Beginner gun choice

[samspade]

As a beginner, it has been recommended to me that I purchase an AB Biller 54 inch stainless model for my first gun because of its "bullet proofness". Is the gun neutrally buoyant? What are its advantages/drawbacks compared to a wood gun? I will be using it on southeast Florida reefs and wrecks. Your recommendations will be appreciated.

Samspade

[RabiSpear]

Diving or Freediving?

[richhermes]

My beginner gun was a 48" AB Biller

[Wet Spot]

I started with JBL, they actually make a good Riffe knock off that's inexpensive.

Regarless of the make start off with a long gun, assuming you're diving with good viz. I found it easier to step down to a shorter gun when the viz was bad rather than having to learn a long gun after starting with a short one. My 2 cents worth.

If I only get a penny for my thoughts,,,, where does the other penny go?

[Dan33]

Go with a Riffe. Regardless of stock type (teak or metal tech ), they last forever. Most of the guns can be upgraded if that's what you decide to do. The product support is pretty good too. If you have a question and give them a call, you don't get some jackass on the phone. You talk to someone who dives with Riffe gear all the time. If you look around you can get a gun from the Competitor series for a good price. A C-2X is a good gun and really versatile. My first was a C-0, but even with a double wrap, it was a little small.

[f94gator]

I've heard Riffes can be difficult to cock. Maybe not the best choice for a beginner. A Biller can be had fairly cheap and is a good versatile gun.
I personally prefer wood for the positive buoyancy. Negative buoyancy sounds nice, but weigh that gun down with a shaft or two and it becomes a load underwater. The buoyant wood helps balance it out. Just don't forget to shoulder your gun through the bands while stringing the fish or you'll have to make a trip to the surface to get it!

[Screen Name]

I'm a beginner, and I use a Spearfishing Specialties 52" Rhino. Metal gun?........I dont think so.

[richhermes]

John bought his winning Cobia from me. ;):D

Where are those numbers you promised me John??

[Blackfoot]

when i was searching for my first gun i did the same as you...asked the same questions and got back the same responses.... get a cheap gun like a JBL or Biller and if you like the sport enough then graduate to a Riffe. Well, to avoid a useless and wasted investment into a gun that i would no longer using in a few months i stepped up (saved my allowance) and bough a Riffe MT3. I liked the Metal techs because they are a midhandled gun, can be upgraded with enclosed track and aluminum muzzle to add extra bands (which makes it a KICK ASS long range sniper gun) and it floats. I loved the gun soooo much that i bought a Riffe MT5 .... and let me tell you about the set of nuts that this gun came with. With the upgrades i can make this a Bluewater gun (only difference is 6" shorter). So besides the guns being kickass, the family is incredible. When you call you speak with a Riffe (unless they are gone and i help out, then you may speak to me..the Sask) and they are extremely knowledgable and friendly...they stand 100% behind all of their products..so basically you never have a problem if you have a problem. And i am not promoting Riffe just because i am Julie's boyfriend.... its because they are the best. If you have any doubts, contact Iyadiver, from Indonesia, he has used every gun you can think of and he'll tell you honestly which guns kick ass. i hope this helps brotha...and what ever gun you decide to get.... find a dive buddy and be safe.

Sask

[Mutt]

SPearfishing SPecialties!

[TGuthrie]

As long as it's wood, no metal. Abbiller or Spearfishing Specialties, you can't go wrong with either, but Spearfishing Specialties will let you kinda "customize" your gun. ( wood type, accessories ect...) I started right off with a 54 biller, but if you are a pretty small guy you might not be able to load it. 48in and 52in guns are the most popular. Just remember, WOOD WOOD WOOD

[f94gator]

You're Julie's boyfriend?

You suck!

[RabiSpear]

Riffe's are pretty nice, but mine split in half under load after about 7 years. I fixed it by putting screws up and down the muzzle, but I wouldn't buy another one. Plus, they are a little bit of a pain for tank diving. I think you said you are a tank diver. Go with a Biller or SS. They are quality, cheap guns that you can freeshaft. If you want the best, the Wong Hybrid looks funny, but it is the most amazingly versatile gun on earth. That is the ultimate gun in my opinion. If you want range and simplicity for freediving. Go with Rabitech!

[diligaf]

Biller, SS, and JBL are good moderately priced guns, if that is what you are looking for, you won’t go wrong. The SS is a little more versatile than Biller or JBL. The design allows you to free shaft and quickly attach a line if needed.

As Rabideath said, if you are looking for a high quality gun, one that you will never replace, spend the extra money and buy a Wong. For free diving, I would go with the hybrid, and for scuba I would buy the teak gun. But they are both great for free or scuba diving. Wong will customize the gun for you and your needs. Daryl personally consults everyone who orders a gun to make sure that it is the perfect gun for you.

