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Post by thelefthand on Sept 18, 2011 18:46:06 GMT -5
Anyone have an opinion on Rage broadheads? I've been using Thunderheads for several years now. Started out with the Thunderhead 125 back in the early 90's, and then switched switched to Thunderhead 100s shortly after they came out. I've tried several mechanicals over the years including the spitfires, but I've never been happy with them. They've always flow more like broad heads then field points, and they are a pain to sight in with. Now I need to either buy some more replacement blades for my 100s or buy a different broadhead. I've heard from a few guys that they like the Rage, but I'd like to get some more feedback before I make the plung, or pass them by. Specifically I'm looking at the 3 blade 100 gr Rage broadheads.
Thanks,
Mark
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2011 21:24:46 GMT -5
Mark, I am mainly a bowhunter and shot rage heads for three years.
the good 1. they fly like field points
2. they are reasonably tough
3. i could practice with field tips and hunt with the heads and be dead on
the bad.........1. floppy blades/ can be fixed with a very small rubber band 2. large entry hole BUT sometimes small exit holes (the side that matters) thats the main reason I abandoned them
3. expensive, but all premium heads are now
i went to the g5 t3 last year and liked it and will probably shoot them again this year
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Post by thelefthand on Sept 19, 2011 6:07:13 GMT -5
Thanks Hillbill. Were the small exit wounds noticable in the hide, on the inside of the rib cage, or both? The G5 T3 looks nice, but I tend to wait until they're out in the field for 3 or 4 years before I try something. I got tired of spending lots of money on the "new" stuff only to be the one to figure out why the "new" stuff wasn't as good as the "old" stuff  Thanks again, Mark |
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Post by rangeball on Sept 19, 2011 10:47:46 GMT -5
Brother stuck one in the shoulder blade of a big buck, no penetration. Granted it wasn't a good hit but a good cut on contact two blade would have blow through I'm sure.
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Post by smokepole50 on Sept 19, 2011 16:26:05 GMT -5
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Post by tar12 on Sept 19, 2011 21:09:46 GMT -5
"Q" is going to test the Rage heads this year.I have been using Steele Force for several years. They have served me very well on less than ideal shots.
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Post by Dave W on Sept 20, 2011 7:17:14 GMT -5
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Post by petev on Sept 21, 2011 18:43:26 GMT -5
My buddy used rage alot for a couple of years. They caused incredible bleeding, but if the shoulder blade is hit, they won't penetrate.
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Post by DBinNY on Sept 21, 2011 19:27:39 GMT -5
"Q" is going to test the Rage heads this year.I have been using Steele Force for several years. They have served me very well on less than ideal shots. Q could run 'em down and pin 'em if he just stuns 'em. I can't criticize expendables because I've never used them. I have, however, blown fixed blade broad heads (muzzys) though bone and got the deer on several occasions. |
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Post by esshup on Sept 24, 2011 0:38:16 GMT -5
I've used 100g HyperShocks for a few years and really like them. They cut 2 1/4".
Downside is a small entry hole, the blades don't open until they are inside the skin. Plus is angled shots don't deflect.
Plus side is that of the 5 deer that I've taken with them, the furthest that one went was 40 yds. One, that had the arrow slip thru both lungs without hitting any bone only went 10 yds. She jumped at the noise (or the arrow going thru her) but stopped and looked around as if to say "What the He.. was that?" Maybe 10 seconds later she just tipped right over.
I've had 2 of the 5 hits on deer result in the broadhead not being useable anymore. One hit bone on both sides of the deer, resulting in the small set screw that holds the blade in to crack, and I couldn't change the blade. The other one, I don't know what happened, but I couldn't get the set screw to unscrew. Maybe part of the cup that accepts the allen wrench broke off, I couldn't tell. One took both a deer and a turkey, and is still in service.
2 years ago a neighbor said he had 2 "fail to open" hits with a Rage. He switched broadheads.
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Post by toosensitive on Sept 24, 2011 14:31:47 GMT -5
My boy uses Rage...swears by them. He's taken some giants with it. But, as with all blades, a poor shot will not guarantee success. I've tried everything but settled for fixed 3 blade Muzzys...best pass through/penetration for me.
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Post by esshup on Sept 24, 2011 23:07:44 GMT -5
My boy uses Rage...swears by them. He's taken some giants with it. But, as with all blades, a poor shot will not guarantee success. I agree 110%! |
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Post by rangeball on Oct 3, 2011 10:57:08 GMT -5
Was watching a show this weekend, president of block targets and I think rage broadheads was hunting cape buffalo in Africa. Bow at 80#, arrow 900gr and using the two blade rage. He hit a huge buf perfect, it had to be put down with a rifle from a helicopter. Looked to get good penetration, he said it took out the top part of the heart and bottom of both lungs, but it left me wondering if it failed on the heavy ribs and only penciled through. If it performed as it should with that hit I can't see that think living as long as it did. So I wouldn't hunt cape buffalo with them |
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Post by tar12 on Oct 3, 2011 20:03:35 GMT -5
Was watching a show this weekend, president of block targets and I think rage broadheads was hunting cape buffalo in Africa. Bow at 80#, arrow 900gr and using the two blade rage. He hit a huge buf perfect, it had to be put down with a rifle from a helicopter. Looked to get good penetration, he said it took out the top part of the heart and bottom of both lungs, but it left me wondering if it failed on the heavy ribs and only penciled through. If it performed as it should with that hit I can't see that think living as long as it did. So I wouldn't hunt cape buffalo with them There are alot of things that will not put down a cape buff the first time including many magnum offerings! |
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Post by rangeball on Oct 4, 2011 12:40:29 GMT -5
Yeah, tuff animal. Almost overlapping rib structure, this one had 47" wide bosses and was 16' long and 2500#!
