I don't know how many of you use 60cm euro guns but it seems that they generate a lot of mixed views and opinions. Some, it seems, appreciate the maneuverability of a shorter barrel length whilst others berate them for lack of range, power and utility. They are said to have their place during times of bad visibility, or for hunting flatfish, but on the whole I get the impression that they play the "hind legs" to guns of 75-90cm length, especially in UK waters (which is where I dive).
Last year I was given a Cressi Sioux 60cm gun, my first ever speargun, and was thrilled at the prospect of getting into the water and bagging some fish. It was a factory standard setup with no modifications or replaced components. I went hunting mullet on my first outing with it and needless to say the results were dire:
- Spear bounced off fish at point-blank range due to lack of power.
- No range to speak of.
- Spear shot either high or low.
- Very slow spear/muzzle exit speed
Add to this the fact that I was a newbie spearo and things just seemed pretty pointless. After months of working on my technique and still experiencing a high level of innacuracy from my gun I have decided to make a few modifications to this entry-level speargun in the hope of making it a more efficient and deadly carbine for UK waters (as well as keeping safety in mind).
When I got it the gun came with 2x13mm black latex bands and a very basic bent wire wishbone. The steel spear was 5.5-6mm and showed signs of corrosion along the shaft. I rigged the gun with heavy-duty Beuchat mono. It was a non-starter in the water (as explained previously) and very under powered.
So I replaced the old factory issue 13mm standard screw-in bands with two new 16mm Imersion power bands. Although this increased the muzzle velocity slightly there were no discernible improvements in accuracy or range.
Not wanting to bin the gun I then added an articulated wishbone which was far sturdier than the basic wire wishbone which came as standard. This gave an impression of improved range but on a 60cm gun the barrel length seemed too short to make the most of the 16mm bands and articulated wishbone combo (the bands lost elastic force too quickly and did not impart power to the spear). Time for a rethink....
Despite the gun's shortcomings, I found the length to be handy around rocks and in poor vis (which there can be a lot of in UK waters!). I decided on one final set of upgrades before admitting it was time to get a new gun.
This time I got rid of the old heavy-duty monofilament, ditched the spear that came as standard, and removed the 16mm screw-in bands. I then upgraded the gun as follows:
- Added one Omer 16.5mm Top-Energy latex band with articulated wishbone of the type found on guns like the Cressi Comanche. Mounted this new band through the second band mounting at the front of the gun.
- Added a new stainless steel tahitian spear which is longer than the old one and thicker at 6.5mm (still designed for a 60cm gun though).
- Added an Omer rail guide which I then cut-down to fit a 60cm barrel between the original spear guide and the muzzle.
- Added thinner Cressi multifilament line as a replacement for the Beuchat mono.
These upgrades have transformed the gun from being a pretty dud entry-level speargun to something resembling a carbine railgun. the single band going around the front of the muzzle rather than two bands screwing into the muzzle changes the way the wishbone interacts with the spear giving more power along the shorter barrel. The rail keeps the wider and longer spear nice and snug which should improve the handling (and potentially) the accuracy of the gun. It also makes for a better looking gun (which is a bonus!). Also, the single, more powerful band could be safer than doubling up the rubbers for more power.
We will see what the fish think of it when they reappear.
So, if the economic downturn begins to bite and getting a better gun seems like a dream, maybe you could experiment with a few parts upgrades here and there, especially if you are using a factory standard Cressi Sioux 60 or 75. Just don't overdo it and stay safe.
Last year I was given a Cressi Sioux 60cm gun, my first ever speargun, and was thrilled at the prospect of getting into the water and bagging some fish. It was a factory standard setup with no modifications or replaced components. I went hunting mullet on my first outing with it and needless to say the results were dire:
- Spear bounced off fish at point-blank range due to lack of power.
- No range to speak of.
- Spear shot either high or low.
- Very slow spear/muzzle exit speed
Add to this the fact that I was a newbie spearo and things just seemed pretty pointless. After months of working on my technique and still experiencing a high level of innacuracy from my gun I have decided to make a few modifications to this entry-level speargun in the hope of making it a more efficient and deadly carbine for UK waters (as well as keeping safety in mind).
When I got it the gun came with 2x13mm black latex bands and a very basic bent wire wishbone. The steel spear was 5.5-6mm and showed signs of corrosion along the shaft. I rigged the gun with heavy-duty Beuchat mono. It was a non-starter in the water (as explained previously) and very under powered.
So I replaced the old factory issue 13mm standard screw-in bands with two new 16mm Imersion power bands. Although this increased the muzzle velocity slightly there were no discernible improvements in accuracy or range.
Not wanting to bin the gun I then added an articulated wishbone which was far sturdier than the basic wire wishbone which came as standard. This gave an impression of improved range but on a 60cm gun the barrel length seemed too short to make the most of the 16mm bands and articulated wishbone combo (the bands lost elastic force too quickly and did not impart power to the spear). Time for a rethink....
Despite the gun's shortcomings, I found the length to be handy around rocks and in poor vis (which there can be a lot of in UK waters!). I decided on one final set of upgrades before admitting it was time to get a new gun.
This time I got rid of the old heavy-duty monofilament, ditched the spear that came as standard, and removed the 16mm screw-in bands. I then upgraded the gun as follows:
- Added one Omer 16.5mm Top-Energy latex band with articulated wishbone of the type found on guns like the Cressi Comanche. Mounted this new band through the second band mounting at the front of the gun.
- Added a new stainless steel tahitian spear which is longer than the old one and thicker at 6.5mm (still designed for a 60cm gun though).
- Added an Omer rail guide which I then cut-down to fit a 60cm barrel between the original spear guide and the muzzle.
- Added thinner Cressi multifilament line as a replacement for the Beuchat mono.
These upgrades have transformed the gun from being a pretty dud entry-level speargun to something resembling a carbine railgun. the single band going around the front of the muzzle rather than two bands screwing into the muzzle changes the way the wishbone interacts with the spear giving more power along the shorter barrel. The rail keeps the wider and longer spear nice and snug which should improve the handling (and potentially) the accuracy of the gun. It also makes for a better looking gun (which is a bonus!). Also, the single, more powerful band could be safer than doubling up the rubbers for more power.
We will see what the fish think of it when they reappear.
So, if the economic downturn begins to bite and getting a better gun seems like a dream, maybe you could experiment with a few parts upgrades here and there, especially if you are using a factory standard Cressi Sioux 60 or 75. Just don't overdo it and stay safe.
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