The two pics below are of the Rage 2 blade with a 2" cutting diameter and the Grim Reaper Razortip 3-blade with a 1 3/8 cutting diameter. Both are mechanical BH's. Here'sMY theory on why there is the reported penetration problem with the Rage:
Besides the obvious that 2 inches is a heck of a hole to carve, consider the following observations I have made.
1) The "frame" of the BH itself does not have smooth or well tapered transitions going from the tip blade to the main blades. This can only equal drag as it tries to penetrate through the body of an animal.
2) There are recesses where the screw holes are. Had Rage designed the screws with a flush head, this wouldn't be another source of drag.
3) The bevel or lip created by the o-ring recess is another penetration robber.
4) And for lack of better description, the two "cut-outs" in the main blades is cause for more friction. Imagine the BH trying to push through flesh but the back edges of the cut-outsare catching as the front of the bladesare cutting. A little counter productive in MY opinion.
Whereas... if you look at the Grim Reaper, the blades are slim and have no cut-outs to cause added resistance. There's no lip or bevel because there's no o-ring. No screw holes. And probably best of all, there are smooth tapered transitions throughout the length of the BH.
Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not a representative of Grim Reaper. I don't even own any yet, I'm just another hunter with an opinion based on the physics in my head versus the specs that I see. I'm not advertising but if you asked, I am advocating. Another thing to consider too is that if you add up total cutting surface, the Grim Reaper actually has a 2 1/16 cutting surface compared to the Rage's 2" yet the Grim Reaper will penetrate much better. The multi-fram per second video is on their website if you're interested.
Clarification:
ORIGINAL: Hoytail Hunter
I need to clarify something that I failed miserably to do with the original post. I regret the failure because due to it, most of the focus was on a less important issue and now this thing will never regain it's intended track.This is a situation where what I exactly wrote and what I exactly meant were slightly different things.
First of all, I have 2 hunting buddies that use the Rage. Both bad reports. On top of that, I've read a few complaints on here and elsewhere about the Rage. No, that does not speak for the sum of every person's experience with this BH. Yes, all BH's can fail even in perfect situations that nothing short of ballistics/penetration expertise can answer.
That being said, what I was really trying to say was that "pound for pound" if you could make the saying apply, Rage is not designed for optimal penetration thus cannot out penetrate the Grim Reaper. The 4 observations I cited support that this is what I was mainly trying to get at. In fact, it doesn't even have to be only about Grim Reaper -vs- Rage. I thinkmost if not manyheads will penetrate better than the Rage given all things being equal (meaning poundage, BH and arrow weight, as well as cutting surface).
Take for example the muzzy 4 blade. If you add up total cutting surface, there's probably at least 2 1/2 inches yet there are hardly ever any penetration complaints with the muzzy. Why is this? I think it's because of the sleek gradual tapered design. It's not big, bulky, and awkwardly shaped like the Rage (imo).
ORIGINAL: nodog
Yes it's the body, bigger than the tip way before it hits the blades so it acts like a wedge. If you drive a wedge through some thing it will blow the back out of some thing like the pic above illustrates.
...PersonallyI don't care. I just commented on the heads design based on what the criteria I believe is and is not good. The head reasembles a nail. A nail is made to grip when it enters, not pass through.
I think nodog has correctly wrapped his head around what I'm getting at. And that's all I'm really trying to do here. I'm willing to bet that if you showthe Rage'sdesign to a ballistics/penetration specialist, he'll be able to tell you why it's not an optimal penetrating head.
Rage -vs- Muzzy or Grim Reaper is I think, similar to the aerodynamics on an SUV -vs- asports car.