rob allen opinions?

[merio]

Hi there,
I'm looking for a new speargun.
I'm diving in the mediterranean (Israel), at 4-30 meters.
I'm usually around rocks.
Shots are up to 6 meters away.

Thought of buying the Rob allen caranx carbon 120
(comes with a 7mm spear and 20mm bands).

What are your opinions about Rob allen's guns?
About this one particularly (is it accurate, shot range)?
Should i change the bands to 18 mm?
Do you need to be a muscleman to load this gun?

any other details will help.

thanks.

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by merio

Hi there,
I'm looking for a new speargun.
I'm diving in the mediterranean (Israel), at 4-30 meters.
I'm usually around rocks.
Shots are up to 6 meters away.

Thought of buying the Rob allen caranx carbon 120
(comes with a 7mm spear and 20mm bands).

What are your opinions about Rob allen's guns?
About this one particularly (is it accurate, shot range)?
Should i change the bands to 18 mm?
Do you need to be a muscleman to load this gun?

any other details will help.

thanks.

I have all Rob Allen gear and love it. I have the Sparid 900 (90cm). I believe a 120cm Rob Allen with 20mm bands is the quintessential Rob Allen gun -- the one most spearos near Durban use. If I ever get to travel again (don't ask), I would eventually like to get a Caranx 120/20mm band (for SA/Hawaii maybe) & a 130 Tuna/2x16mm (for Mozambique, etc. - hey, I can dream!). 100, 110 seem to be popular sizes too (I think Miles said he often uses a 115cm reel gun for reef fishing in SA).

Closer to home, I am thinking a 65/70/75cm Tomahawk(/Scorpia/Sparid) might be handy for low viz conditions Dorset...perhaps with a reel? Maybe an 80cm Tomahawk/Scorpia/Sparid for my brother & friend who are keen to start spearing.

A long gun with 20mm band will be harder to load than a shorter gun or smaller bands -- but, like many things, it is more about technique than muscle. The standard configurations are well thought out and balanced. I would stick with the 20mm band*. If you really want smaller bands, you might consider the Sparid model -- the spear will be lighter to balance the smaller 16mm bands. I suspect RA might also tailor configurations to local markets, so for the Med. you might want to contact Paul & Colin at http://www.roballeneurope.com/ -- they are very experienced, well travelled and know their products well. (They have a sale on the longer carbon guns at the moment too).

*If you go with smaller 18mm bands, you could always shorten them later to increase power (I believe Paul mentions shortening his 20mm bands(!) on the RobAllenEurope site!).

[ed.]

900cm Sparid? :O

I have a 1.2m Tuna downsized to a single 16mm rubber and 7mm spear.
Setup works well in Sydney.

Have had no problems with my RA gun.

[Mr. X]

Did you mean ? Hey, it's not the size, it's how you use it! Oh, I see what you mean...I'll edit that.

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

[ed.]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

Damn you guys must have really bad viz over there!!!

Yeah sorry, I only run a single 16mm rubber. But it came with 2 x 16mm and a 7.5mm double notched spear.

The RA guns we get are exactly the same specs as what is on the roballen.co.za website.

[miles]

Hiya

Ed, you should try the 6.6mm RA spear with that single 16mm band you have on your gun!! It works very well!!!

One of my favourite set-ups was a 90cm and 100cm gun with a single 16mm and a 6.3mm spear. Very accurate and extremely easy to load.

Merio, RA guns are good solidly built guns. Highly recomend them!! The single 20mm on a 1.2m isn't too tough to load. If you have the loading tecnique correct, its easy. Accurate and powerful. If you're thinking of even more power, try the 2x16mm's with a 7.5mm spear.

Have fun!!

Regards
miles

[ed.]

MILES!
Thanks, I shall put it on my 'to buy' list Do you recommend getting a bit longer spear?

Ed

[seaman]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Did you mean ? Hey, it's not the size, it's how you use it! Oh, I see what you mean...I'll edit that.

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

Hey Mr .X, What do you think? is it the size or the technique ... hehehe

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by seaman

Hey Mr .X, What do you think? is it the size or the technique ... hehehe

Hey, if you can't see the end -- it's too long! Must be technique. Perhaps as important is how often (and how long) you take it in for a dip ...and whether you catch anything! (Ooh ahh missus!).

BTW I asked about fitting a shorter spear...you can go up or down 10cm in most cases (shorter guns not always), railguns are more tolerant of this than the rail-less guns but standard set ups are carefully balanced at the factory...you risk spoiling the set up. Some people site over the spear tip (I don't, I try to site down the side of the barrel) -- so shortening or lengthening the spear (with respect to the barrel) can effect how you aim & you'd need to adjust you sighting accordingly.

[merio]

Originally Posted by ed.

I have a 1.2m Tuna downsized to a single 16mm rubber and 7mm spear.
Setup works well in Sydney.

Have had no problems with my RA gun.

How long is your range?
I'm used to work with a light spear, isn't the Rob Allen's 7mm steel spear rather heavy for a single 16mm?


Think I'll go on that one.
Thanks guys.

[AndrewD.]

Was glancing over this forum and could not resist chucking in my 2 cents worth.Having grown up in Durban and worked the Natal and Mozambique coast, I would not change my RA 1.2 single 20mm 6.6 for nothing. Simple, robust,deadly powerful and accurate.Its seen me thru' all sorts of conditions, not too short for clear Moz. waters and not too long for murky Natal(on a bad day) viz.
The single 20 is fast to load when u duff a shot while the big schools of ignobilis are running thick and stupid. Also more streamlined for tracking thru the water.
Happy blatting!

[Mr. X]

I recently replaced my old 16mm band with a new 20mm rubber band (not looking for more power - it was all that was available at the time). 'Have only loaded it a 3 or 4 of times & fired it once, so it is too early to have strong feelings about it. However, it is harder to load & unload and the amount of pull is shorter (because the rubbers are longer), which I find somehow less satifying. So, so far, I am preferring the 16mm band.

I currently have the standard 6.6mm Sparid spear -- pretty tough. I'm thinking of getting a spare 6.3mm spear (in case of loss/rust). A 6.3mm spear with 16mm band seems like it might be a good set up for the UK - the thinner spear offering a more speed/less drag (penetration is not an issue). However, as I said, I'm currently using a 20mm band -- do you think 6.3mm will be too thin for such a band?

BTW I'll probably get an RA spear if I can but I've been told Seatec also make very good spears that fit the RA and noticed in a catalogue this week that Picasso also offer spears grooved, presumably for Dyneema wishbones, as an option.

[foxfish]

You could try a shark fin type spear?

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by foxfish

You could try a shark fin type spear?

Interesting idea, it would probably work with an open muzzle - but probably not with my standard RA muzzle. With my new temporary 2.5mm spear line, there is only just room for the regular spear & spearline, let alone shark fins! I tend to associate shark fins with blue water canons & American spearguns and sleeker, lighter equipment with european spearguns (a rash generalisation, I'm sure!).

You've done more spear tests than most -- do you think the 6.3 would handle 20mm rubber (I'm thinking the rail might help)?

[spearheads]

I think the 20mm bands will bend a 6.3 shaft. I would use a 6.35 shaft.
Does the thick line cause drag or accuracy problems?.