Pictured above is the new Hypodermic expandable broadhead from Rage. First impression is that Rage did a good job of creating a better locking system than the one found on the standard Rage heads. A small plastic collar that fits over the ferrules shank and against the base of the ferrule holds the blades securely in place.
I found the locking system to be solid and I found no issues that would concern me as to actuation. The blades are released on impact by means of a cutting area on the back of the blades which cuts through the top edge of the plastic collar.
I did not care for the way the blades are constructed but I was impressed with how well the were sharpened. My first impression was that the break built into the blade was too far back but considering the quality of the metal, my concern (in testing) was unfounded.
Very happy with the low drag ferrule which is finished perfectly IMO but holds the blades at too extreme of an angle for my tastes. When deployed, the blades do not provide a significant
angle in relation to the ferrule. While they do come back past 90 degree's, the angle is extreme, in my opinion.
The ferrule is very small and should give an advantage for penetration when compaired to most other expandables out there. I really liked the ferrule construction in every way. Great job IMO.
Rage includes a practice head in each package of Hypodermics and it is of the same in physical dimensions and weight when compared to the hunting heads. I do not feel that any good mechanical design needs to be practiced with when shooting a tuned bow but it is good to see that RAGE included such a head for the sake of those who feel the need to do so.
Sharpness Test
First up was the test for blade sharpness out of the package. Top picture is the rubber band grid that is used for this test. This is the same design that Fred Bear showed me back in the late seventies and the same design that he himself used to check blade sharpness when he was not in the field. Fred's belief was that arteries reacted just like rubber bands (which they do) and if a head could pass through this grid then it was satisfactory for hunting.
The bottom picture shows the head ran through and the remaining bands that were uncut.
The Hypodermic cut all rubber bands that it came in contact with and left one out of four standing. Due to the fact that a two blade head cannot hit all four points, this is something to consider for those who are concerned with missing arteries on marginal shots which can occur by no fault of the archer themselves.
Next up was the flight test
30 yard grouping with one arrow carrying a field point and the next carrying the practice head. A 3" group maximum is considered to be a passing grade for any broadhead that is tested here due to the fact that these shots are made without the use of a hooter shooter and people are imperfect.
The area of this target (Black) where the arrows impacted measures 2.50" and the group was less than 1/2 that area.
3" is passing for any test done on this site with fixed broadheads.
While expandable heads are not graded on grouping due to the fact that this is the purpose of their design, grouping of expandables is included for the sake of consistent procedure.