Anyone know anything about Rob Allen guns?

[lawstraljan16]

I was interested in buying a RA carbon gun and I have heard so much good about the quality of the guns but i just heard from a local pro that their carbon barrels are weak. I was stumped when I heard this because I've heard so much good things about RA's.

Does anyone have any experience with these guns, good or bad?

Should I go with a Beuchat carbon elite or a Rob Allen carbon?

 

[lawstraljan16]

I shouldv'e added that I intend to replace the head to an Alemanni power rollerhead. So what I need is the strongest barrel that doesnt flex. Would Beuchat be the better choice?

 

[chrismar]

Rollerguns actually reduce the strain on the barrel, by matching the compressive load above and below the barrel.

I have two carbon (110 & 130) RAs and two (120 & 140) alloy. All but the 140 are set up with single 20mm rubbers. All have been great and barrel flex has not been an issue. Of course if you drop a weightbelt on any carbon gun it's good night nurse.

 

[Mr. X]

I've seen pictures of an adult (Rob or Jeremy probably) standing on one of their barrels, which was supported at either end. I didn't get any impression of weakness. Contact Rob or Jeremy at the Dive Factory - they'll probably tell you what you need to know, if you can formulate the question. RA generally is built tough enough to handle the biggest game fish - tuna is normal prey in South Africa.

Don't know anything about the Beuchat barrel. I quite like their equipment in general - I use Beuchat gloves, fins, socks & their lightweight shock absorber sometimes (nice & light & cheap but not long lasting or strong enough for big game fish) - although using an Omer "rubber bone" currently. Being French(?)/European their range of products is wider, to cover a wider variety of environments/fish sizes. For example, I almost always use the super lightweight Omer XXV 75cm these days - not suitable for Tuna but much easier to use for UK bass & mullet than my big, tough aluminium RA90 was.

 

[lawstraljan16]

Thanks for the feedback