I'm going to jump into the Miles camp, it's more or less the same advice I was given by the best spearo I ever knew.
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Originally Posted by miles
Lets start off with your gun. Is it accurate when you're shooting reef fish or slow moving fish? The easiest way to check would be to make a stationary target and shoot at it a couple of time, taking note of where the spear penetrates it.
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Do the target practice, time put in here will always pay dividends on a hunt. Whacking a fish should be second nature.
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Originally Posted by miles
Many things can influence the accuracy of a gun. A bent spear, your flopper being flared open too much, over-powering the gun, incorrect aiming, etc, etc. Generally, a euro-type gun should be able to handle a maximum of 2x16mm bands or a single 20mm band. The longer length guns, like your 130cm Omer, is prone to barrel flex, especially the alluminuim barrels.
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I would add to this considering James' post that if there is a big difference in the shot between when having a straight or bent arm that the gun is over powered
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Originally Posted by miles
A easy way is to turn your gun on its side, like the cool gangsters shoot in the movies!!  This way, you'd still be aiming down the side of the gun. |
Alison's technique Miles? This is a brilliant way to shoot a
railgun, most inaccuracies in aiming are in the vertical direction. The horizontal is taken care of in the basic pointing yes? The problem is that the greatest inaccuracy corresponds with the smallest dimension of the fish. Turning the gun in line with the long axis of the fish removes most of the ambiguity of a shot and will result in more fish in the bag
Quote:
Originally Posted by miles
Once you get accustomed to your gun and how it fires, you'll pretty soon stop aiming and start shooting instinctively. Pretty much like when you point at an object with your finger, you point the gun and your spear will hit where you're looking. (Many spearo's shoot this way, but it takes time to practice and time to get to know your gun!! ) |
This is the way I shoot now with my mid handled guns. I found them very difficult to aim compared to my old Robbie. The technique apparently is taught to the special forces I was told recently. Basically it's not sighting the gun but rather just pointing the spear at the bit of the fish you want to hit. Try this, hold your arm beside you like a gun slinger and point your finger at a small object at the other side of the room; get someone to sight down it and I guarantee that the aim will be spot on. Now try the same thing with an unloaded gun, I'll bet you're still spot on. I can hit within a 2" diameter at 16ft which is enough for most fish. Like Miles says it takes a little time and practice but I think it's worth the time.
Shooting a moving target is difficult, if anyone tells you different don't believe them. Time spent hunting moving fish is the only way. The trick is to shoot at a point the fish will be at the time the shaft gets there, so aim in front of the fish. How far ahead depends on how fast the fish is moving and how far away it is. I confess I'm total crap at this, thankfully most of the fish I shoot are very slow moving at the time of the shot.
I find that when shooting fish in a school it pays to single out a fish asap but remembering that the biggest ones are usually towards the centre to back of the school. Once you have singled out your fish stay with it even if a bigger one comes into view. Any indecision will probably give the fish time to move on and spoil your day. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
