Iron Will vs. VPA

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Oct 24, 2015
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In the market for a new broadhead.

Anyone have experience with both? The VPAs seemed to get good reviews when I started digging into google, but a lot of the reviews were older. I’m hoping someone has some firsthand experience with both.

I have a feeling IWs are going to be harder to tune(although the reviews state otherwise - I have bad luck when it’s come to this kind of thing though so...).

Would be running solids.

What say you?
 
Iron Wills have been incredibly easy to tune for me, and fly great. I run solids. VPA three blade on the other hand (vented and solid) were one of the least consistent for me and could never get them flying as consistently as a lot of other heads. No experience with their 2-blade, I bet those are better but I prefer the bleeders of the iron will.
 
I had an iron will head given to me. It was scalpel sharp out the pack, flew great, held a good edge for quite a few shots and was tough as nails. They’re a PIA to sharpen and expensive. I wouldn’t pay the money for one.

I shoot solid vpa 3 blades. I can get them scary sharp easily. They fly great. They’re tougher than they need to be. They’re quieter than the IW and way cheaper.


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I used and killed with both IW and three bladed vented Vpa. They are apple and oranges. I never been happy with the angle of fixed one piece three bladed heads. I dont feel they hold an edge particularly well. The VPAs at longer ranges never trilled me at all, i would have noticable planing that didnt occur with other heads side by side.

No such concerns with IW.
 
I'll add to my comment above - as well as not flying great, the vented 3 blade VPA might have been the loudest head I've ever shot. Tough as nails though. Hit a granite rock with one after mis-setting a sight, and although I was never getting the point sharp again, it still spun true afterwards. That was pretty impressive.

Iron Will solids for me fly almost as well as my mechanicals. But, it hurts when you lose one. Don't like thinking what I have into a .001 Easton Axis, Brass Inserts, Iron Will Collar, and an Iron Will head...
 
The financial aspect of it definitely comes into play as well. I notice the VPAs cost about average price, whereas the IWs are much more expensive.

I don’t have an issue paying for the IWs because they definitely seem worth it - but I also don’t want to unnecessarily spend money. I’d be looking at 200 bucks worth of broadheads to fill my quiver, and that’s halfway to an Idaho elk tag. If I can’t find the arrow after the shot that’s 50 bucks down the drain. Not a big deal at all if there’s meat in it, but best laid plans and all...

Any other suggestions for high quality easy to tune heads?
 
The financial aspect of it definitely comes into play as well. I notice the VPAs cost about average price, whereas the IWs are much more expensive.

I don’t have an issue paying for the IWs because they definitely seem worth it - but I also don’t want to unnecessarily spend money. I’d be looking at 200 bucks worth of broadheads to fill my quiver, and that’s halfway to an Idaho elk tag. If I can’t find the arrow after the shot that’s 50 bucks down the drain. Not a big deal at all if there’s meat in it, but best laid plans and all...

Any other suggestions for high quality easy to tune heads?
Dont be afraid to mix things up a bit. For example every bow i have tuned to shoot IW will shoot a viper trick to the same point of impact at all distances. Pretty much the same with day six evo and Soilds.
You can carry a few of each
 
I've been shooting the VPA's for years. I swap between the 150gr 2 and 3 blade....and the Magnus buzzcuts....all shoot to the same POI when tuned in both my compound and recurve.

I like the fact I can shoot every arrow to make sure it flies perfect, then touch them up and in the quiver. No assumptions- I work too hard for my shots on game to be guessing.

[I've seen too many buddies take a shot with arrows doing a loop-D-loop....."But they were supposed to fly like my Field points" ooops]

The VPA's are CNC perfect, super strong, hold an edge extremely well with the carbon steel and are easy to get scary sharp. I sharpen both while on the arrow. I run the 2 blades on V shaped chock sticks....and use one triangle chock stick on the 3 blades. [ a very fine diamond stone works good too]

The only downside to VPA carbons is they will rust if left in a wet quiver unless you coat the bevel.

