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Gabbiano Bands
- Thread starterPadaxes
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Hmmm im having trouble getting them from Dave does anyone have any links to sites that sell the rubbers I cant seem to find any 
Also how do I tell which fitting I have ? What diameter is the small / large fitting ?
(starting to wish I had the snake so I could make my own rubbers)
Also how do I tell which fitting I have ? What diameter is the small / large fitting ?
(starting to wish I had the snake so I could make my own rubbers)
I had a prod at my gun earlier... there's some type of sealant around the area where the muzzel joins the barrel... but I think if you REALLY wanted to fit a snake head, it would be do-able...
I'm sure I remember reading somewhere about someone converting one, or at least fitting a different muzzel.
Best bet is to PM Spagetti, he's know EVERYTHING!!!!
I'm sure I remember reading somewhere about someone converting one, or at least fitting a different muzzel.
Best bet is to PM Spagetti, he's know EVERYTHING!!!!
Broseidons bands were pretty ridiculous. I reckon the 6mm spear would just be bent into a big 'U-shape' when it is fired :t!?
If it was possible I would convert my Gabbi to a single band with dyneema aswell. I will go check and see if some of my spare bands fit into the 16mm Gabbi threads. You may be able to use other brands which are more easily obtainable?
If it was possible I would convert my Gabbi to a single band with dyneema aswell. I will go check and see if some of my spare bands fit into the 16mm Gabbi threads. You may be able to use other brands which are more easily obtainable?
Are you using Seatec 20mm bands on your Gabbiano, Broseidon? I recall that you are particularly strong individual - a body builder in fact. So the comment about technique might be right, I found women climbers often have better technique because they have less strength available they have to...but there might be other issues...
I have 20mm RA bulk rubber on my RA 90 (which I suspect it is actually 3/4" USA bulk rubber). It is a bear to load. I think probably tougher than euro-bands perhaps because the centre hole is smaller, so more rubber. However after persevering with it, I've come to the conclusion that it isn't strength so much as pain and bruising that is the issue. I came back with black & blue upper abs and chest after week of spearing a couple of years ago. The RA has no loading butt and quite honestly the otherwise excellent Elios wetsuit's loading pad isn't up to the job (and it's too soft and about 3" too low for me) in this case. I get bruised and then the tendency is to try loading in another, less optimal spot (you mentioned twisting) - and so things deteriate. I now use a thick flip-flop insole strapped to my chest under the wetsuit (RA actually sell a reasonably priced strap-on loading pad, which you could wear over or under your wetsuit). It makes a huge difference, and I use it will my other spearguns too. Without the pain or fear of bruising, you can concentrate on loading technique; it all suddenly becomes a lot easier. I wonder if African wetsuits (e.g. Predator) have tougher loading pads?
My RA came with a single 16mm band and that worked well and was plenty powerful enough to send the spear right through every fish shot with only 2 exceptions (both were gill plate shots on large fish and one was with the 20mm rubber). I recently bought enough 16mm rubber to re-equip my 3 spear-guns with 16mm rubber when the rubbers next need to be replaced -- although bulk rubber seems to last much longer, especially the thick stuff -- of course
I think 20mm rubbers put a lot of people off spearfishing. A significant number of the used spearguns on eBay are equipped with 20mm rubber and most spearguns are not sold with 20mm rubbers. I reckon a single 16mm bulk rubber on a 90cm gun is more than enough for most UK fishing. Not sure about shorter guns, my Omer XXV 75 & 90 have 18mm screw-in bands which seem to work well.
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Morning Mr.X, yes, I'm using the 20mm Seatec bands - they are quite a bitch to say the least!
I'm not sure how much use my loading pad is going to be to me now, as there's no way for me to use it as my arms are too short... I can't use the one hand pull method that was mentioned earlier as the rubber is too stiff, plus I don't have any gloves and the metal wishbone looks like it wants to tear my fingers off!
I'm going to persevere with the hip-loading technique for the time being as it seems to work - if it's still a bugger, I'll just swap to some 16 or 18mm rubbers.
Dafydd lent me some 16mm ones last time we were out and I had no problems at all.
I'm not sure how much use my loading pad is going to be to me now, as there's no way for me to use it as my arms are too short... I can't use the one hand pull method that was mentioned earlier as the rubber is too stiff, plus I don't have any gloves and the metal wishbone looks like it wants to tear my fingers off!
I'm going to persevere with the hip-loading technique for the time being as it seems to work - if it's still a bugger, I'll just swap to some 16 or 18mm rubbers.
Dafydd lent me some 16mm ones last time we were out and I had no problems at all.
Hi Broseidon. I'm not familiar with the hip loading technique but good luck with it. I have heard American's discussing it for use with Riffe spear-guns I believe. I think some of them just load to a half-way point (notch/fin/pin) and then finish up chest loading.
