RAMCAT CAGE RIPPER: Broadhead Test
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มี.ค. 2023
- This is a test of the 100 gr Ramcat Cage Ripper Mechanical broadhead.
Here is summary of my 2023 Testing Procedure & Scoring w/the scores of this head posted in parenthesis as well.
Cage Ripper Total Score: 82.02 = 8 Golden Arrows
1. Flight Forgiveness (20%, 19 pts)
This is not just a test of how heads fly out of my bow, as it was in the past. With a well tuned bow, properly built arrows & good form, almost every head flies well. That's why in the past most heads got a flight score of 9 or 10. But that doesn't help those who may not have perfectly tuned bows/arrows/good form. So now I am gauging Flight Forgiveness. This is based on how the head flies for me, how well it spins, how "sensitive" the flight is to imperfections, & the exposed surface area of the blades. The max score of a Mech is 20 & the max score of a Fixed is 16.
2. Cut Size (20%, 18.88 pts)
The more tissue being cut, the more lethal the head, all else equal. The entrance cut, total cut, & width of the cut (a crucial variable for bloodletting) are all scored:
The entrance cut size is compared to a standard of 2.5" then that fraction is weighted to 7% of the score. (2.3" = 6.44 pts)
The max cut size is compared to a standard of 2.5" as well, then that fraction is is weighted to 7% of the score. (2.3" = 6.44 pts)
The max cutting diameter is compared to a standard of 2.0", then that fraction is weighted to 6% of the score. (2" = 6 pts)
3. Blades (20%, 17.45 pts)
Initial sharpness (9%, Mech: 200 grams; Fixed: 250 grams; 9.5/10 = 8.55 pts) & Edge Retention (9%, +50 gram = 9/10 = 8.1 pts) are measured using the Edge On Up Sharpness Tester. The pressure needed for a blade to cut thru a copolymer wire is measured in grams.
Edge Retention is the loss of sharpness after the head is shot in Penetration Test 1, thru 1/2" MDF and 2/3" rubber foam mat & Clear Ballistics FBI gel. For every 50 "grams" of sharpness lost, 1 point is deducted from 10.
What are some sharpness scores for common edges?
A butter knife takes 2000 grams of pressure to break the co polymer wire.
A new high end cutlery edge: ~ 375 grams of pressure.
A utility razor blade: 200 grams.
Based on the many broadheads I have tested, here is my scoring scale:
Out of the Box Sharpness:
0-200 gr: 10
201-300 gr 9
301-400 gr: 8
401-500 gr: 7
501-600 gr: 6
601-700 gr: 5
Ease to resharpen or replace blades is judged & given 2% of the score. (4/10=.8 pts)
4. Penetration (20%, 18.09 pts)
There are 3 penetration tests:
Pen Test 1: 1/2" MDF, 2/3" rubber foam mat, Clear Ballistics FBI gel. Depth of penetration is compared to a standard of 9" & weighted to 9% of the score. (8.25" = 8.25 pts)
Pen Test 2: Layered cardboard. # of layers penetrated is compared to a standard of 70 layers & weighted to 9% of the score.
(61 layers=7.84 pts)
Angled Penetration Test: How effectively does the head penetrate 1/4" MDF covered by carpet at a 45 degree angle. This accounts for 2% of the score. (10/10 = 2 pts)
5. Durability (20%, 11.6 pts)
Each head is shot thru 1/2" MDF 3 times. Its condition is judged 1-10 & weighted to 12% of the score. (9.6 pts)
If a head survives that, it is then shot thru 22 ga steel plate twice. Its condition is judged 1-10 & weighted to 5% of the score. (2 pts)
If a head survives that, it is then shot into concrete once. Its condition is judged 1-10 & weighted to 3% of the score. (0 pts)
Steel plate & concrete are certainly not "realistic" mediums, but they do reveal the outer limits of a head's durability.
