Newbie question on expandables
 

I shot my first deer with a bow last year. Although it was a great shot (18 yards) and quick recovery (50 yards), I was not pleased with the overall performance of my expandable broad head. I used the inexpensive shockwave expandable (picture below). It shoots exactly like my field point which is why I selected it to hunt with. The arrow achieved a full pass through (dbl lung) but the blood trail was minimal. I'm hearing great things about RAGE, but will they shoot exaxtly like my field point?

Shockwave (with a little red clay)

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

The Bloodtrail all depends on the hit. I've had a deer go 50 yds which left no blood till it's last 2 steps.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Look at these Vortex, I have been shooting them for 10 years. Last year I shot 3 deer only one of them got out of my sight and he wen't about 45 yards.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Mine do.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

So many factors go into whether a blood trail is a good one that you cannot make a decision based on a sigle deer. I don't feel there is a head out there that can absolutely guarantee an awesome blood trail on every shot.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Best answer I've seen on a broadhead thread!!!

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Check out Slick Tricks, they fly like practice points, are not mecanical, have four blades made of soligen stainless steel, and did i mention they arent mechanicals? These puppies will blow a hole right through that looks like a 20 guage slug wound.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

X3 I have had some awesome Blood Trails from some of the smallest heads I have shot. I want something that flies great, super tough, and israzor sharp;)

Dan

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

For those wanting to do maximum damage with a solid, fixed blade broadhead, the NewGrizzTrick should be Awesome!!

Dan

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

MeanV, Schultzy, and Rybo have it right, don't base a change on one deer. There are many guys that swear by those Shockwaves and have great bloodtrails. Id give those another chance before dropping $40 on Rages (and I'm a Rage user).

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

x2

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

You can ask this question to a hundred different people and probably get a hundred different answers. When I started bowhunting I used mechanicals because I started with an old old bow, they were the only broadheads that I could get to fly reasonably well. Now that I've upgraded, if you tune your bow right you're going to get any decently made braodhead to fly like field tips out of your set-up. I think we as hunters blame broadhead a lot of times when the real probably is a set-up/tuning problem. As for blood trails, you can shoot ten deer with the same set-up in the same spot and have ten different blood trails. You're going to win some, your going to lose some no matter what equipmentyou have.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Mine do also!

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

X100! Complete pass through, double lung shot and the deer is recovered within 50 yards and there's a problem because there wasn't a "good" blood trail!? Sounds to me like the hunter and the broadhead both did their jobs. I'm guessing the body cavity was full of blood.How long was this deer on it's feet after the hit? 2-3 seconds? Party on Wayne!

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

I found a place that was clearing out all of its broad heads last year, so I bought about a dozen different kinds of expandables and tried them. they all fell extreemly close to the others on the target. that being said I am not a shooting machine but do well at 30-40 yards. did not feel the need to test them further out since 40 was my max. yardage. The one thing that did set them apart was longjevity. some of the cheaper heads simply did not last more than 3 shots before blades came off in flight (no blade hole in target, and blades missing on head). I like NAP's expandables and do not think they needed to be improved. design was sound IMO.
I didn't use them on deer, but did shoot squrrels with them. Worked good;)

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

Thanks everyone - I believe I'll try the rage and if I don't get the same point of impact, I'll stick with Shockwave.

RE: Newbie question on expandables
 

I agree with you guys. different deer bleed diferently. Key for me is a low exit wound (hunt from a tree when possible). I use fixed blades myself. A few years ago I thawt bout switchn so I bought some "Grimm Reeper" mech. They shot great! But I broke 2 blades off them shooting into a layerd target. Long story short...I called the company and complained, they sent me new blades. I thought if they cant hold up to foam they ll never hold up to bone so I swore them off. I started ysing them for small game (rabbits ground hogs squirrels ect.) I have shot one particular head into roots rocks you name it ALOT. All be it the blades are far from sharp but I have yet to break anothet blade! I think I may sling one at a deer this year.

Just thought it was a cool story!