First, Nice buck!!!!

As for the rockets. There is a compatibility problem with Gold Tip arrows and Rocket steelhead 100's. The threads are set pretty deep in Gold Tip inserts and the threaded shank is pretty short on the Rocket 100's. Put them together and you run into the probem you mentioned. Rocket Steelhead 100's will work fine with any other arrow type and Gold Tips are compatible with every other head out there. As you have seen shooting them without the metal washer will ruin your arrow as it acts as a stop for the back of the blades.

That said Rocket Steelheads are still my favorite expandable head. I have found that they penetrate as well as fixed heads. They absolutely blow through whitetails.