Omer XXV Speargun + Other Fast tracking guns?

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Having any kind of loading butt is still a novelty luxury for me & I might take it off later to aid aiming down the side(+ even lighter!).

There is a 3times Spearfishing World Champion from Spain whom I once asked on a nautical fair about any personal modifications he did on his spearguns?

"Nothing really" he replied. "All I do is remove everything that does not seem essential:
- gun butt [Carbonell: only an annoyance and inference with aiming],
- shaft guide [Carbonell: of no use on guns below 115cm],
- security [Carbonell: risk to forget it])."

Cheers

[strangelove]

Originally Posted by ulysses

There is a 3times Spearfishing World Champion from Spain whom I once asked on a nautical fair about any personal modifications he did on his spearguns?

"Nothing really" he replied. "All I do is remove everything that does not seem essential:
- gun butt [Carbonell: only an annoyance and inference with aiming],
- shaft guide [Carbonell: of no use on guns below 115cm],
- security [Carbonell: risk to forget it])."

Cheers

I wonder what Renzo would say about these changes ? (this one is for the Master Spaghetti)

No shaft guide for guns under 115, that could be subject of a whole new thread. I like to think that the RA guns are the standart for shooting big pelagic fish, all of the them have the guide. But if you fishing in holes and caves you may not need a guide.

But still a great line and should be apply to all spear fishing gear, keep it simple !

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by ulysses

There is a 3times Spearfishing World Champion from Spain ...personal modifications he did on his spearguns?
..."All I do is remove everything that does not seem essential:
- gun butt [Carbonell: only an annoyance and inference with aiming],
- shaft guide [Carbonell: of no use on guns below 115cm],
- security [Carbonell: risk to forget it])."

I like the philosophy, although I'm probably not yet ready for the full minimalist approach (there is a similar ethos in climbing but it takes years to discover what the essential minimum gear is for you). The XXV doesn't have a shaft guide - so there's a start!

Re. the sheet bend, it's an interesting idea but it's is not a knot that I would normally trust to stay tight in such a critical use, especially with mono & water involved. Nor a double sheet bend, although I guess that would be more secure. You don't usually see fishing line joined like that - you'd use something line an Albright knot or one of the more complicated big game braid knots (bimini twist?!). That's just me though. Do you use this? It would offer a quick & easy way to tie & untie the spearline. I take it Donati is a well known spearo? I suppose you could tie a thumb knot in the end of the braid as back-up against slippage.

[BTW when you attach a belt stringer, do you use a quick-release knot - like a highwayman's hitch - or just a loop?]

Thanks for the info on the red cap. We thought it was an alternative spear cap. [The old omer catalog I have shows similar yellow caps in various sizes in the accessory section].

The RA rail is integral to the gun, I suspect the champ was referring to those removable, sliding plastic spear supports that you can move up and down an unrailed barrel. They look like a good idea but from earlier threads it seems like most folk consider them unnecessary & there was some debate about the best place to put them (e.g. middle to reduce sag, near muzzle to reduce exit judder, etc.).

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Re. the sheet bend, it's an interesting idea but it's is not a knot that I would normally trust to stay tight in such a critical use, especially with mono & water involved. Nor a double sheet bend, although I guess that would be more secure. You don't usually see fishing line joined like that - you'd use something line an Albright knot or one of the more complicated big game braid knots (bimini twist?!). That's just me though. Do you use this? It would offer a quick & easy way to tie & untie the spearline. I take it Donati is a well known spearo? I suppose you could tie a thumb knot in the end of the braid as back-up against slippage.

Yes, for some years I have adopted the single sheet bend for the connection between the shaft-line mono and either the braid attached to the muzzle or the reel-line. From my experience the sheet bend will not come undone even when put under a lot of strain (in the animated knot tutorial the blue line should be the mono loop and the red line the braid). Regardless of the strain it has been subjected to, it can be untied within seconds. The sheet bend should be pulled rather tight (pull on the mono loop and the standing part going to the muzzle, locking the knot in place, and leave enough line on the loose end to prevent it from slipping through the knot), since a lot of movement without strain (eg during transport) may loosen the knot. I always check before starting a spearfishing session.

G. Donati is indeed a famous Italian spearo (albeit not a competitor) and filmmaker. In his entourage is a professional guy called M. Quattrone. In one of Donati's films you can see Quattrone shoot a massive AJ (30kg +) and after a long fight bring the fish to the boat, where you can see him untie the single sheet bend (with his teeth) pull the mono through the monster and pose for the classic picture. So much for the reliability (unfortunately, the Mediterranean fish I commonly catch are much below such dimensions ).

