Noob

[SOBX]

Hello guys,

Thanks for having me on your forum. From Coastal North Carolina, long time diver but noob spearfisher.
I ask your advice about my JBL 56" Woody Elite Magnum which has the two-fin 5/16 shaft and two 5/8 x 26 bands.
At my age, the thing is very difficult to load and I usually end up with a bruised up chest when I can manage to load the thing. Part of my loading woes is due to the fact that I can't reach the bands since the gun is so long. By the time I manage to get the thing loaded I'm too give out to spearfish. LOL

My question is, can I replace my two 26x5/8 bands with two 26x9/16 bands without totally making the thing useless as an efficient speargun? The 9/16 bands seem to be easier for me to load. Would I be better to use three 26x9/16 bands so I'm not sacrificing too much power for the ease of loading? If so, is it acceptable to load two of the bands onto one fin since the shaft only has two fins?

I can leave it as is and struggle with the 5/8 bands and probably decide I just don't enjoy it and let the JBL end up as an expensive wall hanger, go to two 9/16 bands, or go to three 9/16 bands with one of the bands doubled up one fin. Or is there other options?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr. X]

Welcome SOBX!

I can sympathize with the chest pain, I used to get that loading my RA Sparid railgun after unnecessarily "upgrading" from the standard single 16mm band to a new single 20mm band. . RA sell/sold a heavy duty strap-on chest-pad to help with that; but I made my own from the sole of thick old old flip-flop. I later went back to the original 1x16mm band set-up, which was plenty powerful enough for my modest needs.

Yes, most spearguns let you use smaller bands. Not familiar with your speargun but 2x16mm is plenty powerful enough for most uses (except perhaps blue water pelajics). Indeed 2x14mm has become quite fashionable in recent years ( and is long established in Hawaii I believe).

The other big point to consider, especially for a noob, is loading technique!! Check spearing books (Len Jones SA spearing booklet is concise but excellent , from RA). and/or YouTube for guidance; and check several, especially on loading a long speargun. The technique(s) for loading a long speargun (or for someone with a shorter reach) may be a little more involved. I think the technique is essentially to grab the bands first, then maneuver the butt of the speargun to you chest (loading pad ).

Some people use a "load-assist" (a rubber loop with a hook) nowadays, perhaps mainly for roller guns though.

Good luck. Lots of possible solutions

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I used to use three 5/8" bands on guns that size, but later found that two 14mm (9/16") small ID bands were just as effective. And for years I used that technique described by Mr X- grab the band with one hand, move the butt to the chest, and then reach out and grab with the other hand. But then I discovered an option offered on Wong guns and easily used it on other brands of wood guns. Screw a line guide like the one used under the muzzle of guns to the side of the gun to use as a load assist tab. With the butt of the gun on your hip you can easily grab the band with two hands and pull it to the load assist. Then move the butt up to your chest to complete loading. I'll try to find a video, but meanwhile here are photos.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

 

[SOBX]

Thanks guys.