reducing the diameter of a rage-2-blade?
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
Hi!
I am hesitant to use a rage-2-blade on elk as the diameter of 2 inch seems huge to me ... too big for sure penetration if one or two ribs are hit or for a quartering away shot.
I would like to as a question here: What do you think if I just cut down the blades of the rage by about 1/4 inch each from the end? It will still sit properly in the O-ring, it should not influence accuracy and it should not influence proper opening ...
Why I do not just use a fixed broadhead? => to be honest: because by now I did not manage to get the same accuracy as from the rage ...
Thanks for any remark!
Mike
I forgot ... I am shooting a 520 grain arrow from a 65 pounds Bow, that should produce a KE of about 65 ...
If you are set on a mechanical, you should check out the Ulmer Edge. It has an 1 1/2" cut.
Go to a lower performance bow so that you CAN shoot a fixed blade. LOTS of elk have been killed quite well with fixed blade heads.
I have done it to comply with state regulations (since changed) but never shot an animal. They flew great and I don't see why they would not work ok
Mike, you may want to take a look at NAP Killzone Low KE heads. They have a smaller cutting diameter and are built for penitration.
GBA
So faithful to the poorest designed head ever made you are willing to modify it? Come on man - that's just insane. So many better options. If u are that beholden to mechanicals there are plenty with smaller cut diameters. Rocket, G3, NAP grim reaper, to name a few along with Ulmer Edge. I strongly recommend u stop what you are doing - especially for elk. Choose a better mech or learn how to BH tune. A great fixed head for you that flies like field point is trophy taker terminal T lock. Tough sharp accurate 3 blade that will far out-penetrate any mechanical.
Just curous on which fixed blades you tried that you were not able to get the same accuracy as the rage. A well made good quality fixed blade should be able to be tuned to hit with the same accuracy as your field tips.
I don't see a major problem in cutting them down. I don't know exactly how they come apart but I assume the blades come off. I would use a grain scale to make each one the same weight after cutting them down.
I would think that you would have to be careful to take as close to exactly the same amount of material off of each blade to maintain the balance of the head. Far too many heads available, in my opinion, than to risk something going wrong on an elk! I have no dog in this hunt and I'm sure the Rage guys will tell you that they would be fine as built.
You could just buy the Rage SS and you wouldn't have to any trimming at all. They also make the KE heads. Both have a cutting diameter of 1 1/2" and a more gentle angle than the 2" models.
Mike, I can honestly say I have never had a bad experience with any mechanical and I have taken a number of deer with a few different styles. The rage 40 KE ( this year they changed the name to the SS) is almost the same design as the original sniper by rocky mountain broad heads. It opens to 1 1/2" and provides fantastic blood trails. I believe many that have had less then favorable encounters with the big 2" cut was simply due to lack of proper sharpness,( some of the blades need more then a touch up with a stone) lack of proper arrow weight or not enough punch coming from the bow. In any case, if you can't kill the animal with a 1 1/2" cut that other 1/2" isn't going to make a difference.
I have a few old 2-blade Spitfires in my box that I'm going to try this year. I shot a couple of deer with them years ago and they flew right through them seeming hardly to slow down. The mechs for elk that I liked were Teken II, but they aren't made anymore. I'm considering going back to 4 blade muzzy's next year, but... what can I say... I like mechs. I could explain my reasons why, but I don't care to start yet another mechs v. fixed debate.
'Course it may be too late for that already. :)
Forget the mechanical's go with a fixed blade.You are getting info from some guy's who I am sure have never hunted elk! They are not whitetails.
LOL, cut it down and spot weld the blades. ;)
buy a Thunderhead 125, nothing needs to be changed there its already perfect
You can likely buy 1 1/2 inch Rage blades and change out the ones you have. I know they are interchangeable from experience. Contact them and find out.
If your stuck on a mechanical then look at the ulmer edge. Great flight and 1.5" cut.
With that said I prefer a fixed blade for elk. I shoot them just as well as an expandable plus they are much tougher. If guys would take the time to tune their bow properly you can shoot fixed blades just as well as mechanicals. The only advantage a mechanical I see is better flight in windy conditions.
Check out the videos on the Magnus website. They are shooting their Buzz Cuts at 100 yards.
Elk are serious animals, what you can get away with on a whitetail will not always work on an animal the size of an elk.
TBB
contrary to popular belief elk are not supernatural. I hunt elk and I have killed some (everyone I have shot at none lost). All I have used are mechanical heads, none over 1.5" diameter though, so I don't know what to tell you there. If you are shooting a properly tuned bow with high enough momentum you will be fine.
As far as trimming the blades. As long as it doesn't affect how the head operates I wouldn't see a problem with it.
width isn't so much the issue as (A) its a mech, it can and does fail to open and (B) its just flimsy compared to a solid 2 piece COI head
Lots of good advice here.
Look at it this way, by going with another mechanical, made for what your looking for, you will already have a piece of mind.
Take modification out of the equation. You will be glad you did.
Good Luck whatever your decision, I'm merely making a suggestion.
sounds like the OP, does have some confidence in the head, but understands the designs limitation and is looking to negate them. I can certainly understand that logic.
I have seen modifications to Rages were the blades were cut down shorter with reported good results. The Hypodermic would be a good choice for that considering the all steel design....
COC heads, nothing better. Why use something that you want to modify that has a track record of multiple failures as well as the same type of head?
Can't say I'm too impressed with Rage. The only critter I've ever shot with one was a WT doe. Did the job, but I'm reluctant to shoot an elk with one. NAP makes pretty good, well machined, tough BH's. I'd go with something else before trying to modify a Rage. Lot's of folks are sold on Rage, but I really don't get it. They make a big hole in the hide, but they really don't penetrate that well and aren't very durable.
This broadhead is like throwing an axe at a Whitetail or turkey, but in my opinion it is a terrible head for elk. The blades twist and taco over if they come in contact with anything of consequence. I don't want a flimsy cutting surface on a big boned animal. I am a fan of big penetration and I just don't get that with the rage.
Fixed blade would be better, that's just my opinion though. I carried the KE model Rage though when I shot a compound, it had a smaller cut width with same length blade by sweeping them back more for better mechanical advantage
There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge: Try a quality fixed blade... say VPA, Magnus, T-shuttle?