Bands or Pneumatic?

[Divin' fool]

This topic has been beaten to death on other forums, but what gun do you like best and why?
I have a ScubaPro 40" Pneumatic that works well in shallow water (above 80'). It's fast and easy to reload. Shot lots of fish with it, but am thinking about going back to a band gun.

[Steel Shootin']

I've never shot a pneumatic gun, but only because none of the guys I have ever hunted with have had one with them. I'd actually welcome the chance to have someone come on my boat with an air gun just to try it out. I know they get a lot of negative press, but it would be good to try out and see for myself.

Has any reputaple publication ever done a comparison test, and of the pneumatic guns, which is considered the "Lexus?"

[f94gator]

My 1st gun was a Punto pneumatic. I now have a 53" JBL Woody and I'll never use anything but band guns. Maybe the Punto was just a piece of crap, but band guns had SO much more power than it.
I did a test with my brother once, my Punto vs his JBL 48 special. We each took one shot at a watermelon, (dive shop told me it was OK to fire the Punto out of the water-is that true for all pneumatics?.) My gun punched a nice little hole right through the watermelon. My brother's gun broke it in half and knocked it off the chair it was on. That was the exact moment that I started to regret the purchase.

[Divin' fool]

No...never shoot a pneumatic out of the water. Got something to do with the seals and lubrication. ScubaPro says it voids the warrantee (how would they know?).

[f94gator]

I've heard that about pneumatics, but the shop owner specifically told me that Punto says their guns are ok to shoot out of the water. Just repeating what I was told. This was a good 14 years ago anyway. They've since stopped selling Punto in the US, so to add insult to injury, I can't find parts to fix the thing!! (No urge to, but right now it's a wall ornament!)

[Demere]

AB Biller 48' band gun- I shoot freeshaft/powerhead + carry a Biller solid glass polespear 7' w/ tip for anything under 15 lbs.

[tomt]

48" Biller:)

[greyface]

48" Pauduk Sea Hornet. The wife gets upset when I bring it to bed with me.

[Diver Dan]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but after alot of years of shooting, Spearfishing Specialties is easily my choice. I have a 54 now and wouldn't trade it for anything else. By the way I still have a small Cressi=sub pneumatic I haven't used in quite awhile and would definitely sell. Works fine. I used to use it for under ledges. Don't need it anymore with the options on what I have now. Glad I don't have to carry two guns anymore.:D

[f94gator]

Dan, let me tell you, my brother John picked up one just like yours and I don't blame you for liking it so much. It's a sweet setup and shoots beautifully!!

[Diver Dan]

You know that! It has all the options needed for makin the fish bleeded!! Hey I'm no poet and I know it! Dan

[f94gator]

I’ll probably take a look at one of those guns at some point. But first things first. I need a better BC and reg above all. I’m happy with my JBL 53” Woody, (every time I write that, it sounds dirty) regardless.

[Divin' fool]

I found a place on the net that sells the Spearfishing Specialties guns at wholesale prices. Look like great guns. Good prices too.

http://www.tbdiving.com/Spearguns/SpearSpecialties/Spearfishing_Specialties_Main_Page.htm

[rusty]

I vote for the Spearfishing Specialties. I use their 48" Rhino, with a 54" shaft. I had an older A.B. Biller, but I dumped it on Ebay as soon as I got the new gun.

[Limited-Out]

Hey Guys, I am new to this forum, But not to the recreation. I have 2 Biller 48's and my buddie has a pneumatic. When I break a band underwater its easy to fix and keep on going. When he blows a seal(o-ring), he blow a seal(his composure) if you know what I mean :D. DF, stick with that band gun, less aggrevation.

[MarkD]

I need to break down and buy a gun. I am leaning towards the AB Biller 48 as my first gun. However, after seeing the Spearfishing Specialties guns (Scott and Rusty) I could be easily swayed to buy one. Who sells them in the West Pasco/North Pinellas area?

Thanks, Mark

[johnhermes]

Talk to Kevin Bruington (spear one) directly. He will set you up with the gun you need, and have it delivered to a dealer in your area. He checks this board, so he will probably see this.

[Divin' fool]

I know waht you are saying L-O. I've been using this gun for alomost ten years now. Knock on wood, no problems. But if it F's up.....I'm going with one of the Spearfishing Specialites guns.
Are those guns wood? They look like a composite material. Do they float?

[rusty]

Yes they are wood, various types are available, teak, etc. They also have a "Rhino" finish available (it's like a rock). The gun will float without a shaft, but not with a shaft. You can add an extra shaft holder, which when filled will prevent the gun from floating, even after shooting:) .

Here in St. Pete, Aquatic Obsessions has a good selection of Spearfishing Specialties spearguns (also carry Riffe and a couple of JBL's I think). Shop is owned by Bill Hardman.

[inletsurf]

I like the rubbers myself, but my chick likes the bare pump.

I'm a band user. I've got so much power in my gun, I'll find it hard that any pneumatic gun can even match effective range that I have. I'll admit, my gun is a little oversized for the job (i'm really talking about the speargun) but that kind of power pays off when you're hitting a fleeing gag, or you need that extra "knockdown" to shatter a big fishes' spine. Just my opinion...for taking lots of fish in a short period of time, my gun is probably a little oversized and slow...