I tried the Italian method of placing my Omer speargun on my abs just above the belt buckle but it just feels all wrong to me. I just couldn't get enough purchase and it felt precarious. However, as the bands are held differently in the hands, it might well be safer for the fingers with metal wishbones.
I can see that reach could be a problem but there are folk who regularly load 120cm, 130cm, 140cm and 150cm Rob Allen railguns - and nobody has arms that long. The South African Len Jones Spearfishing booklet shows a method for loading (I think the images are on RobAllen.co.za and a loose errata page shows an optional variation. I think there are a couple of tricks that help with reach, for example: grabbing the rubbers with one hand before placing the butt on your chest; pulling the rubber tight with one hand initially - the second hand can grab the pulling hand around the wrist for additional support until the rubbers are close enough to grab.
I now have Dyneema wishbones on 2 of my 3 spearguns and I feel happier using them. Loading the 75 was a breeze last time out - even with an injured finger tendon in the back of my hand. I quite like the design of the Omer articulated wishbones but whole concept of a metal wishbones just seems inherently dangerous to me and they did not engage as positively as I had expected, which makes loading more stressful than it should be.
I tried the Italian method of placing my Omer speargun on my abs just above the belt buckle but it just feels all wrong to me. I just couldn't get enough purchase and it felt precarious. However, as the bands are held differently in the hands, it might well be safer for the fingers with metal wishbones.
I can see that reach could be a problem but there are folk who regularly load 120cm, 130cm, 140cm and 150cm Rob Allen railguns - and nobody has arms that long. The South African Len Jones Spearfishing booklet shows a method for loading (I think the images are on RobAllen.co.za and a loose errata page shows an optional variation. I think there are a couple of tricks that help with reach, for example: grabbing the rubbers with one hand before placing the butt on your chest; pulling the rubber tight with one hand initially - the second hand can grab the pulling hand around the wrist for additional support until the rubbers are close enough to grab.
I now have Dyneema wishbones on 2 of my 3 spearguns and I feel happier using them. Loading the 75 was a breeze last time out - even with an injured finger tendon in the back of my hand. I quite like the design of the Omer articulated wishbones but whole concept of a metal wishbones just seems inherently dangerous to me and they did not engage as positively as I had expected, which makes loading more stressful than it should be.
If you are having trouble loading your gun this video has some useful advice
(warning, contains swearing)
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkIVvjZc9Y]YouTube - Ronnie Johns - Chopper - Harden the Fuck Up[/ame]
cheers
dave
Spearguns by Spearo uk ltd finest supplier of speargun, monofins, speargun and freediving equipment
(warning, contains swearing)
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkIVvjZc9Y]YouTube - Ronnie Johns - Chopper - Harden the Fuck Up[/ame]
cheers
dave
Spearguns by Spearo uk ltd finest supplier of speargun, monofins, speargun and freediving equipment
Hi All,
I seem to be having a problem with accuracy - I own the Gabbiano 77 trb and I am missing what seem like easy shots, is it unaccurate because of the 20mm rubbers?
If this is the case can I change them down easy enough? Again if this is possible what size would you reccomend 16 or 18mm?
Any opinion would be greatly appreciated as I hate missing these easy shots! :head
Cheers
Ryan
I seem to be having a problem with accuracy - I own the Gabbiano 77 trb and I am missing what seem like easy shots, is it unaccurate because of the 20mm rubbers?
If this is the case can I change them down easy enough? Again if this is possible what size would you reccomend 16 or 18mm?
Any opinion would be greatly appreciated as I hate missing these easy shots! :head
Cheers
Ryan
Broseidon,
my rubbers arent as big as yours but I load on my abs rather than chest (this just feels wrong to me), works well and helps with the six pack :martial.
Matt
my rubbers arent as big as yours but I load on my abs rather than chest (this just feels wrong to me), works well and helps with the six pack :martial.
Matt
Hey Matt i know this is a bit cheesy but i dont think Broseidon has any problems with developing his abs....http://forums.deeperblue.com/wales/66565-spearing-north-wales-61.html
Did someone come to any conclusion with the question if you could swap the gabbiano muzzle to the snake muzzle??
Yes you can. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that the Gabbiano Trb muzzle is some 7 centimeters longer than the Snake muzzle.
As a consequence, if you install a Snake muzzle on a Gabbiano 100, what you'll get will be a Snake 93....
OK i lost my bands tonight they just fell off the gun while I was dealing with a fish on a night dive. Nearly lost them before like this on a day dive but caught them just in time, on a night dive they were just gone
VERY annoying! If you have a Gabby i`d recommend some sort of security for your bands ?
Annyone else had this ?
they just fell off the gun while I was dealing with a fish on a night dive. Nearly lost them before like this on a day dive but caught them just in time, on a night dive they were just gone VERY annoying! If you have a Gabby i`d recommend some sort of security for your bands ?
Annyone else had this ?