Not your fathers Pop Gun

[beaver]

Heading out tomorrow with my new Omer Airbalete. I will post pictures and give a performance report "if" I get some fish :rolleyes:

Anyhow I figure a few people up in PNW use pop guns so it may be of interest.

Edited my post as I was had a bit of drink on when I posted and it seemed overly enthusiastic

beaver

current guns: Seabear, Omer HF2 90cm, Ranger 70, Mares Cyrano 70, Omer tempest 70, JBL 38 special, Riffe Metal tech 32, and my spiffy new Airbalete 80
I put this list up so you all would have an idea of what kind of guns I will be comparing it too, the ones I use

I also have some of what I think are kinda neat ways to rig pneumatics so I will post some pictures of that as well. I have been using 2 mill. stretch webbing from climbing stores and that has a great effect on minimal rig max range as I hate the "phone cord".

Anyone inerested in rigging let me know via PM + If other spearo's want to post their rig set ups for pneumatics I would love to hear of them or see them

[beaver]

All I can say is WoW.

My dive buddies and I fished sea bass this morning. There was a 4-6 knot tide off slack and the vis was a so / so 25 feet the fish were really moving in the current and the hunting was difficult. I could hear my friends guns going off, and when I surfaced with my fish all stone head shots at about 15-20 feet they could not beleive it as the didnt hear my gun going off.

All my shots through the gill plate or eyes, shaft speed is incredible it arrives right to the fish an instant after you pull the trigger (it has adjustable trigger weight)Aiming is intuitive and I was making shots that I could not believe.

After my friend had missed all 3 of his first shots he borrowed it and his first fish up ...right throught the eyes.

Absolutley cant say enough good about how this gun tracks and fires, my new favorite by a mile.

I know a bit over the top but I love this gun, and the folks at Omer get my vote as well, #1 customer support if you ever have a warranty issue.
Cheers to Mark and everyone at Omer

[Ron S]

Down here in NorCal I'm strictly a band gun guy, but after reading your post I looked up the Omer gun. Looks nice, but sure is expensive...
Ron.

[beaver]

I agree Ron,

I will share my thought process before and now after. I have used a variety of different pneumatics, they can range in price from $150- $350. My first gun was a Mares Cyrano 700. I loved that gun and still do it retails on discount sites over $300. It is a great gun. My other pneumatics are all in the $150-$250 price range and you look at tips shafts etc and rigging it all goes up. Point is guns are expensive. Metal tech band gun was $400.

I was looking at some of the really nice custom guns out there and regularly see prices in the $500- $1000. I thought about this gun and all the info that I had read about it: first new technology in over 40 years of pneumatics, hydro formed shell, etc etc. I looked at this purchase a high end custom gun it just happened to be a pneumatic. I watched a few you tube videos of its performance, and I factored in my experience in dealing with Omer and how great (and I mean truly GREAT) their support is I took the risk on the $$$.

I have had parts issues with dive gear and guns in the past and have always been met with frustration delays and non response. With Omer my mails were answered within hours usually, you could count on speaking with someone by phone if you need to.

The Omer came with a sweet gun bag. I dropped the option on the reel and the price was discounted for that. The Shafts and the new rigging system are sweet. I promise I will take photos when I can pull my fat ass out of the work chair.

Is it worth it a big emphatic hell yes, would I trade a new Mares and new Omer Tempest (2 guns that would add to the same retail price as this one gun) Absolutely. The performance is that different.

Very quiet, wicked accuracy, shaft speed seems awesome, and loading is relatively easy.

I have been known to really pump the pneumatics up to max pressure and at times that can make loading difficult. I have not had to add air to this gun as its stock load seems more than ample. It even has a power reducer build into the muzzle.

If I had one complaint and I suppose I should, I find the safety a bit on the small side and it seems to be difficult to move.

Hope this is helpful, and I hope you get to enjoy this gun one day.
I will lend it to some of the other PNW forum members when we hunt together and you can see their thought on it as well.

[theappe]

in for pics!! for a fellow pneumatic user.

[Ron S]

Hey thanks for all the info! I really lood foreward to seeing some fish pics and reports from up your way. I've always been fond of the great PNW, and someday I'm gonna drag the family up there and do some spearing.
Comparing your new gun to a Riffe put it into perspective for me. I thought nothing of spending nearly $400 for a used Riffe, and I honestly don't think it would come close to fitting the bill the way your new gun does for you. Glad you found such a well suited tool, and like I said, I can't wait to see some dead fish photos as a result!
Ron.

[beaver]

Photos!

Hopefully they are comprehensive enough to capture the gun. On top my freezer which the gun is intended to fill.

Note the metal sleeve as opposed to the old bulky plastic for line attachment, the cool collar to hold the flopper in place the new gun shape and grip. IMO a work of art and a great gun.

Can’t dive this weekend (arg) have to work, but we have a 6 inch tide over 6 hours on Tuesday so I am keen to get out.

[beaver]

More

[settingsteel]

This gun is pretty tight i had the opportunity to see one first hand it it truly is awesome! i particularly liked the the handle and hydroshape, it fits real nice, not to stoked on the tip/flopper, but cool none the less (at least better than other similiar ones out there)...Although I make band guns my go to gun is a farter (cyrannos 110), this gun seems to be quite an improvement from those presently on the market, I've not had the opportunity to try one out, but your review seems quite convincing and....and when I surfaced with my fish all stone head shots at about 15-20 feet they could seems practically unbelieveable:eek:

[beaver]

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day and tell lies about the incredible shots he made!

Maybe some ( inches, not feet;) ) exaggeration there but hey tell me of a spearo who doesn't. I saw your beautiful gun build

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=86153

so will take the knock with a big smile! Beautiful gun, glad you liked the Omer when you saw it and if you have a chance to try it post your thoughts.

[settingsteel]

S'al good man:toast:...thx for the kind words...will do!

[outlaw-outdoors]

How much are these guns running? I want one bad bad bad!!!!!!!!! Ive got a seac sub asso65 Stenmedi Longsten cyrano850 with reel and a stealth70 In Davey Jones locker. Here in our low vis freshwater diving band guns are useless to me Id love to get one of these bad boys.

[beaver]

I have always had the best luck ordering from leisure pro.

They carry Omer and even thought they don't have that model on the site call or email and ask for a quote.

I always deal with a guy named Brett H out there and he is very knowledgeable and a good guy to boot probably will give you the best deal possible.

bretth@leisurepro.com


good luck

[Carp Dominator]

Here are several European websites that are selling the new Omer Airbalete for around $400! http://www.twenga.it/search.php?q=airbalete
So the local US price of $600 to $700 seems like a rip-off!!

[HelenOster]

I have always had the best luck ordering from leisure pro.

They carry Omer and even thought they don't have that model on the site call or email and ask for a quote.

I always deal with a guy named Brett H out there and he is very knowledgeable and a good guy to boot probably will give you the best deal possible.

bretth@leisurepro.com


good luck

Thanks for the great feedback which is very much appreciated - I've passed it on to Brett's manager, who I know will be delighted.

Helen Oster
[Acting] LeisurePro Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

[beaver]

Helen,

It is an easy recommendation to make, Brett was a lucky discovery as I had a technical question about spear guns and his advice was pivotal, since then he has gone above and beyond SEVERAL times with email and phone calls to confirm orders assist with choices and above all find me the best deals.

He is an A+ kind of guy and leisure pro is lucky to have him (you will owe me a beer for that one Brett if you ever make it to this side of the continent)

I am writing this as a business owner and recognize good people when I see them.

Cheers

[Orygun]

How many times can you shoot it on one inflation? By the way, nice gun!