Picked up a pack of Small Game Thumpers from the VPA guys last weekend at Kazoo and have been dying to give them a test run. With temps in the 50's yesterday, I was able to get out of the lab a little early and head out to some national forest land to do some stumpin.
A little of the scenery:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/9f4a26d1.jpg)
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/dc751f5b.jpg)
My stumping arrow delivery system of choice:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/72e96331.jpg)
Close up of the SGT's nestled in my EFA mini 3 arrow quiver(note the arrow collars, these would pay off later):
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/ccaf07db.jpg)
After an afternoon of putting the SGT tipped arrows through their paces, I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed! These heads fly great, delivery one heck of a smack to whatever they contact, and prevent burying just like a judo thanks to the 5 forward facing cutting arms (these also just make for a really cool looking hole).
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/404507b8.jpg)
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/debc5e7a.jpg)
Nice solid looking stump, right?
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/e39e9002.jpg)
More to come...
Not solid enough apparently....
Entry:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/d874ffea.jpg)
Exit:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/fe5fa38e.jpg)
I found that another plus of the SGT's is that when you do happen to get a pass through, the hole is big enough to give your feathers some clearance and not damage them much at all.
It was nice to find a few patches of green in the February woods:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/5f856e3d.jpg)
Now for the ultimate unintentional test. This little guy was hiding under a clump of leaves I was shooting for. At the shot I heard the loud smack and saw my nock come flying back at me. I figured my arrow was done for, but was surprised to see that when carbon collared arrow + SGT meets rock, arrow wins :readit: at least this time anyway.
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/9554e732.jpg)
You can see the scars left on one section of the rock by the cutting arms:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/e924b733.jpg)
A few more SGT holes just for fun:
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/a65262dd.jpg)
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/9f8a035a.jpg)
I can assure you that I'm in no way affiliated with VPA other than hearing great things about their products through this site. And while they may not work for everybody, I for one have found my new go to stumping head and I would encourage you to give them a try if you haven't already.
Thanks for looking!
Those seem like really cool heads! How much wider are they than an ace hex blunt?
They are great stumping and small game heads. Cool pics is that a Dwyer Endeavor your shooting?
Austin, I don't have any hands on experience with the ace hex's so I can't say for sure, but just going off of pictures of them, I'd say the SGT's are a tad bit wider.
wv, thanks yep that's an endeavor. 58" and 54#'s @ 28in. I love short hybrids and its an amazing little bow. Though I shot a 54in shrew at kazoo and lets just say I'll be jumping on that list as well as soon as I can get the funds....
Thats what I thought from looking at the pics the other day.. They look like an amazing head! I'm gonna have to pick some up!
Way to go...Bro...!! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
Nice pics..... I love my SGT's...........
looks like a nice day out. :thumbsup:
Been lookin for a good small game head. Might have to give these a try. They definitely look tuff enough!
Cool pics, Jason
Thanks guys, glad you liked the pics :campfire:
Great day in the woods it looks like! Beauty of a bow. Thanks for the pics.
Eric
Glad you like them Clay. They definately should hold up well and put a thumpin to whatever gets in the way!
Looks like it was a fun day, and great heads
With something like spring in Michigan, I have been out doing the same with my VPA SGT's. I just love them. I think I have 125's-200's if not 100-250. Would have to check to be sure.
They really grab on to stuff well. I have had very few hard to fine arrows. I have shot nothing better in a non-spring arm head for finding them. They grab on way better than hex heads and hammer heads. I have both of them also. The hammer head is a good head also, but I like the VPA better.
They are not indestructible however. My rock was about another 150# and not much give in the little scratch I put on it. The end result was a chip off a claw and some shaft end damage due to my aluminum footing sleeve splitting. It was kind of a hard hit. :D