I've heard the practice heads fly the same as the real deal... I don't think it would hurt to know for sure. Confidence goes a long way in this sport.

Just a tip, too... just because you can get a field point or a mech to hit where you're aiming does NOT mean your bow is in tune; I'd suggest visiting the tech forum and reading through a couple of the threads pinned to the top there. You may not have time now before tomorrow's opener, but it may be well worth your time over the next week or so...

If you DO choose to shoot a real Rage into a target, ensure the blades are still shaving-sharp before using them again by either removing them and sharpening them, or by replacing them (probably the best option, it sounds like).

As far as Rages and their effectiveness goes... I've seen first-hand the damage they do on both whitetails and elk. The elk I helped field dress last week (or the week before last now) was sliced open much like the pictures everyone's so fond of showing on whitetails, and the head remained perfectly intact even though it lodged in the off-side shoulder joint. The animal ran 120 yards or so and went down quickly (remember, an elk can cover a LOT of ground very quickly).