Grim Reaper Broadhead issues

[IowaHunter25]

Has anyone else ever had issues with grim reaper broadheads? This is the 2nd deer I've shot where it hasn't deployed. Both deer died but neither time were the blades deployed. This time one is bent to the side but thats it.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Seems almost impossible for the blades on a Reaper to not deploy. Which model do you have?

 

[huntnful]

They’re deploying. It’s almost impossible for them not to. You’re probably just finding them with the blades closed, from either hitting the dirt behind the animal or the fletching grabbing the hide on the way out causing the sudden halt to slap them closed.

Pull a lung out and see what the cut looks like going through.

 

[IowaHunter25]

Seems almost impossible for the blades on a Reaper to not deploy. Which model do you have?

Whitetail special 100gr

 

[powds]

I would bet they are deploying, even without pulling them out backwards they will appear closed inside the wound Channel if the arrow stops abruptly. The blades kind of shoot back forwards. Like others said, check the wound channel.

 

[Live_weighT34]

How big were the holes in the deer?

After almost 6 years behind the counter of a pro shop one of the most common broadhead complaints I heard was grim reaper blades not deploying usually followed up with that they had recovered the animal which died quickly yet some how there was a 2” hole (or holes) in it.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Whitetail special 100gr

Interesting. What did the wound channels look like? Should be pretty obvious if that big bastard opens up.

 

[kpk]

I've shot piles of deer with them without issue.

It seems extemely unlikely they wouldn't be opening. Even by your own observation, it seems unlikely that a blade would get bent sideways - unless it was open.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

I’ve killed over 60 with the boring original 1 3/8 and the pro series 1 3/8 ever since they came out. 26 inch draw, 400 grain arrow and never had one issue out of them. They are my all time favorite mechanical. Wicked blood trials but normally it’s just like the slogan, I watch em drop from the stand.

Almost ever single time after a pass through the blades are closed, yet their is an awesome entry and exit hole…

 

[Smtn10pt]

see if you can match the cuts in the dead deer with a closed head, if not the blades are deploying

 

[IowaHunter25]

Interesting. What did the wound channels look like? Should be pretty obvious if that big bastard opens up.

Once I butchered it. I found the wound channels. Its wide. The broadhead definitely opened. Just didn't get the penetration I was hoping for.

 

[fatlander]

I’ve killed atleast 50 critters with grim reapers. I’ve never had one fail to open. I’ve been a part of a lot more reaper track jobs, and the same holds true.

EDIT: OP, I see your comment about seeing the wound channel upon butchering, and you confirmed that it did in fact deploy. The whitetails special is a lot of broadhead to push through any critter. I’ve only shot turkeys with them. They put holes the size of my fist in turkeys.

I stick with the 1 3/8” pro series and 1.5” fatal steels for elk, deer, and bear. I’ll be moose hunting with 1 3/8” pro series next fall.


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[fatlander]

I’ve killed atleast 50 critters with grim reapers. I’ve never had one fail to open. I’ve been a part of a lot more reaper track jobs, and the same holds true.

EDIT: OP, I see your comment about seeing the wound channel upon butchering, and you confirmed that it did in fact deploy. The whitetails special is a lot of broadhead to push through any critter. I’ve only shot turkeys with them. They put holes the size of my fist in turkeys.

I stick with the 1 3/8” pro series and 1.5” fatal steels for elk, deer, and bear. I’ll be moose hunting with 1 3/8” pro series next fall.


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[HunterGatherer]

Once I butchered it. I found the wound channels. Its wide. The broadhead definitely opened. Just didn't get the penetration I was hoping for.

Cut diameter and total cut affect penetration…

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Once I butchered it. I found the wound channels. Its wide. The broadhead definitely opened. Just didn't get the penetration I was hoping for.

Makes sense, it's huge.

 

[kcm2]

I had that happen once with Grim Reapers. Entry hole was like the blades were closed, and it was closed in the animal. Very little bleeding on a lung hit but I recovered the hog 500 yards from where he was shot.

 

[Dirtbag]

The claims that mechanicals don’t open are largely not true. As mentioned on hard stop the inertia and “whiplash” cause the blades to fall forward.

Not to say it’s never happened just to way lesser degree than what people like to argue about.

 

[esven89]

I can also recommend the fatal steel. It’s a great head if you would still like penetration. I have been curious on the mini mag though since be it’s lying an aluminum fatal steel but with a 4th blade

 

[fatlander]

I can also recommend the fatal steel. It’s a great head if you would still like penetration. I have been curious on the mini mag though since be it’s lying an aluminum fatal steel but with a 4th blade

Sample size of one, I killed a bull elk in September with the mini mag. ~30 yards. 520 grain arrow at 290fps. Pass through the golden triangle. Ray Charles could have followed the blood trail. I’ll have a mixed quiver or mini mags and 1 3/8” pro series in AK hunting moose next fall.


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[ChasingSqwach]

The only issue I’ve ever had with grim reaper is a blade opening in flight. I think it was a rare fluke though