Cheers

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

BTW when you attach a belt stringer, do you use a quick-release knot - like a highwayman's hitch - or just a loop?

I use a loop which I conveniently put on the pin of the marseillaise buckle (one of the reasons for my preference of this type of belt).

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Cheers

[Mr. X]

Stringer looped onto the Marseille belt pin, brilliant! Yes, that would be quick release. Love it.

Sheet bend to hold spear-line, also excellent. I'll probably leave my rigging as is for now as it is neat & tidy but phase over to the sheet bend (probably via a double sheet bend).

Thanks for all that. I'll give you some well deserved rep. when the forum lets me. BTW Ulysses, where in the world are you Zurich/Dublin/Ithaca/Greece/the Med?

[hteas]

I understand the alure of fast guns, but I have a question about them. I have an old RA that I fitted with a "new" 90 cm front tube that Rob sent me. I'm using a 6.5 mm 120 cm shaft (instead of the standard 130) for salmon. Strangelove and I are still in winter mode so I can't use it yet : (
My question is "How fast should it handle with the shorter shaft, compared to the XXV, despite the slightly larger barrel diameter?" any guesses?
Howard

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by hteas

I understand the alure of fast guns, but I have a question about them. I have an old RA that I fitted with a "new" 90 cm front tube that Rob sent me. I'm using a 6.5 mm 120 cm shaft (instead of the standard 130) for salmon. Strangelove and I are still in winter mode so I can't use it yet : (
My question is "How fast should it handle with the shorter shaft, compared to the XXV, despite the slightly larger barrel diameter?" any guesses?
Howard

I was hoping one of the others would respond as they are probably more able to provide you with the like-for-like comparison. I've yet to use mine (inflammed sinuses). I would be surprised if there is much difference but I guess every little helps. I wanted a smaller gun because it became obvious to me that 90 was just too long to make the most of the murky conditions I usually dive in (I now wonder if 65 might have been even better - but 75 should be a versatile size) . For me the 15cm shorter gun, lower side profile, lack of muzzle bungee & clip, shorter than normal spear, low mass, thinner spear, flat, recessed barb should all add up to a noticeable difference. However, I would be equally happy to use a short RA gun - especially for big fish like salmon. Other factors will undoubtedly make a far greater difference (e.g. picking a good location for a given time).

[Pav]

I think the fish now know I have a faster tracking Omer XXV Gold and now swim faster.

[strangelove]

X

I've emailing the ebay shot in It about shipping guns to U.S. and never got an answer.
I was planning on getting an 100 XXV. I may be a good gun for salmon, summer here in AK should be on July 15.

[Marwan]

Mr X, after you try it for a while, i would recommend that you try a cressi comanche 60, if you could still get your hands on one..magnificent gun, i damaged mine (not while spearing), and i miss it but rarely need a gun that short, we usually have great viz and rarely do i need anything less then 75 even for caves...but its a great cheap, reliable, accurate piece of equipment, stepahno bellani won the euro champs, with only a comanche and a 75, right spago?

[Marwan]

seems they sell it at the scubastore for 75 euros...

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by strangelove

X

I've emailing the ebay shot in It about shipping guns to U.S. and never got an answer.
I was planning on getting an 100 XXV. I may be a good gun for salmon, summer here in AK should be on July 15.

My transaction was simpler - as we pay VAT. I used an on-line translation website to help but kept it simple. It's probably not called VAT in Italy. Maybe Spaghetti (our candidate for the next President of Italy) can help? If you use Paypal, you could probably adjust the price using the "seller discount" feature. [The seller will pay the same ebay fees & receive the same amount of money after tax as for a european buyer]

Alternatively, you could try the French website (SCUBALAND Magasin d'équipement et matériel de plongée sous-marine vente en ligne sécurisée). It was a little cheaper & shipping was less (France is closer). You need to join their free "club" for the best price. Are you getting the regular/Gold/Gold with reel?

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Marwan

Mr X, after you try it for a while, i would recommend that you try a cressi comanche 60, if you could still get your hands on one..magnificent gun, i damaged mine (not while spearing), and i miss it but rarely need a gun that short, we usually have great viz and rarely do i need anything less then 75 even for caves...but its a great cheap, reliable, accurate piece of equipment, stepahno bellani won the euro champs, with only a comanche and a 75, right spago?

That's a good idea. Reckon I'll need to get a lot more fish to justify a third speargun though. Scubastore has good prices but rubbish shipping charges. (European shipping/postage costs suck too -- America manages to cover longer distances at much lower costs). I'll see how I get on with the XXV, it will be interesting to see how the SA vs. euro differences work out.

[foxfish]

Surely wanting another gun is justification in itself? Anyhow you will catch more fish this season.