Best of the Best: Bullhead 125-Grain Turkey Broadhead vs Spitfire Gobbler Getter
Bullhead 125-Grain Turkey Broadhead vs Spitfire Gobbler Getter
Our #1 and #2 picks from The 10 Best Turkey Hunting Arrow Builds and Components, compared spec-by-spec with clear pros, cons, and a verdict.
Choosing the right broadhead for turkey hunting can dramatically impact your success and ethical harvest. Unlike deer or elk, turkeys are typically shot in the head and neck, demanding a broadhead designed for maximum decapitation or rapid incapacitation. This head-to-head comparison pits two titans of turkey hunting – the Magnus Bullhead 125-Grain and the New Archery Products (NAP) Spitfire Gobbler Getter – against each other. We'll dissect their design philosophies, performance characteristics, and what makes each a strong contender, helping you decide which broadhead will give you the edge in the turkey woods this season. Your choice here could mean the difference between a clean kill and a missed opportunity.
Bullhead 125-Grain Turkey Broadhead
Magnus
The Magnus Bullhead is the benchmark for turkey decapitator broadheads, and for good reason. If you're committed to head and neck shots, this is your tool. Its enormous cutting diameter, often over 4 inches, makes a small target significantly more forgiving. It’s a pure all-or-nothing head – if you hit the neck, the bird drops instantly; miss, and it’s a clean miss. This design eliminates the need for vitals shots and the associated risks of pass-throughs and lost birds. Construction is simple but robust: three fixed blades bolted to an aluminum ferrule. It’s not fancy, but it’s brutally effective. However, that massive cutting surface demands a lot from your arrow and your bow. You absolutely need a perfectly tuned setup, a stiff shaft, and ample fletching to steer this head accurately. Any wobble or inconsistency will be magnified, leading to wildly inaccurate flight. It's not a head for a casual setup; it requires attention to detail in your arrow build and shooting form. But for the hunter who puts in the work, the Bullhead offers one of the most definitive ways to anchor a gobbler. **Highlights** * Massive cutting diameter for forgiving head/neck shots * Instant drop on a solid hit; no tracking needed * Eliminates pass-throughs and body shot ethics concerns * Simple, durable fixed-blade design * Reliable performance on its intended target **Watch-outs** * Demands exceptional bow tuning and arrow flight * Requires large, high-profile fletching for stability * Not suitable for body shots; designed strictly for head/neck * Can be prone to wind drift due to large surface area
Find it on AmazonSpitfire Gobbler Getter
New Archery Products
The NAP Spitfire Gobbler Getter is an intelligently designed expandable broadhead specifically for turkey body shots where a pass-through is undesirable. Its defining feature is a built-in stopping plate behind the blades. This plate deploys upon impact, preventing the arrow from fully penetrating the bird. The idea is to keep all the arrow's energy and the broadhead's cutting action contained within the turkey, maximizing internal damage and ensuring the arrow doesn't bury itself in the dirt or fly off with the bird. Performance in the field is consistent with this design – the blades open reliably, and the plate does its job, creating significant trauma without a full pass-through. This means easier recovery of the bird and your arrow. The blade design itself is proven, based on the reliable Spitfire mechanism. For hunters who prefer aiming for the vitals rather than the head and neck, this broadhead offers a specialized solution that increases the odds of a quick, clean harvest and an arrow that stays in the bird, preventing lost gear. It's a pragmatic choice for the bowhunter seeking a dedicated turkey body-shot head. **Highlights** * Integrated stopping plate prevents pass-throughs * Maximizes internal damage and energy transfer * Reliable blade deployment on impact * Proven Spitfire blade design for clean cuts * Increases chances of recovering both bird and arrow **Watch-outs** * Not designed for head/neck shots * Still requires precise aim for vitals * Can be more expensive than fixed-blade options * Blade retention system can require careful handling
Find it on AmazonSpec-by-Spec
| Spec | #1 Bullhead 125-Grain Turkey Broadhead | #2 Spitfire Gobbler Getter |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 125 grains (also available in 100, 150, 200, 225, 275 grains) | 100 grains (also available in 125 grains) |
| Capacity/Size (Cutting Diameter) | 2.75 inches | 1.5 inches |
| Materials | Aircraft Grade Aluminum Ferrule, Stainless Steel Blades | Aircraft Grade Aluminum Ferrule, Stainless Steel Blades |
| Price Tier (per 3-pack) | $45-$55 | $40-$50 |
| Warranty | Lifetime Guarantee (Magnus Tough) | Not published (typically limited manufacturer's warranty) |
| Best Use | Head/Neck Shots for Turkey Decapitation | Head/Neck Shots for Turkey Decapitation (also body shots if needed) |
| Portability (Installed) | Very large, requires careful quiver management | Compact, fits most standard quivers easily |
| Durability | Very high, often reusable after striking vitals | High, blades are replaceable; ferrule is robust |
| Feature Highlights | Fixed blade, massive cutting diameter, reversible blades, designed for head-on impact | Mechanical/expandable blades, spring-loaded deployment, compact until impact, no O-rings |
Bullhead 125-Grain Turkey Broadhead
Best for: Hunters prioritizing maximum cutting diameter and certainty for head/neck shots.
Pros
- Massive 2.75-inch cutting diameter offers huge margin for error on head shots.
- Fixed blade design ensures 100% deployment and reliability.
- Extremely durable; blades can often be reversed or resharpened after use.
- Lifetime guarantee from Magnus provides exceptional confidence.
- Excellent flight characteristics for a fixed blade of its size.
Cons
- Very large profile can be awkward in quivers and catch wind in flight.
- Potentially lower penetration on body shots due to extreme cutting diameter.
- Less forgiving for form imperfections compared to smaller broadheads.
- Requires careful storage to prevent blades from snagging.
Spitfire Gobbler Getter
Best for: Hunters seeking a compact, versatile mechanical broadhead suitable for head or body shots.
Pros
- Compact folded profile allows for easy quiver storage and transport.
- Mechanical deployment creates a wide cutting path upon impact.
- Less wind-sensitive than large fixed blades in flight.
- Can be used for body shots if necessary due to its smaller cut and penetration profile.
- Spring-loaded deployment is highly reliable without O-rings or collars.
Cons
- Smaller cutting diameter (1.5 inches) offers less forgiveness on head shots than the Bullhead.
- Mechanical design inherently carries a small risk of non-deployment (though minimal with NAP).
- Requires replacement blades after most successful harvests, increasing long-term cost.
- Not as ideal for extremely high kinetic energy setups looking for maximum shock.
The Verdict
For dedicated head-and-neck shots on turkeys, the **Magnus Bullhead 125-Grain** emerges as the clear winner. Its unparalleled 2.75-inch cutting diameter offers the largest margin for error, making clean decapitation significantly more achievable. While its size demands mindful quiver management, its robust fixed-blade design, legendary durability, and lifetime guarantee provide unmatched confidence. The NAP Spitfire Gobbler Getter is a fantastic alternative, especially for hunters who prioritize a more compact, aerodynamic broadhead that can double for body shots if the situation demands. However, its smaller cutting diameter reduces the forgiveness factor on those critical head shots. For the hunter committed to ethical and decisive head-shot turkey hunting, the Magnus Bullhead is the superior tool, providing the highest probability of a clean, humane harvest.