I've been bow hunting going on 25 years now, primarily using fixed blade heads (Thunderheads to be exact). A few years back I decided to take the shortcut route and use Rage 100 grain expandables. At 315 fps, was having some tuning issues with my new Bowtech and thought expandables were my only hope. They flew where my field points did, even with the arrow oscillation I was experiencing, so I figured I was all set.

On the opening day of the season, I took a steep angle, quartering away shot on a mature doe. I knew by the shot placement I got at least one lung, and she ran off with the arrow buried behind her upper right shoulder. Now I'll admit I was wrong to do so, but I had to pursue her right away as I had a wedding to attend that afternoon and we would be expecting rain overnight. After about 30 minutes I began trailing, and unfortunately jumped her about 75 yards away. She ran into a large cattail swamp and I never saw another sign of her. At least the coyotes ate well that night.

As I had been warned of and seen in test videos, I was convinced that the off angle shot caused one blade to open slightly before the other at impact, causing more friction to one side of the arrow and subsequently lessening penetration. I went home disgusted and determined to return to my tried and true Thunderheads.

The next day, when attempting to sight in with my Thunderheads, I missed my target completely with my first shot. The arrow went CLEAN THROUGH my six foot picket fence (7/8" thick). The broadhead was completely intact, and the only issue was my vanes were all missing. There is no way any mechanical head could deliver that much penetration. I took my time and paper tuned the bow, then went about the business of sending T-100's through whitetail rib cages. I've watched very deer I've arrowed since fall within sight, including a 3 1/2 year old buck in my profile picture which a Thunderhead went clean through the opposite shoulder blade.

Truth be told, with perfect shot placement and freshly sharpened blades, ANY broad head will kill effectively. But as any seasoned hunter knows, there are variables in the deer woods. Swinging or rear deploying blades are one more variable, one more thing to go wrong. Strike bone with them or have an off angle hit, you'll wish you were shooting fixed blades. Perhaps Occam's Razor was imagined for modern archers' surgical steel... simpler is always better.

I agree with Chris.
I have tried the two blade Rage broad heads 100 grain and i have had some good success with them. The penetration was not always as great, however the large cutting diameter really made the difference when my shot wasn't always right where i wanted it to be.

Last December though i had my first experience with the rage opening mid flight and it caused the arrow to miss the target. Luckily it was only a doe, but i am concerned about the same thing happening again this year on an awesome buck.

I plan on going back to my faithful G5 Montecs that i have always used before i got the rage broad heads. Like Chris said any properly sharpened broad head will kill effectively, but for me it comes down to reliability and if i am taking a shot on a world class whitetail why even take the chance of having something go wrong with your broad head? For me I would go with a fixed broad head

I switched from rage broad heads to the G5 T3's this year and am very impressed. I shot 2 bucks with the T3's this year and got to watch both of the deer expire within 50 yds. furthermore, I always change the blades on broad heads after i shoot them and the replacement blades on the T3's are the simplest that I have come across.

The Pros to using a broad head like Rage or G5 is that they shoot like your field tips so you do not have to practice shooting with expensive broad heads or mess around with changing your sites.

I recommend the G5 over the Rage because you do not need to deal with the rubber bands, the G5's do not open until impact whereas you have to be mindful of the rage because they will open if you bump them. Finally, the replacement blades are easier to use on the G5's because there are no screws.

The supposed con to expendables are on penetration with larger animals with thick hides. I went on a buffalo hunt a couple of years ago and my guide was not happy that i had 3 blade rage broad heads on my arrows. I didn't know that expendables supposedly were less effective on thick hides, but my buffalo only ran 175 yds. before expiring.

From my experience I would definitely recommend expendables over fixed blades if for no other reason that are convenient.