Trad Gang

Hey all! I am a dedicated Bear shooter...love 'em. However,lately I have been getting a bit of an eye for the Predator bows. I LOVE the style and shape of them. Look like my Super K! I don't seem to see much about them though. Seldom do I hear them mentioned,or see them in pictures. Anyone have any trigger time with them,or own one? Let me know what you all think. Thanks! Take care,Lee

I shoot one and also own a couple B Widows. The Predator performs just as good as the widows I have.

I've owned one and it was as a great shooter, not sure why I sold it. I'm likley to own another.

I've got three friends who shoot them. They are nice. For some reason their takedowns sound really loud to me. Even with silencers.

They are really nice bows. I am sure it would make a nice addition to your Bears.

I own two and bought my son one. I have Widow, Blacktail, Fox, Bear TD,  None are quite as smooth throughout the draw as my Predators!  I also love the Super -K look but higher performance.  Ron and Mike are Grade A to work with also.

I don't need 2 Predators. I'm keeping my Anniversary but will put my Custom Classic up for sale. It is a lefty.

I have a 60" custom classic and love it! Draws smooth and shoots quiet. 54 lbs. with a 600 grain carbon mfx. And it's pretty quick. Hopefully next month I,ll have pictures of the New Brunswick bear it harvested.
GLENN

Low shelf, close to the hand.  Fairly wide grip that I like but have been told by others it's too wide for them.  

I think they make a distinct noise.  Not loud.. but distinct.  

Mine will be going with me to Ontario at the end of the month for my black bear hunt.  It is shooting better for me than the rest of my stable this year.  My '66 Kodiak is going too, as a back up bow.

I shoot one and it's my go to bow. I bought it from a member here and it is a older one, currently looking for one that is black on grey wood combo 50#-55#. Anyone that has one for sale please PM.

I shot one,smooth and quick recurve!

Mine's not loud at all. I love it! You can't go wrong with a Predator.

(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/PredatorCustomClassic001.jpg)

(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/PredatorCustomClassic016.jpg)

(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/PredatorClassicRecurve012.jpg)

  :goldtooth:    :archer2:

I have a Super Classic model. Good looking and great shooters.
If your bow is noisy I would have to say that you don't have it properly tuned! Mine is nice and quiet!

I have been shooting the same one for over a decade.

They prefer newer string materials, and an arrow around 10 grains of arrow per pound of draw weight. (10 gpp)

Mine is THE most forgiving bow I have ever shot.
It makes an awesome hunting companion.

Noise from mine has never been an issue. I keep my brace height where it likes it,(not sure of actual measurment), and use the rubber catwhiskers on the string.

You can dress them up most any way you want. You can spend more on other bows, but you won`t get more.

Mine is a 60" bow, and I draw it to 29 1/2" with no problems. I prefer a fairly heavy draw weight, but my fifteen yr old son owns a Predator that is 42@28". He has killed two deer with his, and the penetration was excellent.

All of my equipment decisions are based on what works best for hunting. I have owned a Widow, Martin Hunter(s), a Martin Super Diablo, a Martin Mamba, Bear Super Kodiak, and a few others. The Predator far exceeds all of them.

For the last month, I have been playing around with a Great Northern "Bushbow" that I bought here on Trad Gang. I have not put many arrows thru the Predator as of late. At last light yesterdey evening, I stepped out on my elevated deck, and shot two arrows at my 3-D deer.
Quiet, stable, dead in the hand, and shoots where you look.  :thumbsup:  

Ain`t ishootforthrills` bow sweet!

I just bought a used one about 3 weeks ago.  It shoots well, but for some reason I can't shoot it with a tab as all my arrows fly to the right.  I switched back to a glove and now the arrows go where I want if I do everything right.  I am surprised at some comments that they are noisey as I believe mine is the quietest recurve I ever owned!  Overall I like it but it is not my favorite.  I have to give my Bob Lee a couple more kudo points.
Mike

I bought my Classic last summer and love it.  I installed Bow Hush on the string and it now makes a nice thump noise.  Great shooting bow, can't post a pic-photobucket is down... I'll try later.

(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/drr324/DSC04035.jpg)

Good to hear mostly good replies, I'm looking at getting one soon, looking at the classic.

