Airbalete or Cyrano Evo HF?

[BristolDave]

Hey Dave, have you considered a front fixed spear often referred to as a free spear because it dose not carry a slider?

I've been trying to play catch up with the pneumatic guns so, yes I'm aware of mounting the line nearer the tip of the spear.....and all the associated issues.
Did catch a thread on here where a slider was used with a loop of line attached as a free spear, thus limiting the travel of the slider and so removing the need for an end stop. Looked like it could be a good compromise.
Obvious question but, can you load a vacuum/drybarrel submerged or would it draw water into the barrel? Read Popgun Petes thread on Vacuum Barrels and the question crossed my mind.

 

[foxfish]

Well this subject does have its own discussion somewhere on the the forum but.... I load my gun in the water & use a front fixed spear with no issues...
The thing is.. I own lots of guns - however for 95% of the time I use a 10 year old omer 90 fitted with a tomba kit & front fixed spear.
I am used to this set up & very happy with the performance although the gun has considerable modifications they are all external mods to make the gun more balanced & personally suitable for my style of hunting.
If I was to buy another gun it would be an airbalete 90 & I would get tromic to suppy me with a nice kit...

 

[BristolDave]

Well this subject does have its own discussion somewhere on the the forum but.... I load my gun in the water & use a front fixed spear with no issues...
The thing is.. I own lots of guns - however for 95% of the time I use a 10 year old omer 90 fitted with a tomba kit & front fixed spear.
I am used to this set up & very happy with the performance although the gun has considerable modifications they are all external mods to make the gun more balanced & personally suitable for my style of hunting.
If I was to buy another gun it would be an airbalete 90 & I would get tromic to suppy me with a nice kit...

Thanks Foxfish, an assertive answer which, I think just about raps it up.
Many thanks to all for input and advice.
One final point, looking to use this shop to supply AIRBALETE MIMETICO OMER-SUB - SPEARGUNS
Any experience anybody?

 

[foxfish]

Our friends at Apnea seen to have sold out of the 90 but still have the 100 https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_inf...=1403&osCsid=45721ec348f601464546af98dda43e5b

 

[BristolDave]

Our friends at Apnea seen to have sold out of the 90 but still have the 100 https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_inf...=1403&osCsid=45721ec348f601464546af98dda43e5b

Contact made with apnea store. Still slight reservation regards the method of power reduction (muzzle flow restricton).
Tromic I'll PM you soon ref a kit and spec.
Cheers
Dave

 

[foxfish]

Dave what use would a power regulator be to you?
I have a small gun for night fishing but other than that just give ma as much power as possible! there are a few spots in the UK where a few guys occasionally find a holed up bass but otherwise it's all in the open? there was a time when guys shot conger & wrasse but Hopefully you don't plan on that!
Flatfish are one exceptsion but I hand spear all my flatfish...

 

[BristolDave]

Dave what use would a power regulator be to you?
I have a small gun for night fishing but other than that just give ma as much power as possible! there are a few spots in the UK where a few guys occasionally find a holed up bass but otherwise it's all in the open? there was a time when guys shot conger & wrasse but Hopefully you don't plan on that!
Flatfish are one exceptsion but I hand spear all my flatfish...

Good points and I'll bow to your knowledge and experience. Was thinking of popgun petes comments about fish infront of rocks and minimising spear damage.
However if you don't see any issues then I'm happy.

PS I have no desire for wrasse or wrestling Congers!!!

 

[foxfish]

Lucky for Pete as he lives in Australia! Of course there could be exceptions but, if you spot a nice bass in front of a rock, are you really going to find the time to click on a power regulator switch, or are you just going to take the shot!

 

[BristolDave]

Lucky for Pete as he lives in Australia! Of course there could be exceptions but, if you spot a nice bass in front of a rock, are you really going to find the time to click on a power regulator switch, or are you just going to take the shot!

What a dilema!!!!!! Which I'll hopefully be able to answer soon as airbalete has been ordered from Apnea.
On a final note and hopefully theirs an existing thread (?). Can any of you shed some light on best way to rig the gun and reel? Do I go nylon the whole way or nylon to monofilament ? Should their be a bungee in their somwhere ?
Thanks again for all advice.
Tromic I'll pm you soon ref a dry barrel.

 

[tromic]

Well this subject does have its own discussion somewhere on the the forum but.... I load my gun in the water & use a front fixed spear with no issues...
The thing is.. I own lots of guns - however for 95% of the time I use a 10 year old omer 90 fitted with a tomba kit & front fixed spear.
I am used to this set up & very happy with the performance although the gun has considerable modifications they are all external mods to make the gun more balanced & personally suitable for my style of hunting.
If I was to buy another gun it would be an airbalete 90 & I would get tromic to suppy me with a nice kit...

