Riffe3XS: too heavy

[rifmaniac]

my Riffe 3XS, is negative (specially its head) with 2 or 3 bands, 7 or 8mm shaft, making the gun tiring to handle in water.
What would be the solution?
I'm thinking of using 6.5 or 6mm shafts, but I don't know what the effect would be.

[Marwan]

I think it would be best to use floater wings, but at the end I dont think its the best gun for the mediterrannean especially that you have to do a lot of side tracking, the euros would be much better. I have a riffe myslef but its the C1 so its quite lite, i can imagine the 3 xs to be quite heavy. It maybe the perfect kill for bigger pelagics (tuna etc..) but i dont think it could be your everyday gun. unless youre hunting Tuna every day

[Hamrrhed]

Try it without the shaft..............

[rifmaniac]

yes; whithout the shaft, it floats

I think the 6 or 6.5mm shaft solution might be ok: gun lighter and maybe less recoil.
I just have to find an hour or two to modifie an euro shaft and I'll try it out.

For MARWAN, I'd prefer not using the wing kit solution, because it might make the gun less manoeuvrable.

BTW I've compared manoeuvrability of the 3XS (with a beuchat reel on it) with a Euro gun (beuchat Mundial Elite 110): the Riffe is (a bit) easier to move about than the euro gun!! (I held both guns one in left hand one in right, then changed hands).
The Riffe 3XS is in fact 7.5cm shorter than the beuchat 110, is narrower(width) but 12mm higher.

[donmoore]

How much shaft overhand do you have hanging out beyond the muzzle and what kind of speartip are you using? Also what size is the shaft?
don

[rifmaniac]

for the too heavy combination:
a 8mm shaft+double barb tip
or a 7mm shaft with a sinble barb
both shafts are 35cm beyond the speargun head.(which i think is a lot but that is how it was sold)

[miles]

Hiya

Before changing your set-up, what size fish are you targetting?

6.5mm spear with 2x16mm bands are a bit much. Most of the euro spears are not stiff enough and really weren't designed for 2x16mm's. You're likely to start running into accuracy problems.

Regards
miles

[rifmaniac]

With a 6.5mm shaft I would use 2 14mm bands.
Fish is mostly amberjack from 5 to 20kg

[miles]

Hiya

20kg amberjack, which is similar to our yellowtail (same family) is a large fish. I don't think you're going to be happy with the penetration of 2x14mm's on a 6.5mm shaft. Besides, you'll be bending PLENTY of those 6.5mm spears. Stick with a 7mm shaft and two 16mm bands or a normal single barb 8mm shaft also with 2x16mm bands.

Maybe you could try the front wing kit instead of the full wing kit. Quite easliy made if you're a DIY guy!! Check: http://www.speargun.com/accessory_04.htm#kits

Regards
miles

[rifmaniac]

the front wing kit does interest me and any info on how to make one (not in teak, its not sold here) is welcome.
BTW with the 16mm bands would you advise the same length as the 14mm bands?

[donmoore]

Rifmaniac,
I would think the main cause of head heaviness is the overhang. Riffe sells them with a long overhang so if you use their Ice Pike slip tip, there is room for the slide ring. The cable on their slide ring is fixed to it so there must be enough overhand to slide the ring down and tighten the cable, or the tip will fall off easy. Personally I prefer slip tips with rings that the cable slides through (like Steve Alexander and many more) so you don’t need a long overhand.

I think your 8mm and 7mm shafts are really U.S. 5/16” and 9/32” shafts. You can shorten the 5/16” shaft yourself with a hacksaw and high speed steel die. The threads are 5/16 x 24. The 17-4 stainless shafts Riffe uses are very hard. There are two main types of dies - high-speed steel and carbon steel. Only the high speed steel will thread 17-4 stainless. Carbon steel dies will work for cleaning existing threads, but will strip if you try to thread from scratch. High-speed steel dies are usually only sold at machine shop supply places, not local hardware stores.

Your 7mm 9/32” shaft with a single flopper sounds like a Hawaiian flopper. You can obtain a new pin, grind the end of the old one off and push it out. Then cut the shaft length down and re-sharpen the tip. Some people think it is easier to put a tri-cut on the tip with a hand grinder rather than put the existing round point back on. The tri-points actually pierce a fish a little better but there is not much difference. To reattach the flopper you have to drill through the 17-4 stainless steel again. Not easy with a hand drill, but can be done with patience and properly securing of the shaft.

Or you can go to machine shop or a friend with one (even better) and get it all done.

When purchasing replacement shafts the next standard size smaller will almost always fit a Riffe. For instance the 3XS comes with 54” (140 cm) shaft. The 2XS comes with a 48” (122 cm) shaft. That is only 18 cm less and you said you have 35 cm of overhang.
don

[Marwan]

Rif,
is your Beuchat carbon or aluminum? I would be surprised if the wood was easier to manouver. I have an Omer Carbon 100 and it is much easier to maneuver than the Riffe C1 although longer. For the ultimate i recently bought a Rabitech from South Africa, SWEEET gun. I am sure Miles would back me up on that one

[rifmaniac]

Beuchat Mundial Carbon 110cm; I was really surprised when I compared both guns, but the Riffe although with 2 bands, is certainly a bit easier to manoeuver.
That's a good idea DONMOORE. I'll probably also try that. 35cm is a lot I think; I prefer 20-25.
For HAMERRHED, I've had a look at some other posts about the Riffes. I do sometimes think about selling (or letting it drown in a 1000m water); I'll give it a few more chances, and I'll see

[Erman]

Rifmaniac,

I think 3XS comes with the 5/16 X 55 inch threaded shaft, 3X comes with 57 inch by 9/32 Hawaiian. I am pretty sure it is the right gun for AmberJack size animals. Furthermore, you get it modified to even hack good size Tuna . 5/16 shaft with 4 or 5 bands is no joke. BTW, there are not many mass produced trigger mech's which can handle so much power day-in day-out. Proven track record.

My plan A is to get the front wings, I heard they do help with the tracking also.

Plan B: get some heavy duty (these will not pop under pressure, I hope) bubble-wrap and glue little thin horizantal patches under the gun.

Plan C: get high density foam and carve a smooth piece to fit under wings.

Plan D: Larger custom teak fins.

BTW, why can't you get teak in ur part of world ?

Thanx

E

[chasintail]

Riffe guns are heavy,bulky,and overpowered for there size.You have to add wings to make them float ( metal techs ),and wings to reduce recoil (most of the other ones).Of course all the wings are sold by Riffe and the guns s*ck without them.