say, it was more of a maintenance thing. Being that the replacements(tips) were not easily accessible was the biggest drawback of them for me. I have not bent/broke any blades/tips on any Rages and I can buy new blades/tips just about anywhere.....

The best example of blood vessels I have found is a stretched rubberband. We use a 2X4 with nails at each end with a rubberband stretched around it for hunter safety and bowhunter education courses. Dull blades, even the one year old unused blades struggle to cut the rubberband, often times can't, while new blades out of the package cut on contact. Just touching the band snaps it. Air itself apparently dulls blades overtime.

Yeah, I'm anal when it comes to the sharpness of blades.

Don't forget to mention that you are shooting 80 some pounds and MM is shooting 90 or so. If I was chicken, I'd want to know that.

It would be along the same parallels as me picking up the fastest fly rod on the market, overlining it, and when someone asks about it, telling them it's not that fast without the rest of the story. Shooting that kind of poundage is an exception.


Which also begs the question, why do you shoot that poundage ? Why does anyone shoot over 50 pounds ? Probably all the same reasons; performance.

I was shooting 83#'s on my Safari Custom.

I now(last season-current) shoot 72 out of my Reezen. 
Chicken's bow is shootin heavier and faster than what I am shootin now.

To answer your question why I shot that poundage...because I can.  It's not hard for me to pull, it doesn't hurt me.  Hell I draw it with 2 fingers. 
The "Reezen" I switched was for the shorter axle to axle length.  If they made a short axle-axle bow in 80-100lbs, you can bet your****I'd have it.

That 150"er I shot a couple years back...I hit him square in the knuckle of the shoulder with the 83# Safari and a Rage 2b.  Got 6" of penetration.  One lung.  He went 200 yards.  4yr old deer, 200#'s.
If I would have been shooting 50#'s, he surely would've twitched at the impact of the arrow, looked up at me and laughed.
The poor shot I made was compensated by the bow I was shooting.  To this day, I say, if it weren't for that bow, that deer would've died a long slow death.  Not good.
Oh yeah, and about that broadhead, it never bent, chipped or twisted.  That says alot to me.   I shot the tagged doe with the same head 2 days later after cleaning and touching up the blades.  It now resides in the "killed" pile.
I broke blades on NAP Crossfires(fixed) shootin into a Block but it didn't convince me to stop using them.  I killed a pile of deer with them too.

Good luck this season.

I got my "mowing" boots on!

Ironhed

Personally. I made the switch and will NEVER look back! Took a decent buck last year ( i dont kill does) and the 2 blade made an absolute mess of his insides. The arrow hit the opposing shoulder and stopped, probably wasnt the best shooting angle... Im still impressed with them. Best broadhead i have ever shot hands down.

I didn't know that MM.  Thanks.
Even though I'm not a big fan of the "Rotten Apples", I may look for one to shoot.

Ironhed

OK, thanks.

Ironhed

This broadhead debate reminds me of the ones my dad and his buddies used to have in deer camp in the 50's about the best rifle and bullet. Lots of fun, most are opinions so no one is real wrong, and most bullets/broadheads will do the job with a proper hit. I have a book with photos of nearly all the broadheads put out from 1871 to 1971 (over 2000). Imagine how many more since then. All are designed or improved with one thing in mind, (separate the hunter from his money).Just like womens clothes, the styles change every year (new and improved)because just like women we always want/need to try something different. It's been that way since the cave man and no reason to think it will ever change.