Buying a Comanche

[Capytan]

I've been lurking around this site now for quite some time and have found an incredible amount of info. Thanks for the help so far!
I have been using a hawaiian sling with good results, but now it's time for a gun. Not wanting to spend much money, I'm buy a 100cm Comanche for reef hunting(fish under 20lbs). Visability will vary form 20 to 100 feet.I have some questions about which accessories to get at the same time.

1. What line comes with the gun, if any at all? Should I get 300 lbs mono or lighter?
2. How durable is the supplied shaft? I'm thinking 6.6mm rob allen. Maybe thicker?
3. Should I stick with the supplied rubber band?
4. I like the looks of the omer atoll float for extra gear and safety with rob allen float line. Any good or bad reviews?

Any other advice is appreciated and thanks again in advance.

P.S. I'm thinking of going to the little island of Montserrat(BWI), has anyone speared there before?

 

[-NO TANKS-]

To answer some of your questions. It all depends on you man. I say you just pickup the gun and test it out first before you go and change the line and band. I dont know how this gun looks like(open mussel), but if you can throw on 2 smaller bands it will make a hell of a difference, plus imo will be faster and you will use less energy while loading.

 

[Kinky]

Hey mate,

You have to contact "spaghetti" for having good answers about your doubts. He's very qualified.

All the best,

KK

 

[Mr. X]

Hi, I'm curious as to why you are planning to change the spear on a gun which you haven't tried yet? I'd be inclined to try it as it comes from the factory first - usually some thought & testing goes into matching the various parts. Also curious as to how you came to choose the Comanche? The Comanche is/was a popular and well regarded gun in the UK, although the sizes used here are mainly 75cm & 90cm. Spaghetti told us an Italian won the World Championship using a 65 & 75cm Comanche. So a decent yet reasonably affordable gun. I held one and the handle is pleasantly small and light. It has plastic clip thingies on it (for fast loading presumably) which made it seem a little plasticky to me. Seems like the mechs wear out after a few years, but you might be able to get a replacement (I've seen spare commanche muzzles in the shops, cheap too).

What is the visibility like where you plan to dive? How big/aggressive do you expect the fish to be? These will help determine the appropriate length for the gun and the "build" (rubbers/power, spear-line, reel vs. float/system, etc.).

Yes Rob Allen float lines are good. I use the inexpensive, stiff olive polyster rope type (I think one of the Asian spearos call it Thai Curry green rope or something like that). I like the look of the Omer Atoll float.

You'll need a fish stringer to hold speared fish. I'd start with a steel cable one (Rob Allen vinyl covered ones are good, strong with a nice big swivel and pin that can be used to finish fish quickly and cleanly). Some spearos wear a monofilament or cord stringer around their waist (Omer make a nice, inexpensive one) - I've just started doing this but it takes some getting used to. Not recommended for sharky waters. If you plan to gather crab, lobster, scallops, abalone, etc. you might want to get a net bag at some point too.

Gloves - if its warm gardening gloves are sometimes recommended. We use neoprene in the UK, a few hardy souls make do without but I wouldn't recommend it. Loading pad? Weight belt? Wetsuit? Spearo dagger (e.g. flat, slim dive knife with dagger point, a straight edge and a serrated edge)?

 

[scottwilson]

Ive got the comanche 90 and rate it 10/10 I used to have mono line but have since changed back to multifilament 1.6mm line with a double wrap and bungee cord.

the gun is well balanced . Aiming is spot on and tracking is no different to any other round barrel gun ive used.

Ive got one 7mm shaft with threaded end and a stock shaft but use the stock shaft more often then not and at £12 you cant go wrong.

Ive got my eye on a 70 now but im going to wait and see what defra decide before handing over the green

 

[Mr. X]

Good response.

.. multifilament 1.6mm line with a double wrap ...
Ive got my eye on a 70 now but im going to wait and see what defra decide before handing over the green

Multifilament? Is that dyneema braid or nylon cord of some kind?

DEFRA have really put the cat among the pigeons. Wonder how long before the spear fishing equipment manufacturers & suppliers start to feel the pinch? As if the economy wasn't bleak enough already. I guess we'll all be waiting to see how this one pans out. I see the Scottish Labour leader resigned tonight - a good start.

 

[scottwilson]

dyneema line from Apnea Online Store 30p a meter I think it was. had to change to get the double wrap on, much happier now

 

[winky]

Hi all, I've just joined the site - which is very useful by the way!

I have just moved to the south west of england and have been interested in starting spearfishing for a while now. I recently took the plunge (no pun intended) and on recomendation from a friend bought the cressi commanche 90. It duly arrived the other day and I'm in the process of getting it all set up (no real instructions included!!!!) The line that came with the gun was 3m of ???2mm dyneema, is this long enough or do i need to buy a longer 'shooting line' (?correct terminology). Also do i attach the line directly to the muzzel from the spear or do i need a bungy? I will only be diving in and around the english coast. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Sorry if any of this is answered else where on this site - just loads to take in!
Cheers. (Any ideas of places to go spearfishing in north devon or is it best to head for the south coast?)

 

[scottwilson]

Welcome to DB winky.