BONUS:
+1 no O rings/retention clips
+1 locking blade design
-1 blades did not lock open in test mediums used
-2 blades closed during Pen Test 1
-2 blades closed during Pen Test 2
TOTAL SCORE: 82.02 pts = 8 Golden Arrows
PRICE : $11.66/head
Special Notes:
Please check out my sponsor, Stay Sharp Guide. staysharpguide.com or @Innovative Outdoorsman They make excellent broadhead sharpeners. The support I receive from them has helped me improve my channel
I also have some Broadhead Discount Codes I can share:
TRIFECTA: LUSK10 saves 10% on any order.
SEVR: LUSKFIVE saves you $5 on any order & can be used on top of any online sales.
ZEUS & HERA Broadheads (New Era Archery): LUSKFIVE saves $5/pack
Vector Custom Shop: LUSK gives Free Shipping
AFFLICTOR: LUSK10 saves 10%
Tooth of the Arrow: LUSK19 saves 10%
DEAD X BOWHUNTING Big Game Broadheads: LUSKFIVE saves $5 per pack.
Crimson Talon: LUSK15 saves 15%. - กีฬา
![BOWKYLION - เจ้านายคะ (work-life imbalance) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6bFj8G2pOi4/mqdefault.jpg)
This is why we rely on your testing. Thank you
Thank you
Good to see you back at it! I'm looking forward to your tests this year.
Thank you!
Glad see you back John, great review as always.
Thanks Justin!
thank you Lusky for everything you do, God bless you and your family
Thank you True!
Glad to see u back making videos pastor John
Thanks brother
Love the point by point scoring now. Easier to tell how it performed instantly rather than waiting for cumulative score at the end
Oh good. Was hoping people would notice that.
All is right with the world now that you are back lol
Amen
:) Thank you
So excited to get fresh and new Lusk reviews!
Thank you!
Thank the lord ! Back to testing ! I can’t even think of how much money these videos have saved me over the years (from buying sub par heads ) ! Thank you!
Thanks Jon
Glad to see you back! Looks like I will be sticking with my Sevr 1.5's😊
:) Thank you
Welcome back, congrats on the new house and job
Thank you
Great stuff
Thanks Scott
No way,welcome back!! Glad to see you survived that Texas storm!!🙏😁
Thank you !
Great to have you back John! I wouldn't shoot this one...I love my original ramcatsand the new Hemoshocks look deadly!
Thank you
Hey John, I’d love to see a updated review of the Magnus Black Hornet Ser Razor and the Stinger Buzzcut. Great review as always👍
Thanks Tyler. I just finished the Black Hornet and started on the Stinger and the Snuffer SS. They will be posted in the weeks ahead.
@@LuskArcheryAdventures Awesome, Can’t wait!!!
Welcome back.
Thanks Carl
Great test as always! Just a thought, you might consider getting one of those rolling magnetic sweepers to go over your back yard after you shoot into concrete. It wouldn’t pick up the aluminum but at least you could pick up the steel blades. God Bless!
Yea! Someone else suggested that.
Welcome back! Good test. Not sure I’d like handling those blades so much to reset them. If the blades would have fully opened I might consider them. They failed in an area that’s not negotiable for me.
Thank you
It's remarkable that the primary reason for using a mechanical (cutting diameter) isn't necessarily guaranteed if the mechanism failed to function as designed. Thanks for testing these heads.
Yeah, at least in these test mediums.
get a roofing magnet, to roll around the yard to find the broken bits. it's a bar magnet between two wheels and pushes along like a broom.
Yeah I need that.
Ramcat has taken the term "mechanical " to a whole new level.
:)
Hey brother, I really enjoy your thorough tests. Have you ever thought of doing testing on different fletchings or vanes? Like accuracy, easy of install, durability, configuration (3or4), and noise level?
I did a test on that at one point but never posted it. I need a really quiet place with long distance to do the sound and don’t yet have that here. I need to do it again at some point. Thank you for the idea.
@@LuskArcheryAdventures yeah you probably need at least 60 yards with a camera around 30 pick up good sound, I would think. Well, you’re so thorough that I’m sure it would turn out well.
Way better choices out there
Yep
You should review the Ramcat diamondback 100gr
I’ve tested a couple of their fixed blade heads in the past, but not those yet.
