New year need new broad heads. Opinion needed

[Crested Finger]

Well it's a new year and I need some new arrows and new broad heads.


I have narrowed it down to 3 choices.  Either the 180 grain grizzle  the 230 grain kodiak  or the 175 grain vpa 3 blade.


I can get all of these to my final weight with different inserts.

I'm shooting a 45 pound bow.  What would you guys choose? I can't decide.

[Prairie Drifter]

If all you're hunting is deer, any of the above. Bigger game I would choose the grizzly.

[Jayrod]

Check out simmons broadheads or cutthroat broadheads at rms gear both 2 blades and cutthroats being single bevel buy can't go wrong with either

[Longtoke]

I like the kodiak better than the cutthroat and at a lower price.  If the cutthroat was a little longer and didnt have those cut outs that get filled with dirt I would rank it with the best of the best.  Never tried grizzlies.

[JakeD]

I shoot the 155 grain grizzlies.  So far I really like them.  They fly well and aren't too costly.  I've only shot one deer with them, but it did an excellent job.

[Biathlonman]

185 grizzly will do all you need done with a 45# bow.

[meathead]

Grizzly fan here.

[Shadowhnter]

The grizzly or Kodiak either one.

[Zradix]

If you draw 26" or more and are going for deer and smaller game I'd choose the VPA 3 blade.

They are a great broadhead and actually do more cutting than the others you have listed. All the heads you have listed are great heads BTW.

I have had less problems with any type of "wind planing" with shorter less wide heads like the VPA 3 blade.

Longer heads will fly fine too...they are just more touchy..simple physics.

Also, I can sharpen a 3 blade from gravel shot, beaten up, gnarly shape to hair popping sharp in just a very few minutes.

I'm not so great with single..or double bevel heads for that matter.

I shot 45# @27" and have had pass thrus on deer with VPA 3blades at 17 and 15 yards a few years ago.

I say "shot" as I now shoot around 50# at 29"...not that it makes any difference for answering your question...just full disclosure I guess.

Those are the reasons "I" would chose the VPA.

Personally..If I could shoot the 230grain Kodiak I'd opt for the 250 grain VPA 3 blade with the 1 1/8" cut. They make a 1 1/4" but I'd choose the 1 1/8".

The extra 20grains at that weight range won't make much difference at all in flight. Whatever change is there it would be VERY easy to tune out. The 250 grains are quite a bit beefier than the 175's too. The 175's are plenty strong..but if you're going for a heavy total weight anyway might as well have a more robust head and less joints.

[Car54]

x2, what Zradix said.

[Car54]

Oh...and I shoot Easton Axis arrows. Kustom King Archery has them on sale now.

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by Biathlonman:
185 grizzly will do all you need done with a 45# bow.

Agree with Brad. The 185 grizzlys are thicker metal than the others and make for a very reasonable bomb proof head. At 45 lbs I personally would never shoot anymore than two blades.

I also don't buy the philosophy that a three blade head cuts more area. The two blade head will penetrate deeper and you have to add that difference into account for total surface area cut. With all the deer I've killed with about 48lbs, i have concluded an outlet hole is much more important than a three blade entry and no outlet. A two blade gives me more outlet holes over a three blade.

[Zradix]

KentuckyTJ ...
you sorta called me out with your post.
I respect your opinion.
Having an outlet hole is VERY important.
Like I stated, MY experience with the VPA 3 blades have all been pass throughs on deer while using similar draw weights as the OP. As I stated earlier..if going for bigger/tougher game than deer I may chose differently...hogs for instance.

Also I keep my shots fairly close..20yds and under.
If I wanted to take farther shots I'd probably go with the the 2 blade then as well.

If both blades are pass throughs then neither has penetrated any deeper than the other.

Now...a skinny 2 blade may well have less resistance than the 3 blade and have a higher chance of going thru...but if they are both gonna poke 2 holes (as has been my experience) then you might as well use the head that does the most cutting.

In this case the 3 blade cutting more is not a philosophy..it's fact.

