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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Shane C on February 16, 2013, 09:34:00 AM
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So, I just bought some 200 grain VPA Penetrators from the classifieds. I was really excited to get them, but when I opened up the package, they were tiny. I've had the Tusker Aztec which are only 1/4" wider but seem to dwarf the penetrators.
What are you guys thoughts on the 2-blade VPA?
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I am curious about this myself. I have been considering taking those heads to Africa.
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I have 6 of the 175 grain Penetrators, they fly very well for me and take a great edge on my KME broadhead sharpener. I havent taken any game with them yet, but I believe the main purpose of these heads is to get two holes on large/dangerous game.
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When I received my package of the 175's first thing I thought was man these are a smallhead. As stated above they do sharpen very well. I only shot one deer with them this year and had a complete pass through with the broadhead buried in the tree behind it. It was a good blood trail but it was a good shot, the deer only went 60yds and killed over. I do wish they were wider as well, but I think they are a quality head that will penetrate as good as any other head if sharp. That is my limited experience with them.
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In short (pun intended)
They are stronger being shorter.
We'v done a bunch of broadhead testing on buffalo the last few years and found the Shorter - Smaller heads to be a lot more durable. Considerably less prone to tip curl.
The structural integrity deceases with length, and the increase in leverage in the long heads compared to the shorter heads, means they are simply much easier to bend which =(tip curl - snapping and adapter's bending)
"take a 30" arrow shaft and a 10" arrow shaft and see which bends the easiest"
The Guys at VPA recognized this before I could show it in testing, and already moved to making the Bigger heads "shorter". And now The original 300gr 2blade has been reduced to the length of the 250gr 2blade, the extra weight was made up by increasing blade thinness. Thank you VPA!
One concern and Idea that is common is that the Longer head penetrates much better then a shorter head due to its reduced angle and the difference in its mechanical advantage. However, this is Not the case in testing, there is at best a "marginal" increase in penetration at the best of times, BUT *here is the table turner*, that is only the case if the head does not bend "tip curl" you go from "marginal penetration gain to hugely reduce penetration" Enough to cost more then a few friends and clients there buffalo, with the longer heads on the market.
The fact is the strength gain and reduction of tip curl in the shorter heads, outweighs the marginal penetration gain a longer head may offer when it stays strait.
So use with Confidence Shane, they are bomb proof.
Iv been using the Tiny VPA 150gr 2blades on hogs out of the longbow and you should see those things Zip through big boars.
Good luck.
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That's interesting Andy. I used a STOS on my Moose last year. Hit him thru chest 1st arrow. He ran a ways. I was able to get up on him again on my way out. (Was going to leave him a bit - he just turned from where I thot he went) Shot him again but hit the shoulder. He took a few steps and tipped over. After retrieving the broadheads both tips had curled and I had beveled them!
Back to 3 blades this year.
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Andy is right on. I don't think there is anyway to curl these heads. I have only shot 1 animal with them. A good size Muley doe. She was slightly quartering to me at 20 yards. I hit her a bit forward and center punched her front leg bone. It isnt as heavy as a moose, but ive seen leg bones ruin plenty of heads. The arrow passed through leg bone and exited through the ribs. She didn't go far and the head was in perfect shape.
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I have some and have not killed with them yet. I too wish they were wider, not necessarily much longer. As most know, a well shot whitetail will run 100 yards in seconds and with those narrow widths they might not put down enough blood. I plan to test them this fall and on hogs maybe this spring or summer. As Andy said they appear bombproof and super easy to sharpen.
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Yeah, it's not so much that I'm worried they won't penetrate but more that the exit wound/blood trail will suck.
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(http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u482/jshperdue1/photobucket-28247-1353010388130_zps122d1ce1.jpg)
This is what most of the blood trail looked like with the deer i shot. Ive had more but Ive had less as well. Zipped right through it. This is my limited experience.
(http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u482/jshperdue1/photobucket-15359-1353010320057_zps98b03077.jpg)
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Andy has done a lot of testing with the heads. I have not shot any of their two blades but if they are half as good as the 3 blades you won't have any problems.
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So are they about the same size as a Silver Flame now? Which is a proven killer
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They are same size as a silverflame 150 and built like a tank!!!
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This is the result of a 250 grain 2 blade VPA going length wise through a bison. Sure, it looks better on snow, but I'm thinking I could have followed it on dry ground pretty easily. ;)
I haven't tried it, but the way these things are built I just imagine what it would take to curl the tip on one. I doubt that a concrete block would do it! They are an extremely well built head!
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Utah%20Buffalo/UtahBuffalo121-001_zps0849979f.jpg)
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So the new head is still 1 1/8" wide?
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Originally posted by screamin:
So the new head is still 1 1/8" wide?
Yep 1-1/8" :thumbsup:
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VPA two blade 200 grain broad head brought this guy down. 9 yard shot pass thru using a Toelke Super D. Went in behind his right ribcage, came out just behind left shoulder. A slight quartering away stance.
DO NOT POST IMAGES WIDER THAN 640!!!!
