Mechanical Broadheads

[Bait Runner]

My son shot a doe the other night with the new under taker mechanical broadhead made by Trophy Ridge. He did get the deer with a double lung shot however the broadhead did not seem to lock in place leaving a 1/4 inch hole on both sides. I also found the blades not being laser sharp as advertized. Anyone else have similar problems or reccmmend other mechanical heads that you've had success with? Pros and cons either way greatly appreciated.

[waterfowler1]

I shoot the two blade Rage Broadhead. Other than the plastic 'O' ring this head is flawless! I shot many deer using them and almost all of them I saw fall and die. You won't be upset with them.

[Drenalin1]

I still use the 3 blade Spitfire was going to try the Rage but time and again they put them down. I shot a doe the other night and it hit the offside shoulder and blew right through it like it wasnt even there. She went 30 yrds and piled up. When I got to her it looked like she had been in a train wreck. I lovem and have never had a problem with them opening. But with any mechanical I always like to check they open easily before I hunt with them.

[ACEarcher]

Ahhh the age old question! Fixed or mechanical?!?!? Well, the latest popular mechanical is the rage. I've heard many good things and some bad things. I personally don't hunt with mechanical heads. Many people have used muzzy fixed heads for years and they still are a great broadhead. I use montec G5 100g heads. I look at it this way. When using fixed heads their is no doubt ever that those blades are going to do their job when they hit that animal. When using mechanical their is still some doubt that those blades may not expand. So when it somes to mechanical or fixed I lean towards fixed heads. Just because of the confidence that I know they will always work. Just all my opinion.

[Joe D.]

I just picked up the shockwave 100's. They seem very similar to the spitfires. Anyone use these mechanical broadheads? I just shot a doe using the rocket steelhead 100's and they did their job perfectly expiring the deer within 25 yards of the shot. I would have purchased the same broadhead, but Dicks did not carry them and I didn't feel like traveling all over to find them.

[keppy382]

must check o rings on the rage but I shoot the 3 blade and must say I don't see me changing anytime soon. Three for three last year , two within sight. Great blood trails, but old saying goes.....shot placement.

[waterfowler1]

If it wasn't for the consist practice with a fixed heads I would defiantly still shoot them and I would be using Muzzy's products! I used to shoot spitfire heads but I had two bad experiences with them and should have learned from the first time. The first incident was on a good buck which came in at about ten yards and the deer was quatering away the head ran down the side of the buck but I got in far enough to hit lungs. The arrow ended up coming out of the deer on the same side I shot him on. Miminal blood but recovered the deer. The second time was the biggest buck to date since I have been a bow hunter which gave me a 12 yard quatering away shot and the blades must have hit on a slight angle and the head just ran down the side of the buck leaving a gash in him. Long upsetting story short, the buck was unhurt.

Until you have an incident, you will be believer in spitfire and any other front bladed pushing back broadhead. As I was. They are very field point accurate and almost always pass through on a broad side shot. If I ever have a misfortunate experience with Rage, I will go back to Muzzy's.

[grtwhthunter/fisherman]

myself i guess am still kinda oldschool on subject if it isnt broke no need to fix it. i been shooting 3 blade chisel point wasp for as long as i can remember and like was mentioned if deer was shot correctly there will be a deer at end of short trail, also for the same price i get 6 heads and or a refill pack of blades.

[BarnesX.308]

I've been shooting 100 grain mechanicals for many years now and never head a problem. Put one through the spine of a doe on Saturday. The broadhead was sticking out the offside of the doe.

[fletch]

I shoot spitfire 100 grain and always sharpen them right out the box.It makes a huge difference.shot up too 6 deer with the same head just gotta clean and resharpen right away. sucks when you blow through them and they get mud jammed in them other then that no problems

[onthehunt]

I shoot 3-blade muzzy's. A pain in the arse to tune, but it is well worth it:)

[PhilCVG]

Right now I have 3 sets of blades to shoot. I have 3 blade Rage's. I have 3 blade Rocky Mountain Assassins ( Mechanicals ). And I have 3 blade Thunderheads. All 100 grain. I haven't shot either of the mechanicals at a deer yet, but I can't complain about the success we have had with the Thunderheads. I'm hoping to put a Rage to use here real soon, but I need to see deer first ... :nuts:

I really only ever picked up the mechanicals because I couldn't get my Mathews Dren and Mathews Dropaway to shoot fixed blades no matter what I did.

[bowhunter]

I shoot pro series 125 gr. spitfires. I bought those new tru-fires but they dont shoot like a field tip. I shot at a doe Sat. and they shot low went home and put the spit fires back on. Have killed many deer with them. Should have known better than to change:D

[never better]

I've shot over 100 deer with 100grain Thunderheads....if it aint broke, don't fix it :D
Tom

[Racker]

I use the grim reeper 3 blade fixed broadhead! I'm thinking of going to the mechanical grim reeper!!!! Any use mechanical Grim Reeper??????

