Broadhead Failure

  Folks just got back from vactation but I wanted to post a picture from the Rocket broadhead that failed to open for me on that deer last week,I'm back with Muzzys. This is excatly the way I picked up this arrow off the ground after it going through the deer. 

Tikka,

Did you get the deer? How big was the cut? I notice the o-ring is gone (if those heads use them). Often, the expandibles open on entry, then close after they exit due to the feathers slowing the arrow down.

If you shoot one into a thin foam target, the head will always be closed sticking out of the back of the target, but sliced through with all blades open.

Just a different possibility.

I've never had faith i the mechanical heads. I've generally stuck to the two blade fixed design, and have even had a problem with them in the past.

Some years ago, I arrowed a doe right at sunset with my longbow. The shot looked good, so I went to the cabin to get a light, and then started tracking. A light freezing rain started, and I lost the trail in the existing conditions. I returned at daylight with my neighbor, and we took up the trailing again, starting in at where I had lost the sign. I was able to find some scuff marks in the duff, and an occasional drop of blood under the trees.

We finally found her, and she was still alive. This was 17 hours after she was initially hit.  Autopsy showed the arrow had passed through the near lung, nicked the opposite lung, and had went on into the liver. Should have been a fairly quick kill. What we finally figured out was this;

I was using an arrow that had been taken out of the foam quiver head several times, and the head had lost it's razor edge, and must have not allowed free hemorrage. Talking to another friend, we found he had had a similar experience with an elk, with a long tracking job.

So, I really keep them sharp now!

Tikka,

    The mech's like that close after they go through.  Typically the snap back as they exit and lock closed.

    The spitfires I have do it. But I haven't had one not open yet.

Spot

Tikka,

    Look at the entrance hole and see if it cut, I never bother look'n at either myself as long as the deer dies clean. 

   All I know is that mine always close.... past that I don't know.  How long did it take for the deer to die?  I've watch'd most mine lay down and expire because right after I hit them I grunt at them.  They often stop look back for a minute, take a step lay down and it's pretty much over.

Spot

Tikka,

    I've had a few inside bleeders like that, especially when they're hit high.

    I like spitfires, but Muzzy's are hard to beat.  Montoc G5's are what the "specialty" herd is using around here now.

    Glad ya got the deer either way, I'd change those broadheads out if for nothing else than a confidence factor.  I'm not say'n those are good, I haven't looked at them.  But it does no good to hold on to them so I think yer doing the right thing.

Spot

I'll 2nd the motion to go with Muzzys!

Used them for several years now and they do wonders.  My concerns with the mechanicals are the same as yours - no opening up!  However, that huge cutting diameter sure would be nice (2+inches) but alas you can't have them in the regular stuff only the mechanicals.

I wanted to wait a few days before commenting.  I presently use Rocket 100 gr mechanical heads.  I hunt with my brothers and they could not get muzzys to shoot their target and broadhead arrows to the same point of impact.  i was on a cruise with wife and they changed to Rockets and had good target results.  To be compatible and able to swap arrows, I changed.  Never had a problem with Wasp, Muzzy, Bear, or others.

I changed 5 years ago, since then I've killed 12 big game animals with the mechanicals, including whitetail, antelope, and this years mule deer.  I've sat in blinds contemplating the 'possible' lack of opening.  All arrows except one was recovered, and that one clearly opened at 63 yds cutting a large visible opening.  All those recovered appeared to show the mechanical blades opened.  Two that were shot into a fallen dying deer from the across a creek entered under the ribs and into the heart/lung area not exiting.  When these two were removed I was shocked to see the blades closed, then I realized I had pulled them out of the body cavity (backed them out).

I have never had a bad Rocket kill, most have been visible large entrance and exit  holes.  For other non-related reasons I have been considering changing to BEAR Razor heads.

The Rockets will close when the arrow stops.  Actually the movable blades just keep going fro inertia. 

I don't doubt Tikka's conclusion, and confidence dictates that he should change.  Looking at the pics, I notice that the rubber band has slid back about 1 inch to the area that is shielded by the movable blades when they extend.  If the blades had not extended the friction of the flesh would have moved the rubber band back much farther on the arrow shaft.  Tikka, you can check this by merely removing the movable blades and putting the rubber band on the shaft at the junction of the head and the shaft.  then shoot it without the movable blades to duplicate the action of the blades not opening.

If you want to send me those unused blades I'll test them in a WT doe for you.

BEAR

Tikka, interesting.

The Rockets are packed in a blister pack, so bending of the blades is not likely (but possible).

Thinking of you last night in my tree stand, I pulled out three of my arrows that I had just put new points on rocket 100gr.  these were new arrows and new points.  (Shot 3 in Wyoming the week before).

My thought was how "sticky" would the thin movable blades be on new points????  As I held the point upright I rolled the rubber band down the shaft.  All the blades instantly fell out.  I did this as I thought the problem you had may have been that the movable blades were tight in the slots.   At least mine were really loose.  I had planned to stone them thin, but didn't need too.

I carry 5  (one is a field point) arrows in a belt quiver, it is leather with a steel 4 inch liner in the bottom and a 1 inch thick piece of foam on the bottom.  Is it possible that your quiver let the arrows twist the shafts and the points stayed put, sort of bending the thin movable points????

I have never used a point for more than one kill, just seem like retirement is deserved.  i have bought "rebuild kits" with new movable blades but that kit is still inside my quiver.  Were your points new??  Could the movable blades have rusted in place????

Sorry to hear of your problem and the disappointment.  I always hate to hear some one lose confidence in their equipment.  that is why I agree a change might be the best solution.  I do like the mammoth hole that the mechanicals give.

BEAR