[IMG]http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/tzolkosky/Super%20D/2012-10-13_09-46-31_983-1.jpg[/IMG]
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Does anyone use the KME knife sharpener on these?
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I use a file. Wicked scary sharp. But love the way they fly.
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Originally posted by wigeon:
Does anyone use the KME knife sharpener on these?
I use the KME broadhead sharpener, but I don't see why the knife sharpener wouldn't work fine as well.
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I use the KME knife sharpener on these and it works great.
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I love how solid these BHs are built. Put them side to side with a lot of others and you will see what I'm talking about, they are SOLID!
Because of how solid they are built they end up a lot smaller in total profile than BHs of equivalent weight, this tend to surprise some people when they open the package.
My only kill experience is with a a 250 grain penetrator. Pass through on a approxiomately 180lb boar hog out of a 40# bow. I also tested the head on a freshly skinned out big boar hide with a thick shield plate. My arrow with a 250 grn VPA penetrator and 40# bow outpenetrated several of my buddies heavier bows. Passed through the shield on both sides of the hide.
On a side note: Archaeologists used to find little arrow heads and they assumed they were for small game, calling them "bird points". More recently they have determined that those small points were actually used for taking American bison!
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I just received some of the 300 gr. Penetrators from a fellow T'G'er...I'm impressed!
These things are like a tank compared to any other 2-blade I've got. I suck at sharpening 2-blade broadheads, but in about 10 minutes I got these sharper than any other 2 blade head I ever sharpened.
Heading to Georgia this weekend, assuming these will shoot well, I'm anxious to try to make some bacon with one!
Ken
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IMO, they seem to be pretty good heads, but I would not call them bomb proof. I did manage to curl a tip on a 200 grain 2 blade VPA or penetrator (whatever they're calling them now). Contacted VPA and got a replacement without any hassle. I picked up some 3 blade VPA's and plan on using them next season instead of the 2 blade.
The 2 blade VPA did fly very well for me and sharpened nicely on a KME though.
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what did you shoot that could possibly curl the tip on a vpa? I shoot the three blades anx have hit a large piece of novaculite dead on after missing a deer in north arkansas and there was no damage to the head
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I shot the VPA 125 3 baldes last year out of my compound. They are nice heads, fly well and penetrate. Thye are not indestructable though. I did manage to bend some of the blades after they went through targets and deer. It was very noticable when my arrow flight deterriated. I like the head and would not hesitate to use them. I just caution people that they can bend.
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Originally posted by JamesKerr:
what did you shoot that could possibly curl the tip on a vpa? I shoot the three blades anx have hit a large piece of novaculite dead on after missing a deer in north arkansas and there was no damage to the head
Wood 2x4 target stand. Was shooting at some longer distances to see how they flew and hit the stand on accident. Arrow flight was straight and I would have expected it to stick in the wood, but it just bounced off. Blew the nock off the back of the arrow too.
I'm not knocking them. I think they're nice broadheads, but nothing is indesctructable. I could understand the tip curling hitting rock or something hard like that but was surprised it did hitting the wood. It was an earlier head, so it may just been a fluke.
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Been shooting the 2 blade 250's for 2 seasons now. Killed 4 deer and a hog with the same head so far. pass thru's on all. :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by Shane C:
Yeah, it's not so much that I'm worried they won't penetrate but more that the exit wound/blood trail will suck.
Shane if the bloodtrail is your concern, focus on the recipe:
1) shot placement
2) penetration
3) level of BHD sharpness
If you can put all three of these ingredients together, the bloodtrail will be very short no matter what BHD you're shooting. The best bloodtrail is always... the shortest bloodrail.
Ron
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Thanks guys! These will definitely be in my quiver next year. Just wanting to see what others thought about them. For reference, I'm shooting a 670gr arrow from my 64 @ my 31" draw recurve. That should blow through most deer. Just need to make sure I have a good shot now. :)
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Originally posted by Shane C:
Thanks guys! These will definitely be in my quiver next year. Just wanting to see what others thought about them. For reference, I'm shooting a 670gr arrow from my 64 @ my 31" draw recurve. That should blow through most deer. Just need to make sure I have a good shot now. :)
Moose 'n elk too I guess
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I shoot the VPA 3 blades glue on and I can position the head at any position I want.
But how is the best way to position a screw on 2-blade so it is horizional to the ground when mounted on the bow string?
Thanks, Ken
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Originally posted by damascusdave:
Moose 'n elk too I guess
You can never be over prepared
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Whip: We'd love to have a pic of that Bison for the VPA Photo Gallery.
[email protected]
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For a pile of animal pics killed with the 2 Blades check out Andy, Adam Greentree, and Sean Walsh pics in the writer gallery section on the vparchery.com webite. Between the 3 of them they took a well over a hundred animals with the VPA 2 blades in 2012 alone. Adam recently took the new #1 Buff in Australia with the little 150gr 2 Blade. If any of you read South Pacific Bowhunter magazine. There were articles in the last couple issues on hunts where they were used. Several animals pictured in the current issue were taken with them. Man I'd love to have the hunting opportunities they have over there!!