More on the Crossbow Saga - New Horton Arrows and Rage Expandable Broadheads
Well, the crossbow saga continues.
Over the Labor Day weekend, I managed to shoot the Barnett Wildcat C5 crossbow a little more. I was using 3-blade Satellite 125-grain broadheads, and arrow flight was awful. At 20 yards, point of impact varied by 6-8 inches, and the arrows generally flew in a funky, corkscrewy manner.
A knowledgeable guy at a local shop had talked against the 2216 arrows I had, anyhow. So I set my mind on owning new arrows and broadheads. On his recommendation, I bought a pack of Rage mechanical broadheads, and I chose the 2-blade model due to online research I've done... seems like the 3-blade Rage causes more problems than the 2-blade.
I also bought a half-dozen 20" Horton Lightning Strike MX aluminum arrows while I was there. I'd expected be poorer by $80 when I left his shop, and my prediction was pretty close - $79.37 was the total.
Once I got home, I compared arrow weights. My total combined arrow & head weight is now in the 435-grain area.
I grabbed some arrows, headed outside, and did some shooting with 100-grain field points. I've determined that, with the Barnett red dot scope (which only has one aiming point), my max range is about 27 yards. Beyond that, they just hit way too low. If I keep crossbowing, I'll have to look into getting a decent crossbow scope.
Rage broadheads come with one practice head. It resembles one of the expandables, but doesn't expand. Its job is to fly like a field point, and to convince owners of Rage broadheads that they will fly properly. Upon opening the Rage package, I found that the three expandable heads each weighed in at around 102 grains. The practice head weighed 104.5 grains.
It's not really feasible to shoot the actual broadheads at a target - they're costly and so are replacement blades, plus I don't want any broken blades inside my target. So, after zeroing the xbow with field points, I decided to shoot the Rage practice head. And it few exactly like a field point - on the first shot.
After that, arrow flight was erratic. I was using a "The Block 4x4" target, and after every shot I found plastic shreds from the target jammed into grooves in the practice head. Also, the o-ring disappeared after the first shot, and thereafter the metal part which imitates the blades was able to move back and forth. The arrow flew erratically, and generally hit lower than field points.
It had me worried until I shot some field points, which acted perfectly.
Bottom line: The Rage 2-blade practice head that came with my set (which is dated 12-16-08), is pretty much worthless after it's been shot one time... after that, all it does it weaken my confidence in the flight of the actual Rage broadheads.
I haven't clocked this new arrow setup on the chrony yet. Looks like I might get a chance to try that today, but my first priority will be shooting the crossbow from a tree stand, which I haven't tried yet.
Comments
I too have just gotten shoulder surgery and Iam still in therapy. I am waiting for my Wildcat to come in on back order. I have never used a crossbow before and have been wondering about my bolt set-up, asking a guy at Bass Pro if I can or should continue using my 100 grain, 3 blade Muzzy’s? He also suggested the Rage broadheads. Please continue to send out updates! I hopefully will be picking up the C-5 next week and look forward to working the “kinks out”. Our (MD) Bow season starts next week too and needless to say I am itchy to get going !
I gave up on my 3-blade Satellites. With the heavier arrows I went to, the 100-grain heads keep my total arrow weight up there, so it’s all good. I would have bought 125-grain Rages, but they don’t make ‘em. I like heavy projectiles.
I like fixed-blade heads, but mine didn’t fly well, and the archery shop guy said the large holes in the blades may have been the reason for that.
I have to give a shout-out to the owner of Advantage Sports Center in Salt Springs FL, who knows his stuff, and from whom I bought my arrows and broadheads.
Anyhow, try the Muzzys and see how they do. If they shoot consistently and accurately, use ‘em. If not, you’ll probably end up $40 poorer, wishing that the Rage practice head was better.
I came upon your blog while looking to purchase online some 2216 Horton arrows. I have a Yukon SL crossbow with a Bantam scope. I use the Horton 2216 arrows with NAP Thunderhead fixed-blade 100 grain broadheads. I find this combination remarkably accurate to 25 yards, the maximum distance with which I am comfortable shooting. I can shoot a consistent 3-inch group with this set up out to that distance. I was shopping for arrows because I’m down to three, having killed a deer at 22 yards yesterday. She didn’t go 25 yards after a pass through double-lung shot that also severed the aorta. It is quite feasible to shoot broadheads at a target. In fact, I think it is absolutely imperative. I use a The Block 24″ target. I have a few broadheads I use for target practice. I remove the new broadhead from the arrow I intend to hunt with, install the practice broadhead and practice, practice, practice, shooting from my deck to simulate a tree stand. I also take the target into the woods before the season and practice from my stands. You can only shoot one shot, climb down, retrieve the arrow and do it again. I learned this the hard way as I destroyed a few arrow because my second shot sliced the fletches from the first. I ALWAYS hunt with a new broadhead, once it passes through a deer its junk. I have killed at least 15 deer in the past five years with this set up (i live and hunt in an urban zone with a limit of six does a year). I don’t know why, but, in general, the deer I shoot with a crossbow travel a shorter distance before dropping than those I kill with a shotgun slug. I will only shoot a deer if I can get a good broadside shot. Best of luck with whatever set up you decide on.