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My new reel gun.

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.

Badger

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2009
15
4
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Got myself a new reel gun, looking forward to next week-ends trip to Sodwana Bay on the North Coast of South Africa.

1.3 m Orca rail gun with a 20mm band and 50m of line. Quality piece of kit.



 
Reactions: scottwilson
Nice, I put my flasher tape in the same spot, make sure that leash doesn't get your tail caught if a hoo locks up the reel and go's deep.

Cheers, Don Paul
 
Nice. The handle looks familiar (Cressi derivated): I love how the grip feels and the aiming line of it as well: somehow I managed to hit some really pinpoint hits with it.
Cressi makes a gun called the Mohawk that's very similar to your Orca: Comanche handle, full rail allu barrel and Rob Allen type muzzle. Unfortunately it's sold only in Australia. Id' like to try it.

Now sorry for the derail and here's my true question:
do you SA guys hunt with both reel and floatline system mounted on guns at the same time?
Otherwise, what's that clip/bungee combo intended for?
I confess my ignorance about ocean SA/USA styles of gun rigging, and I'd like to learn more, that's it...
 
Reactions: strangelove
I'm sure Badger will get back to you, but here's some of my kit for the blue.
Safety is my number one priority. I dive in open blue water far from shore and in strong currents most times. Having the live boat spot me when it returns for a pickup is my main concern. Off shore no one left my boat without a bright float, some with flags. My kit is very versatile, I shoot my game gun full brake away to a 50' bungie linked to a tuna cord, cored poly float line and float depending on fish type. (hard or inflatable). Around my waist I ware a lose fitting polespear sling with a small adjustable down rigger clip.
My gun has a 500# vinyl covered mono leash 1 meter long; it's short length never allows the muzzle of my gun to point back at me.The clip allows the
gun to break away should a big fish spool me.

Having the leash allows me to hang my gun when I get hands on with the fish.
Once I have my hands in the gills I pull my float to me, yank a stringer from
its vinyl sleeve from my float, string the fish through the eyes, and only then remove the shaft. By now a few more big yellows come in close thinking I'm unloaded. I pull my gun back into my hand, make a dive on the fish and go for a head shot with my 1/4 inch 1 band lower shaft...this way I can have my ''reel'' fun.
Cheers, Don Paul
 

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Reactions: spaghetti
When I hunt White Sea Bass in the thick kelp, I just use my reel, which can be connected to ether shaft.
Cheers, Don
 

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Hey Badger that is a pretty long euro gun!
I bet you are going to have some fun with that.
Hey Don, that pic of your gun is doing my head in - i cant work it out - do you have any other pics?
 
There's one more long shot at post # 8 in the Indie/minor gun thread.
I'll start a thread for Double Trouble next week sorry I don't have any more
images close at hand. I need to subscribe this week end as I have run out of
image bandwidth.
Cheers, Don
 
spaghetti, the ORCA and the Cressi Mohawk are identical, the Handle on the Orca is a beefed up comanchee handle with SS line release and a Stainless bridgeplate added to the inside top of the mech.

ORCA makes the Mohawk for Cressi. they are available in 100cm- 140cm factory and the barrel is aluminium wih a PVC sleeve over it which includes the reel. very nice accurate guns which are qyiet as well.

DD

DD
 
Reactions: spaghetti

What do you think of the long Edge guns ? Thanks.
Cheers, Don
 

The reel gun is new to me. I have always used a float line rig. The trip next week is the 1st time that I'll be using it and I am having 2nd thoughts about that leash which gets strapped to the bicep, might just take it off. The trip is open ocean from a boat diving, floatlines can get in the way, with two divers in the water working off floating flashers. The gun is made here, the handle is made in Italy, very nice and also reliable. Barrel is the same as a Rob Allen, aluminium plastic coated, very quiet.
 
Don Paul said:
Nice, I put my flasher tape in the same spot, make sure that leash doesn't get your tail caught if a hoo locks up the reel and go's deep.

Cheers, Don Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks Don, that thought did keep me awake a bit last night, think I will ditch that leash.
 
Nice set up. Looks a lot like the Rob Allen Composite Reel?
I try not to use that Line Guide on the end of the barrel near the bands for the Reel Line. Reels are for line storage, and almost always you are going to be hand braking the line, or dealing with the line directly. Not, using it like a fishing pole. The issue is that it's too easy for your line to get caught up in those sticky rubber bands.
 
Badger said:
Thanks Don, that thought did keep me awake a bit last night, think I will ditch that leash.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have learned a lot the hard way over the last 30 years. I have lost
many very close dive mates around the world. In my dive club; Long Beach Neptune's, we would privately critique why each of our friends drown.
This helped me live in denial that I would not do this or that.
With each loss I tried to take a little knowledge with me.

The one most important reason I am here on DB is a personal quest to to
have just one spero make it home to their family and mates.

Sincerely, Don Paul
 
hi DON

the Edge guns are pretty popular here, they are well built but i struggle to see any real difference in build to say a Rob Allen Railgun or similar. they use quite heavy barrels, which improve stiffness but to hurt maneuverablility a bit, they are favoured i feel by those who are close to the builder, more than any body else. good gun but nothing remarkable, i would look a bit closer to home with the Aimrite guns before one of these, the aimrite are probably a stonger and nicer gun, mind you i think alot of Edge devotees would shoot me for that! good gun thats for sure but nothing remarkable. strong , basic well built gun is probably a good way of describing them.

bit like a Side valve 6 in an old Dodge, nothing remarkable but start every time and go forever!

DD
 
Great feedback, I like straight talk. I've seen some big pelagic fish landed with
this gun on your west coast. Expert speros can take down quality game fish
with keen stalking skills.
Cheers mate,
Don
 
Badger,

Can you send a close up for the muzzle of the gun? I am interested to know the setup you are using for the reel.

Thanks for your help.
 
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