Has anyone shot both and could offer opinions on them both for comparisons sake? I have not shot either one but have held a Predator but it was a lefty. I liked the feel of the grip and weight of it as well. Really did not look at the craftsmanship though. Would like to shoot each one sometime. It is hard to tell alot about a bow from pictures. Thanks Flint
I have both. The Schafer is a smooth smooth shooter. I ordered it custom, waited 12 months, and it was surely worth it. A Schafer is truly a hand crafted, custom bow. Performance is great.
The Predator I got recently, and it is also a great performer. It does not have all the custom options you can get on a Schafer, but the fit and finish are very good.
For me the grip is the key. My Schafer has a checkered grip that I love. I put a Shur-Grip on the Predator, and now I love it too.
Sorry I cannot be of more help. I would order a Schafer custom, then get a Predator second hand. That way you can shoot the Predator for a year until the Schafer arrives. Then you'll have to decide which to keep.
Brett
I have owned 3 predators and currently shoot a silvertip. Both are very well made great performing bows and you cannot go wrong with either, I guess I like the shafer better but that is personal preference.
Please
I've owned both, and both are great performers. I like the schafer grip better, and I think the schafer is quiter (at least mine was). With that said, the Predator is a great value.
I have a "TIP" and I have handled a Predator. I love the Silvertip, I thought the Predator was a very nice bow but the grip and I did not get along. I have a friend that shoots his Predator very ,very well! For me I think the Silvertip has one of the best recurve grips out there....but everyone is different!
Schafer hands down
I have shot a lot of bows. The Schafer recurve is smooth, very smooth, and that's critical to me. You won't go wrong with that one.
what jack whitmire said x2!
the predator might be a decent shooter but if you didn't like the craftsmanship then move on. too many great bows/bowyers to settle for average craftsmanship imo.
i've had several schafers (and still do) and have handled many others. i've also owned/shot lots of other bows. you'd be hard pressed to find a better bowyer/craftsman than dave windauer. some select few might be as good but none better.
again, just my opinion
Shoot them both and see what you like.......I've shot several of both........own 2 Predators.......
they are both nice bows.but the schafer just happens to be a very very nice bow.I have shot both an own a schafer.get the schafer it is soooo worth the wait.
only bad thing about the schafer is the wait. The predator very solid bow. I find the schafers more smoother and custom.
You cannot get this workmanship on a Predator.
Schafer's rule
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Danny, I can't imagine taking that tip to the wood's. Beautiful bow!! I must say Silvertip has the best grip ( IMO ) of any recurve out there.
Jason
Jason it was made to kill things.
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It all depends on how much money you want to spend. The Schaefer is almost twice the price of the Predator.
That is a very unfair comparison !!
Pretty sure you could have done exactly the same with a $549.99 predator hunter Danny, and maybe with a couple of pound lighter predator as the predator is a faster bow :D
I also have both.
I have the duded up Anniversary Predator and it is very nice looking. The finish is great, the bow is solid, and the grip, while simple feels very nice. This bow reminds me of a Bear SK except in Takedown. It is very smooth drawing, maybe the smoothest bow I've shot.
The Schafer is more custom in terms of the options you can order (also about $500+ more expensive depending upon options). The checkered grip does feel nice and this bow is also a smooth shooter.
You can from my summer's chrono results the Schafer is slightly faster with the same arrow as the Predator. I have to note though that I have a skinny string on the Schafer and a FF but non-skinny string on the Predator.
Predator Anniversary-60" - 46#@26"
415 - 165 ft/sec
505 - 153 ft/sec
Silver Tip 58"-- 47#@26"
415 - 172 ft/sec
505 - 161 ft/sec
Both these bows are definitely keepers!
Being Ron is from Michigan, I have seen hundred of Predators. There are many gourgeous Predators out there...you can order anything you want and his craftsmanship and quality of work are every bit as good as Dave's. They are both very well built bows that will not let you down in the field and to put down someone's work because there isn't gold inlay or scroll work is ridiculous. I have had both and know many, many owners of both and have never heard of one having a bit of trouble.
IMO...from shooting both more than a little in the not too distant past...
Predator is a hair faster at the same weight and has a more bulbous grip.
Steve,
I never said one bad thing about the Predator bows so do not put words in my mouth. The guy asked for opinions and I gave mine respectfully and showed a few pics of my beautiful Tip.
Danny, not talking about you, you said they were made to hunt. Very true. It was a much earlier post that irked me.