I am glad foxfish you are happy with your front tied spear and TombaF650 or TombaF700. But it would be better to make modification as on picture to make it even more safer if loading the shaft in water. Making this modification to the shaft any excess water will be removed. There will be no water injection during loading the shaft. You can put some grease in a thin layer on the shaft tail so you can see how deep it goes in from the O-ring. :friday

 

[Gazz]

I am glad foxfish you are happy with your front tied spear and TombaF650 or TombaF700. But it would be better to make modification as on picture to make it even more safer if loading the shaft in water. Making this modification to the shaft any excess water will be removed. There will be no water injection during loading the shaft. You can put some grease in a thin layer on the shaft tail so you can see how deep it goes in from the O-ring. :friday

You are a very clever man Tromic, thanks for you continued development of Tomba etc. I will make this mod for my F714 Tomba kit.

 

[Diving Gecko]

Hi all, I don't post on here too often due to lack of available water time and consequent constructive input. However, the forum has been a font of knowledge so maybe someone can guide me here (?)
I currently have a Beuchat 85 Carbone which is a nice gun however, as an engineer I'm finding the idea of a pneumatic quite attractive and I'm hoping that any responses here will be without 'anti pneumatic bias'.

Hi Dave,
Did you order yet?
A few months ago, Andrea from Deepbluesub made discounts on his Airbaletes. Dunno if he has any left, but he is in Italy and I bought quite a bit from him.
Also, you won't hear any anti air venting from me (pun intended). Strangely enough, I have literally only shot a band gun twice and I now have two airguns. One is a One Air, the other a dry modded Seac Hunter 90. They are pretty amazing guns. (I do have an pin sealing issue with my Seac, but not too worried at all). As others have said, no recoil and really, really fast and quiet.
But the point I want to make is that the dry mod is almost a must have. I shot my Seac 90 for around 4 days before ordering the dry kit and it is such an improvement. Before it was loud, slow and clunky and the spear was thick and the tip even thicker. Now, it's just fast and lethal.
I would seriously recommend a dry kit to anyone now.

Best and good luck,
David

 

[Diving Gecko]

Actually, it seems like he might have a few left of the camo one at Euros 245 for 90cm. And for the non-camo with no reel, it's 200.
DeepBlue - Omer - Fucili Pneumatici - Airbalete

 

[BristolDave]

Many thanks diving gecko. I have got to say i have been amazed at the level of help I have received on my original request and it is very much appreciated. As for the gun, i went with foxfishes advice and got the Airbalete which I received it this weekend from Apnea in jersey. Good price and felt they deserved my custom also thought it would be good to build a relationship with a (relatively) local shop.
As for the dry barrel I think I'm in the same situation as you were judging by old threads. Can't make my mind up between a STC X-Power or a Tomba??? Got to say Marko's comms have been first rate but STC can do the spears et al. Might just try the gun first and see how it goes.h

 

[Diving Gecko]

Hi Dave,
No worries. I am still amazed of how helpful this forum is. No trolling at all, no name calling - just genuinely good folks. A lot of other forums could learn from this. I have definitely benefitted greatly.
As you know, I pondered my options a lot in regards to the dry kits. I took too long and then ended up with an Evo-Air. (There is an STC on my One Air). I think they all have pretty much equal performance in all practicalities, but if I could do it over, I think I would go for the Tomba. It is cheaper than STC and I like the idea of helping to support independent development of these kits. Also, from what I hear Marko's craftmanship is second to none. I know you have to source spears and it's easier to buy nude spears than make them yourself, but if I am not mistaken, Marko can ship a Tomba to you for only five Euros.
I thought it could be important to have a more modular design, so that I could change spear sizes (diameter wise) which is what the STC has going for it. Now, I don't think I'll ever change so it has become a non-issue. Also, I didn't feel it was an issue that STC uses proprietary (or at least hard to source) seals whereas Evo-Air and Tomba use regular o-rings. But I live in China and spear in Asia and only have the one seal that came with the STC/One Air, so now I am getting a bit worried about it. I am going to get more, but it's just a tad bigger of a logistical challenge than getting normal o-rings.
Reading up on this and thinking it over a lot, I do think that Tomi got it right with how the o-ring expands into a bigger bore after shooting to reduce friction. If he gets the hydrodamper right, I think he is def one step ahead of the rest.
Perhaps he should then patent it, if possible. I do find it strange that One Air is the only dry gun available from a manufacturer and I think they have licensed the STC tech. So, when the next brand decides to follow suit, maybe they would look towards Tomba and it would be great if Tomi could make a bit of money

All best,
David