GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

As I said in a recent post, I just bought two packages of 100 grain 1 3/8" Grim Reapers. I was going to test shoot them yesterday evening, but never got around to it because of the nightmare of a time I had putting them on the arrows and getting the kinks worked out. All I can say is that I hope the assembled units are a lot more durable on impact than the individual parts look. They came fully assembled, but I mishandled a couple and they fell apart. They're solid once you get them screwed on, but until then, you have to handle them with kid gloves. They're abit of apain to get back together.After I got all six screwed on, I had tounscrew and disassemblefour ofthem and adjust the inside parts because one blade would be difficult to open, and one might fall open. Not good. After about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, they were all assembled and ready to go and all blades had the same amount of tension and it was dark. Why does it worry me that this BH breaks down into 12 separate parts? Still, I've heard good things about them. Can't wait to shoot them.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I dunno, that sounds like an awful lot of work just to put a broadhead on. I personaly like any of the G5 heads, no messing around with a bunch of moving parts they fly true and all of them have awsome on game performance.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I'd rethink your chioce. Too many parts= disaster.
You shouldn't have to take them apart to get them to work properly.
There are many excellent mechanicals you just screw on and shoot.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

And if one of those blades fly open in flight the target is missed by feet not inches - trust me I know. I have tried these heads and if they appear loosey goosey with the blades falling open they need some work. The Grim Reaper folks say you can shoot them with all the blades open but to me that defeats the purpose of a mechanical expanding broadhead.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

LittleChief, if you want a head that doesn't use O-rings or rubber bands like the Reapers that you would feel better about, take a look at NAP Spit Fires or Innerloc EXP's. I actually prefer the Innerlocs or the NAP heads. They are extremely easy to use and to replace blades with, are tough, accurate, plus have a collar you can adjust the cutting width with.

Innerloc advertises that you can shoot the EXP open, and I have done it. The still fly on the mark with the blades deployed. You might ask why I'd want to shoot them open. I have a DB T2 blind that has sewn in mesh in the large window. When I hunt turkey, I can't shoot the EXP through the mesh because it has the "L" shaped blades. So I either have to quickly switch to a fixed bladed arrow, or I can use the EXP's and just open the blades manually real quick without even removing the arrow from the bow. That way if a gobbler hangs up in from of the sewn window, I can still take the shot.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Another reason I love my slicktricks

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Slick Tricks are hard to beat.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

The Grim Reapers arent that difficult to use.....I used them this past season. I killed 2 deer with them, but I had the 1 3/4" cut. I will say one thing....They reak havoc on a deer. The entrance hole looked like a Mercedes symbol while the exit hole was about a 2" HOLE. It looked like I had shot her with my .300 Mag!!! Pass through was achieved on both. The blood trail was unbelievable. She ran 40 yards and crashed. I was impressed, however, I am going to try the Rage this year and the Montec.
I did have to replace the blades after each deer. I caught a little of the back of the shoulder on both deer and although it still blew through it, it bent the blades. If you can get the blades to be stiff, I like shooting them that way. I have plenty of kinetic energy to open them.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Total junk in my opinion, tried on target at home as far as they got. Not durable at all

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I purchased a pack. Had trouble numerous times, threw them out. JUNK.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Look what huntingnet had to say about them!

http://huntingnet.com/articles/articles.aspx?articles_id=544

They seem to think that they are the greatest mechanicals

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

IndianaHunter83,

The test you are referring to has three parts which I have provided links for below

This is probably the most comprehensive broadhead test that I have seen to date. This test uses ballistic gelatin that contained shoulder bones and was wrapped in deer hide. It's too bad that not only was the test was conducted by Grim Reaper,Jay Liechty, the president of Grim Reaper was an active participant in the testing. Not suprisingly Grim Reaper came out on top. You will notice that all of the testing data for all of the broadheads was not released. So as far as I am concerned It is just a great advertisement for Grim Reaper.