I’ve tested a couple of their fixed blade heads in the past, but not those yet.
glad to see you back up and running. Hope all went well with the move. As for the head i will just say NOPE.
Thanks brother :)
Great test and video. But in your opinion if u could only pick one fixed blade and one mechanical head for deer or hog only which would they be thanks and God bless
Thanks James. So hard to narrow it down. One mech would be a Sevr for sure. One fixed--so many great ones...but I will say, the new Trifecta Fixed just got the highest score of any fixed head I've tested. That vid is coming soon.
Glad your back great testing. That broadhead is not for me. But Ramcat is a good brand.
Thank you
Great test, interesting design. Maybe they can improve that locking system.
Thanks
Uhhhh nope. Glad your getting all settled John. Looks like a great house.
Thank you
Did you notice that they whistle or make a lot of noise through the air? I had these when they first came out. Mine were really noisy. Never shot a deer with them but, after the test glad I didn't lol.
I really didn’t notice that.
When the first video since the move is 10+ min 🤙
Thank you. This was my 3rd vid since the move…but first test.
John you should give your expectation of how the head will perform before you test it!
Sometimes I do…and sometimes I’m pretty surprised.
That’s one that wouldn’t find its place in my quiver! For mechanical I think sevr is one of the better options on the market
👍
It’s a shame I had high hopes for these, BCO tested these a few years ago (not as in-depth as you) but they had the same problem shooting it into 20% ballistic gel, I was hopeful that with something in front of the gel that it would help, kind enough disappointing considering the luck I’ve had with the hydro shocks but giving the test I’ve seen I couldn’t screw this onto my arrow and shoot it a live animal.
Yeah, I hear ya. Just to give some perspective on the opposite side: 1. It really is common that a number of mechs don't remain open in many mediums--like gel or cardboard layers, when there is constant pressure and friction on the blades. But in an animal, there are cavities and "lubrication" from the blood...so there is a high likelihood that the blades will remain open more effectively in an animal. 2. There is a huge entrance hole...which will aid in blood loss. 3. Even if the blades close, they are still cutting; and with the tip and the blades in the closed position, you're still getting hole over 1" of cut, which is like most 2 blade heads. And that hole could very well be over 2"--which is way more than any 2 blade fixed. 4. If the blades do close, the head will penetrate even deeper, giving a greater likelihood of a pass thru. Now, I'm certainly not promoting these heads...they're not one of my faves at all...BUT...these are important factors to consider as well.
Could you test the wasp jackhammer?
Yep, just finished. It will be posted in the upcoming weeks.
glad to see you are back! ramcat is really reaching with that head. in my opinion thats not a good design in any way. thanks for showing it to us.
Thank you
...I guess it is unintentional, and you even didn't mention the other brand .... but boy, what a perfect advertisement for the other brand 😁
Haha
I Wish I would have watched this video before getting these broadheads. I hit a doe with one at 15 yards, broadside back of the shoulder. The broadhead snapped off after impact and was unable to recover the deer, only found one spot on the ground after tracking for over an hour. Don’t make my mistake, use a different broadhead
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Looks like I'll be sticking with SEVR
:)
Destined for Camofire!
Haha. That’s a good one
It wiggles when closed, relies on an internal spring, and doesn't stay deployed--what's not to love? As someone who shot the original ramcat before they started to be made of poor quality, this is just sad.
Haha. That’s a good summary
Looked really promising at first glance but once you said aluminum I already knew it wasn't gunna be good... I don't think anything will match the sever when it comes to a mechanical
The Sevr design and materials are pretty special.
Probably a decent Turkey head!
I’d think so.
Good testing.
The ramcat collapsible i mean cage ripper. Lol
:)
IMO the hole design is flawed: the piston driven opening mechanism only works when the rest of the BH isn't imbedded - once imbedded, the friction caused by blades and the rest of the BH body results in a higher force that prevents the opening mechanism to do its job - and then there are the structural issues...
