I am looking to switch back to a three blade broadhead, and was wondering if any of you would be willing to share your thoughts on the topic??? Actually, that is a really stupid question; of course Trag Gang members are going to have opinions on this topic!
Looking at VPA 175's and Woodsmen Elites. I believe they are made by the same producer and are razor sharp out of the package (great for those of us who are sharpening challenged!)
Others I should consider? Recurve bows that I hunt with range from 45#'s - 53#'s at 28".
Thanks in advance....
No need to go any further than VPAs. Although if you can find some original WWs with a steel adapter, you will have a perfectly acceptable BH.
I am trying some Magnus snuffers this year because good friends have given them to me.
I hear they are pretty good on deer!
I've got some new 175gr VPAs for use this season. They sure are easy to sharpen. Be interesting to see how they perform with my Black Widow. I'm usually a die-hard Bear razorhead fan but that's when I'm hunting with my vintage Bears.
Gonna try snuffers this year too, had good luck with original woodsmans when I used them..
There are numerous viable choices....doubt I could recommend any one in particular that would be more lethal that what you are currently eyeing.
I've had a good bit of success with snuffers. Having said that, I don't know of any trad style 3blade that's not good. VPA, snuffer woodsman, all of em work.
I use VPA 175s (and others) and I find them to be a very well made and deadly broadhead. Great blood trails have been seen with them,
ChuckC
VPA's and the Woodsman Elite are the same head in the heavier nonvented versions. They are some of the best 3 blades there are. Snuffers are good heads but for your bow weight they would probably be a little wide to penetrate as good as the narrower VPA's or the Woodsman. That said my number one pick for 3 blade heads is the original Woodsman on a steel adapter. They are not quite as tough as the VPA's but more than strong enough to take everything but the largest of game animals like cape and asiatic buffalo. I've only bent one original woodsman and that was my fault I bent it pulling it out of the tree. And I know for a fact I bent it and it did not bend when it hit the tree.
I just bought a bunch of ma3 heads. I like them at least as well as original woodsman and real close to vpa heads.
I am going to use the 175 VPAs this year and would highly recommend them even though I haven't killed a deer with one. I used the WW for a long time and they are deadly. The VPA is an improved 3 blade. (I think WW new elite might be a VPA ??) I have been shooting up a 3 pack this summer. The steel is a lot tougher than the old style WW. Easy sharpen. Super precision. There is no alignment needed on carbon arrows. Just screw them on.
I REALY like Razorcaps.
I don't think any one 3 blade broadhead is better than the next......they all need to be as sharp as can be and they will do the job!
I love vpa's but sharp right from the pack they are not , you must sharpen them up to get them hunt ready . Drew
Don't let sharpening a 3 blade intimidate you. If there was ever a person who was sharpening challenged it was me (still am when it comes to 2 blades), but getting a killing sharp edge on the VPA's is as easy as it comes.
They are very sharp out of the pack, but that edge can be made sharper. And, to me, sharper is good.
I use VPAs and original WWs. They work great and are easy to sharpen.
I used to use Razorcaps too and they're a great 3 blade head. I've been using Kustom Kings Trailmaker heads and they're the easiest head I've ever sharpened, including 2 blades. VPA produces the Trailmaker head and they come in 125 grain glue on and 145 grain screw in. I use them with my 45 pound Super Shrew in both glue on for wood arrows and screw in with 75 grain brass inserts in a 600 size Easton Axis shaft. Probably 10 deer shot in the last 3 years with those combinations and I'm extremely happy with them.
QuoteOriginally posted by drewsbow:
I love vpa's but sharp right from the pack they are not , you must sharpen them up to get them hunt ready . Drew
This is very true, the VPAs are a great head but they do need a little work to get them hunting sharp. The good news is that it doesn't take much to get them there! I use a single mill file first to ensure the bevel is even across the board and follow that with a 300 and 600 grit diamond stone. Top all that off with some work on a leather strop with polishing compound and you'll have a razor sharp head in no time.
I've found the initial use of the file to be critical to getting the best edge on these blades. The last two packs I've purchase were a little uneven out of the package but 5 minutes of file work got those edges perfectly flat and ready for honing!
I have successfully used Woodsmans, Razorcaps and Snuffers and had no complaint with any of them. I've shot and tested the Elites and they are mighty fine heads as well. That said in my mind when it comes to 3 blades the discussion begins and ends with Snuffers if you have the horsepower to shoot them. And you don't need as much steam as you might think to use Snuffers for deer sized game.
We finally have a few original Woodsmans back in stock, which would be my recommendation if you are wanting to maximize penetration in a three blade. Those or Simmons Sharks if you want 3 blade blood trails with 2 blade penetration.
