Easton Axis v Victory VAP's

[Jager]

As the title says, chasing some experienced answers with hunters that have used both arrows.

I have always been happy with Easton Axis's, however have been looking at the VAP's recently, they are pretty expensive when compared though, having to buy outserts as extras.

Cheers

 

[KimWar1911]

Ya they are more money but I switched from the axis to the vap v3 350 a few years ago. As long as you use their penetrator 2 in/outsert they seem to last for a long time and are good shooters. My originals were with the first penetrator and I bent a lot of them and cracked some shafts. Haven't had the problem at all since switching. I bought a new dozen 3-4 months ago but haven't even touched them. Still shooting ones from last year and a couple from a few years ago.

 

[Jager]

Thanks mate, is it the Stainless outsert your using?

 

[5MilesBack]

A few years ago I got some VAP's and set them all up for my 60lb bow. Tuned the bow with a Limbdriver rest and then started shooting them at 40-60 yards. I wasn't very impressed with the groups I was getting, so tried my Maxima Hunters without even re-tuning to those arrows. Significantly better groups than the VAP's. Shot both for several weeks until I finally sold the VAP's. But I can't compare them to the Axis because I've never shot the Axis out of my 60lb bow. But compared to my Maxima Hunters........the VAP's weren't even close in regards to consistent accuracy. Haven't tried them since.

 

[doverpack12]

If the new penetrator 2 insert is more durable than the original penetrator or the upgraded original penetrator that goes just slightly over the shaft we may finally have a good insert solution for small diameter arrows. The only thing I have against the axis is the HIT insert makes for a weak point in my opinion where the point contacts the shaft even with a BAR. That seems to be where my arrows will break first every time. Just a few days ago I tried putting some Gold Tip accutough kinetic inserts in some axis arrows can't comment on durability yet but I think this may be a good middle ground solution between the ultra small 0.166" ID arrows and the standard 0.246" ID arrows. 0.204" ID is the axis, gold tip kinetic, old trophy ridge, black eagle rampage and renegade, carbon express piledriver pass thru extreme. Several in-outsert options exist for the 0.204" ID arrows, carbon express, gold tip, firenock and probably a few more. If you have some deep six heads already you may consider the option of using the deep six RPS insert in a 0.204" ID arrow, this insert is like a traditional insert but for deep six threads in smaller arrows. I don't have any so I didn't try that option.

 

[Blackcow]

The stainless steel outsert are the best. EVERY penetrator 2 out of the dozen I made up got a wobble after several shots into layered foam. Only one got really bent, from smacking another arrow. They all spun tested perfect when I glued them in, too. Back to stainless for me. Probably try some Burt coyote outserts next.

 

[doverpack12]

Black crow do you feel like the arrows break behind the stainless more often than they should

 

[justin davis]

I like the Axis better. I'm also a big fan of HIT inserts.

 

[IrishnId]

I've been using the VAP's with the firenock AeroOutserts and love them.

 

[Blackcow]

More than they should, no.But the stainless have cracked some shafts. So have the penetrator 2s. The best at protecting the shafts were the original penetrator, just because the aluminum was so weak it would just bend over. Problem then was you then had to try and get it out without breaking the piece off inside.Good luck getting THAT out. Going back to fmj or gold tip big games I think. Two years was enough testing for me. And as someone else said before, they never really flew as well as some others have for me. Shooting VAP 1 .250, if that matters.

 

[Scottiem]

I've been using the VAP's with the firenock AeroOutserts and love them.

I also shoot VAP's with the firenock AeroOutserts. I adding the easton deep six HIT insert for a little extra FOC. They fly great!

 

[Jager]

Thanks a heap for the informative replies, certainly a few decent options to think about.

doverpack12, thankyou for the technical info too.

Keep the ideas coming in please.

 

[Jeff Martin]

I also shoot VAP's with the firenock AeroOutserts. I adding the easton deep six HIT insert for a little extra FOC. They fly great!

How re you guys getting the outsert centric? Spinning perfectly?

 

[Scottiem]

How re you guys getting the outsert centric? Spinning perfectly?

I made sure to get the right size according to their chart and then followed the instructional video firenock has on their website. All of my arrows took a little sanding to get the outserts to fit. I sanded only enough to just be able to slide the outsert on without too much play. I used gorilla glue epoxy which has a 5 min work time and a 24 hr cure (longest work time epoxy they had at home depot). It worked perfectly. I added some epoxy to the end of the shaft and then slid the outsert over the arrow making sure to spin the outsert at the same time. Once it was on I spun the arrow on my arrow spinner to make sure it was good. In the video he says that if it has some wobble just spin the outsert 180 degrees and then check again. Thats why you want a longer work time. I then took an old foam yoga block and stabbed the arrows in it nock first so that the arrows were standing up straight for the 24 hr cure time. All of my arrows are spinning true.

 

[Bughalli]

I shoot VAPs v1. This will be my second season with them. I was never a fan of the outcerts for a number of reasons, so I put Deep6 inserts in mine. So far I've been happy with them. I saw a slight improvement in groups, but it's negligible. Penetration is a little better. Should be more accurate in a cross wind..