[Archer101]

I shoot Rage now but used to use the Nap Spitfire. Both broadheads have done the job and I have never had a problem with either of them! If your son had a problem with mechanicals check and make sure that he is shooting over the recommended weight. Most mechanicals don't recommend under 50 lb draw.

The reason I like the Rage & Spitfires are because they don't use the O-Ring that slides over the blades. I just don't like that about them at all! I've used the Nap Spitfire 100 gr for years and not once did the not open! I just switched over to the Rage last year and shot 4 with them & every time they opened! But I also shoot between 65 & 70 lb draw.

[Harmon]

CAn you still get replacement blades for those old Wasps? I use the camlock I think. Jeesh they are old

[Harmon]

CAn you still buy the blades for theose old WAsps. I use them as well, I think the cam lock version

[wresnut]

I shoot the Rage, I have yet to see a head fixed or mech. cut like them. But shot placement is the key! If you hit the engine room you'll get em':)

[Blood Trail]

Used to shoot Zwickey broadheads for some reason couldent get them to fly straight one year so moved over to mechanical broadheads vortex two and three quarter inch cutting blades love em they leave a hellova hole

[gutshot]

shoot muzzys now and have been for at least 12 years. and they dont make mechanicals.:thup:

[ganggreen]

I have been a guide in several western states for big game and all archery. I have seen alot of things play out. I've seen alot of animals killed, missed and wounded. I can honestly say that most of the wounded, unrecovered animals were shot with an expandible. There are so many things that can go wrong when bow hunting, why add one more with an expandible head. I shot a rio grande in Kansas this past April using a 3 blade rage and every blade was folded over on it. I can't imgine what a deer would do to it or an elk. I guess if it goes clean through without hitting any bones its good. But I don't know if I can shoot well enough to put it between the ribs every time!

[bobmetzg]

just read some feedback on bass pro shop on the rage heads and it wasnt good. things like them "opening up when drawing", "O rings are bad", "blades falling off". i was actually gonna order a set and try them till i scrolled down, sticking with my muzzy's now.

[six point heaven]

Really want to try the rage but been shooting montec for the last three years and they are great field point like heads. and the four deer I made good shots on went less than 75 yards, three died in site, made a bad shot about a week ago in New hampshire, and lost the deer but it was a real bad shot. Deflected on a branch and not sure the rage would have helped, never should have shot. hear great things about the mec heads from buddies, but I still believe the less moving parts the less to go wrong. shoot a 70 lb pse x force and hit a buck alittle quarter too last winter with the montec, went thur both sholder blades and buried six inches in the ground. buck went forty yds. It looked like it was never shot. The debate will go on and mecs maybe the way, but for now fixed stay in my quiver. (ps buddy shot a bear in NH with a buck blaster broad head, looked like a base ball went thur the bears neck, 3 inch hole) We made fun of him until we saw the blood trail and dead bear in fifty yds. Looks like a toy, but man it was nasty. and he shoots a old onieda eagle. four grand worth of bows in camp most shooting 300 + and the only 225fps, loudest bow ever with toy broadheads got the only game all week. He missed four deer last year but his first bear is hanging, I drug it! kind of got me thinking. I may go old school, a real homemade bow, with home made arrows and old fred bear tips, hate to go all tred barta, but a down deer with gear I made would mean more some how. Having the best bow, best arrows, best broadheads, are key when the buck of a lifetime walks in, but a doe with a homemade bow, may make me as proud? Sorry got off track fixed is my thing. montec g5 out of a 70 lb x force, carbon express arrow, alpine quiver, easton lighted nock, g5 lighted sight 317 fps game ready, light arrow, 341fps. about as close to a gun as you can get with a bow.

[Offshore Custom Tackle]

I too shot over 100 deer using the Thunder head 125's. May have to go back to them. Then again I'm not sure why I ever changed:nuts:

[Searching]

I tried those 3 blade rage didn't like the way they open, seems the blades hit one another when opening , get the 2 blade massive hole!

[onthehunt]

Well, I just bought a set of the 2-blade Rage. Gonna give them a shot. Contacted a few people that have shot them and they have no complaints. Seems like they got the deflection thing licked, which was my biggest problem with mechanicals:(. If I don't like them I'll just put my Muzzys back in my quiver.

[Searching]

I think you'll like them, Good luck!

[boatliftman]

i shoot the mechanical grim reapers, they work good never had a problem, just need to check and make sure they work properly after changing blades i have one that i shot a deer with that must have a little bend in it and does not open smoothy, i used to shoot rockedt expandables, they had a small band that broke upon impact i liked them a little better as i was always confident the band would bust upon impact but i have not been able to find them anymore, i know the grim reapers leave a pretty big hole:)

[Bait Runner]

Thanks for all the replies. Got rid of the mechanicals and stocked up on the 100 grain muzzy. Shoot and fly great.

