Need advice on spearguns

[Bobby]

I am rather new to spearfishing and got a few questions. I currently have a jbl sawed off magnum and feel like it is not enough gun. I am looking for a speargun that I can shoot 5lb snapper or amberjack up to 50lb. Any help would be great. I am looking to spend around 150-350 dollars. thanks.

[Bobby]

Forgot to add that my buddy has a jbl450 gulf mag. He can shoot fish twice the distance as I can. SO I gotta get something new.

[PatMyGreen]

The gulf magnum is JBL's best gun in my opinion, mainly due to its muzzle. I have a Comp. Magnum XHD that I have used to slay many fish, however it is my 3rd string gun. I am not the biggest advocate for JBL, they are loud and the stock shock cord they come with is twice as long as their effective range. Which, other than being misleading, is a pain to reload.
Both of my other 2 guns are from Spearfishing Specialties. My 52 " SS Commercial has the same penetration (if not better than the JBL) with just two bands and can easily covert back and forth from free to line shafting. If you aren't into freeshafting, you won't need the commercial muzzle as much and could get a 48" or bigger Spearfishing Specialties (SS) gun of any variety Teak, Mahogany, Rhino...ect and equip it with a "speed load" set up and spare shaft holder. I know that there is one on Ebay right now that was won in a raffle and has never been used. Kevin, aka "SpearOne" the guru of Spearfishing Specialties, is a very active member of this forum and has a thread in the manufacturers section for any questions people have related to his guns. He tends to answer the same day. SS is a smaller company and as such competes with its stellar customer service and lets its product speak for itself. The guns are more expensive than JBLs but way out perform them.
Here is a link to his site: http://www.slinginsteel.com/

[Bobby]

Thanks for the help! Hopefully I can get something before the 4th of July!

[mad signtist]

I personally like pneumatics. Though I have concentrated my spearfishing in local lakes for catfish. I have purchased a Mares Freediver Pro for my offshore trip out of Port O'Connor , TX this summer. She's 44" long, and LOADED with power. Best thing is Ipicked it up on eBay for less than $150. And its NEW!

[LSUBigL]

Pneumatics? really? Are they loud? It's just hard for me to imagine that you could build a gun with a good enough seal and contruction to support the air pressure needed to match the power of the band guns. Also, I have no experience with the SS but I do own a Riffe and think it's a good gun it terms of power and silence. It's certainly better than the JBL 450 magnum. I haven't used the XHD but my brother does and really likes it. It's certainly capable of handling the big fish.

[Graham]

Riffe is by far the best but they can get pricey and can really piss you off if you loose one. The 450 is a great gun but can be a little of a pain to swing around when you have to get a shot off quick. A really good all around gun in my opinion is the Gulf Magnum.

[Bobby]

I just bought a ss 52' rhino classic hope I got a good one

[PatMyGreen]

I think you wil like her just fine!

[Wet Spot]

what is a gulf magnum?? I used the 450 magnum for years. We'd change the muzzle to the plastic bandido one because the wings would break off of the stock one. Only buy the guns with the "x trigger" handles too. The sears ware to fast on the regular trigger mechanisms and it will go off by itself sometimes. We'd shoot them by just taking it off of safety.,..

Pnuematics are loud, I use a small one in the lake. The problem with using them in the gulf, etc. is that they lose power at depths. I've also seem them come apart (explode) on a boat and you can't fix them right there like you can a band gun.

[ROCK BOTTOM]

The Gulf Magnum is the next size down from the 450 Magnum. A much easier gun to load.

Zz

[PatMyGreen]

It also doesn't have the "wings" and I believe is only available as an XHD model. At least I haven't seen it offered in the regular series.

[LSUBigL]

Whatever you do, upgrade to the 5/8 or 9/16 bands on the JBL, which in turn probably requires an upgrade of the trigger mechanism unless you want to use the safety switch as a trigger like Wet Spot mentioned.

I have a JBL sawwed-off magnum and I want to put 5/8 bands instead of the 1/2 they come with, but the muzzle is a solid plastic piece and thus does not have a crack in it so I can't figure out how I would change the bands without cutting it apart. Has anyone had that problem?

[lionfish]

does your sawed-off have the gulf muzzle? if so there is a parting-line in the lower front part of the opening where the bands go through. you have to pry the gap open to slip the wishbones out of it. it is not a visible gap, just a line in the plastic.

hope that helps.

Leo

[ROCK BOTTOM]

Put the shaft in place and pull up on the end to open this slit.

Zz

[LSUBigL]

huh...i saw that line but assumed it was a seam in the plastic molding. I didn't look too hard at it since it's my third string gun anyway. Next time I check I'll see if that's how it works. Thanks!

[Undertow]

Bobby,

I also go the SS 52" Rhino Classic for my first gun. Have only taken it on one trip but it performed just fine. Just make sure you throw an arm thru the bands after you shoot, cuz this thing floats like crazy.

