Quote:
Originally Posted by drbabs
How in the world can i tell whether a gun has an closed muzzle with that ring on the spear or an open muzzle with the line connected to a loop or doghouse?
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Most euro guns i.e. OMER, Beuchat, Rob Allen, Rabitech, and so on are going to come with a closed muzzle. They do not have a slide ring. The ones you usually find with the slide rings are the brands like JBL, Sea Hornet, or pneumatic guns. Closed muzzle usually means that there is a bridge that goes over the shaft which holds it down to the gun at the muzzle. The bands are most times threaded into each side of the muzzle (2 separate pieces as opposed to 1 continuous band) and have a metal wishbone.
An open muzzle (like found on most wood guns and the HH Evolutions) have no bridge. Instead the shooting line comes up the side of the shaft (from the back) wraps under a stainless pin or plate, around the shaft, down over the front of the muzzle, and back to the line release. In this set up the shooting line holds the shaft down to the gun.
Some will say that the standard euro gun (w/ closed muzzle) is easier and quicker to load. I have found that once you get used to loading the open muzzle it isnt a problem at all.
The picture Jon posted of the Riffe midhandle and the rabtech (i think) is a good one to compare the differences. You can see that they shoot the same shaft lengths but look how much reach you loose with the midhandle. Its an awesome set up for low viz. If you are diving in relatively clear water than you will understand how important that extra reach the euro gun w/ rear handle provides is.