[Buckblaster]

I was using Spitfires 100 grain and always had good luck with them. Last year I tried the Rage Braodheads and I did have a problem with them comming apart and not flying right. Missed a couple of does shooting over their backs. Went back to Spitfires 100 grain and killed a doe with no problem. Don't know what I did wrong with the Rage broadheads and I know everybody raves about them. They do make a nice hole in the deer and what a blood trail. Killed a deer this year with the Spitfires and found the deer 30 yards with no problem. I'm staying with them.:shoot:

[EASTCOASTRIGS]

I love rocket hammerheads 100 grain never lost a deer with them!!!!!!!!!

[Bullseye]

I used the rocket mechanicals w/2" cut untill last year when I switched to the rage 3 blade mech's. Killed 22 deer in 5 years with the rockets. The farthest death run was 100 yards by a 135lb 8ptr (double lung). all the rest never went farther then 40 yards.
I shot 3 does last year with the rage broadheads all died within sight of my stand. As did the prior deer with the exception of the 1 listed above. No shots taken more then 18 yards.
I guess it all comes down to shot placement. Doesn't matter what you shoot. Practice & they will go down.
Remember, the new bows shoot very fast & most of the fixed heads tend to loose their consistancy over 290fps. Only my opinion don't freak out on me. Good Luck all this season.

[Bullseye]

Guy's if you use the rage heads, check your o-rings. All the o-rings on the heads I used last year were dry rotted. Had to put all my spares on.

[MEAT-WAGON]

I shoot muzzy fixed 3 blade 100 gr. this is my first year with a bow so im not sure about the kill ratio but they fly tru (once you tune them) gotta love their commercial shootin thru steel 55 gal drums

[bowonly]

my thoughts on mechanicals is if i have my buck harvested i may experiment with the various designs of mechanicals but they will never replace my fixed broadhead.(thunderhead). i too have harvested plenty of deer with my bow and i feel if anybody spends enough time with proper tunining and practice they could get the fixed broadhead to fly true.i believe most people use mechanicals because it is an easy fix.however there is no denying that quartering shots create problems with mechanicals.(from personel experience) i know there is always exceptions but that is my thoughts. i guess it is human nature to take the easy route!
good hunting everbody

[pwake7]

Just busted one last night with the 3 blade 1.5'' 100 grain rage tips and the deer didnt go further than 20 yards and fell over in the stream. The hole in this deer was incredible, im talking aboutthe size of an orange.

[MattG]

my thoughts on mechanicals is if i have my buck harvested i may experiment with the various designs of mechanicals but they will never replace my fixed broadhead.(thunderhead). i too have harvested plenty of deer with my bow and i feel if anybody spends enough time with proper tunining and practice they could get the fixed broadhead to fly true.i believe most people use mechanicals because it is an easy fix.however there is no denying that quartering shots create problems with mechanicals.(from personel experience) i know there is always exceptions but that is my thoughts. i guess it is human nature to take the easy route!
good hunting everbody

True in some cases.....but there is a lot to be said for the larger cutting diamaters mechanical broadheads offer, the damage they do and the blood trails they leave, but you'd be nuts to not take the time to be sure your bows tuned to shoot them too....so not all use them to take the easy way out. Also, with the rearward opening blade design of a lot of the mechanicals today, the problems with quartering shots are gone..though, i've killed and seen a lot of deer killed with the forward opening spitfires on quartering shots, even crazy ones like quartering to, so that problem is overblown, hit bone on an angle with a fixed blade going in and it's going to deflect somewhat to.

[wreckless]

I use muzzy 3 blade 100's too many friends had problems with the mechanicals. Muzzys always work great

[little tunny]

I use Rage 100g three blade mechanicals, Killed 5 deer with them all dropped within range including a 180 ,145class p&y 8 pointer. Nice entry and big exit bleeders. As mentioned always change the O-rings after a season. I also lube them with wesson oil to reduce resisitance and make them slide off qiucker...LT

[Aflac617]

The great debate of mechanical versus fixed...The reality of it is that either one is perfectly capable of killing a whitetail. It comes down to just preference of the hunter. When you need to start worrying about penetration of larger game, there is no question that a cut on contact, fixed broadhead is far superior. And the longer the length of the blade the better the penetration, thats just physics. Also a smaller diameter arrow of equal weight penetrates better and also cuts down on wind resistance. That's the unbiased scientific way of looking at it.

[pvhunter]

ive shot 2 deer with the undertakers, previously piston points, and had great luck with both. the first was a doe here at home and double lunged her. big entrance and big exit. she went 60 yards or so. the second was a mature 9 point in texas. shot him a little quartering away and it smacked the opposite shoulder. had a giant entrance but no exit. he went about 100 yards or so. i was impressed with these two animals but im still looking to test them more.

[droptine]

i use muzzy 100. but if you can stay away from the shoulder then the 2 blade rage are awsome, 2 inch hole but after you shoot one they are done, the broadhead and the deer, good luck