User Report Magnus Snuffer SS Broadheads

[GregE]

I recently received some Magnus Snuffer SS broadheads to test and I played with them for a while. I posted this review earlier on the www.edersbow.com forum and asked Sage Creek if I should rework it and post it here. This forum seems slow so maybe we can share some info and opinions and get it fired up. Ii'll split into 'bite sized chunks.


I appreciate the effort 5 shot and Shtr put into their separate equipment tests. Though their test procedures are nearly identical on their Magnus Snuffer SS reviews 5 shot liked it a lot, Shtr said it flew poorly.

To have personal confidence in your choice sometimes ya just gotta do it yourself..... and I usually do.

I have shot the Delta Snuffer about 10 years ago ( poorly made until Magnus took them over) and after getting the insert mounted true it flew great. I knew I wanted to look at the Snuffer SS as soon as I saw the first picture- I've favored 3 blades for much of my hunting time.

I got two 3 packs of the 125 gr 3 blade Snuffer SS from Edersbow. I pulled one out of the package and proceeded to create a bald spot on my arm testing the sharpness. Pretty good though I will touch them up to Eastman standards. ( that's me not the NAP folks )

I pulled the other two out and checked the edge by drawing each blade 'gently' across my thumb nail. If it's sharp it will drag if not it will slide or skip. Old bowhunters who enjoyed sharpening their hunting heads could be spotted by bald spots and grooved nails. It felt like coming home and they all seemed well sharpened which is tough for a level ground 3 blade due to the 60 degree angle.

Time to pull out the U.S. Balance digital grain scale. They all weighed in at 124 gr, but my scale is low just a bit and I can't get the zero to hold- so I give them credit for being 125 as advertised since heads that I know are actually 125 show up as 124 on my scale.

Looking at he construction I was impressed with the nice welding job fastening the 3 blades to the center ferrule. They checked out as well made and spun true. I do not plan to do any destruction tests- I'll bow to the plywood, barrel and tire masters mentioned above results.

I did notice that the threads seeming hard to screw in to my arrow adapters. I thought the arrow insert may have galled due to shooting with a loose tip. But checking several head/ arrow combinations they all seemed hard to screw in. I was able to get them seated but may get my tap/ die out to confirm my initial thoughts that the Stainless Steel threads are a little larger than the Stingers and other heads.

Now for the waiting. I broke my finger at softball practice several weeks ago and it 'talked to me' when I even thought about shooting. So I waited trying to follow the doctor's orders.

I'll post a comparison of the Stinger 4 blade I've been shooting and the Snuffer SS- both 125 gr.



The Stinger is a great flying head with a sturdy main blade. The Snuffer appears quite a bit smaller, but if you consider 3 versus 2 edges on the 'main blade' the cutting edge is similar. I favor a broadhead that 'slices' rather than punches like some of the newer Wac Em style. On the other hand, I've favored 3 blade heads for many years. So Design Comparison is a push.



My 2002 Hoyt Ultratec with CC+ cams would get the arrow flinger honors. My target range goes out to 60 measured yards and I would be shooting from 30 yards to spread the impact out a bit. I've found out the hard way that group testing broadheads quickly gets expensive.



The target was up and operational before we started construction of our house ( actually we had to wait on permits and final design so I may as well have something to do ) This synthetic excelsior bale has been catching arrows for 13+ years. It's a little soft in spots so I have a sheet of 2" foam insulation backing it up. The stump and plywood are to catch the grandkids occasional 'oops shots'.

You don't want to shoot BHs into excelsior so my Stanley Hips ethafoam target would be used. Its 6" thick but the replacable center is 8" and though it's been used for 4 years it still stops them except when you find the crack around the center core or a heavily shot up spot.


More to come...

[GregE]

Well, I couldn't wait 3 weeks before shooting- so here are my initial results from 30 yards. In addition to the Stingers and Snuffers ( 2 each) I shot 3 bld Muzzy 125s and field points. Shafts were a mix of CX 300 and XT 5575 both with 2” Blazer vanes.



I found a little rust somewhere between the bow hand and my string hand. The top right arrow was probably a yip /flinch- but there is still a lot of vertical spread. To get a sense of scale the replacable target core is 12" in diameter. So discounting the 'yip' this group is about 3 " from center of impact- ( 6" - diameter )





I haven't shot much since last November and I found the first thing I needed to do was to tweak the bow a bit and my head a lot. The No Peep now centers up nicely in support of my natural anchor. I’ve reduced the string length ¼” as I was getting arm slap sometimes ( and that ruins your follow through and consistency )

The field points generally grouped closer to the center so I did some BH tuning moving the Trophy Taker Shaky Hunter rest about 1/32 right.
I dropped the CX 300s from the test staying with my 5575 XT Pro arrows still with Blazer vanes. The Arrow / BHs were all spin checked. After all that the impact group was tightened and the Tru Glo sight was then adjusted to center the impact on the target.

Getting it right ......

[GregE]

A few days later I went again went back to 30 yards and decided to only shoot 4 arrows. I didn't want muscle or mental fatigue to mess things up and I could shoot with less chance of trimming a vane or slicing a shaft.






I still need to do some tweaking on the BH tune but all the arrows flew well. The Flight Comparison is a push.

I did find some damage on the tip of one Snuffer. One of my tuning shots went low, missed the insulation and apparently hit a small rock. The tip is bent a little - visible in this picture. I'm sure it will dress up fine with a little file work.



Durability goes to the Stinger ( except for the insert blades which are much tougher than the old Bear Razorheads I started with sooooo many years ago- but are still the weakest link )

Sharpening the Snuffer SS is something I'll report on later. But following the Magnus recommendations to use a diamond steel and light pressure I'm confident they will take and hold an edge.

