Omer Cayman HF 95 double 18mm bands

[Neljpovic]

Hello,

I have a question regarding the Omer Cayman HF!!!
I currently use one 18mm Omer Power band with a 6.5 mm Devoto Sub shaft, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with 2x 18mm bands, how much will it affect accuracy?
I know this would be a better setup with a 7mm shaft but I'm interested in the possible loss of accuracy and recoil!!!
I hope Mark Labocetta (I hope I spelled his name correctly) will have something to say about this since all you guys said he is the man to contact about Omer products!!!

Thanks everyone for your help (future and past)!!!

 

[Neljpovic]

Anyone???

The guy at my local dive shop said it would be better to fit 2x 16mm bands than the 18mm ones, therefore the gun would gain some power and the accuracy loss would be restricted to a minimun, what do you think about that???
I could really use some advice from you experienced spearos, it's never too late to learn a thing or two from the best!!!

Thanks

 

[Pastor]

Personally I think 2 sets of bands on a lightweight gun are too much but I see the point of the guy in the store. I think he is right to suggest that if you are going to add another set but if that is the case think about making those bands a little longer than the standard to smooth out the shot. You'll find there is even less recoil and better accuracy

 

[deep thinker]

On any 95 gun I dont see the necessity of adding a extra band, guns bought kitted out from suppliers or shops are normally made up to the ideal setup for that specific guns performance. If you want to power up the gun go for the 2 16s or a single 20mm band even, adding a 7mm spear to the equation will add more punch to the spear itself, being slightly heavier than the 6.5mm. If you do power up Id advise to adjust the spear thickness too, overpowering will cause the spear to bend while in the gun and when fired will whiplash out and make your shot inacurate and also difficult to determine where it will go.
Another choice would be to shorten your existing 18mm band a bit... 1cm can make a big difference

 

[Marwan]

to add to deepthinkers points, get a rabi

 

[Fondueset]

The Cayman is a very light gun and superbly balanced out of the box. 2x16 might be interesting with a heavier shaft - 2x18 would likely be a bit brutal.

 

[robiz72]

did you take a look to the videos at omer website? there is somebody using double 18 and he hit on a distance of 5,5m

 

[Fondueset]

I see them shooting a Cayman 95 5.2 meters with one band!

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

Hi.

6.5mm shafts are not designed for two bands. The shaft is too thin/too light.
That is why they are a perfect combination for any size of single band whether it be 16,18,20mm. All you do by adding a band is "mess things up".

The minimum shaft size diameter to use with two bands is 6.75mm, referred to commonly here as a 17/64". With this shaft and two 16mm bands there is a pretty good mutual relationship between accuracy, speed and penetration.
Next year Omer will be producing a 6.75mm low profile shakfin shaft similar to the current 6.5mm America shaft and we'll try to see about putting them stock on the USA production guns.

 

[Neljpovic]

Thank you all for your replies, any advice from you will be put to goo use, I was just interested what you had to say!!!
I have no intention of putting 2x18mm bands, I will try simply shortening the single 18mm that came with the gun, I have also noticed that the band is a bit soft when you squeeze it!
Thanks for the tips about the movies on the Omer web site, I will be sure to check them out!

 

[azapa]

the classic problems with overbanding a gun are:
- tube bends upwards too much when loaded = wear and loss of accuracy
- spear (same thickness, 6.5mm) will oscillate (wobble) on exiting muzzle = loss of accuracy
- trigger stiff and snappy = wear and loss of accuracy

I guess all that was said above already

 

[Fondueset]

Neljpovic - have you shot the gun yet? The 18m bands omer uses rock pretty hard - you may not want to shorten them.

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

the classic problems with overbanding a gun are:
- tube bends upwards too much when loaded = wear and loss of accuracy
- spear (same thickness, 6.5mm) will oscillate (wobble) on exiting muzzle = loss of accuracy
- trigger stiff and snappy = wear and loss of accuracy

I guess all that was said above already

Only the part about the spear oscillating is of concern with the HF if you overload the 6.5mm. The cayman trigger mechanism remains extremely sensitive under high band load and the hydroformed barrel is stiffer than carbon fiber.

 

[Neljpovic]

Sorry it took so long to reply, I was away for the weekend!!!
Yes I have the gun for a month now and it seems to me the Omer Power band is quite soft (opposed to the Picasso band my spearing buddy has), maybe I got the ones some of you mentioned in other posts, that came to the Croatian area with some faults, I don't know anymore!
It just seems to me that the range of the gun is somewhat short because after 3 meters the shaft starts do drop like it has little power!

 

[spaghetti]

I wouldn't worry, mate, it's just a 95. What did you expect?
If it starts to drop after 3 meters, then it's exactly a full loop of line: nothing less than the reasonable expectation for such a short gun.
Don't worry, be happy, enjoy!

 

[Neljpovic]

JUST A 95???
Now you got me depressed spaghetti, it wasn't an issue of money but a longer HF would just be a bit too long for hunting in shallow water and holes!!! The Omer band is quite soft and the loading seems somewhat too easy IMHO!
I will try to shorten the band, if the gun loses accuracy no damage done, I have a spare one!
Grazie

 

[spaghetti]

JUST A 95???
a longer HF would just be a bit too long for hunting in shallow water and holes!!!

That's true, I agree. What I mean is that you can't expect a 95 with a circular band to shoot so much longer than that.
Regarding comparisons, I know that Picasso bands "feel" stronger btu they shoot jerky in my experience. Personally I prefer more progressive, smoother bands like Omer Power 18, Seatec Master and Demka Anemos. They don't "feel" hard, but they do shoot straight as can be (just my 2 cents).

 

[Marwan]

my omer 100 with single omer 18 bands and 6.75mm shaft went through a 20kg grouper, 1 shot and boom..they have more power than you imagine, also 3 meters is not bad at all...if youre hunting in caves and shallows, more power will mean more bent shafts and more agony...the beauty of having a single easy band is that you can reload quicker and catch more fish (more of medium/more edible sizes than the big monsters)...if you want a big gun for big game, look at rob allens or rabitechs, or alernatively go for the wooden guns with multibands...ofcourse someone will also mention mamba at one point

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

Another consideration to make is that, and a lot of people don't realize this shooting in the sea, when you actually go measure the distance of the shots you are making or missed that 3 meters is more like 4-5 meters. Clear water has the tendency to skew this even more. Don't blame your bad aim on the range of the gun in other words (we're allowed to have a sense of humor right)

Mark Laboccetta
Omer USA

 

[Neljpovic]

I believe all three of you (spaghetti, Marwan and Mark) are right one way or another, practice makes perfect and that is what I intend to concentrate on!
As always your advices and help are most appreciated, one more question though: could you recommend some other brand of reliable 18mm bands, I noticed spaghetti mentioned Seatec and Demka, just to increase my options!!!
THX