New Rage Broadhead, Nock Live Up to Their Billing

The combination of bow, arrow, broadhead, nock, sight and practice help put this fat doe on the ground to get the season started right! (Photo: Dan Schmidt/DDH)
The combination of bow, arrow, broadhead, nock, sight and practice help put this fat doe on the ground to get the season started right! (Photo: Dan Schmidt/DDH)

Opening weekend of archery season is in the books here in Wisconsin, and let me be the first to report it was another stellar kickoff for bowhunters here in the central part of the state. I punched my first doe tag last night on a plump nanny that ventured within 25 yards of my Mathews Creed.

By Daniel E. Schmidt

Although I am partial to some of the equipment I use, I make it a point to try out some of the newer gear on almost every hunt. On this hunt, I was shooting the new Nocturnal nocks and Kore 3-blade broadhead — both from Rage. They were affixed to my Maxima Red arrows by Carbon Express.

One dead deer does not make for anything beyond anectdotal evidence, but I am impressed with the performance of each products thus far (most of that opinion is from the last month’s worth of practice sessions at my archery range).

First, the broadhead.

 

The new Rage Kore broadhead, which has multiple razor-sharp cutting surfaces.
The new Rage Kore broadhead, which has multiple razor-sharp cutting surfaces.

The Kore is a pretty wild design for an expandable. The result is a three-blade broadhead that is almost as compact as a field point. The Kore comes in three packs and also includes a practice point. I used that practice point last week and found that it flew identical to my other field points. That was reassuring.

Although I am still partial to the 2-blade Rage X-Tremes — mostly because of their insanely wide cutting diameter (nearly 3 inches) — the Kore is a good pick for guys and gals who prefer the blood-loss features from a three-blade. The Kore has six independent cutting surfaces and is made entirely out of stainless steel. The cutting diameter is still big — 1.6 inches — and the tip is one piece that comes together at three angles.

I hit this doe a tad high through the lungs and she was quartering toward me slightly. The Red arrow traveling the length of deer before exiting low past the last rib on the opposite side. The deer carried the arrow with her for about 50 yards, but it fell out there when she went down. I’m only shooting 55 pounds of draw weight, which isn’t ideal for any expandable broadheads, but I must say that was quite the performance from this rig (bow + arrow + broadhead).

SEE: More Devastating Impact of These New Deadly Broadheads, and Video!

Nockturnal's compound and crossbow nocks, like this one, are incredibly bright and easy to operate.
Nockturnal’s compound and crossbow nocks, like this one, are incredibly bright and easy to operate.

As for the Nocturnal nocks, they too are impressive and feature some high-end technology. These nocks feature a patent-pending linear switch that activates the nock with the pressure from the bowstring. It’s easy to turn them on; you can do it merely by nocking the nock onto the bowstring too briskly. I like that, because it makes for almost foolproof operation in any conditions.

The nock is powered by a long-lasting lithium battery. How they make a lithium battery that tiny is beyond me. All I do know is these nocks not only work, they are among the brightest lighted nocks I’ve ever used.

Bonus on the Nocturnal nock: You can turn it off by using a thin edged tool (I actually use a toothpick) that fits inside a tiny hole on the side of the nock.

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