Magnus Versus Phantom

[Night Wing]

I need a 200 grain broadhead weight for my recurve bow. I've narrowed my choice down to a 11/32" Magnus 100 grain 2 blade glue on broadhead attached to a 100 grain steel adapter or a 200 grain 2 blade Muzzy Phantom without the bleeder blade. I'm assuming both will hit my target in the same place as my 200 grain field point does now. Which one would you choose? All opinions are welcome including both pro and con.

[James Wrenn]

If they were my only two choices I would go with the muzzy.Never seen the sense in putting weight in adapters when you could shoot heavier,stronger broadheads instead. jmo

[George D. Stout]

"I'm assuming both will hit my target in the same place as my 200 grain field point does now."

It's never good to assume, in the case of broadheads or strange dogs.  You may want to really know more before you pick them up.

[caleb7mm]

I went through the same thing, the muzzys actually flew better out of my 51@28 recurve then the magnus with the weight adapters. All the magnus would fly a little left and high at 18 yards, the muzzys were on the spot at 18, same arrow same everything. Dont know why but I have 12 200 grain phantoms on my arrows now  

[Ringneck]

I know the Phantoms are flying great for me. I have never shot the Magnus head.

[Bill Carlsen]

Phantoms are one of the best shooting heads I have ever used.

[KentuckyTJ]

The phantoms are a great head I've shot many critters with them, but I feel the bleeders are too large (for lower poundage bows like mine - 50 lbs.). I use the Magnus Stinger for that reason alone. They penetrate deeper with less drag from the super large bleeders.

Magnus's are much easier to sharpen as well due both main and bleeders are removeable. The Muzzy's main blade is not removeable on the older models. They may have changed that by now but I'm not sure. Also when sharpening the ferrel hits the sharpener if you want to use the same angle. Sharpening the ferrel away isn't that big a deal but just annoying.

On the Magnus's the backs of the blade are sharp as well. Just another plus for them and reeking havoc if they don't pass through as the critter makes in get away run.

[SlowBowinMO]

The Phantoms are very good heads and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again.  I personally think the Stingers TJ mentioned are a bit better but they don't come in the weight you're looking for as I imagine you already noticed.  

As far as the Magnus heads you mentioned, the 125 two blade on a 75 gr Premium steel adapter would be a better arrangement IMO than the 100 on a 100.

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by SlowBowinMO:
The Phantoms are very good heads and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again.  I personally think the Stingers TJ mentioned are a bit better but they don't come in the weight you're looking for as I imagine you already noticed.  

As far as the Magnus heads you mentioned, the 125 two blade on a 75 gr Premium steel adapter would be a better arrangement IMO than the 100 on a 100.

Tim,

You're on the spot. Please explain why you would use the 125 grain with the 75 grain steel adapter instead of the 100 grain with the 100 grain steel adapter? Both broadheads are the same length and width and both setups are 200 grains.

BTW, you were correct since there is no way I can  shoot the Stinger 150 grain since it is a screw in broadhead so I can't get to the 200 grain tip weight I'm looking for.

[SlowBowinMO]

The 100 grain Magnus is not exactly an example of their best work, although certainly adequate.  If I were building that combo I'd opt for the much stronger 125 and a 75 grain adapter.  Same weight but much more durable set up IMO.

[legends1]

I agree with slowbowinmo.He took the words right out of my mouth.Thats what i use,ive used it on countless game.

[Night Wing]

Tim,

If you use the short 75 grain steel adapter, can you align the broadhead as straight so the broadhead spins true with no wobble like you can with with the longer 100 grain steel adapter?

[SlowBowinMO]

Joe, absolutely.  Shorter adapters can be a little trickier to get aligned but they will definitely spin as well as anything else if you stick with it.

The adapters I'm referring to are also the newer premiums or PDP's, there were some questionable 75's floating around for a while.

[beachbowhunter]

50 grain brass adapter + 150 grain screwin Stinger = 200 grains of  

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by SlowBowinMO:
The 100 grain Magnus is not exactly an example of their best work, although certainly adequate.  If I were building that combo I'd opt for the much stronger 125 and a 75 grain adapter.  Same weight but much more durable set up IMO.

I disagree. Let me begin by saying I hunt whitetails only and my opinions are based on harvesting them with this setup. On them my 100 grain Magnus Stingers with 100 grain brass inserts are lethal and strong. Never had a failure in over 12 or so whitetail kills in the past three seasons. The glue on ferrule type heads with an adapter is a weak point in my opinion especially in cold weather. As I've witnessed first hand. You are dependent on a "good batch of glue" rather than a screw together system.

The main blade and bleeder blades on the 100 grain head are not as wide as the larger heads improving penetration as well and is the main reason I choose the 100 grain version.

If you are hunting large hogs, moose, elk or something like that I would possibly agree that you may want a stronger built head, but whitetail this setup is solid and lethal.

[wasapt]

I shot lots of game with magnus blades but switched to the Phantom when twice I had the magnus tips curl on me.

[SlowBowinMO]

TJ, I think you may have misunderstood part of my comment.  I wasn't referring to Stingers at all, but his latter reference to the 100 grain Mangus II glue on head on a 100 grain adapter.

I simply meant if he went with the glue on head, I believe he'd be better served with the Magnus II 125 on a 75 grain adapter over the arrangement he mentioned.

Good hunting all whatever you choose.  

[Night Wing]

I can't use brass inserts. I shoot aluminum arrows. My recurve shoots a long 32", 2215.

[KentuckyTJ]

What size arrows Night Wing? 3rivers carries a few sizes for aluminum shafts. Call them.

[Ringneck]

I'm guessin' 2215's