Final Analysis: I'm planning on packing the Snuffer SS heads to Colorado this September. I'll be calling in an order in a couple weeks to get some more.

I do believe in shooting your hunting set up a LOT before pointing at a critter so I always plan on wearing some out getting ready. I save them for practice heads to use in camp as maintaining form and confidence is also important as the season proceeds.

With the bow equipment questions resolved it’s time to get the legs, lungs and shooting form in shape.

[GregE]

Notice on the 'untuned' shot pattern the two Snuffers are together in the center and were close to that during several shot groups attempts. I suspect many of the smaller 'Slick Trick style' heads would do the same as they have less planning surface than the Stinger.

Stingers fly great when tuned so they are certainly still going to be in my tackle box.

BTW, I'll be shooting at individual spots from now on- - I can't afford any more sliced shafts.

You're comments and / or questions are solicited.

[GregE]

My pictres were taken on an overcast day so the BHs look darker than they are. Here's a clip from the Magnus web that more accurately shows the Stainless Steel and the neat welds holding it together.



I'm guessing this is a 100 gr head or a prototype as the collar at the back is different than the 125s. The 125 lists 1 1/16" diameter; 100 is 1 1/32".

[GregE]

I was reminded I hadn't posted my set up in fo-

'02 Hoyt Ultratec CC+, presently at 64#, 29,5 draw. GT XT Pro 5575, 410 gr about 265 - 270 FPS. I haven't chronoed in a while but that's about what this set up puts out.

I may use the 7595s again soon but they need new vanes. The 7595s don't fly much slower and I like the added weight.

G

[GregE]

Backed the bow draw weight down to 62# so the GT 5575 arrows are flying fine as long as I do my part.

My broadheads have been tested to 50 yards and they fly very well withthe Blazers.

[greatwhitehunter]

I shoot Wac EMs. But the Snuffer SS looks pretty good. ANyone have any experience with which one would be better.
Wac EM or Snuffer?

[Elknut1]

GWHunter--I used the Snufferss this year with a longbow setup, not much KE there but it was a very good penetrator. I personally like a cut on contact head over any fixed blade head.

This is especially so on any bone contact with lower poundages. I've not used the Wacems because of them not being a one piece head. For deer anything works! For elk I'm a lot more pickier! <grin>

ElkNut1

[greatwhitehunter]

What is the difference between these new snuffers and the old snuffers?

[GregE]

SS are Stainless Steel which uses a different welding method and they are smaller. The glue in inserts in the original models are very easy to misalign, but get 'em in straight and they fly great.

The newer SS has a one piece machined threaded ferrul. They fly great all the time even after getting a few dings from extended practice.

Cost- Stainless is more expensive to make and it shows in the price- 3 for about the same as 6 of the originals.

Both have a very effective three blade cut on impact tip. Read Elknut's comments on his farly low poundage long bow success on elk.

[greatwhitehunter]

Was there much change in the spot that the snuffers hit in regard to where you filed tips were hitting? Do they shot about the same?

[GregE]

Just saw this, sorry Justin.

Nope they lIke most of the heads I tune, can be set up to hit within an inch of my fp at 30 and 40 yards. The SS Snuffers actually are more true flying that the Muzzy 3 blade and Thnderheads I compared them with.

[flaming arrow]

Any thoughts on the Slicktricks. I got some in this fall , tuned them in , in a 1/2 hr.

I shot my elk that weekend. It went right through and broke bone.

Maybe some one has some other opinions on it. ?

[CVRN]

The SS is a awesome head but i prefer to do all the tuning on my BH and you simply can not beat a Well tuned 125 or 150 snuffer. they are unbeleivable Bh's

[GregE]

I tried the SlickTrick125 magnum and must admit they live up to the hype.

Still like the Snuffer SS design though.

[GregE]

Slick Trick 125 Magnum results. 33 yard broadhead shot - this small bull walked 31 steps and layed down.

[GregE]

Update. Magnus is working on a new sharpening procedure to get the Snuffer SS as razor sharp as it can be right out of the box. I communicated with Mike Sohm when I first tested them that I had to touch them up- apparently they listened.

The new "to be renamed" heads are not ready yet. I'm waiting until they are. Stinger 4 bld or Slick Tricks this year.

[GregE]

Here's his post:

[snag]

The Snuffer has slightly convex edges. When taken out of the box you need to level that edge. A friend takes them and lays to blades against, facing away from him!, on a horizontal belt sander. He finds the middle of the blades sand down first. Then they sand out to the tips, back and front. Then after making a flat edge he can sharpen them with a diamond stone, a fine stone and then strop them...to scary sharp! But they definitely need to be shaped proper in order to get to that point.

[GregE]

I got replies from Woody Sanford and Mike Sohm at Magnus about when the new sharper version of the Snuffer SS will be available:

[WW]

I'd like to see a comparison between the Snuffer and the Motech.

Personally I won't shoot Magnus heads of any type because of one guy working there. I've seen him try to make others look like trouble causers just because he can't give a good honest answer himself to honest questions.

[Zbearclaw]

From what I have seen, there is no sharpness comparison the magnus products and the pot metal Montec. Magnus puts out insanely sharp heads consistently.

I got tired of the soft montec and started shooting VPA heads last year. Fully machined steel, come sharp and stay sharp, and are easy to resharpen.

[GregE]

bump

[GregE]

The Magnus website says the Snuffer SS has been re-engineered' and is razor sharp. I'm trying to accertain what that means and if they are readily available.

Hey, it's been two years coming- i hope they got it right. I sure like how those heads fly and hold up.

http://www.magnusbroadheads.com/categories/Snuffer-SS/