Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Ben Maher on March 22, 2008, 10:18:00 AM
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benn done too death i know, but wondering if anyone has shot both or all three and their conclusions/recommendations.I'm leaning towards the predator with the Lee 2nd.
I'd be shooting 650gn arrows and am looking at a 60" bow.
i pull 50/52# @ 27"
i've been shooting 68" Hills, so i'm looking for a change ...more portable, easier on the joints etc
I'm in Oz so a hands on test isn't really an option
any recommenadtions as to the bows and length etc?
cheers
b
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I've owned all three, Bob lee is a good solid shooter, Predators are very quick, allthough personaly I like a bow with stiffer limbs, Widows are just an all around good bow. Myself it would be between the widow and lee.
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Larry..how do you mean when you say "stiffer limbs" and why?
cheers
b
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I own a BW PSAIII and have shot a Lee and shot many predators. I like Larry like the stiffer limbs. The Lee I shot seemed to very soft limbs which would send a prolonged slight reverberation through the bow after the shot. The predators are a great value for the money and shoot very simular to the Widow. Funny how everything is compared to a Widow. Wonder why that is? Get the widow and you'll never second guess yourself.
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I have owned a 60lb Bob Lee bow and found it to be a quick and smooth shooter. I have also owned a Black Widow 68lb and it was the quickest bow that I have ever owned. Never tried a Predator so I cannot comment on one. If money was an issue I would chose the Bob Lee, if Money was not an issue I would chose a Black Widow. In fact, I have been thinking about selling some of my bows and buying another Black Widow.
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interesting...I didn't notice the softness of the limbs on any of the Lee's I've had, but definetly did on the predator...
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I could go into a lengthy explaination but here it is in the short: I have owned all three. I only own one now and it is a Widow.
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Not to rob your thread but are the widows quieter than the others? I like Bob Lee bow but think they are a little on the noisy side, that is compared to my Hills.
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I feel the best bow for the dollar is a Lee.
You can pic one up for not alot of money.
mike
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for your 27" draw, I'd opt for the new short rised Lee in a 56" T/D model!
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Although I've never shot a Lee, I do own and shoot Widows and Predators. In my opinion, Widows are the bow that all other are measured against. Bought my first one in 1997 and I've bought and sold a dozen more since then. For the money I've yet to find a bow that shoots like the Pittsley Predators, lately it's become my "go to" bow. The thing about the Predator is either you love em or you hate em. The grip isn't for everybody. I happen to "love em" and if I had to keep just one bow it would be my Predator.
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I dont have a predator or black widow, but I have a lee with longbow and recurve limbs. They are great. The longbow is silent. I havent touched the recurve yet. What I like about the bob lee is how solid it is. The limb bolts are two per side, so you dont have to worry about messing up and not aligning everything. I guess im paranoid, but I like to know that a bow pulling lot of weight wont blow up. I feel thats important since I shoot it a lot. Do yourself a favor and buy a used bob lee. You can pick a takedown recurve up for a 350 ish. Much better then a black widow price.
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Thanks for the responses.
Yellow Dog....how do you find the Predator with heavy arrows? whats your set up?
cheers
ben
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I have owned a Widow and a Bob Lee, and recently shot a Predator. Like some have said above, buy the widow and don't look back. The Bob Lee was 2nd in my opinion and the Predator's grip was just to big and blocky for me. JMO
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(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/Yellowdog3822/P1100331.jpg)
Ben--I'm shooting 550gr 2117's out of my "go to" Predator. With my 60" Zebra Wood limbs 49@30 I'm getting 172fps. With my 62" Zebra Wood limbs 47@30 I'm getting 170fps. I've played around with carbons and been in the 195 to 200fps range but I'm a aluminum guy. Like I said before the biggest thing about a Predator is the grip, either you love it or you hate it, I like it and for the money it's a great bow. You need to shoot one to make a decision, they are fast, smooth and quiet. Like I said if I had to go to one bow it would be a Pittsley Predator.
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I own a Predator too and have shot Widows. I haven't had the pleasure of shooting a Lee. Like Yellow Dog said either you like the Predator grip or not. I never had a problem with it and switch between several bows depending on my likes that day. Also like Yellow Dog if someone put a gun to my head and told me to choose I'd pick the Predator.
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/VAbowbender/Hunting/P12.jpg)
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/VAbowbender/Hunting/P14.jpg)
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My only experience is with the Black Widow, and I really liked it.
But, I haven't yet bought a bow that I didn't like, and that wouldn't shoot well, and that wasn't deadly.
So, Southern Ben, your two options, as I see them, would be to either buy the bow that you like the looks of best, knowing it'll be awesome, or, and better still, buy all three of them!
Cheers,
Northern Ben
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I have shot and owned all three, the Predator is the quickest of the three and th Lee is probably the best, for price and shootabilty and the Widow has some of each and holds its value real well, but not real quiet and not a smoker by any means. I would go with the wiodw or Lee. Shawn
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hey Mr. Kleinig...stop encourageing me....
Shawn..i'm down to two, the Lee and the predator. Just can't cop the $900 for the Widow. i'll ring Lee and see what they have in stock.what model did you have? I'd be looking at the classic/...nuthin' to fancy.
cheers
ben
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From a looks standpoint, I really like the predator with the Lee being second and the Widow being a very distant last.