Thanks for the opinions guys. Looks like I probably will not make it to Kalamazoo to try a predator. Maybe someone close has a Predator and Schafer I could shoot for a week or so to get a feel of them. Lots of good recurves out there. I am a longbow guy but wrist issues have me looking at making the switch to something a little more comfortable grip wise.
Flint, what kind of weight are you looking for?
So many bows...so little time.
My Predator is 13 years old and beat to hell. I would buy a replacement without a second thought.
When it breaks in half...I will.
So many bows...so little time.
Yellow Dog, I shoot between 50-55 at 28 inch draw.
Kind of like comparing apples to oranges.
Flint,
I've had both, and like a lot of others have said, it just comes down to what you like. Both are beautiful, high performance curves, and both exhibit excellent fit and finish as well. My Predator was 4# lighter in draw than my tip, and shooting the same weight arrows I still felt the predator was a little faster. It was also the smoothest drawing bow I've ever pulled. If I were going to buy another of the two, it would be the Predator; however, you need to get a hold of both and shoot them before you can really make that decision.
Brad
It's all personal. Just like what arrows you shoot, wood, aluminum or carbon. You need to try them your self. Call Dave and see if he has a bow in stock that you could try. Same with the Predator. If not there are many bowyers out there that will send you a bow to try. Just give them your credit card # and pay for shipping to and from. Other wise you will have no clue how they shoot. We all are different.
Danny I am betting you can't get that on a 600 dollar bow either.
The ONLY bad thing (If you call it that) about a Predator is the handles are not all the same (imagine that). . some are a bit wider and need bigger hands. So. . if you like big handles, but get one that is the smaller grip, you will be unhappy, and vice versa.
They are stable, shoot fast, shoot quietly and I don't see any problems with the workmanship on either of the two I own.
Just saying.
ChuckC
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
Danny I am betting you can't get that on a 600 dollar bow either.
The ONLY bad thing (If you call it that) about a Predator is the handles are not all the same (imagine that). . some are a bit wider and need bigger hands. So. . if you like big handles, but get one that is the smaller grip, you will be unhappy, and vice versa.
They are stable, shoot fast, shoot quietly and I don't see any problems with the workmanship on either of the two I own.
Just saying.
ChuckC
i tried several predators and finaly found a smaller grip and love it
kevin
OMG Danny, your bow is my computer screen saver! Taking that beauty out in the woods? You are way tougher than I. :scared:
Steve, sorry, yeah all bows are made for hunting and shooting, no sense in buying one to just admire,IMO.
Vic, I guess I just use them for what they were intended,but I am careful,LOL.
Haven't tried a Silvertip yet but I love the Predators.
I agree with Danny it would almost be against man law to not hunt with a bow made to be hunted with . I have a old Browning Citori that has all the blueing worn off the receiver from being carried from the day I bought it , it adds Mojo . Same with his Schafer , it will get some small handling marks and woodlore but it will be fine . Plus Dave will refinish it if needed .
Jack
schafers are works of art however I would NEVER consider NOT hunting with mine
I like the grip on my Fox High Sierra better than the grip on my Schafer. To each his own. Jack
just to clarify my earlier post..
i was not criticizing the craftsmanship of the predator or the bowyer. all i said was if HE didn't like the craftsmanship (his opinion) then move on to another bow. in this case his other choice, schafer. if i thought any bow was of average craftsmanship i'd look elsewhere.
i did not state or imply that was the case w/ the predators. just gave my opinion about the schafers and general bow-judging advice.
mike
Grip is a huge deal to me. I owned a Predator for around two years and it shot fast and smooth but I didn't like the grip at all. It just didn't match my hand. It wasen't the bows or the craftsmanships fault just didn't match my hand. Was shooting with a buddy at the TN Classic and it agreed with him more than me and the grip on his recurve felt great to me so we traded. It is like almost everybody else has said it all comes down to what YOU want and what feels good to YOU. Get your hands around both and see what just feels right.
I've shot both,own a recurve Silvertip.
Just cause the Schafer costs more doesn't mean it's the better shooter.I actually like them both.Had a predator on loan a while ago...wished I hadn't let it go,super good shooter.Compares to a Super K in feel I think,but shoots faster.
As far as the grip on Predators,I'm pretty sure the guys at Hunters Niche will work with you to get it were you want it. Never shot a Schafer.
Get a metal handled now and be done with it. Lol
WoW,,,,what a beauty,,,