| |
The AVi limb coating
Slipping prevention rubber strips
Magnesium cast riser
Realtree APG finishing
Machined trigger pull
Arrow retention spring
New revised & improved trigger
Improved finish on the Predator (top)
 |
|
Quality
The
Barnett Predator is currently the most expensive
crossbow in the Barnett lineup. It is in fact
priced at US$ 669. This is a quantum leap from
previous models such as the Revolution AVi ($
469) .
So if we
compare prices the Predator sits in the same range
as the top line Horton, Parker and Excalibur. The
Predator however offers a substantial speed
advantage over them all.
If, on
the other side, we compare performance (speeds)
the Predator at 375 FPS is a close match to
Bowtech’s Desert Stryker (375) and possibly the
Stryker (400FPS) . Over these however
the
Predator offers a substantial saving , as the
Desert Stryker is around US$1000 and the Stryker
is priced around US$ 1500.
The
obvious question is what does the Predator offer
over the previous top of the line model
(revolution AVi)?
Does
it justify the difference in price?
The
Predator stock is 95% identical to the lower
priced revolution AVi, the only differences
being the modified front stud, the camo finish
that here is the darker Realtree APG , and the
absence of the quick detach studs.
No, the two stocks are not interchangeable, but
they share the same good points we enlisted in
the Revolution AVi review:
-
Stock molding is done quite well both in engineering and
manufacture, there are no sharp edges and
the shapes are well blended.
-
The thumbhole grip has enough room to accommodate large hands
gloved and the pistol grip is fatter around
the bottom to help your hand zeroing toward
the top.
-
The front handguard is rather large and rounded, besides giving
a good grip, will insure your finger will
stay away from the flight rail.
-
The flight
rail is integral with the stock , meaning is
it made from the same plastic compound. (You
know I am not a fan of plastic flight rails
but here I must admit the thing is
engineered pretty well) : the flight rail
surface is arched therefore the string
contacts just a portion of it for lower
friction and less wear on the serving.
-
The surface of the flight rail is very
smooth in order to reduce wear, the plastic
material also looks and feels quite hard and
dense: I think this is due to the GAM
molding process injects gas into the mold to
create a hollow stock (to reduce weight)
that has the side effect of compressing the
plastic material creating a very dense
compound. Using the rail lube as suggested
every some 5 shots, after a few hundred
shots the serving shows no signs of wear.
-
Another interesting detail is the cable slot
where cable sits and contact with the stock.
Here Barnett engineers applied a stripe of
Teflon tape also in order to reduce cable
wear.
-
The camouflage pattern is very well done
even around small features, radiuses and
small blend areas. The dipping process in
now done in house at Barnett whereas
previously it was done by a 3rd
party supplier
-
The Magnesium riser is
also dipped and finished in Realtree APG.
The design is intriguing and effective as
well. It looks very massive but it is
actually very light. It is made by casting
therefore there are no tool marks: every
edge is radiuses and blended. It also
features two rubber strips where you sit
your foot to cock the crossbow and in the
front section where the crossbow will touch
the ground in order to prevent slipping and
to preserve the precious metal from
scratches.
When we tested the Revolution
AVi we pointed out a few things we did not like,
Barnett listened worked on those points:
-
The underside of the
pistol grip where the molding process
exposed a not so aesthetical hole in the
Revolution AVi is now capped giving the
Predator a
more “finished” look.
-
The noise of the arrow
retention spring is gone as now it is rubber
covered.
Last, but to me most
important, the trigged has been revised and
redesigned:
-
The
plastic trigger pull is gone (not just from
the Predator but also from 08 models of the
Revolution, Quad, C5 and Wildcat as well)
-
The trigger pull linkage
has been revised.
-
All of the swage pins
have been replaced by precision turned
retaining pins with e-clips and the transfer
bar has been redesigned to provide a
smoother trigger pull with less creep
compared to last years model.
-
Trigger travel has also
been reduced.
Now the trigger feels much
better!
(Note: the new trigger can be fitted to previous
models , contact Barnett as the upgrade can only
be factory installed for safety reasons)
|
|
|
