Rob,
I see this going in circles. I had my bow tuned by a respectable archery pro shop, new string, paper tuned at 5, 10, and 15 yards. Had some minor adjustments with my knocking point being slightly low, added d loop, etc.
I can assure you that you didn't take it to anyone who knew more of what they're talking about than Rob. He's (neither is Bruce or myself) not making this stuff up or "winging it", Jeff
I did the three different BH's after my tuning, and even adjusted my APEX 5 pin as much as I could tolerate with each fixed BH, with the results that I posted. I've heard both sides of the alignment of fletching and in some ways flight is a science and if the difference is that much betwen fletching and fixed blade its either going to spin more than needed, or "steer" the BH.
Jeff...I've never heard of one spinning TOO much. Spin is your friend (poet and didn't know it). Bigger the BH....more you want it spinning. Spin = stable in flight.
I dont need someone to tell me that a 1 1/2" 3 blade BH will not tend to "steer" or if WAY out of alignment with fletching will spin more than anyone desires.
If you think spin is a BAD thing.....well...yes, you do.
I like the tucked blades of a mechanical, the cutting diameter, and thats my choice.
And a fine choice it is....in the proper circumstances. Rob shoots them (mechanicals). In the hands of the right archer, they're devastatingly lethal. I've never seen anything to beat them. What bothers me (and others) is when hunters use them as a band-aid to cover up tuning issues. It's unfortunate and easily remedied.
Regardless of doing this, that , or the other to adequately make a fixed BH do the same. After a tuned bow, shooting these three BH's, there was WAY too much changing my pins on my sight.
Jeff....this statement doesn't juve. You don't tune a BOW, only. You tune a setup. Your arrow/BH choice is part of the tuning equation. The width of a BH can affect flight (and therefore affect setup.....tune). Length of BH can affect arrow dynamic spine. My personal opinion is...you can't have a bow/arrow combo that is "perfect" for every BH out there (even in the same weight). Can you get close? Of course. And, you can get close enough that the adjustments you were having to make indicates you WEREN'T (close).
Sure, I could always aim 3 inches left and high if I want to hit my mark, but I just want to hunt...and im not into 3d tournamaents or archery tournaments, so the underlying factor is what kills when I put my pin on the vitals.
If you're shooting 3D, it really doesn't matter if you're optimally in tune. WHo cares if your arrow is fishtailing a little of porpoising a little......if it hits where your pin is each shot???? We tune our hunting setups to get true arrow flight when it counts.
90% of everyone who shoots the rage praise the accuracy, the other 10% complain of deflection. I will take my chances with the 10%, and Rob...I do and always have read and respected your knowledge and keen advice, but I belive unless something else comes along....Rage is my choice.
I killed several deer with the head, Jeff (12 or more). It's a GREAT head. Was I optimally tuned for it EVERY time? NO! I know that, now. I'm not preaching to you. I'm trying to get you to realize that there's no reason you shouldn't be (tuned, correctly). There isn't a person in here that wouldn't help. Rob's where I'd start. Ditto Bruce. I won't speak for Rob....but my guess is he won't be steering you away from the Rage head, either. I suspect, out of the right setup, he's a fan.
Good luck.
FYI...In all actuality, to answer your other question, the paractice head is very similar to a real one except the blades are dull, and crimped tighter to not expand. After shooting mine into my BH target several times, a few "blades" have opened enough that I could take the dull blades and sharpen them or even replace with relacement blades.....then my practice BH is a hunting BH!
Jeff...
Did you buy these new? The factory rage practice head is blue and doesn't have blades. It also WILL NOT open.