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Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Range Reviews: Muzzy Phantom MX Broadhead

© 2009- 2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
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Having cut my teeth on Fred Bear Razorheads, I'm partial to broadheads that don't have any moving parts. Now, I don't have anything against mechanical broadheads, if it works, I'm all for it! But my personal preference is for a traditional broadhead; I know they work. Then again, I also like flatbows, longbows, and anything with a sinew back to it.
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New for 2009, Muzzy's Phantom MX broadhead was designed for the bowhunter that desires a traditional style but also wants superior penetration, strength, and performance. These are critical concerns for me. Hogs are difficult quarry, both in terms of killing, and their physical structure. Muddy, pitch ridden hair, covering a thick almost impenetrable hide add up to one tough hombre. Throw in hard-as-oak bones, and Mr Boar Hog is a walking armored pig.

The new Phantom-MX offers a compact profile for superior flight. With a main-blade thickness of .040-inch, it has unbeatable strength and excellent flight characteristics, even at compound bow speeds.

The primary blade cuts on impact to drive deep through thick hides and bone, and the "bleeder blades" at .036" thickness creates a wide wound channel. Blood loss is substancial and immediate; tracking should be a simple affair. The two blades on the Phantom-MX are a wide 1 1/8" x 1" cutting diameter. By the way, the Muzzy Phantom-MX bleeder blades are not your typical, thin, spring steel add-on blades; these bleeders are built to the same tough standards that the main blade is. That means it will take a hit and won't sheer off. They are also easily sharpened, though they are a little bit more difficult to disassemble than the regular broadheads.

According to Muzzy, "Consistently deadly in even the most extreme conditions, the 100-grain, 4-blade Phantom-MX will easily take down some of the heaviest big-game species, such as elk and moose, with unparalleled accuracy."

We are going to put it to the test later on with a series of hog hunts, should the gods favor me, and Armageddon doesn't hit first!

Ok, a few hints. When you open the packaging, cut off the two tabs in the back with a sharp knife, razor, or chisel. It makes your life a lot easier. Open it face down so you don't lose the shim washers.

See the shim between the shaft and head?

They are sharp out of the box, so be careful. I must admit I feel it is necessary to touch up the edges on any broadhead, before I would use them on game. A sharp broadhead is the tool of the ethical bowhunter. Use which ever system you like, I used my Sterling Sharpener.

I carefully aligned all the broadheads to the arrows' nocks. In other words, the main blade on the Phantom MX, when nocked, are vertical, that is, on the same plane as the string. All you need to do is carefully screw the broadhead in tight, and the warm the last couple of inches of the shaft until the ferule loosens. Then just straighten your broadhead. If everything is always in the same relative place, you will be more consistent.

I took one, and I am using it as the "Practice head." On my new Kings Broadhead Target from Whitetail Deer Inc, it penetrates about two inches deeper than some old Anderson broadheads that I've had since the eighties, using the same bow. This speaks well of the design.

Muzzy Backround

I was able to get a little background on Muzzy, and the family that runs it. I always find it interesting how good, solid, American folks get started and become a household name.

"In 1984, after retiring from a successful restaurant business, 65-year-old John Musacchia, Sr. decided it was time to pursue a dream that evolved after a particularly intense African bow hunt for Cape buffalo in the 1970s. John was shooting the best broadheads available, yet, after repeated hits with penetration problems, the buffalo remained on his feet. Full of fury, the buffalo charged. John grabbed a rifle and downed the animal just in time. Before he even left Africa, the still shaken hunter began thinking about how to design a better broadhead.

Several years later, John developed the right-angle, locking-blade base that would eventually define the Muzzy broadhead line. The locking-blade system improved the head's dependability by reinforcing the ferrule, creating an almost solid interior column of stainless steel. John then added another incredible design element - the extended trocar-shaped tip.

John first introduced the blade-locking system and Trocar Tip to the public in 1984, and it was an instant hit among bowhunters. He then decided to produce and market the broadheads himself with the help of his son Johnny and daughter Michele. The company grew slowly but surely. By 1988, Michele and Johnny had basically taken over the operations and John moved into an oversight role. He eventually passed away in 1996 after a long battle with cancer.

Michele took over as CEO of Muzzy Products Corporation and saw to it that Muzzy upheld the principles instilled by her father, such as working hard, persevering, constantly improving and treating people fairly."

"My father was a great mentor and taught us that to be successful, you have to work hard, give your customers the best products and treat people fairly," Michele says. "For 25 years these principles have been what guides us at Muzzy Products and always will."



Muzzy Phantom MX

Muzzy
110 Beasley Road, Cartersville, Ga. 30120
1-866-387-9307

MSRP: $29.95 per package of three

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...


The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles, Albert A Rasch, Hunting in Florida


Albert Rasch,HunterThough he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.


10 comments:

  1. Very nice review.

    There is something about that broadhead that is just downright scary. It sure looks like it will do the job.

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  2. Albert, I've been using the plain 'ol Muzzy three-blade 100-grain broadheads for several years and been very happy with them, but my first broadheads were Zwickeys and I've always been partial to cut-on-contact heads.

    I may have to try these out. They simply look wicked...

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  3. Yes, cut-on-contact broadheads are a must, especially with trad. gear. These look nice.

    I'll stick with my Magnus II's, because I shoot them alright.

    One question, though: 100 grain? Pretty light for me. Right now, I shoot 125 grains, but I'm going to put some additional weight up front soon.

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  4. Fellows,

    Thanks for the comments. I would much rather use a heavier arrow, simply because the penetration is superior. I think too much is made of broadhead weight, all things being equal. Once I get dialed in with the long bow, I'm going to start experimenting with the arrow weight.

    I'm still not convinced by the mechanical broadheads though. I've read quite a few reports on their failure to deploy, or erratic terminal performance. Not something I care to experiment with.

    I had some Zwickey's too at one time, Chad. I wish I knew what happened to them.

    The one broadhead I've always wanted to try though is the Howard Hill model, one of these days fellows, one of these days...

    Thanks again!
    Albert

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  5. Great review--I plan on getting into traditional archery next year, and I think I'm going to give these a try. They certainly compliment the traditional look.

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  6. Thanks Steve,

    You know, they do have a real nice traditional look to them, but what's really important is to keep them razor sharp. My biggest concern is how am I going to put them on wood shafts! I may have to stick with aluminum until I figure that conundrum out.

    Best regards,
    Albert

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  7. Albert, the heavier broadheads aren't just for penetration (because, yeah, it would be easier to just get heavier arrows). By having more weight up front (FOC, or front-of-center), you make your arrows more accurate.
    Think about a shuttlecock: The back end whips around, but the front just keeps on moving in the arc you set it on.
    Folks add weight in front to increase FOC.

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  8. As for shafting, you can buy screw-in attachments from a number of places, and glue on the attachments. Just remember that they add an inch or so to the front end.

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  9. I have always shot bear super razor heads.The Muzzy phantom is simalar to itand with the muzzy name it has to be tough.The muzzy phantom will definately be in my quiver this season.

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Glad you have taken the time to comment! I appreciate it, I really do!