3 meters is enough as when you shoot the gun you will have the length of the gun + 3 meters of line + the length of the shaft (spear) which in total is around 5 meters.

http://forums.deeperblue.net/beginner-hunting/64504-dummies-guide-rigging-speargun.html shows you how to rig the line onto the gun using mono and crimps.

Do you have any crimps? if not the easiest way is to feed the line thru the hole at the bottom on the shaft and tie a knot. Make sure the knot wont pull back thru the hole with force. this is the way I was shown and worked perfectly until I started using crimps and bungee's

hope this helps mate, Ive got the 90 and its a great gun.

 

[winky]

Cheers scottwilson,
Yeah that helps alot...it was what i was thinking but just wanted to check!

Roll on the weekend (weather/tide/viz permitting!), can't wait to try it out!

Nick (aka winky - don't ask!!?)

 

[Mr. X]

...Nick (aka winky - don't ask!!?)

I'm afraid we must Nick. (It meant tadger when I was at school - at least according to the cute but forward girl in my Physics class).

 

[winky]

Well lets put it like this......a couple of us at uni went skinny dippin up in the north sea and in my defence it was a very cold day!!!!!!!! Sadly it just kindda stuck! Why do you think i've moved down to the south coast??!!?

 

[scottwilson]

Did you rig ur gun yet short stop, oops sorry acorn aaarrgghhh i meant winky

 

[DafyddRees]

By heading South you lost your only acceptable excuse...

Winkie and I are brothers and we decided to get into the world of spearo together. Just waiting for the weather to clear and find a weekend where we are both free to have a our first crack at it. Really can't wait to be honest!

One question though, I ordered a gun from Dave at Spearo but his mobile has been switched off for a few days now. Does anyone know if he is on holiday or something?

Cheers

 

[scottwilson]

Maybe at a comp, have you tried his email?

Are you guys aware that they are planning to ban spearfishing in the uk? if you would like to help please sign the petition
Petition to: Advise the EU NOT to change the "Technical Conservation Regulations" and ban spear fishing.

 

[winky]

Yeah just finished rigging it cheers...lookin good!

Yup we are aware of the new legislation they are tying to push through.....and we have both already signed the online petition!!! Crazy if you ask me but thats polititians for you!

Oh and david its winkY with a Y if you are gonna join in and give me grief!!! And considering you played for England the other year stop pretending you are welsh...you know that thats my privilege!!!!!! Dafydd indeed??!!?

 

[Mr. X]

...it was a very cold day!!!!!!!! Sadly it just kindda stuck! Why do you think i've moved down to the south coast??!!?

It's not that warm! Might need to get a little closer to the equator with a serious issue like that.

If you're anything like the last pair of Rees brothers I met from S. Wales, I'm sure we'll be hearing more from you. If you're in Buxton, you might want to hedge your bets and take up rock climbing (Chee Dale!).

 

[winky]

Believe me Mr X, i've lived in Newcastle upon Tyne for the past 5yrs and just moved down to Taunton for work, and its just like livin next to the equator down here!!!!!

The area around Buxton is great, the climbing on the roaches is awesome and froggat near sheffield isn't too bad either! So have you been up in that neck of the woods climbing then?

 

[Mr. X]

...The area around Buxton is great, the climbing on the roaches is awesome and froggat near sheffield isn't too bad either! So have you been up in that neck of the woods climbing then?

Yes, I spent a lot of time around the Peak District, although it was...jeez 20 years ago now, can it really be that long?! Used to go up almost every other weekend, alternating with N. Wales. I visited the Roaches once with a friend that grew up nearby. Another friend co-owns a climbing wall up there. Froggat is special, like Swanage - a lot of history. I like Millstone Edge & Lawrencefield. Stoney when wet. Beeston Tor for beauty. Dove Dale if you like a manicured walk in. Matlock Bath for impressive sheerness. I forget the names of some of smaller quarries and crags. Ravens Tor (to look). Malham Cove. It's like a University of Rock Climbing up there, awesome place

There is climbing near Taunton too. Quite different. Some quite serious. Avon Gorge (polished, holds slope the wrong way but big and spectacular), Cheddar (loose but breathtaking, watch out for cars parked underneath), some smaller crags round the Mendips. Portland - new to me - a friend takes his son climbing there, new guide book too. Swanage sea cliffs - quite popular now. Torbay Quarries. Dartmoor Tors. Rock House at Chudleigh. N. Devon slabs (culm, friable & sometime unprotected). It is hard to beat the N. Cornwall coast though. Watching Pete Livsey & Ron Fawcett climb the Dream/Liberator connection in the Great Zawn at Bosigran, Cornwall on TV as a child probably started my interest (Rock Athlete/Taste for Adventure?). SW climber Pat Littlejohn (who owned Up & Under or was it Outdoor Action in Cardiff) wrote a climbing guide to the Southwest which was the bible at the time. S. Wales too of course (Taffs Well, Ogmore, Gower, Cefn Coed, Bosherston/Pembroke). Bolts were almost unheard of in the UK when I climbed regularly, they just started to come in when I left the country - so don't know much about sport routes I'm afraid.