Just hoping to see some bloodtrail pictures of these heads. I have some 1 1/4 150 grain vented 3 blades, but my main concern on bigger animals like elk would be getting a complete pass thru.
Assuming good shot placement and super sharp heads (easy to get VPA's SCARY)
I suspect that a lot of guys will tell you to stay with a two blades given your poundage.
I was looking at these same heads (3 blade)as a possibility for whitetails. However a lot less animal to stop a broadhead.
Thats what Im carrying this year...2 blade 300 grain.
Sounds about perfect I me.
Andy Ivy had nothing but great comments on their effectiveness on big African game.
I will be using the 3 blade VPAs I got from you :bigsmyl: .
The length of the cutting edge is not to be ignored; the closer to 3:1 the better. I use my 50# bow with a 2 blade on Elk and have no hesitations about my set up.
If I ever do draw that moose tag I will likely use the same thing for that too.
Im afraid my 50# TT doesnt have enough juice to push the 1 1/4 3 blade thru an elk.
Someday I will purchase a higher draw weight TT
****Only an observation****
Shooting 51@28...100 gn insert...250 gn VPA Terminator...564 gn total was ample for a 500+ stag. Granted an elk is likely ~250 pounds larger, the set-up proved nothing short of lethal. with 400 up front, I would not hesitate to use elk size critter pursuits.
Due note: Shooting 250 gn VPA Penetrators in to a blob target yielded quite visual penetration increases as compared to the 250 Terminator.
The last few years I've been shooting a 51# hybrid T/d with axis 340's and 100 grain inserts and 125gr heads. Total arrow weight 560gr appox. With 2 blade stingers I've gotten 2 pass thoughs (broadhead out the far side). Last fall I shot a cow at 35 yards with a wensel woodsman elite and got a complete through and buried in the dirt on the other side.
A few years back I shot a 6x7 at 25 yards with a 50# recurve and axis 400 arrows with stinger 2 blade. Total arrow weight 460gr. After the shot I saw the arrow pushing the far side, but it did not break through.
All these elk fell in sight, but I would't hunt with that last setup I mentioned again. It worked, but I've seen first hand what a arrow that weighs a little more can do.
That being said your setup will work great if you use a well tuned arrow that has at least some moderate weight to it. And as far as broadheads. I think any of the ones you menioned will work.
Just choose what you have the most confidence in.........Figuring out what to use is half the fun :thumbsup:
My choice this fall will be a 250gr vpa. I've never shot anything with them yet, but the reviews are tops!! Worth a try in my book.
I'm doing some testing right now on fresh cow shoulder blades. I'm not done yet but preliminary testing has revealed that the vpa penetrator on average penetrates twice as far as the terminator. Both blades maintain enough sharpness after going through the bone to kill although the 3 blade did pick up some nicks. Vented terminators tend to break, solids stay together. Short 3 blade terminators penetrate half as far as the long heavier terminators.
I do have some of the newer 180/185 grain Grizzly single bevel heads for my POC arrows, those fly well and are really sharp as well.
Might just use those for elk until I can get a higher draw weight bow
Seeing a couple of moose killed with very small broadheads shot from a wheelie bow changed my mind about what is needed to kill big bodied game...around here they use the same arrows and broadheads as they do for whitetail...I think a more compact broadhead like the Penetrator will give a double lung exit hole just fine on an elk...and a blood trail from an exit hole trumps no blood trail from no exit hole every time...this is what my elk arrows will look like this fall...400 spine FMJ with a 200 grain Penetrator and 75 grain brass hit insert...total arrow weight of 615 grains out of a 53 pound bow with a Fast Fat string
DDave
(http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/damascusdave_2009/100_0542.jpg) (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/damascusdave_2009/media/100_0542.jpg.html)
I was thinking that the VPA 175gr two blade looks small compared to my tiger sharks or Stos. It is not uncommon to have more than one kind of broadheads in my quiver. I shoot each arrow until I know it has perfect flight then I go to the next. So far, I have one Stos, I still have to try the tiger shark and the VPA to test. They are done, lined up and ready for the rain to stop. The VPA is my favorite because it is machined but short. I like the 3:1 design. Has anyone on here taken elk size game with the 175 gr VPA two blade
I have done a lot of testing on 2 blade verses 3 blade in penetration and I can not find that a 2 blade out penetrates my Woodsman Elite 125gr 3 blade I have proved this to a bunch of others and made believers out of them but that being said both will work good. But for me I will stick with my Woodsman. Widow
To me, the extra cutting action I get from a 3 blade (or four) far outweighs any extra penetration I can get from a two blade on elk. The likelihood that I'll hit the shoulder and penetrate it with my setup on an elk, is pale compared to the chance that I'll hit it a little far back or through the lungs. Given how thick it is where I hunt any extra insurance I can get for spilling a few extra drops of blood on any elk hit through the body cavity make me choose a 3 blade. From what I've seen, I also expect to get an exit on any hit not hitting the shoulder and I'm only shooting 55 lbs. Good hunting, Rick.