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Rear-mounted limbs aren't as common as the alternative, and maybe that's because most people like the looks of front-mounted limbs. I'm lucky, because I like both!
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Have shot the widows and bears but the predator looks so much like the bears that I would lean towards the predator, if if shoots like the kodiaks I would choose the predator. I am very pleased with the widows though!!
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I just purchased the Bob Lee " Hunter", they had it in stock, and I purchased it because of mostly the comments and suggestions from right here on tradgang. I went with the 56", Rod shoots the same bow only a different poundage, he was a great person to talk with, he told me if I wasn't totally satisfied, send the bow back, now that someone that has confidence in their product.
From the comments I've heard from others, and how many I see that have Bob Lee Bows, I very seriously doubt the Bow will go back, I asked them to put deer tracks on the riser, they said they never did that before, but we'll see what we can do, so they try and work with you to make sure that you get what you want. Great service. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Bob Lee.
Pastor Carl
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I only own a Widow PMA II. I looked at a Predator, but as someone said, the grip was way too big for me so I didn't go any further.
Bob Lee has been around a long time and makes a good bow.
Have you looked into getting a used Widow?
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Never owned or shot a predator,but own a couple Lees and a few Widows.Enjoy shooting both,but my go to is the Widow.
PETE
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anyone got pics of there Lee's???
cheers
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Here you go my Lee and I also have another riser and more limbs.The other riser is a scaled down one they no longer make very nice in the hand. (http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/2006_1231Image0048.jpg) (http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/2007_0212Image0058.jpg) (http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/2006_1231Image0048.jpg)ge0058.jpg[/IMG]
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thanks kip.
what model is that? classic elite?
ben
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Ben I have owned a lot of Lees. I have had the Sig., the Micarta classic, and a Hunter as well as a Bicentenial stick. Very nice shooters and I loved the grip. The Predator grip that I had was thick, but I like that. It just was not high wrist enough for me. Ya cannot go wrong with a Lee! Shawn
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Sorry guys. I have a Predator and have shot a Widow. To MY way of thinking you should be comparing the Widow to the Predator, not the other way around... and the Widow comes in second. Never shot a Lee.
The only comment about the Predator is that it has a couple sized hand grips and you need to get one that fits your wants. After you have done that..wow.
ChuckC
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ive shot them all, the predator didnt fit. i never got it to fell right with some tuning, I have shot lots of widows and own a old one, they are verry nice, i also shot a lee, and then i ended up owning three of them. the preformance is just as good if not better than the widows for a fraction of cash
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Shot all three and liked the Bob Lee the best.
-Charlie
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The Bob Lees are some of the most shootable/tunable recurves I've ever messed with. They just about always shoot well. They are not eye candy bows, by any means, but they are rugged and well-made. I think the Black Widows are "nicer," in terms of the work that goes into them, accent lines, etc. However, I have found them to be pretty finicky bows as far as tuning is concerned. They aren't exceptionally quiet, either. It really comes down to what you like. I have never shot a Predator, but I like the way they look, clean and simple. Hard to beat the Lee for the money; there is no difference between the Hunter and Signature models in terms of performance. I hear the Predators are good values as well. Shoot them and then you'll know. Paul.
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I originally bought a Predator because they are made near where I live.
I currently own two, and a few set of limbs of different weights. It`s been ten years, and I have no plans on trying a different bow.
My favorite set up likes heavy arrows. I have used wood, carbon, and aluminum out of it. Carbon performs by far the best.
Recently, they are being produced with a variety of different wood choices, and although they have always been a sharp looking bow, they have taken on a distinct new look.
I have never shot a Bob Lee bow. I have NEVER heard any complaints about one either. I have shot a Black Widow, and thought it was overrated.
I CAN tell you that a Predator will be a pleasure to shoot with an arrow you describe in your opening post.
Good luck with whatever bow you choose.
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I've owned a lot of nice bows over the years and have yet to find one that I like better than Bob Lee takedowns...both the recurve and the longbow.
I owned a Black Widow for awhile too and it was a great bow...wish I still had it and I'm always looking for a good deal on a another.
One advantage that I think the Lee's have over both the Predator and the Widow is that it's pretty easy to find Lee limbs on the used market and with few exceptons they will work on any Lee riser. I have six sets of Lee limbs and I've paid anywhere from $130 to $200 for them.
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Predator,Predator,Predator ! faaasstt, stable, shoot where you look, with the look of the old Bear Bows and awesome customer service!!
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I have no experience with the predator, looks like a bow I'd like to own. I had a couple of Black Widows. The last one I just sold after owning it since I had it built for me In 1993. I honestly feel that the bows built then are better than the new ones. I recently purchased a new long bow and I looked to the BW's first. They seem to have cheapened them and changed the grip for some unknown reason. Used to be I could pick up any BW and put an arrow right where I was looking. Probably can still do that with a recurve. I also own a Bob Lee. I bought it with the intent of having a more utilitarian bow around to get back in shape and beat around the woods with. The bow really impressed me. Great buy. I would get another in a minute. I may have to as my daughter has her eye on it. :thumbsup: