If You Had $500USD to Spend????

[eldog]

Hey folks, brand new to this forum but have been spearfishing since 1987. My gear, a 1987 Nemrod Clipper 1 with a trident paralyzer tip. Now before you go laughing your head off about this gun I'll tell you I've taken some really decent fish free diving with this gun ranging from 2 pound carp to 18 pound blue ling cod. It's range is 24 inches so its all about stalking technique!!

That said, I am looking at getting a rail gun. I've done lots of research, but the more I research, the more undecided I become.

The fishing I do is primarily in brackish water in the Pacific Northwest and local lakes, with visability from 6 feet to 30 feet (on average 8-12 feet). The game that I want to gear up for is primarily 2 pound carp to say 30 pound cod. Typically shooting in rocky bottom conditions or in and around rock walls and rock formations. I am also planning a trip to Mexico this next spring and would like to take my new gun there (although I have done no research on the Mexican laws on spearfishing). I do have great access to water and can spearfish every weekend if I want, so durability is important.

My budget is $500USD, so my question to you folk is how would you spend it?

Riffe, Hammerhead, Rob Allen, Aimrite, Rabitech, Mares???
Wood, Aluminum, Carbon Fibre???
Single or Double Band???

I am kinda leaning towards a 100cm Hammerhead, but still am wide open at this point. Your comments and recommendations are appreciated.

 

[mishu1984]

100cm Rabitech Stealth Carbon with single 20mm band and 7mm tricut shaft. u wont regret it
good luck and welcome to DB

 

[spaghetti]

If I had 500 dollars right now I'd get a C4 Mr. Carbon 104. Unfortunately you'll have to spend all your budget if you pick this one, and YOU WILL if you watch these pics:
C4 Carbon

Otherwise, the Seatec Snake is a great gun I can warmly recommend: double band euro, extremely sturdy, extremely accurate, stealthy and manouverable. The average price is 200 Euro or less. Costs something more for the newer version with carbon tube. For me, in the intermediate price range, it's the best eurogun for solid build and accuracy.

 

[strangelove]

Spaghetti

Have you use your C4 yet ? How did you deal with reloading, I've heard the reloading was very slow because of the muzzle design. Main reason I don't have c4 yet.

HH gun scored really well on the HSD shotting test.

 

[eldog]

100cm Rabitech Stealth Carbon with single 20mm band and 7mm tricut shaft. u wont regret it
good luck and welcome to DB

How do the single band euros compare to the double bands in terms of penetration? Obviously a single band is quicker to reload, but do you give up considerable energy at impact?

What would the effective range of a 20mm single band be on say a 15 pound fish?

 

[azapa]

for your size fish i'd go for a 90cm Omer Cayman, aluminum, or any 90CM cheapish gun with built in guide (rail) and with the left over change buy a used Suunto d3 or mosquito.

pD a single 18mm or better 20mm will do well on those targets

 

[Marwan]

if the biggest fish is 15 pounds then most guns will do...for limited visibility youre looking at an 80 - 100cm speargun...there is a range of guns that would be good to be honest and will work just fine...a 90cm rabitech,rob allen, omer, or aimrite are all choices you cant really go wrong with, alternatively you can consider a 75-85cm pneumatic gun like the mares cyrano.. best of luck

 

[mishu1984]

ive tried a variety of brands and styles,and honestly Rabitech takes my money any day hands down. i havent tried Rob Allen, but ive used, Omer, Picasso, Riffe, AB Biller, JBL, Rabitech, Freedivers, and Cressi-sub and i have done my own pool tests at home. out of the lot, the rabitech takes my money any time all the time. a single 20mm band packs a punch.
my little brother has a freedivers 70cm with dual 16 bands and 7mm shaft, and that gun has taken more grouper than most of my guns, as we always use it to shoot into caves.
my only regret is not having started out with rabitech and wasted all my money on the other brands, but i guess you cant appreciate the good stuff till youve shot with the bad ones.

for the range and size fish that you want to target, i wouldnt get a carbon gun as you wont put that much load on it with a 100cm

 

[Whopperhead]

I like the accuracy of the HammerHead! I had a minor problem with my 75cm- but it is a Great gun and well made, The others are good too- It's basically going to come down to- What do you want in the water? It's kinda like asking someone What kind of car should you buy? Everyone is going to have their bias opionions.