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Post by thelefthand on Oct 23, 2011 12:32:44 GMT -5
Well, the old high tech urge got the better of me again and I gave them a try. They shoot pretty good accuracy wise. However, after hunting with them twice, I've already had problems keeping the blades closed 3 or 4 times. They are easy enough to put back in place, but that issue cost me a shot at a trophy at 15 yards a few years ago using spit fire heads. While watching the buck I had unknowingly snagged a blade on something and popped it open. I noticed it when I went to draw the bow back. By the time I got it fixed, he was right behind me and I couldn't do anything.
I did kill a button buck yesterday with the 100 gr Rage 3 blade. After reading the reviews, I intentionally tried to stay away from the shoulder and I ended up making a liver shot. Ironically, I only hit about 1 " back of where I was aiming. The target was small, but I didn't take the time to pick out a good spot to shoot fore. He was walking and stopped briefly and turned his head away from me to do something. Eat a leaf, lick his side, something. He was only a tad over 10 yards so I didn't put a lot of effort into picking out the exact right spot. I wanted to get the shot off before he started walking again. I hit in front of the diaphragm, but the arrow went through the front half of the liver. I think the fetching stuck in him, but the arrow quickly fell out and was laying about 5 yards from where I shot him. I had to track him about 250 yards, but the blood trail was easy to follow, partially because of the large exit wound. The head is in pretty good shape. On the up side, it has been my experience that any deer shot with a bow that goes over 100 yards is rarely found, but this guy was easy to find. However, if the arrow hadn't made and exit wound, I don't think I would have ever found him.
I have the deer quartered and in the cooler now, and haven't looked to see how much bone I hit. My opinion is that this head is pretty good for a 1.5" mechanical, but I think I'm going to try some montech CS heads next year. I just don't think my bow (old mathews FX at 70 lb and 30" draw) has enough UMPF to drive a head that big through part of a shoulder blade on a broad side hit. I also HATE any mechanical that will allow a blade to open before I even shoot it. On the up side, it shoots very well, opened well on impact, made a large hole, and seems to be pretty rugged.
Just my 2 bits,
Mark
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Post by Dave W on Oct 23, 2011 17:45:01 GMT -5
I switched to the g-5 SS Montec this year. Best shooting fixed blade broadhead I think I have ever shot. Was using the Spitfires for several years but I got tired of the blade retaining clips getting tore up in my broadhead target, sometimes after only 1 shot, not to mention they aren't the easiest to replace blades.
The Montec shoots just as good as the Spitfire and to the same POI, at least in my bow. Hope they perform as well on game.
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Post by dougedwards on Oct 23, 2011 23:35:46 GMT -5
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Post by jeremylong on Oct 30, 2011 21:13:26 GMT -5
Keep it simple and keep them sharp. Nothing wrong with Thunderheads. Most issues from different broadhead flight from field points are bow tuning issues. Those montec cs are really good broadheads as are allot of them. My biggest recommendation is an arrow spinner to check any arrow setup. Simple tool the can tell you allot. In my mind the physics is simple. Every action requires energy. Including opening blades. More moving parts, more possible failure points. If I shot expandables again it would like the newer Ramcat style like dougedwards posted. Of course I want to try to send a trophy ridge buck blaster through a whitetail doe. I think it would be cool. My current setup is an Elite Pure 31.5" draw 81#'s and 125 grain 1.5" cut G5 Striker magnums with accprohunters. Same as with my guns, I like two holes :-) Also check out these, I have flight tested them and they fly really well and are well made. Short stout ferrul and sharp sturdy blades. www.qadinc.com/2011-Exodus.html. They should start being available any time now. |
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Post by thelefthand on Oct 31, 2011 19:17:06 GMT -5
My bow is a Mathew's FX and it's the only bow that I've ever had that I couldn't get the thunder heads to shoot like field points. Having said that, it shoots broad heads just fine, I just have to adjust my sights for them. The rage heads do shoot like FP out of my bow. I just don't think my old FX has enough speed to drive a 1 1/2" head through a deer like it should if I catch part of the shoulder blade. To say that the shoulder blade has to be avoided is saying that the front half of the vitals is off limits, and that's a deal breaker for me.
Having said all of that, I noticed that next year they are allowing cross bows for our entire archery season. I'd feel much more comfortable driving a 1 1/2" broadhead out of a 350 fps cross bow than at 250 ish fps out of my bow.
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Post by esshup on Nov 5, 2011 23:07:04 GMT -5
After all the hype I bought a set for my crossbow. 125g Even bought the practice point. For me, they don't fly as consistent as the HyperShocks do.
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Post by timinator on Dec 7, 2011 8:02:18 GMT -5
I hunted about half the season this year with Rage 2 blade 100 grains. I got sick of having to reset the blades several times a hunt. I also hit a nice doe a little too far forward and got almost zero penetration and lost her. On television I've seen them take down a Dinasour, but after having one bounce off a doe, I'm not hunting with them anymore. I've switched to Reigns for the rest of the season but those Montec's look nice too.
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Post by huntmeister on Dec 7, 2011 8:56:04 GMT -5
I just cannot get warm & fuzzy with the mechanicals...I'm firmly in the keep it simple camp. Love my slick tricks.
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