Broadhead Myth Busters: Part I
http://www.hunting.net/articles/articles.aspx?articles_id=523

Broadhead Myth Busters: Part II
http://www.huntingnet.com/articles/articles.aspx?articles_id=529

Broadhead Video:

http://www.whitetailu.com/grimreapervideoREVISED.htm


HH

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I've had a chance to shoot these, and I can say that I'm not pleased. While they do hit almost as good as field points, I had issues. I only shot three of them. One of these was flawed from the beginning, as I couldn't get one of the blades to lock closed tight enough to stay closed during the shot. When one blade springs open on release, they go absolutely hay-wire (naturally). After shooting the other two twice, one of them developed the same problem and one of the blades wouldn't lock closed tight enough, no matter how much adjustment I did to the internal parts. I took one of the bad ones and decided to stress test it. I picked out the most scarred up arrow out of my practice arrows, put the broadhead on and locked all the blades open. I used a piece of scrap 3/4" oak plywood. I figured the broadhead would be destroyed. I shot from 20 yards, and the results are shown below. For durability, it did really well for a mechanical. I can tell you that I won't be using these for hunting, though. Way too many problems.

Entrance:

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Exit:

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

Broadhead:

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I had that happen to me this fall with one blade coming open when I shot at a buck, obviously missed it but thatarrow looked like a broken computer driven cruz missile flying extremely irradictal. I will not use them again after that.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

My biggest regret is buying two packs. Guess I'll call this a $70.00 lesson learned.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

take them back flawed product and get you money back.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

HOPE I DON'T MAKE SOME MAD BUT THE ASSY. OF THE GRIM REEAPERS ARE EASY JUST NEED COMMON SENSE, OH YEAH AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. WE TESTED THE MOST POPULAR MECANICALS THERE THE ONLY ONES THAT SURVIVED THE METAL 55 GAL. TEST.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I agree with you they are simple to put together but the blades on some are loose and don't lock into the grove very well. If one blade comes open on you in flight the arrow is not true to open that stays closed until impact. You'll miss your target by feet not inches in my experience. That's why I missed my chance at the buck last November and that's why I have lost confidence in these broadheads. JMHO.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

"HuntingNet" didn't say anything about them, the author of the article said it.We just published it. Big difference. ;)

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

No worries, Trophyhunter. That didn't make me mad. I didn't say they were "hard" to put together.... just a "bit of a pain". Compared to most broadheads, you have to concede that they're more difficult to assemble from square one. The major problem that I had was exactly what Grandviewer stated... some of the blades didn't want to lock down, and I spent a lot of time adjusting the internal parts like the directions said to do. (yep, I can read ;)) One of the six had a blade that never would lock down. I didn't miss by feet, but it put on an impressive aerobatics display on the way to the target. On the second round, a blade on another opend on release and the arrow cut a beautiful corkscrew into a hard plastic garden hose reel that I had the target strapped to. That's two out of six.
A couple of days ago, I took the other four out again and shotabout five rounds with them. No problems whatsoever. Deadly accurate and flawless performance. Maybe I gave up on them too easily, and I'm starting to re-think my decision not to use them. If they'll blow through a rock solid piece of 3/4" plywood and remain intact,I'm quite sure they'll punch through a ribcage. I also love the 1 3/8" cutting diameter, which is the reason I wanted a mechanical anyway.

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I am in the mindset that when a company publishes something, no matter who wrote it, it becomes just as much theirs as the person who wrote it. Just my opinion. :D

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU KEEP PRACTICING WITH THEM YOU WILL RUIN THE CAM SPRING SYSTEM. THAT IS WHAT HELPS THEM FROM DEFLECTING ON QUARTERING SHOTS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY ONE HAVEING PROBLEMBS WITH BLADES NOT STAYING SHUT. I WOULD TAKE THEMB BACK AND HAVE THEM REPLACED

RE: GRIM REAPERS - OH, MAN!
 

I'm not going to practice with them any more. They're still tight, though. I was more worried about dulling the blades. I know I can buy new blades for them, but in reality, I was thinking that if I do decide to hunt with them, I'll probably end up getting new ones to hunt with anyway.