Thanks for the compliment, Bonebuster. That bow is my favorite all-time trad bow.   :goldtooth:    :)  

  :archer2:

I own two. Have shot a third.  There is a bit of variance in the thickness of the grip.  My classic is perfect for me.  The other,a hunter model which I bought used for the limbs, has a much wider grip.  I can shoot it, but it just don't feel right.  Make sure you try it first and give them a chance.  They are very good bows.
ChuckC

i bought one used here it has a smaller  grip than most of the stock predators which i really like its 58 in 51#@28 and i draw just under 30
its smooth as cream on the draw and with 10gpp
arrows as fast as i need
plus mike and ron are a joy to deal with
ekvin

I have a couple of Predator Classics.  A bocote/grey maple with 2 sets of 60" limbs (42 and 52 pounds).  The one shown here is a black phenolic/grey maple with 48 pound 58" limbs.  Both have a reduced grip that fit like a glove.  They shoot fast, quiet and straight!  (http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab86/bmacskennel/Jan%2017%202010%20Trad%20Bow%20Squirrels/32a3f7a6f607.jpg)

predator bows are super and so are the owners.  i have had some great dealing with them this summer.  i have an older hunter model that the finish was coming off on and they fixed it no questions asked.  the bow has served me well and i am super happy with it.  fast, smooth draw, and feels great.  the mass weight of it is awesome.  i have killed several critters with mine and won several tournaments with it.

great choice of a bow

My first trad bow that was not over 30 years old was a Predator.  Very nice.  It had a larger grip, or I would probably still have it.  If I ever find a small grip one the fits my hand I will probably have another.

Had mine for 6 yrs and it always shoots right were I look. Very fast and quiet with heavy arrows. You wont find a bow made any "better". The wider grip works great for me,very similar to a Palmer grip. If you shoot better with a narrow grip you may be better served with a widow.

The grip always seems to come up when people talk about these bows.  I think you have to make this your "go to" bow out of your stable to make it work.  I know that it takes a few sessions to get my consistency back with this one.  But, when I'm anchoring hard and pulling through on the shot, nothing matches the raw power and speed of this one.  It's definately not a finesse bow.

The Predators are THE BEST bows I have shot bar none!!!!!

I have owned most of the top models made and love the feel and shootability of the Predators.
They are quiet if you tune them as a person should with any bow.

Have a Limited on the sale area and would not sell it if I did not have another Predator.
Hard times call for deperate measures. My loss.

They do have a feel of the Bears and that is one of the resons I love them so.

JMHO
Tim

Awesome bows. Ron and Mike are great to deal with. I own three, all beautiful, fast and quiet. Don't think you'll regret buying one.

I have several, will try to get pics up tomorrow.  They are very fast and when tuned are as quiet as most bows.  I shoot 8.5 gpp with no noise problem at all.

I have compared them to most good bows.  The only bows I have found as smooth at my 30.5" draw are older Lee bows and Vermilion River.

You can order them with a narrower grip, but if you like Bear, Lee, Palmer, Dye, Wallace, Brackenbury, Great Plains, etc, the grip will fit great.

QuoteOriginally posted by MikeS:
I just bought a used one about 3 weeks ago.  It shoots well, but for some reason I can't shoot it with a tab as all my arrows fly to the right.  I switched back to a glove and now the arrows go where I want if I do everything right.  I am surprised at some comments that they are noisey as I believe mine is the quietest recurve I ever owned!  Overall I like it but it is not my favorite.  I have to give my Bob Lee a couple more kudo points.
Mike

I use a tab and if I use a glove it goes to the left - I bet someone knows why.
I like mine and I think they are noisy until you put silencers on, my quitest string has four silencers on it. I am used to shooting longbows so a recurve always seem loud to me. The bow is a great buy and shoots well.

A lot of guys tried to help me out with suggestions here to get my Predator shooting where I wanted it, but none worked.  Just by chance I tried my old glove and that solved the problem for me.  I don't know for sure, but I assume using a glove changed my anchor point just enough to make the difference!
Mike

I just bought a used custom Bubinga Classic. it is 62 inches and 52# @28, with zebra wood limbs. This will be my first Predator, so I can't wait to shoot it.

(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/TrapperDog/Bows/Comp01-1.jpg)
(http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/TrapperDog/Bows/Comp02-1.jpg)
Predators:  Black Phenolic.shedua w rosewood accent, 2 sets  zebrawood limbs; Zebrawood/gray maple 2 sets limbs, black locust and rosewood; Kingwood/rosewood w rosewood accent, 2 sets red elm limbs, one with limbsations; Gray maple/shedua w rosewood accent, kingwood limbs; Macassar ebony/shedua w rosewood accents and kingwood limbs; Cocobolo/shedua w chakte viga accent, tulipwood limbs; leopardwood/bubinga w tulip limbs; cocobolo/rosewood w black locust limbs; PaleMoon Ebony/gray maple w black limbs.

Wow Rocket, if you ever need to part with any of those let me know!  Very nice collection.

RD very nice collction of Predator,pale moon ebony is my prefered.What are the specs of those bow?

