Like others have said, most horror stories about mechanicals are either made up, or they are due to the hunter, not the b-head. If a mechanical is put where it needs to be, it will kill a deer.

I have two mechanicals and 4 fixed blade b-heads sitting right in front of me and I can tell you that the mech's are pretty impressive.

I havn't hunted with mechs, so I can't comment on them, but, I have shot my mechs into various targets and other items, and they have suprised me.

Right now, I have 100 grain Rocky MT Gator and a 125 Votex Pro Extreme sitting in front of me.

These both fly great, but, my bow is tuned very well, so that is a major reason. As far as opening goes, I shot them through a watermelon to see how quick they opened. The Gator was almost fullyed opened on the front side and it was fully opened on the back. The front hole was 1-7/8" and the b-heads cutting diameter is 2". The Vortex wasn't as quick opening, but gosh, when that thing got fully opened, it looked like someone took a machete to the watermelon. It was about half open on the front and fully opened on the back. You can't believe was a 2-3/4" hole looks like until you actually see it in something. When shot with dental rubber bands on, into the b-head side of my Knight and Hale (cube style) target, I was getting entrance holes that were just a little under 3-1/2" wide. I couldn't believe the size of gash that was.

This fall, I am gonna carry 2 mechs and 2 fixed blades in my quiver. What I am gonna try is 125 grain Rocky MT Snyper XP's and 125 Grain 3-Blade Muzzys. If they group the same (which they should), then I am gonna do this. If a doe comes in, I am gonna let a Snyper fly at her. If a buck comes in, I am gonna go with the proven Muzzy.

I am still a little skeptical of mechs, but no because of penetration or blades opening. I am a little worried about blades breaking, that is the only reason I didn't use the Gators I have last year.