3 blade...vpa vs woodsman elite

[Fastltz]

Want to switch to 3 blades next year. I hear great things about each of these...so is their any reason to pick one over the other? I will stay in the 150-175 grain range and they will be on carbons. Anyone have trouble sharping either or with either staying sharp? Thanks guys

[joe ashton]

I've shot 125 screw-in woodsman (and grizzly) for 6 years.  Woodsman sharpen easy, fly great and if you hit the goodies the deer and elk don't generally go far.
Joe

[Alexander Traditional]

I thought that VPA made the Woodsman,but could be wrong.

[WESTBROOK]

Yep, the woodsman elites are made by VPA.

[Reaper TN]

X2 what Westbrook said

[Easykeeper]

The guys are right, Woodsman Elites are made by VPA.  

There are some minor differences in the 150 grain and lighter heads though.  The Elites are vented in the lighter weights and the VPA are not.  The VPAs have a slightly different shape in the lighter weights.  From 175 grains and up I believe they are identical except for color.

I have Elites in 150, 175, and 250 grains.  Great heads and in my opinion a big improvement over the original Woodsmans.

[tracker12]

I love the VPA heads.  I am using a 200 grain in my trad gear and 100's in my training wheel bow.  Unbelievable damage and blood trails are awesome.  I took three deer this year that died in sight.

[Tsalt]

I'm sure the VPA's are great....  I shoot the 150 grain Woodsman Elite and love em.  Easy to sharpen and they are tough.  This broad head came out of the off shoulder of a buck I shot.  It passed through the left shoulder, through the vitals and broke the right shoulder joint.  When I found the buck his right leg was broken and folded up under him.  

 

[D]

That's hilarious I didn't know they were made by the same people.  I went back and forth and back forth between the both of them about which one to buy before I finally settled on the elites.  I didn't get a chance to see how they worked on an animal this year but they were very easy to get hair shaving sharp and they stayed pretty sharp...well the one I kept taking in and out of my quiver stayed sharp..lol

[Sheepshooter]

I have shot both and like both but slightly prefer VPAs. I find them a little easier to sharpen.

[Fastltz]

Tsalt: are the vented models quiet? I'm leaning towards the woodsman as they are longer in the lighter weights...but if they are made by vpa then that's all cool.

[Tsalt]

Fastltz - Yes.  I mean, I've never heard any whistling or anything out of them.  I have shoot some glue on 3 blade snuffers that whistled badly so I do know the vented broad heads can make noise but not the woodsman.

[GrisMunkyNinja]

They are the same but not.  I have both @ 200 gr and noticed the VPAs have a better fit and finish to them.  The out of the box edge on the Woodsmans weren't as close to even as the VPAs.  Which is ironic because the Woodsmans costed more.  The finish is evident when comparing the evenness of the point.  Notice how the point on the Woodsman is slightly longer on one side.  The VPAs also have a smaller point.  Performance wise there should be no difference.  Just realize that it'll take a little bit more effort to get the Woodsmans hair popping sharp.  Not sure about the comparisons of other weights.

[John146]

Have shot both and they both work well but the VPA was much sharper out of the pack. Touch it up with a diamond stick and it was cutting hair.  The Woodsman took some work to get in the quiver. I am sticking with the VPA for that reason.

[JamesKerr]

Originally posted by Easykeeper:
The guys are right, Woodsman Elites are made by VPA.  

There are some minor differences in the 150 grain and lighter heads though.  The Elites are vented in the lighter weights and the VPA are not.  The VPAs have a slightly different shape in the lighter weights.  From 175 grains and up I believe they are identical except for color.

I have Elites in 150, 175, and 250 grains.  Great heads and in my opinion a big improvement over the original Woodsmans.

exactly!

[beendare]

Is the reason the woods Elites are harder to sharpen due to it being a higher rockwell hardness?

[hitman]

I have both but prefer the VPA's.

[BRONZ]

I like the Elites. Easy to get a nice edge on with a pass on a bastard file.

[huntnmuleys]

I shoot the 175s.  elk killers certainly!

[PA Bones]

I agree with John146.  The VPA's were easier to get scary sharp for me.  Ive shot both but and am planning to continue with 250 gr. VPA's.