The biggest warthog I’d seen in three days suddenly appeared at the waterhole. The 10-inch tusker went directly to drink and would exit just as quickly unless I shot quickly. Problem was, the angle was severe, way more than quartering-away position. However, if I put my Rage Trypan exactly on target, the shot was lethal. Taking a quick breath, I aimed the Mission Sub 1 and squeezed.
Upon impact, the pig burst past the blind, nearly jumping in the shooting window. The dust cleared, and all became quiet. Warthogs are among the hardiest of African plains game and cling to life with tenacity. Ten minutes later, two African trackers arrived, and we picked up the spore for about ten steps.
The mature wild hog traveled a mere 30 yards after being hit. In three seconds, it lay still. Examining the big tusker, I could see a two-inch cut in front of the left ham where the arrow entered and traveled the full length of the pig’s body.
Fly like Target Points
If the broadhead you use doesn’t fly like your target points, you are asking for trouble. Either you must keep burning expensive heads for practice or readjust your sights for broadhead impact after practice. Either way, you are bound to forget or stop practicing due to the expense.
I was fortunate enough to field test one of the six Raven prototypes a few years back, and the one warning I received was to test broadhead flight. “We’ve found that Rage broadheads fly best” was their research advice. My experience on that big warthog and in practice show that the Rage Trypan’s fly accurately like field points. Additionally, Rage practice points are available and quickly pay for themselves.
Shock Collar Retention System
Crossbows have a violent launch that rivals or surpasses any compound bow. Some models store more than 200 pounds of energy and when that power is released, it can cause an expandable broadhead to open prematurely.
The old O-rings weren’t very sexy, yet I’m wary of any head that doesn’t have one. Since the new Trypan is engineered for crossbows, premature opening is not an issue. In fact, each head comes with a red shock collar retention ring that holds the head closed on even the most violent launch. This retention ring assures that the blades stay tucked against the ferrule to prevent wind planing.
Rugged Design
Along with engineering for speed, the new Trypan is tougher than ever. The tip features instant penetration, while the hardened titanium ferrule handles Rage’s thickest blades ever, nearly 0.40 inches.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Trypan Slipcam opens on impact and cuts a two-inch entry hole. The market features several two-inch blade heads, but do they open on entry or once the head has entered the animal?
Testing this feature is done easily with a sheet of notebook paper or piece of cardboard on the face of a foam target. Using standard safety procedures, shoot the target and examine the paper for an entry wound. With Rage Trypan, you’ll get the same two-inch cut I saw on the warthog.
Dr. Ed’s Double
My dentist is also an avid bowhunter and was delighted to help with this broadhead test. His first opportunity came when a management impala came to drink near his blind. When the old animal with worn horns turned broadside, Dr. Ed launched the Trypan.
“Instantly, I saw blood spurt from the animal and it made just three jumps and fell over dead,” he said. Later, I asked my friend to show me a picture of his animal, but he declined to take them. “There was so much blood that it took 20 minutes of washing rocks and grooming the dirt so that other animals would approach the water.”
An hour later, a kudu bull came to drink and Dr. Ed made the day a double. The much larger animal received a complete pass through and the bull went barely 50 yards.
The performance of the new Trypan was truly amazing. You may not have the opportunity this fall on as many animals as offered by an African safari, yet when the first one provides a chance, you can bet the Rage Trypan will deliver.
