Newbie Rob Allen Tuna 90cm review

[tackleberry]

Originally Posted by covert

or if you bruise easily like in mrX's case get a mouse pad and glue it on the inside of your wetsuit comfy not noticeable and makes one hell of a difference

That is a great idea

[Spaniard]

I'm a short-arse so even loading a 90cm gun is a laugh. I always start loading with butt of gun on buckle area of weight belt. To load onto second notch I lift butt onto chest area. This certainly avoids my sternum ending up near my spine....

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Spaniard

I'm a short-arse so even loading a 90cm gun is a laugh. I always start loading with butt of gun on buckle area of weight belt. To load onto second notch I lift butt onto chest area. This certainly avoids my sternum ending up near my spine....

Makes you wonder how they load those 150cm models! My gun has enough power on the first notch with 16mm bands, although I usually loaded it to the second notch after getting the hang of it. With the 20mm bands, I spent the first half of the trip struggling to get to the first notch without bruising. Once I evened out the bands & started loading high on the sternum, I was loading to the second notch a little more than half the time -- but if it only went to the first notch, that's where it stayed (too sore to mess around)! I also stopped unloading & fired into the sand to unload before coming in -- didn't want to trash myself before the end of the holiday.

[TOOmas]

yea i got a rob allen tuna 70cm gun for lake fishing here in north idaho, usa. i have a single 20mm band on it and its been working great. im fairly tall, 6'2"... not sure what six feet two is in cm so sorry... and its a breeze to load. just put it into my chest, grab both ends of the bands, pull and push w/ my chest at the same time and i load it to the second notch with one pull. ive been hitting lots of rocks since most of the fish i go for are suckers, i just use a grinder w/ a cup of water and that works fast and easy. but yea, i did have some sore areas on my chest. especially when i wasnt wearing a wetsuit... and the wetsuit im using now is oldschool and has the zipper down the front so that can push into my chest. might try the flip-flop idea.

[covert]

blah bloo blaa bloooo

[covert]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Makes you wonder how they load those 150cm models!.

Its all about technique X, has nothing to do with strength. Once you get the proper technique its a breeze. but yeah chest pad essential on a biiiig gun lol

I load my 1.2 bare chest lots without a bruise to show for it.

[Mr. X]

You're right about technique. Last time out I was loading to the 2nd notch 70% of the time (if it only makes it to the first notch, it stays there!). No bruising this time either (evened bands probably helped a lot) - although the middle of my chest (sternum) was quite tender afterwards.

I've also re-made the spear-end of my spearline, as the whipped loop had closed up after tugging the jammed spear from rocks - making loading impossible. I've now scored the ends with a soldering iron, to give the whippings something to grip into (advice from RA). [I've also got hold of some thinner strimmer line (2mm), although still using 2.5mm for now - but it's OTT]. The spear seems to be loading easier & more positively -- which should also help reduce bruising (mis-loads mean you can end up loading twice or three times for each shot ).

Good to hear the 70cm RA is working out. I was hoping to get one (Sparid) this season but looks like they don't have any in the country, except a very pricey carbon model with reel. Can't see the point of carbon esp. for such a short barrel & reels aren't generally used in the UK (although the RA ones look good). Might have to see what else is around (Omer/Cressi Commanche/Seatec Gabbiano/Rabitech Hunter/...?) -- or perhaps wait till next season (or cut the 90cm down to 80cm).

Anybody tried the cheaper Scorpia model (available in 75cm size)? It has no rail, no game-clip & swivel in the handle (I think the handle is otherwise the same -- but could be wrong), no muzzle bungee or clip, single rubber muzzle & comes with a single-notch 6.3 or 6.6mm spear & 16mm rubber (& its picture only comes in black&white); I reckon it would be good enough. 75cm would be more versatile (for UK conditions) although I get bad vis. so often I feel pretty confident that the shorter 70cm length would enable more shots than it would loose (and there is always the 90 for flat, clear days, Cornwall & Guernsey).

[covert]

just let them put on a rail it does help with accuracy and it couldnt cost too much.

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by covert

just let them put on a rail it does help with accuracy and it couldnt cost too much.

Less so for the shorter guns (<= 90/100cm) apparently -- but interesting idea, you could stick on one of those Omer rails on. (Probably cheaper to buy "the real deal" if you really felt the need for rail). I'd prefer a rail, just because I am used to loading with the aid of one.

[covert]

less so but it is more stable and costs almost nothing so i dont see the harm my 100cm guns all have rails.

[Mr. X]

I managed to sort out the bruising and loading issues. I re-strung the thick, designer flip-flop sole (given to me by a Kenyan colleague) loading pad I used when I was starting out spearfishing. I hang it from thin 1" webbing (cut off the end of the roof rack straps I use to hold my kayak). I wear this like a bandalier under my wetsuit. I can now easily load to the second notch almost everytime (I missed the second notch just once this weekend -- which was my most prolific yet - and then just pulled it back to the second notch). It did move out of place during the 4 hour dive though, & it looks like I still managed to get one sizeable black bruise. Overall though, much better.