OMG, RocketDog!       :scared:          :eek:          :notworthy:        What stunning Predators you have there! I've never seen anyone with six(or..9?) Predators before. What draw weight are they?

I gotta say I like the tulip wood one the best, next to my own copperhead skinned one of course      :rolleyes:    :o     !

Most of them are between 50-53#.  One 55#, one 57#, one 58#.  Those with 2 sets limbs have the second set around 45#.

They are all great shooters.  I talked to Ron about them one day and had to agree with him: the best one is always the one you are holding at the time.

That Osage with the copperhead is an awesome bow!  Would love to have an osage riser in my collection!

Most of mine ae 62" AMO, but can't tell much difference in 60 and 62 with these bows.

I figure one more and I'll have a set -- 10 Predators!  May have to order osage, but there is that aniversary on classifieds right now...

And don't worry, I shoot them all!  I figure I average a couple hundred shots through each one per month.

QuoteOriginally posted by RocketDog:
That Osage with the copperhead is an awesome bow!  Would love to have an osage riser in my collection!

Thanks for the compliment! But, trust me, you already have the most awesome collection of Predators there is, no doubt.

That is a really nice collection.

They are real sweet bows. (http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm196/2elkhunt/DSC_0027.jpg)

Predator bows are the best shooting recurves I have ever shot.  The folks behind them are outstanding and stand behind their bows 100%.

You simply cannot go wrong buying a Predator!!

WOW Rocketdog, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!

That is a great collection you have of the best bows out IMHO.

Very nice combinations and great weights there.

I am humbled.

Thanks for the compliments.  It took me a while to put that bunch together.  I still look for unusual or highly figured woods in Predators, but am getting low on money.

2Elkhunt, I was looking hard at that really unusual Predator until I realized it was a Bear.  LOL  Looks like you have some really nice bows.

QuoteOriginally posted by RocketDog:
Thanks for the compliments....I still look for unusual or highly figured woods in Predators, but am getting low on money.......

Yes, I would imagine one would get a little low on money.......after owning at least $6000.00 in Predator bows!

   :eek:      :scared:      :)

That can officially be called a Harem.

I bought my first Predator about 4 months ago. I am completely impressed with the smoothness and the speed. Mine is very quiet! I held off on buying one for several years because I thought I wouldn't like the grip or the shelf. I was wrong. I picked the bow up and immediately shot it as though I had been shooting a Predator for years. It really fits me! I will be buying another in the near future. The one I have is bocote with bubinga caps and zebrawood limbs. 62", 53# @ 28", my actual draw length is 31 1/4" (I shoot a 32" arrow BOP). I have been shooting since 1968 and I've owned many bows over the years. For me the Predator is the best so far.

I just got mine today, and all I can say is wow. I thought I wanted a widow until I started shooting this classic custom Predator 62 inch 52# @ 28. This thing is fast and smooth!

Rocketdog, there is some of the best looking cocobolo that I've ever seen in that collection.  Question for you Predator experts.  Can you order the bow without the quiver inserts?  Everyone I've ever seen for sale had them.  Not too big a deal, I guess, but I don't use them and would rather they not be there.  Thanks...Mike

Mooseman76 I am sure that the bushings are installed to aid in the manufacturing process but you can give Ron or Mike a call and they can explain better

TTT

You do not have to have the Quiver bushings installed.

Ok then! Good input all. I am kinda torn..I hear Bear is fielding some new bows this fall or winter,and I want to stay loyal to the brand. All I own are Bears. However,these Predators have really,really caught my eye. I'd like to shoot one first. I shot a Black Widow (first time) yesterday,AWESOME bow!I will say,I didnt feel cheated when I picked up my Super Kodaik again! It seems to me,it wings those Grizzlysticks just as well. It does hit with some authority!  I don't have alot of trigger time with other makes of bows..but I am very happy with my S.Kodaik. I recently bought a dz. GrizzlySticks to feed her...couldnt be happier! Take care,Lee

TTT

rocketdog, beautiful bows, i assume you have them listed as there layed out. i went to predators web site and couln't find pictures of all there riser woods and limbs. i love the palemoon ebony/gray maple w black limbs.did yo have to contact them. i'm a hillbilly and need pictures.

Nice collection Rocketdog.

where can I get my hands on a used predator lefty

TTT

I have two ...a 60" Predator Classic 52# @ 28# and a 60" Predator Hunter 46# @ 28" . I Shoot both very well but tend to shoot better groups with the Hunter. The grip is beefier and the poundage is a little more comfortable for me. These are awesome bows that are very quiet, and extremely smooth and fast!  :thumbsup:

TTT