Let's compare the larger of the 2 blade heads mentioned..the Kodiak.
The kodiak is 1 3/16" wide. So it cuts a 1 3/16" slit

..maybe wider after the flesh tears etc..but that would be happening with the 3 blade too so it's a wash. The 3 blade hole might even tear more given it has 3 points to tear at...but I really don't know the answer on that one...lol

Now the 1 1/8" 3 blade.
each blade is doing 9/16" of cut (1/2 of 1 1/8")
3x 9/16"=27/16" or 1 11/16" of cutting surface.

That's 1/2" more cutting surface on the 1 1/8" 3 blade.

Or another way to look at it..
The 3 blade is doing 42% more than the Kodiak.

The kodiaks are thicker metal.
I'm not sure which is actually stronger though.
The 3 blades all sorta truss themselves and make a heck of a sturdy head in that way...though the individual blades on the 3 blade are thinner.

Again TJ.. I respect your thoughts and agree with you on many of them.

You just sorta called me out here so I thought it reasonable to further explain the logic behind my initial post.

[Zradix]

..one thing I'd like to add...
ALL of the heads listed would be a fine choice.

[KentuckyTJ]

Zradix,

Not calling you out at all as I didn't read any of the other posts. Just sharing my findings with the original poster. I have shot many deer with three blade heads also. As a whole in my experience I didn't get near as many outlet holes with a three blade. When a deer flinches from the shot noise he tenses his/her muscles or drops or twists in his/her haste to exit. That creates a lot of drag on a passing through shaft and I have found that a two blade penetrates better as a whole under all circumstances.  Findings may vary for sure.

[Zradix]

KentuckyTJ..

When you posted about not buying into the 3 blade cuts more right after I posted that it did, I thought you were challenging my statement.

That was all.
No biggie..

No bad feelings here what so ever ...even when I thought you were challenging me....lol

You said you weren't anyway and I believe you.

You have more hunting experience than I...that's a certainty.
Mine is fairly limited in comparison.

I have some experience and only wish to openly share what I've seen with my own eyes...much like you I'm sure.

The OP should give your thoughts and experience much weight.

Happy Hunting to you KentuckyTJ.

         

[Fletcher]

I shoot Kodiaks, so I guess that would be my answer, but have also done well with VPA.  In a 3 blade, I'm liking the Grizzly Instinct these days.  All your choices are good; sharpness and placement are what really count.

[Bvas]

I don't have experience with the VPA 3- blade, but used the 2-blade 200gr this year. After a few stumps, dirt, rocks, and one deer....I couldn't be happier. They fly true, and I haven't put as much as a ding in one yet.

[Elewis]

People used to use sharpened rocks lol
I wouldnt stress to much about the choice as I think they would all work well.  But to add an answer to the post I like the sound of the grizzly's that I got which are basically the same as Kodiaks I believe.  Makes sense to go with the heavier ones if you want the extra weight anyway since it should be a bit stronger.  

I am using a fairly heavy hardwood shaft to begin with so I don't think I want too much extra weight.  Kinda low on FOC but I am sure that the 700 grains of arrow weight will help the penetration plenty enough.

[Friend]

Pick your poison.

Your choices will produce the same result provided you place the arrow on the mark. Having said that I would still lean heavily towards a 2 blade.

Just recently, succesfully guided two traditional hunters on their first deer harvest. They were shooting less draw wt. with one having a 25" draw and the other having a 26"...complete pass thru's...excellent blood trails..very short recoveries...both were using 250 gn 2 blade VPA's.

The latter was taking his first shot ever in the field. He was shooting a 45@28 Samick Sage drawn to 26"s. Have never witnessed an exit anywhere near this extent. The deer was broadside and wheeled at the shot. The arrow marked three inches back from an ideal mark yet still took out the rt lung. The exit traversed 14"s in length and 2 1/2"s wide. Virtually all of the organs had spilled out. Was a wonder that the animal didn't fall on the spot. A gruesome display of lethality.

Note: Would highly suspect any benefit in using a single bevel with low poundage in conjunction with a moderate weight arrow design. Actual increased bone breaking capability, in my opinion, would not be plausible.

Note: Have used the VPA 3 blade 250 gn with excellent results. From complete pass thrus on turkeys, deer and hogs up to a 500# stag. However, I was shooting 52@28 high performance limbs and an additional 100 gn insert.