I'm looking for a good, easy to sharpen broadhead for a good price and I've heard good things about both the woodsman and tree shark. which one penetrates better and which one makes the better hole?
I would say the tree shark for sure on the better hole.
All things like weight and DL being equal, the Woodsman would be easier for sharpening IMO.
The Woodsman leaves a plenty good hole/holes. I have put down many animals with them. Easy to get really sharp too.
Both are great heads. Get a six pack of each and make up a dozen arrows and see what you like better.
I shoot the Woodsmen or the VPA, but I have been looking hard at the Treesharks. Therefore I will be watching this thread.
Both are great heads. I have both and think the VPA with a straight edge is easier to sharpen - but I am sharpening challenged.
GREAT QUESTION!! Ive been having this debate in my head for a few months. Ive always been a two blade shooter, but the woodsmen/vpa heads are very appealing. Looks like they would be easier to get and keep razor sharp, plus that extra blade should leave a bigger blood trail. Would love to hear from those who have shot both.
The non-vented VPA is the cats meow!
Although you can't argue with the treeshark pics. What weight and DL are you pulling?
i shot both i say the tree shark is hands down the better for better blood on the ground. if you want to go even a step better look at the battle axe in a single bevel thats my go to head for whitetails sharpens easy with a chainsaw file its everything a tree shark is and then some.
Simmon's for me. LCH
TreeShark!
I have killed many animals with both and as said above both are great heads. But the TreeShark puts a hole in things like none other and big holes means lots of liquid on the ground. ( I havent shot the BattleAxe but I will ). Once you get the feel for the sharpening it is not that hard for either.Good luck how ever you go......
,,,,,,Sam,,,,,,,
A woodsman won't put near the amount of blood on the ground as the treeshark . As far as penetration goes, how far into the ground is far enough with a treeshark? Both will easily pass through a deer, bear, or caribou...
I shoot both. Woodsmans for me are simple to sharpen and fly always perfect. Tree sharks do make a gash for sure. Just don't fly as well for me and are a little tougher to sharpen.
Utilizing Muzzy's Slash Factor Equation which takes into account blade width and/or dia., # of blades and required depth of penetration to achieve a pass thru.
Note: Estimated 8"s for complete penetration on whitetails.
BH dia. and/or width.................................Slash Factor
Terminator 1 ¼" 200 gn 3Bl...........1.250.........15.0
Simmons 'Tree Shark' 190 gn 2 Bl..2.000.........16.0
Centaur 'Battle Axe' 214 gn 2 Bl.....2.125.........17.0
Big Jim's 'Big 3' 300 gn 3 Bl...........1.500.........18.0
Advantage in slash factor by selecting the Big 3(mfg. by VPA)
Terminator 1 1/4" 200 gn 3BL...................20.0%
Simmons 'Tree Shark' 190 gn 2" 2BL..........12.5%
Centaur 'Battle Axe' 214 gn 2 1/8 2Bl...........5.90%
Big Jim's 'Big 3' 300 1.5"gn 3Bl
Utilizing an over-all lethal arrow design, the choice, for me, is not too difficult. The Big 3's are easy to sharpen, dig deep, fly true and leave trails that Hansel and Gretel could follow. Note: Totally disintegrated an 18 in 1 Rhinehart in 3 ½ weeks utilizing a 51# bow in conjunction with an Ultra-EFOC 611 gn arrow. Also, pass thru on a doe- chest entrance...full body length penetration and inside back left thigh exit. She laid down on the spot.
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/IMG_0524.jpg)
Pass-through on a bull elk with a Woodsman. Short, heavy, 40 yard blood trail.
I would go with a non vented Woodsman Elite/VPA Terminator over the tree shark.
Simmons Carnage...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1931.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1861.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0655.jpg)
Woodsman penetration from a 47@27 longbow...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1244.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1247.jpg)
Can`t loose with either.RC
Nice RC, that sure proves the penetration of a 3 blade, and with a 47# bow.
I have both....they both fly GREAT for me. I believe the Woodsman Elites are easier for me to sharpen (I just use a flat file and in a couple minutes I can shave hair off my arm easily). The Simmons heads ( I have 190gr. Interceptor) do some MAJOR DAMAGE...do a search and you'll see there is plenty of pics or the Simmons' broadheads and the gash/bloodtrails they leave.
Of the two, the Woodsman is the much easier to sharpen broadhead.
I can't sharpen a concave broadhead. This is why I don't shoot Simmons broadheads or any concave broadhead.
I shot ww 150's and took four deer and all fell within 60yrds and blood was everywhere. This year I will have ww's in the quiver with some zwickeys and the new griz kodiaks to compare. My goal is to take a deer with each head.
Nite Wing I couldn't sharpen them either until I bought the sharpener Simmon's sells. Now I can put a razor edge on any 2 blade head quickly.LCH
Been shooting the WW since they have come out. LOVE the head. Last year, I decided to shoot Simmons. Few pix from last season.
Simmons
Entrance hole
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11040.jpg)
Exit
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11048.jpg)
Some of the blood trail:
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11046.jpg)
Video of the what the BH went through.
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/th_Oct-11057.jpg) (http://s581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/?action=view¤t=Oct-11057.mp4)
WW Elite
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11152.jpg)
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11153.jpg)
These pictures show the WW buried just above the knee on the bucks back right leg. I shot him as he was trotting, took the liver, then angled back into the leg.
Picture of BH with brass insert after I pulled it out.
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2011-Hunting/Oct-11154.jpg)
I was very impressed with the Simmons, but like others have stated it is more work to get "scary" sharp. I will keep shooting them, but my #1 head is the WW.
chris <><
Few more with the WW. All deer shot with a 50# recurve.
Entrance:
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2010%20deer/Pickles-10021.jpg)
Exit:
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2010%20deer/Pickles-10022.jpg)
Lungs:
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss256/1onions/2010%20deer/Pickles-10029.jpg)
chris <><
Simmons for me over any of the regular vpa heads. Have killed a lot of deer with both the 1 1/4 250vpa screw In also a great head. But they are hard to find. Prefer them and the big 3 over the normal vpas.
Hey Friend. Just out of curiosity what is the slash factor of the simmons 190 interceptor 1 9/16 with the bleeder at 1 1/8. Thanks Will
If you by the tree shark purchase the sharpening
kit also or you may be disappointed.These heads can be sharpened in seconds with the sharperner.
I haven't shot the Simmons, but I have had great luck with my Woodsman Elites. I have always had good pass-through and a short blood trail.