Even after one trip I can see the advantages of freeshafting. I think I spent more time trying to untangle and wrap that line than I did looking for and shooting fish. Guess I need to start saving up for some extra freeshafts :D

Jay

[RIGREEPER]

I ALSO HAVE A SAWED OFF MAGNUM. I CONVERTED TO THE 5/8 BANDS AND IT IMPROVED IT ALOT, BUT AS WAS ALREADY SAID, THE GUN IS LOUD. I PUT 5/8 BANDS, TRIPEL WRAPED THE CABEL, AND PUT A TRIDENT BARBED TIP ON THE SPEAR. I ALSO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC MUZZEL AND UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO YOUR OWN BANDS, IT'S RECOMENDED YOU TAKE IT TO A DIVE SHOP TO GET THEM PUT ON. OR YOU CAN CHANGE THE MUZZEL.

[RIGREEPER]

I ALSO HAVE A SAWED OFF MAGNUM. I CONVERTED TO THE 5/8 BANDS AND IT IMPROVED IT ALOT, BUT AS WAS ALREADY SAID, THE GUN IS LOUD. I PUT 5/8 BANDS, TRIPEL WRAPED THE CABEL, AND PUT A TRIDENT BARBED TIP ON THE SPEAR. I ALSO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC MUZZEL AND UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO YOUR OWN BANDS, IT'S RECOMENDED YOU TAKE IT TO A DIVE SHOP TO GET THEM PUT ON.

[f94gator]

Originally posted by LSUBigL
Pneumatics? really? Are they loud? It's just hard for me to imagine that you could build a gun with a good enough seal and contruction to support the air pressure needed to match the power of the band guns.

I'm with ya. Band guns all the way.

[Bobby]

undertow,

I bought a few xtra shafts and got the spare shaft holder in case I try free shafting. I guess for free shafting I should have bought a commerical but they are a little too much right now.

[PatMyGreen]

You can always have it added later (comm muzzle)

[Undertow]

Yah the commercial guns were a little pricey for me as well. Especially since I'm really just getting started and had to buy some other essential dive gear.

For those of you "in the know" what are the advantages of using the commercial gun for freeshafting? How would adding the commercial muzzle to a classic gun help with freeshafting? Is it pointless to try freeshafting with the stock classic gun setup?

[florfreediver]

Hi Bobby,
Please confirm that you are bubble blowing?
Looking through the posts, most of the replies were aimed at SCUBA spearfishing.
However if you are freediving. then your requirments would probably be a lot different.
Regards,
Mike Damms.

[Bobby]

Mainly scuba

[Undertow]

Still looking for some answers to my specific questions. Spear One. Anyone?

P.S. not trying to hijack here.

[PatMyGreen]

I shoot the commercial, as does Letrappes, we were both out today as a matter of fact. The commercial muzzle is more accurate than the regular Sea Hornet muzzle. Although the accuracy isn't noticeable until you take off the leash for the longer shots. The increase in EFFECTIVE range is scary, but the need for truly long shots is rare (for where and what I shoot). Another plus of the comm muzzle is that is holds the bands in place. If you have ever experienced the joy of any of the JBL guns with the "wing" configuration for the bands, this a great concept. The bands always staying where they are supposed to keeps your reload time down. This is great for those dives where you want to really fill out the H.O.D., and constant firing (e.g. reloading) is called for.
I am just getting into freeshafting really and am still learning the art of waiting for a proper shot for best effect. For example just because you can hit the fish doesn't mean you should take the shot, line up a good kill or gill shot, bearing in mind the shaft angle and what is behind the fish as well as how much penetration you will have don't use both bands unless it is a BIG fish or a long shot. By shaft angle I mean if you don't stone the fish you don't want it yo swim off the shaft, line it up so that it will have to swim into the flopper; picture the fish swimming slightly away at a 45* angle.
It would not be pointless to free shaft with the classic gun, in fact I recomend it. The muzzle upgrade is worth it though. I would make sure to freeshaft with actual freeshafts not the line shafts minus the line.
Remember that this is a different style of shooting then loading a big gun down with 3 bands and 25' of line and just shooting at a fish then pulling him in. Shot placement is everything and that requires discipline and patience.
I am new to this and learning more everytime I do it (grain of salt). The above things I have found to be very important thru trial and errors

[PatMyGreen]

Also, if you are freeshafting and making additions to your gun, add the spare shaft holder the other shaft doesn't make it to negative while both shafts are in it and the extra weight keeps it from floating away when you fire the first one. Great for setting it down to pull a fish from under a ledge. Oh yeah, the other big advantage of the commercial is the option to switch back and forth with an easily stowed line. Other guns can do this to with the same swivel clips on their lines, BTW. Hope that I was helpful.

[Spear One]

Dang Pat...Thanks, you have doing your homework. Couldn't have said it better myself. Hope that answers your questions Undertow!

[Undertow]

Yes it does. Thanks guys.