Advice on my beginners shortlist of guns please

[jonparker83]

I'm looking to buy my first speargun in the near future and have come up with a shortlist that I'd appreciate your thoughts on

I'd prefer not to get a complete entry level gun, but I also don't want to spend too much

I'll be fishing from the shore in Newquay (England) and I'm looking at the following (all in 75cm). I've taken the prices from Scubastore as they seem to be the cheapest around:

- Omer Caymen HF Camu: £100
- Cressi Commanche: £71
- Cressi Geronimo: £85

I'm leaning towards the Omer but I'd just like to know your opinions on whether you think it's worth the extra cost

Thanks for any advice

 

[Mr. X]

Those are all decent spearguns, so pick whichever "floats your boat", the Omer by the sound of it. The length is more critical but 75cm would have been my recommendation. You might want to check how easy it is to find spares for your chosen speargun, before purchase (e.g. rubbers - the threads/diameters vary).

At £71 the Comanche will do the job with aplomb (a former Italian World Champ apparently used 2, 60cm & 75cm). If money it tight, I would get that one. If not, spearguns can last a long time (if you look after it & don't loose it*) - so pick whichever appeals most. You could also try negotiating a price on one of the other models - in current economy sales are probably sluggish, they might be willing to move a bit in order not loose the sale - or perhaps throw in a muzzle bungee (Euro-spearguns often don't ship with one).

Have you budgeted for all the other less glamorous but essential/recommended kit, such as:
- float (simple inflatable torpedo float with dive flag works v. well & is cheap)
- fish stringer and/or spearo dagger (Omer USA mini-laser is good at a reasonable price if you shop around ).
- fins (big spearo ones, not too stiff; beuchat & Omer usually offer less expensive options which are still v. good)
- proper spearo wetsuit with hood
- weight belt (e.g. rubber one with marseille buckle)
- weights (e.g. D or bullet weights than can be hammer to crimp the belt)
- float-line (£1 *if* you can find the right washing line )
- proper spearo mask & snorkel (e.g. OMer Alien + Omer Zoom, or similar)

*And if it doesn't work out for some reason, or you decide stamp-collecting or Swan Upping is more your bag, you can always sell it, locally or on ebay. Probably about this time of year, when everybody is starting to think about spearing again .

 

[jonparker83]

Thanks for the advice - especially about the availability of spares as I hadn't previously given any thought to that

In terms of other equipment, I'm going to make do with the various equipment that I already own (even if it's not ideal) so that I can prioritise buying things I don't have yet.

Current list of equipment :

- Cressi Gara HF 2000 fins
- Aqualung Sphera mask
- Cressi Superocchio mask
- 5/4 Surfing wetsuit
- Mares Samurai snorkel

So top of my list other than the speargun is:

- Knife (already had my eye on the Mini Laser)
- Weight + Belt (or weight jacket?)

Followed by:

- Float
- Float line
- Stringer

I've done a reasonable amount of free diving and tagged along with one spear fishing trip in Thailand so I know I'm going to love it, which is why I'm happy to spent a little more than entry-level on the gun

Thanks again

 

[scallywag]

Jon, I started about two years ago and am always on a buget. I started off with a winter surf suit, £20 diving fins, cressi killer knife, good low volume mask and snorkel, pouch pocket weight belt and a Tuigillo 75 gun form ebay. I dived from whatever beach the family went to during the summer and lernt from my mistakes. If you've got the cash then go for it but you can still have fun on a budget and upgrade as and when you can. I've now got a custom suit, make my own wooden and carbon guns, long fins and so on. Its each to there own. Try Miles at Ocean sports Pentewan, He's got a good selection of gear and you'll save on postage. Its horses for courses. Just be safe!

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

We ship internationally and also offer package deals combining various items.

In addition, if you should find MAKO to your liking and want to assemble an order of the freedive package, a gun and a suit etc. we would be more than happy to put together a discounted package for these items.

Please give us a call during business hours if we can help!

Why Choose a MAKO Speargun (Railgun)?

Packages

 

[Matt Barker]

Just had one of these delivered.
Apnea Powerpoint 75cm Spear Gun - Spearguns (Rubber) - Spearfishingstore.co.uk
The service was fantastic. Phoned the order through on Friday afternoon and it was at home when I got in from work yesterday. It looks awseome and has a very high spec compared to other brands.
Have yet to use it in anger yet though.

 

[jonparker83]

Thanks for all your opinions... It's much appreciated when this question has been asked (albeit in different ways) hundreds of times!

Just when I thought I was ready to place an order, I've now come to the question of length...

At first, I just read that 75cm is the "correct" length for the UK and I was going to go with that, but I've come to realise that I'm looking for a Cornwall gun rather than a UK one.

If I was going for the cheapest gun I can find, I'd definitely just get a 75, but considering that I was going to spend a little more on a gun that I could grow in to, is it worth getting one at a length that I could grow into as well?

I'm now a bit torn between the Omer Cayman HF 90cm (~£100) as a gun to grow into, or a Cayman 2000 (~£60) knowing that I'll upgrade at some point in the future.

Thanks again!

 

[jonparker83]

Just to update, having spoken to my girlfriend about it I think I'm going to go with the Cayman 2000 in 75 and then when I upgrade, she can use that.

So rather than your thoughts on the 90 vs 75... I'd appreciate your thoughts on the 2000 in general as I can't find any threads discussing it on here

Any other recommended guns that are better than the Cayman 2000 for £65 or less?

Thanks

 

[foxfish]

It is not really about upgrading from a 75 to a 90 it is more about the best length for the circumstances IE = visibility, hunting the weed or open sea or night diving or day diving.
Both lengths are very good under the right conditions.
Anyway a 75 is perfectly adequate for all but the longest shots, in the very best visibility & those are very rare conditions.

 

[jonparker83]

It is not really about upgrading from a 75 to a 90

I was thinking that a 90 might be right for Cornwall but my lack of ability would make a 75 more appropriate... hence an upgrade in that kind of way

a 75 is perfectly adequate for all but the longest shots, in the very best visibility & those are very rare conditions.

That's all I needed to hear really... Makes the 75 an easy decision when you put it that way

Thanks for your help/patience!

 

[crabbymedic]

Just had one of these delivered.
Apnea Powerpoint 75cm Spear Gun - Spearguns (Rubber) - Spearfishingstore.co.uk
The service was fantastic. Phoned the order through on Friday afternoon and it was at home when I got in from work yesterday. It looks awseome and has a very high spec compared to other brands.
Have yet to use it in anger yet though.

I've just got one of these too. It seems to be a higher spec gun for mid range money. Again I'm yet to use it in anger, but was easy to set up.

 

[jonparker83]

Hey Crabby

Thanks for the info about the Apnea gun. I actually went and ordered the Omer Cayman HF Camu so that should be on it's way to me now (or not based on what I've read about Scubastore! haha)

I look forward to reading about how your gun goes when you get a chance to use it!

 

[crabbymedic]

I'm looking out the window at a flat calm sea. It's very tempting. If the kids go to sleep.