Good luck with whatever gun you buy. But I must warn you…Spearfishing is very addictive and the better you get, the more fun it becomes!

[samspade]

Called the Biller company direct. They CLAIM the 54 stainless is neutrally buoyant with a spear in and will float without one. Why are most of you down on steel? Seems like it would be very durable. Are there any other factors to consider besides buoyancy? You all might convince me to go with wood if you could provide some hard facts. I am wondering if this wood vs steel thing isn't some kind of spearfishing elitism. Your thoughts?

[diligaf]

I kept a 42" metal Biller gun on the boat for years before it broke. It was too small of a gun to line shat, but a good little free shaft gun. But I do prefer wood because they make a little less nosie when fired. Fish sometimes will jump at the crack of the band.

One other note, I put a lead weight in the handle of my old biller to keep it from floating. I've always liked to just throw my gun down after shooting a fish. Daryl Wong is currently making me a free shaft gun the is internally weighted and balanced to be negative. I can't wait to try it!

[richhermes]

Get a Spearfishing specialties Paulope Comm. gun. A negatively bouyant wood gun

[RabiSpear]

I'm no elitist. I shoot a $200 aluminum Rabitech nowadays. I get them for free, so I don't complain. I was diving with some Wong guys this weekend and we all killed the same amount of fish. Wood, steel, aluminum, freeshaft, lineshaft, WONG, Biller, or Riffe are things that we like to debate abouthere on spearboard. Truth is, once you get it down, you can kill fish with just about anything. I saw Sheri said that it is better to go with something better early to save you $$$ later on, and that is good advice. Get any gun that you are considering, so long as it shoots, and you will love the sport.

[Doyle]

I shoot two Biller 48 woodies so I may be a little biased, but I would never by a metal gun. I have made a few modifications to my guns and each modification required sinking a stainless steel screw into the wood. I couldn't have done that as easily with a metal gun.

[TGuthrie]

Wood is very quite in the water, any metal gun will make lots of noise. Usally the wood guns are better in the water, and they are easy to mount spare shafts to and other accessories.

Around here wood is favored over anthing else. :cool:

[diligaf]

Originally posted by richhermes
Get a Spearfishing specialties Paulope Comm. gun. A negatively bouyant wood gun

Rich have you ever tried a Wong Speargun?:D

[rigdvr]

Originally posted by diligaf
One other note, I put a lead weight in the handle of my old biller to keep it from floating. I've always liked to just throw my gun down after shooting a fish. Daryl Wong is currently making me a free shaft gun the is internally weighted and balanced to be negative. I can't wait to try it!

If you want a negative gun just put the aluminum muzzle on a metal tech...goes down like Heidi Flice:cool:

[diligaf]

Originally posted by rigdvr
If you want a negative gun just put the aluminum muzzle on a metal tech...goes down like Heidi Flice:cool:

Yea, that is OK if you are using an unbalanced gun. But for me, I like the feel and absolute accuracy of a balanced enclosed track gun.

Accuracy is very important off of SE Florida with all the sharks... kill shot the fish and have way fewer shark problems. And the peace of mind is well worth the little extra cost of a Wong. :cool:

[IyaDiver]

Come on Kapiten Rig, put the Aluminum Muzzle and a floater wing, all balanced well , plus overall weight increase and a stable shooting platform when rigged right.....:D...but can't argue with my dear Kapiten.... ha ha ha.

Diligaf, enclosed track is quite useless for 3/8" shaft, at least for 55" long shaft, it is definitely useless even when powered up to 660# rubber pressure. I have experimented in details on this one with open track. I have always wanted an EC track gun but my favourite 3/8" shaft doesn't need it. Will shop for 3/8" shaft EC gun, must have one for collection sake. I tried once asking Jay Riffe to make me a custom EC gun for 3/8" shaft of 55" long, he declined. I already have the 5/16" EC kit but I don't like such small sized shaft, it permanently bends by purely water pressure from the fish speeding. Even my 3/8" sometimes bend from the fish acceleration, but minor bends....;)

IYA

[Screen Name]

Confused yet Sam? :confused:

[rigdvr]

as for the original question...I learned with a AB Biller 48 special. I found that I quickly outgrew the gun and went to the XHD magnum JBL which until recently set the standard in the north gulf for rig guns. I think you shouldnt worry as much about the expensive guns right off the bat and just get in the water, shoot and have fun. As your hunting progresses, you will begin to figure out your specific needs.

The best thing to do probably would be to check out what the people around you are using.
Good luck