ORIGINAL: Jeff K in IL
I know this is my first post, but I feel that I need to answer such a post.
Mechanicals, are indeed a performing broadhead, many of them have the capability of out performing some of the well like fixed blade heads. Don't chalk up the use of the mechanicals to the fact that many of their users don't tune or shoot beforehand with them. I spend countless hours and days out of my pre season, shooting broadheads, and adjusting if necessary. A mechanical in many instances only works as well as the shooter; meaning shot placement is the greatest key. Don't be worried with Jackknife Style blades, one of the best: Rocket Steelheads uses such design. Don't be afraid of rubber bands either, more than 90% of the mechanicals still use them. If you test a mechanical, a soft spot on a target is not good IMO. A target like a Rhinehart 18-1 would work well. Or if you want to go more in depth, try using a leather glove in front of the target, or perhaps a piece of meat if you have one (a ham works well). I did a simple test with Rage, Rocket Steelheads, and NAP Spitfires, I shot through a 2" box, and recorded my results like the following: if the blades were deployed by the time the broadhead exited into my target. The NAP Spitfires, and Rocket Steelheads worked to perfection, while the Rage did not. Although I did the test, I took it with a grain of salt, since some of my closest friends have used the Rage 3-Blade without problems.
The point I am trying to get at is; you can do all the testing you want, but until you "test" in real life, all else is perhpas just suspected, or probable. Keep in mind a bad shot, is not a reason to blame the mechanical if performance was poor!
thank you, man my exact thoughts ever since i got on this site 99% of guys bash mechanicals and like some others have said ive tracked only a few of about 30+ deer ive shot with them and i have actually had more faliures with fixed heads (actually never had any with mech) the fixed heads were normal faliures nothing crazy, busted blades bent furlues etc. i will put the rocket steelhead against any and i mean any head out there and i did back when they sent me a free one a long time ago. the most important thing to me is accuracy. a field tip in the lungs would kill a deer so having blades expand off that is just faster killing as to 99% of fixed heads everything has to be perfect for true flight wind,form,tune of bow and when hunting these things are rarely all there but are not going to be noticed until you try to shoot through a two inch opening or try a distance shot in a light breeze.