______
 
I’ve shot both but hunted with the VPA extensively. Never noticed much flight difference, I can shoot either interchangeably out to any reasonable hunting distances. Iron Wills are great if you don’t want to sharpen as they are scalpel sharp out of the box, but to me, the cost is a non starter. The VPA is a much better value. They do need some hand sharpening, but I found that process gratifying and easy. They are tough as nails and the steeper angle bevel holds the edge better. But yes, they will rust if you don’t protect the edge. Both are tougher than you’ll ever need, but the VPA is in a toughness class of its own.
 
IW flew good for me. I think I got a bad bunch as I had a tip break off on me on a broadside shot.
Make sure you oil them and keep them out of any moisture. They will rust up on you quick.
Sharp if not sharper then any head out there.
 
I shoot both IW wide 150g and VPA 3 blade non vented 150g. IW fly a bit better, but harder to sharpen. Easy to get the VPA sharp with a diamond stone. Better value for the VPA IMO.
 
If you’re considering the VPA also look at the Magnus Snuffer SS. Set several guys up with these and they’re a great head and they offer a lifetime warranty as well.
 
Short range, as in typical east-Midwest whitetail country, vpa are fine. But so would be a lot of bh under 40 yards, more usual 15-30 yard whitetail shots.

But for me out West with winds, elevation, thermals, shot incline where 3rd axis affects, etc, much different.
IW was same flight, target impact results as my old reliable Slick Tricks & field points out to 80 yards in practice. On flat ground, downhill and uphill practice. Tried vpa and those were all over the target at 70-80 yards. Even unacceptable, large grouping at 50 yards. Sold those vpa.

Limit my hunt range to 70 yards max, if conditions are right.
I get better penetration with IW vs Slick Trick, but neither has let me down.
 
If you’re considering the VPA also look at the Magnus Snuffer SS. Set several guys up with these and they’re a great head and they offer a lifetime warranty as well.
I’m torn between magnus and VPA. The owner of magnus responded to a question I had right away, and I appreciate that enough to ensure I will get some of his. May get some VPAs also to see the difference. I just really like the idea of the bleeders on the magnus heads and I haven’t shot a 3 blade in probably 10+ years, slick tricks have been my go to. I just want a head I can shoot at leaves before I get out of my stand and then touch up after.
 
Iron Will solids for me fly almost as well as my mechanicals.it hurts when you lose one.
I would get some, but my favorite place to hunt is a bedding area in river bottom that is choked with 10’ tall canary grass and other various river Horton grass that is at least waist high and thick enough your hip flexors Hurt the next day. Any arrow shot is gone 9/10 times due to it being buried in that stuff. Can’t fathom losing a 50$ on one shot when there are other companies like VPA and magnus that are close to as solid as the iron wills.
 
VPA 2 Blade and Cutthroats I think are one and the same and a good head.

I've had good luck with Muzzy, Slick Trick, and Wac 'Em for cheaper replaceable blade heads.
 
As someone that likes to shoot hogs I'm definitely not slinging a broadhead that costs that much at one!
 
Short range, as in typical east-Midwest whitetail country, vpa are fine. But so would be a lot of bh under 40 yards, more usual 15-30 yard whitetail shots.

But for me out West with winds, elevation, thermals, shot incline where 3rd axis affects, etc, much different.
IW was same flight, target impact results as my old reliable Slick Tricks & field points out to 80 yards in practice. On flat ground, downhill and uphill practice. Tried vpa and those were all over the target at 70-80 yards. Even unacceptable, large grouping at 50 yards. Sold those vpa.

Limit my hunt range to 70 yards max, if conditions are right.
I get better penetration with IW vs Slick Trick, but neither has let me down.
Your results with VPA were not a fault of the broadhead.
 
Your results with VPA were not a fault of the broadhead.

Agreed. After reading this thread, I shot all six of my VPAs the other night to make sure I wasn’t misremembering how well they shoot.

I shot each arrow (broadhead) about 10 times at 50 yards. The furthest any my arrows were from dead center were 3 inches and those were my fault. It wasn’t one arrow consistently that far off, just a few fliers. I’m not a great archer by any means, but when I do my part I stack each of those arrow/broadhead combos in the center of the softball sized dot.

If you can’t get VPAs to group at 50 you need to tune your bow or clean up your arrow build. And if you’ve got other broadheads flying at 80 but not VPAs at 50, I’m calling bull. There really aren’t any broadheads that will hit with FPs at 80. It’s physically not possible.


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