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20mm band of death
- Thread startertuffstuff
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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its all technique, with the rabi's (i have an apex 120 and a stealth 110 and am quite short guy)...what you have to do is:
1 - Grab the dynema wishbone on the band with your left hand
2 - grab the gun handle with your right hand
3 - At the same time push the handle and pull the band from wishbone (the objective is to get the butt of the gun to rest on your chest bone, while still having your left hand on the band)
4 - Release your right hand (as your chest now acts as a lever to balance the gun) and grab the band now with both hands..
5 - pull in one motion the band to rest the wishbone on the shaft notch..
aim and fire...
it takes some practice but once you do it, it gets easier with time...
1 - Grab the dynema wishbone on the band with your left hand
2 - grab the gun handle with your right hand
3 - At the same time push the handle and pull the band from wishbone (the objective is to get the butt of the gun to rest on your chest bone, while still having your left hand on the band)
4 - Release your right hand (as your chest now acts as a lever to balance the gun) and grab the band now with both hands..
5 - pull in one motion the band to rest the wishbone on the shaft notch..
aim and fire...
it takes some practice but once you do it, it gets easier with time...
tuffstuff
I think the omer web site has the loading video or SUBPROF.COM | Apnea , Scuba, Snorkeling, Swimming, Nautical online Shop has it too, however if the gun is too difficult to load you may consider installing longer bands.
I think the omer web site has the loading video or SUBPROF.COM | Apnea , Scuba, Snorkeling, Swimming, Nautical online Shop has it too, however if the gun is too difficult to load you may consider installing longer bands.
Dont stress tuff, like my good friend Marwan said its all about technique, I promise you follow those instructions you'll load the gun perfectly by the end of your next dive. When i was new to spearing, I got those same instructions, 1 hour in the water and I had no issues loading the gun anymore. And like Marwan I'm a Rabitech fan and they are notorious to load 
A killer shot needs a killer band mate :martial
Follow Marwans instuctions and the pics on the RA site and you should manage perfectly...
Follow Marwans instuctions and the pics on the RA site and you should manage perfectly...
On the hip, damn dude...
When in the water its easier to load, also id advise doing the chest load technique its much easier. Unless you hunt on scuba then I guess you can load it on the hip, but for freediving when loading while facing down on the surface chest load works best.
When in the water its easier to load, also id advise doing the chest load technique its much easier. Unless you hunt on scuba then I guess you can load it on the hip, but for freediving when loading while facing down on the surface chest load works best.
loading from the hip is 10 times more difficult than loading from the chest since the gun lacks that stability, follow the instructions its actually quite easy. Your chest may hurt a bit after the first couple of attempts but on your next dive you'll be ok. Also if you find it hurts your chest too much, get a mouse pad and stick it under your loading pad of your wetsuit.
I agree, hip loading only works for with wimpy bands, like the thin bands I have on my blue water gun.
I've been experiencing the joys of upgrading to 20mm rubbers on my RA railgun recently - so I'll share my learnings (search for Rob Allen or 20mm rubbers and you'll prob. find more info.). I believe Omer intructions show loading against your belt buckle -- never tried that, bit close to "the old home town" for comfort perhaps.
Main thing: make sure you've got a really good loading pad on your chest/sternum/breastbone. I supplement the one on my Elios wetsuit with the sole of fancy flip-flop (thicker & harder than those cheap rubber flip flops). Long term, it might be unnecessary but when starting out, it certainly helps - a lot.
Load using normal technique -- but do it carefully:
Grab one side of your rubber & place the handle of your speargun firmly on your loading pad. (You might find this works best if you point the gun down, optionally trapping the end of the barrel with your fins, it seems to keep help -- I got this from the RA/Len Jones* diagrams that are widely published. I started off like that & it helped, although it no longer seems necessary).
Grab the other side of your rubber. Now start to brace yourself by tensing your arms, chest, abs and shoulder muscle. Now pull both arms into your chest in one firm, controlled pull (focus as if lifting a heavy weight), until you can slip the wishbone into the notch.
Good luck
*The Len Jones spearfishing booklet shows 2 loading techniques -- the one on an extra loose page appears to be intended for those loading very long railguns. The techniques are similar though.
Main thing: make sure you've got a really good loading pad on your chest/sternum/breastbone. I supplement the one on my Elios wetsuit with the sole of fancy flip-flop (thicker & harder than those cheap rubber flip flops). Long term, it might be unnecessary but when starting out, it certainly helps - a lot.
Load using normal technique -- but do it carefully:
Grab one side of your rubber & place the handle of your speargun firmly on your loading pad. (You might find this works best if you point the gun down, optionally trapping the end of the barrel with your fins, it seems to keep help -- I got this from the RA/Len Jones* diagrams that are widely published. I started off like that & it helped, although it no longer seems necessary).
Grab the other side of your rubber. Now start to brace yourself by tensing your arms, chest, abs and shoulder muscle. Now pull both arms into your chest in one firm, controlled pull (focus as if lifting a heavy weight), until you can slip the wishbone into the notch.
Good luck
*The Len Jones spearfishing booklet shows 2 loading techniques -- the one on an extra loose page appears to be intended for those loading very long railguns. The techniques are similar though.
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Maybe you could get some spears with two notches instead of one. Instead of struggling from the start why not make it easier for yourself to start with.
Load the gun to the first notch take a short rest, readjust yourself and then pull on to the second notch - Using all the tips from above.
Just a thought
Load the gun to the first notch take a short rest, readjust yourself and then pull on to the second notch - Using all the tips from above.
Just a thought
C
capitangoku
Guest
I damn understand you tuff guy... I`ve been using my jbl for five years and a week ago I bought an OMER MB 2000, which has 20mm bands. The first time I tried to load it and it was a total failure, that was when I went to my spearo master and he taugh me the chest technique. I load it not in the chest but at the first abs (which I lack!). It hurts a lot the first times, but it is worth the effort.
eh the 20mm band was tested today on my friends 120cm apex and i tried a shot at 20ft shot low lol but he had his stretched a little so he could load it. The band becomes hard to load when a 100lb fish swims by in 20ft of water and you freak out b/c you cant load it fast enough :head...I might try the 2x 16mm instead.
yeh i did the same thing on my omer T20 110. i first had an 18mm on it and wanted more power and range so i changed it in an really short 20mm.. which i couldn't load.. i tried everything but it just would't go to.. not even to the first notch x) and it's not about power!! or technigue bc i can load my 140 apex without any broblems.. so i put two 16mm rubbers in it and double wrap. now the gun works like perfect! oh yeh, and i like loading my T20 against my belt bugle.. i can load it lot faster like that, even i use the normal way to my apex
which i couldn't load.. i tried everything but it just would't go to.. not even to the first notch x) and it's not about power!! or technigue bc i can load my 140 apex without any broblems.. so i put two 16mm rubbers in it and double wrap. now the gun works like perfect! oh yeh, and i like loading my T20 against my belt bugle.. i can load it lot faster like that, even i use the normal way to my apex