VPA Broadheads for Elk

muley505 · May 20, 2014

I realize I'm probably a little behind the curve on this one, and there are other forum threads that have partially addressed this, but has anyone used the VPA broadhead (100 or 125 grain) on elk and had good success? I am looking for the toughest fixed-blade broadhead I can find for my archery elk hunt this year, and this broadhead intrigues me for my elk setup. I was also wondering if anyone has shot this broadhead (vented or non-vented) in a faster bow (>300fps) at longer distances (>50 yards) and had issues with accuracy. I don't mind adjusting my bow/sight for broadheads, but I would like to use one that at least groups consistently so I can adjust accordingly. I would also be interested to know if anyone has frontal-shot any elk with this broadhead and what sort of penetration was achieved.

Thanks for the help.

trophyhunter · May 21, 2014

Muley505 I never have used or know anything about yourVPA. We have hunted using the G5 Striker on elk since they came on the market. They shoot same as field points out to 70yds and hit like a magnum creating a huge wound channel when they hit the game. Total pass throughs at 40yds using Easton FMJ 340 small diameter arrows with Blazers total arrow weight 466gr.

If you give those arrows and broadheads a try you won't go back to anything else......Pricy but worth every penny.

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muley505 · May 22, 2014

Trophyhunter, thanks for the input. Just out of curiosity, have you frontal shot, or hit the scapula on, any elk with the Striker? (I don't want to start a heated "frontal-shot-on-elk debate;" I'm just curious how well the Striker performed when it encountered some bone as is quite likely in a frontal shot.) I, obviously, will always opt for a broadside shot if at all possible, but I primarily hunt alone, and a broadside shot is not always the shot I'm presented, and I want to be as prepared as possible for any contingency.

The Striker was the broadhead I was originally settled on until I saw the VPA, and I'm glad to see that the Striker works well for you. I may still end up with the Striker if I don't get any positive recommendations for the VPA because the Striker is very well liked by a lot of people, and the hundreds of people that give them great reviews can't all be wrong.

Thanks for your two cents.

4bigbucks · May 22, 2014

I'm going to be using the 250 grain two blade VPA penetrators for elk this year...I bought a pack to mess around with and was very impressed...50 is as far as I've shot them so far but they are grouping right with my field points...shot them through 1" plywood at 30 40 and 50 yards blew through without any nicks dings or blemishes...even the tip was perfect...trying to get some fresh bovine shoulder blades and femurs to play around with but from what I've seen so far I wouldn't be afraid to take a frontal shot...square your arrows do spin test on an arrow inspector and if they are good there they will group for you.

3blade · May 22, 2014

I shot the 3 blade 150's and the longer 175's into a fresh cow scapula a couple weeks ago. 460gr arrow at 20 yards on .290 diameter shafts, arrow speed about 274. The longer 175 penetrated twice as far, 18 to 20", than the the short head, about 10". I would not take a quartering too or frontal shot with either head. I also had a 3 blade 145gr vented vpa head, it broke.

I also tested a 150gr non-vented vpa 2 blade penetrator. That little sucker buried to the fletch! I would take the frontal shot with this head, quartering too, maybe.

My testing is not done but blade thickness over .050, or close, is a must and/or the quality of steel has to be very good. Otherwise, even if the head survives, it is quite often to dull to do the job, imo. There is no way in hades I would use a blade thinner than .040 no matter what steel. As far as steel, I tested a few heads with blade thickness of .072 but the tips failed... cheap steel.

Heads with rockwell hardness over 54, broke.

trophyhunter · May 24, 2014

Muley505: We never take a front or quartering towards shot on any game. We only shoot lung shots and quartering away shots on deer and elk. That's the ethical shots plus we are not meat hunters. Make the right choice of shot as well as accurate shot within your effective range and those G5 Strikers do the job on any game. I originally chose the Strikers instead of the Montecs because I can't resharpen broad heads to save my ash.....we replace the blades after every kill. We don't go through that many blades because we are very selective in what we shoot. Hunt more for the rush of the stalk or that bull screaming coming into that wallo.

Good luck on choosing what broadhead is best for you.

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trophyhunter · May 24, 2014

Muley: I will say that if your looking for a broadhead that shoots exactly the same as field points out to 70yds the Strikers will shoot as good as you can shoot out at those long ranges. We don't shoot sometimes as often as we would like but can still put out a 5 shot group the size of a cantaloupe at 70yds with the 100gr. Strikers. We never in the past considered those long shots but hunting a lot of open country pressed us to practice those longer shots. Using the Easton FMJ340, Blazers, and G5 Strikers has always been a hard hitting deadly combination for our hunting Group.

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BigPig · May 26, 2014

It you are looking for the toughest head on the market, the VPA is definitely it. I've killed dozens of animals with them, big bull elk included. Always excellent performance. My broadhead is the last thing I worry about. I know a guy shooting 309fps with the unvented broadheads and no problems. Provided your bow is tuned, they will fly as well as anything.

Ohiohunter · May 27, 2014

VPA's are good heads, but if you plan on a frontal shot your accuracy will be most important. If you hit bone on a frontal you already faild and are screwed, after that the only thing that may help you is a heavy arrow. I bh isn't going to make you blow through bone, momentum will. If you hit left or right its all big bone shoulder no vitals- failed. High or low its spine (which is very heavy bone before the spinal cord) or brisket and no vitals- fail.

I'm all about preparing for the worst, but w/ this shot you either make it or you don't. Its like a robo deer at a 3d shoot, 1/4 steel w/ just the heart cut out. 10 or a 0.

Between strikers and vpa's, the strikers are sharp as heck and a good bh, but the vpa's are more durable (more expensive too). Mostly comes down to a 3blade vs 2blade. Either will do the job.

tracker12 · Jul 9, 2014

VPA is a great head and all I am using i both my wheel bow and Trad gear. They rest amazing blood trails. Link a VPA with an Easton FMJ and you have a great elk arrow.

muley505 · Jul 22, 2014

Just as an update to this thread, I got my 100 gr., three-blade, non-vented VPAs a couple of weeks ago and took them out and shot them yesterday out to 60 yards. I have a Bowtech Experience set at 68 lbs, I shoot an Easton Flatline arrow cut to 30" with four feather fletchings, and I was only shooting 3-4" to the left of my field points at 60 yards. I was very satisfied with the results. I shot it two times at 30 yards, and it was about 2 inches to the left at 30, so I moved out to 60 for the remainder of my shots. I was shooting about a five inch group at 60 yards, and that's only a little wider than what I can shoot with my field points. I moved my sight two tic marks to the left, and the arrows were right on. I moved the sight two tic marks back to the right, and my field points were right back where they should have been. I didn't totally expect them to fly exactly like field tips just because they are less aerodynamic, but I can easily manage that minor of a sight adjustment to get them shooting perfectly, and I was very satisfied with the overall outcome. I can't wait to try them on an elk in a little over a month.