I hunt with a HammerHead.

Good luck!

 

[devondave]

If I had 500 dollars right now I'd get a C4 Mr. Carbon 104. Unfortunately you'll have to spend all your budget if you pick this one, and YOU WILL if you watch these pics:
C4 Carbon

Oh man ! What did you do that for ? Now I want one :inlove:inlove and my financial adviser ( girlfriend ) say's I've already spent too much on toys this year . So now obviously I shall have to get rid of her and will be sad and lonely , umm ok , right , now what sizes does that lovely , shiny , gorgeous , shapely :inlove:inlove C4 come in ? ( and I thought my xxv gold was cute ! )

 

[eldog]

If I had 500 dollars right now I'd get a C4 Mr. Carbon 104. Unfortunately you'll have to spend all your budget if you pick this one, and YOU WILL if you watch these pics:
C4 Carbon

Otherwise, the Seatec Snake is a great gun I can warmly recommend: double band euro, extremely sturdy, extremely accurate, stealthy and manouverable. The average price is 200 Euro or less. Costs something more for the newer version with carbon tube. For me, in the intermediate price range, it's the best eurogun for solid build and accuracy.

Appreciate all the responses. I tried to Google both of these guns above, but couldn't find any english speaking websites to give me information on these guns or price lists.

Questions:
1) What are the web locations to buy these guns above?
2) What are some other reputable on-line stores to buy spearfishing gear at? (I take it Sumora has a strong local following?)

 

[BatRay]

I hear great things about Hammerheads

 

[Coral Sniper]

eldog,the gun I would use in those conditions would probably be a 110 mares cyrano pneumatic.
My reasons are,the gun is like a 90cm band gun in size and has the power of a 110 band gun or so depending on how much you pump it. plenty of power to penetrate BIG fish.
Also the power regulator is very handy at times for hole shots,with the flick of your thumb you have low power,instead of having to unload a band with both hands,this helps your breath hold when on deeper dives.
And of corse it is very accurate.

If however you dont want to go pneumatic,I would go with a rob allen 100cm with a single band and 6.5-7mm shaft.

Good luck

 

[foxfish]

Air guns do have many benefits, something like a mamba 90 will have plenty power & stealth but if you are set on a band gun look here www.trygons.com

 

[kmo]

How do the single band euros compare to the double bands in terms of penetration? Obviously a single band is quicker to reload, but do you give up considerable energy at impact?

What would the effective range of a 20mm single band be on say a 15 pound fish?

I believe that a short single 20 or even 18mm would penetrate a 15 pound fish at full range (ie - when you run out of cord) for most rail guns with a single wrap. For a 1m gun, full range from your extended arm would then be:
Length of gun = 1m
Length of spear = 1.5m
Length of cord = 3m
Therefore total range = 5.5m which is a lot further than you would ever want to be when you take the shot.

I use a single 20 on a 1.4m railgun with a single wrap and it pulls cord off the reel if I don't hit anything. At the range I prefer to shoot from it usually strings a 15lb fish.

 

[MOSELOVEN]

try and have a look at totemsub they have a good reputation and thir price is good to

 

[istriker22]

Can't go wrong with either Rabitech or Rob Allen.Mares cyrano it's also a good choice,if you like pneumatics.

 

[tuffstuff]

I have a 110 rabitech apex carbon single 20mm band with 7mm shaft.This gun is MORE then capable of taking fish @ 15' and 50LBS.I have the closed muzzle and I never miss with this gun.(I am not the best shot but this gun just shoots so fast I don't have to even track the fish)
POINT SHOOT DEAD
that is the gun i recommend

 

[sixshooter4]

this thread has me looking for a new gun ha ha...
I have been using a JBL for the past year or so, (it was cheap and I was broke) now I have about $800 USD dollars to spend on toys! :thankyou
My goal is a 100% gear makeover… but I really need a new Camo WS, and gun. I was looking hard at the

EVOLUTION 90 - 130 cm with 5/8 Bands & 19/64th Shaft - REEF Muzz
And
EVOLUTION 90 - 130 cm with 9/16 Bands & 17/64 Shaft - HHEAD Muzz


out of these two what would you get? and why?... any help would be apreciated!