I have a Riffe Competitor #3XS and #1 (10 yr old son) has a customized Competitor #2. I like the way these guns handle in the water, how quiet they are and they track well on a moving fish, his better than mine. They don't track as well as the midhandle series, but pretty good for a rear handle. Some things that may, or may not, be considered drawbacks with these guns, depending on what you want to do, are: they are open track, you can't freeshaft and some people don't like the looks of the price tag for a new one
. To me they're worth it.
I was planning on getting #1 a Compeititor #1, but decided there was no point in a #1 if he could reach the bands on a #2. So, after trying a friend of mines Riffe Competitor #2X, he now is the proud owner of a brand new customized Competitor #2. The customization part is he could reach the bands, but couldn't cock it by himself, so I made him three 1/2X20" bands. That didn't work either, so I made him three 1/2x26" bands
. That will get him started. As he gets stronger and gets his technique down I can give him more power by shortening the bands or make him new shorter larger diameter ones. On either of these guns I can add a fourth band. What I have been considering doing with my gun is replace either the first or third 9/16x24" band with a 5/8x24".
#1's Gun
Bands-3x1/2x26"
Stock Length-45"
Shafts-5/16x48" Threaded
Tip-Riffe Large
My Gun
Bands-3x9/16x24"
Stock Length-54"
Shafts-9/32x57" Hawaiian Flopper
My gun had a threaded shaft with a Riffe large head. His is about to have a Hawaiian flopper shaft on it. I think the Hawaiian flopper is more suitable to the reef hunting we are doing.
All you triggerfish out there better look out, here he comes!!!