....in comparison to the SEVR 1.5 or 2.0 the SEVR wins hands down: it is structural far superior, the blades stay open, the swivel feature increases the chances of a pass through, and the whole design is still simple, and if needed, facilitates a simple replacement of the blades.....plus the blades are embedded while the BH is closed, plus you can lock the blades for training purposes ....
ETA: ...forgot to mention the outstanding service SEVR provides....
:)
Your going to need a rolling magnet from Home Depot for your back yard to pick up all the metal from the broadheads. Oh wait it's mostly s.s. and aluminum.
Haha. You’re right!
I'LL STICK WITH MY TRIDE & TRUE THORN RIFT 2.2 BROADHEADS...
Glad you like those
Great to have you back. Weak head in my opinion. I wouldn't buy the. Great show.
Michael Herrell
Thanks Michael
Blades not staying open is a Hard Fail to me
Yeah, but like it said, it’s pretty common in the mediums I’m using. And honestly, it probably also happens in animals more than people realize.
Wow not very durable. I tried the fixed blade ram cats for a year but the bloodtrails even on perfect double lung hits were terrible so I never used them again. Cool concept but just didn’t;t work well for me.
Yeah, this had just lacked the durability for sure. I was surprised.
The point of the ballistic gel is like the soft innards of the animal. They closed the lock failed. I'm going with this being over designed. One of those guys you meet in the office , you know the engineer, fellow was involved here. Works in theory , but not in real life. Back to the drawing board!
Yeah. But I will say, the gel tends to be sticky, whereas tissue is more lubricated. And tissue pulls away from the blade as it’s cut, gel does not. And there are cavities within animals but none in gel or cardboard layers.
@@LuskArcheryAdventures that I understand, the blades deployed , but you show them once deploying they folded , so the locking mechanism failed. I'm sure if it hadn't failed you would have had a wide cut. The rest of your test the " lock " failed. This has been a major issue of mechanical broadheads, since their start. Are there ones that do the job every time ,yes. I just think this one is a big fail. The company should take a test like this and say ok time to rethink this head! Ethically or in the sense of taking a shot on an animal , I would have no confidence in a head that failed on your first what I would call test ( even though it's for penetration). Just my two cents here on this one.
Lots of good features but if it doesn't open and stay open during penetration it's totally worthless. In order to assure it will continue to penetrate through the target on the the route we send it, it must remain locked open. I wouldn't trust it.
Yeah, I hear ya.
This thing looks like a first iteration of a mechanical head 30 years ago. What in the world were they thinking. 0/10 Sorry.
:)
Like a updated trufire switch blade.
So, not a sevr. 🤣
Thanks for watching :)
Aluminum tip can't be good
:)
First
Thank you
Lol
:)
Lol concrete destroyed it. To bad just another throw away head
:)
Nope
:)
Not a fan of mechanicals.
They pollute the environment with sharp metal bits.
This broadhead keeps me believing that a fixed is blade is better.
Yeah, many mechs do that…but not all
Not convincing enough to shoot
I hear ya.
man this head is a dud. Doesn't stay open is a complete fail in my book.
Thanks for sharing.
Disappointed..1/2 efforts avail us nothing..to many cheap moving parts made of disposable materials soley to make $$$
Yep
Probably the worse mechanical
Yeah, it definitely had its limits.
Just buy fixed blades people. Mechanicals suck and you'll lose game.
correction.... SOME mechanicals suck, just like some fixed suck.
Well, not all mechs, that’s for sure. There are a few that are more durable than most fixed
@@LuskArcheryAdventures Which ones?
Welcome back John. They are junk!
:) thank you
Why would anybody use these??it feels like a gimmicky contraption!Ill stick with a solid broad head.
Yeah, a bit too much going on die my liking.
@@LuskArcheryAdventures Agreed!Bye the way , I truly appreciate your methodology in evaluating broadheads. You truly give a practical empirical analysis of broad heads.
I am at 3:40 and think this head is not going to do well into steel and block.....Ah yes, I have learned a lot as a long time Luskie (great name for his not yet formed fan club).....6:40 and 7:20 proves it to be true.....stay away from these.
:) Thanks Scott