VAP Carbon Arrows

[DIY]

Im thinking about getting these arrows.. What is the top of the line arrow in a 250 Spine? Are they durable? Do they fly good? Are the inserts good or do they need to be replaced with a aftermarket insert, if so what kind? Any other options?

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

I've used VAPs for the last 3 years, originally with my PSE Revenge. Was shooting 300 spine, 415gr arrow at 308fps. The penetration was unbelievable, they flew like darts and with a high FOC hit like a brick. The last 2 years I stuck with the VAPS with my longbow, the 300 spine but this time with a 530gr arrow, same thing, it was tougher tuning for my longbow but got them flying straight and hitting hard.

Toughness... never shoot into a bag target, because when they hit the bag can throw them off kilter and bend the insert, I was using the Penetrator 2 inserts. Using a block or 3D targets, never had any bend. When hunting grouse they'd bend on occasion dpending on what they end up hitting, but grouse hunting is risky anways.

This year I bumped up to the 250 spine and stainless inserts, got them flying just as well and from what I read the SS insert is tough as nails.

 

[chenger]

I'm shooting the VAP Elite's and love them. Penetration is incredible compared to my friends' regular carbon arrows. The Penetrator2 inserts seem okay - I've only broken two arrows hitting rocks, but I have a couple bent/broken off ones as well. I'm tempted to try the Stainless inserts when I get a new set.

 

[Bughalli]

I've shot the VAP V1's the past three years. I like them. My bow is tuned for them and it's hard to justify changing to explore something new, so I just picked up another 6. They've been durable for me. The only arrows broken or damaged in three years were due to shooting an animal. I heard nothing but bad things about the outcerts bending, so I avoided them and used the Deep 6 incerts. They've worked great. Downside was having to change broadheads due to Deep 6 having different threads. If the titanium outcerts werent so crazy expensive I might give them a try, but the pricing is way too expensive.

Groups - I thought my groups were just a little better. I tried to be scientific about when testing, but can't give anything exact. I felt it made a differnece when shooting past 40 yards.

Penetration is good, but when I compared them to my past standard diameter carbon arrow the difference was hardly noticeable in a foam target. Straw targets they appear to penetrate better. Both pass through deer with ease.

You'll hear theories on the benefits of the thin shaft in a cross wind, but I can't say I've seen a difference. The bow moving in a cross wind is usually the challenge. I read another guy stood in the doorway of his garage to be out of the wind and avoid the bow moving. He did't see a difference between arrows.

Oh, one downside....if you go the Deep 6 route, you can't use Judo heads. They don't make them in the proper thread size. Such a bummer because I love shooting them when out on a hunt and things get slow. You could try an outcerts, but I bet the bend due to the nature of the impact

Like I said, I like them, but wanted to give honest feedback to help set expectations.

 

[DIY]

hmm just wondering if I should switch...

 

[5MilesBack]

What is the top of the line arrow in a 250 Spine?

In .250 I like the Black Eagle Rampages. The VAP's never did shoot as well for me as all my other arrows.

 

[Tim M]

I shot the VAP 300's with a 9/32 stainless penetrator insert/outsert for three years and they were a very good arrow, weighed in around 458 grns and flew well. penetration as others have stated was good but there are two reasons why I changed back and have stuck with the easton injexions... first we could not find a glue that would not eventually crystalize and allow the inserts to break loose and pull out slightly and second the injexions always gave me a slightly smaller group when testing out at distance.