I've seen way too many Woodsman "screw-in" heads that have the factory glued in feral that all wobbled, snuffers and woodsman's I'd only use if I was doing the gluing.. any of the 1-piece screw in 3 blades are great,,,I have several packs of the 175gr razor caps that I will use once I get a bow that wants 175grain but they all spin true and once touched up with a ceramic rod they are as sharp as a scalpel.
I'd like to hear more about Big Jims wide 1-pc 3-blade heads and WISH he'd have them made in 250 & 200grains and the same width.
my 52# pittsley preditor recurve with 8-strand SBD string will shoot the wide 160grain snuffers with 43gr screw-in adaptor this year for deer,, 29" heritage 250 with 100gr brass insert + 203gr razor sharp and stropped snuffer, 3 - 5" natural turkey parabolic on a one stringer wrap totaling 576 grains,,,,this arrow bare shaft tunes perfect to 30yds and other than any possible hiss from the broadhead (which I heard these designs can some times do) I'm very confident in this set up for deer.
other bows will have the VPA's and various 2-blades.
The woodsmans are awesome and make nasty holes. Easy to sharpen too.
QuoteOriginally posted by drewsbow:
I love vpa's but sharp right from the pack they are not , you must sharpen them up to get them hunt ready . Drew
I agree with Drew. They are the last broadhead I will need to try. Very easy to sharpen!
I shot 125 grain Snuffers and Thunderheads for years,until I saw a video that showed how hard it was to push one through a piece of tanned leather by hand.The deer I killed with them should have watched that video,LOL!. I switched to 2 blade Grizzlys.They worked fine as well,but I like the snuffer bloodtrails better,so I'm back to them.125 for deer and 160 for turkeys. Shooting 66-78# American semi longbows with wood arrows.For deer and bears I think how sharp the blades are means more than how many.
I would not hunt with anything else if I have a choice I use Woodsman Elites just love this head. Widow
Have no idea how this double posted so long after my response.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Sounds like I will give the VPA's a try. I do like the solid surface versus the cutouts of the original Woodsmen).
Have used the snuffers for the past two years and was able to harvest 4 animals with them, 3 deer and one turkey. No complaints. The first deer and the turkey was with a 42lb. ben person recurve. Didn't get a pass through on the deer but great short bloodtrail. The last two deer was with a 58lb. longbow and got a pass through on both.
QuoteOriginally posted by Goshawkin:
I shot 125 grain Snuffers and Thunderheads for years,until I saw a video that showed how hard it was to push one through a piece of tanned leather by hand.
i saw a similar video but it was showing cut on contact heads versus conicals and others that are not cut on contact.... a snuffer is cut on contact....a rocky mountain supreme is not. :)
You didn't mention what u were planning on hunting with these heads out out of that set up.
Deer....all day long....don't think solid vs vent makes a hill of beans.....any real proof of that out there that I might have missed?....
Every hog I've shot with vented ones were pass throughs.... :campfire:
For me the vented 3 blades hiss but the solids don't, either way they make for a great blood trail. :)
Terry, you are correct... I did not mention what I would be hunting. Deer primarily and also turkeys. My reason(s)for not considering the vent was not one of penetration but I have heard vented heads hiss when shot and have had other Trag Gang members tell me the same thing.
Appreciate the replies!
See Bob Morrison's post on possibly bringing back the 300 Extremes.
I shot VPA 160s last year. I didnt get a chace to kill anything, But they flew good. Ill prpobably use them again this year. mine didn't come sharp, but that's no big deal.
I've been happy with the 3-blade RFA Pheonix heads which are just a single-bevel version of the VPA heads.
I've never had a vented 3 blade hiss....but they all spin true....even on woods....
172 fps on self bow and 180-185 on all other bows.
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
There are numerous viable choices....doubt I could recommend any one in particular that would be more lethal that what you are currently eyeing.
X2. Try the VPA's you'll like 'em. God bless
I'm running vpa this fall for elk and deer. Worked so well last year can't imagine changing. I can get three blade heads sharper, faster, and with no special tools. Haven't lost anything I've shot with a three blade and don't expect to this fall.
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
I've never had a vented 3 blade hiss....but they all spin true....even on woods....
172 fps on self bow and 180-185 on all other bows.
Terry curious what poundage selfbow is giving up 172fps, and are you using the 3-blade snuffers @ 172 for those hogs?
53@27.5 with 500 grain arrows when I chronoed it 11 years ago....it may have gained 3-5 pounds since I made it....havent checked weight or chronoed since
WWs....not snuffers. :campfire: