rob allen opinions?

[merio]

Hi there,
I'm looking for a new speargun.
I'm diving in the mediterranean (Israel), at 4-30 meters.
I'm usually around rocks.
Shots are up to 6 meters away.

Thought of buying the Rob allen caranx carbon 120
(comes with a 7mm spear and 20mm bands).

What are your opinions about Rob allen's guns?
About this one particularly (is it accurate, shot range)?
Should i change the bands to 18 mm?
Do you need to be a muscleman to load this gun?

any other details will help.

thanks.

 

[Mr. X]

Hi there,
I'm looking for a new speargun.
I'm diving in the mediterranean (Israel), at 4-30 meters.
I'm usually around rocks.
Shots are up to 6 meters away.

Thought of buying the Rob allen caranx carbon 120
(comes with a 7mm spear and 20mm bands).

What are your opinions about Rob allen's guns?
About this one particularly (is it accurate, shot range)?
Should i change the bands to 18 mm?
Do you need to be a muscleman to load this gun?

any other details will help.

thanks.

I have all Rob Allen gear and love it. I have the Sparid 900 (90cm):inlove. I believe a 120cm Rob Allen with 20mm bands is the quintessential Rob Allen gun -- the one most spearos near Durban use. If I ever get to travel again (don't ask), I would eventually like to get a Caranx 120/20mm band (for SA/Hawaii maybe) & a 130 Tuna/2x16mm (for Mozambique, etc. - hey, I can dream!). 100, 110 seem to be popular sizes too (I think Miles said he often uses a 115cm reel gun for reef fishing in SA).

Closer to home, I am thinking a 65/70/75cm Tomahawk(/Scorpia/Sparid) might be handy for low viz conditions Dorset...perhaps with a reel? Maybe an 80cm Tomahawk/Scorpia/Sparid for my brother & friend who are keen to start spearing.

A long gun with 20mm band will be harder to load than a shorter gun or smaller bands -- but, like many things, it is more about technique than muscle. The standard configurations are well thought out and balanced. I would stick with the 20mm band*. If you really want smaller bands, you might consider the Sparid model -- the spear will be lighter to balance the smaller 16mm bands. I suspect RA might also tailor configurations to local markets, so for the Med. you might want to contact Paul & Colin at http://www.roballeneurope.com/ -- they are very experienced, well travelled and know their products well. (They have a sale on the longer carbon guns at the moment too).

*If you go with smaller 18mm bands, you could always shorten them later to increase power (I believe Paul mentions shortening his 20mm bands(!) on the RobAllenEurope site!).

 

[ed.]

900cm Sparid? :O

I have a 1.2m Tuna downsized to a single 16mm rubber and 7mm spear.
Setup works well in Sydney.

Have had no problems with my RA gun.

 

[Mr. X]

Did you mean ? Hey, it's not the size, it's how you use it! Oh, I see what you mean...I'll edit that.

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

 

[ed.]

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

Damn you guys must have really bad viz over there!!! :vangry

Yeah sorry, I only run a single 16mm rubber. But it came with 2 x 16mm and a 7.5mm double notched spear.

The RA guns we get are exactly the same specs as what is on the roballen.co.za website.

 

[miles]

Hiya

Ed, you should try the 6.6mm RA spear with that single 16mm band you have on your gun!! It works very well!!!

One of my favourite set-ups was a 90cm and 100cm gun with a single 16mm and a 6.3mm spear. Very accurate and extremely easy to load.

Merio, RA guns are good solidly built guns. Highly recomend them!! The single 20mm on a 1.2m isn't too tough to load. If you have the loading tecnique correct, its easy. Accurate and powerful. If you're thinking of even more power, try the 2x16mm's with a 7.5mm spear.

Have fun!!

Regards
miles

 

[ed.]

MILES!
Thanks, I shall put it on my 'to buy' list Do you recommend getting a bit longer spear?

Ed

 

[seaman]

Did you mean ? Hey, it's not the size, it's how you use it! Oh, I see what you mean...I'll edit that.

Horses for courses. 90cm is long for the UK (good for clearer water like Cornwall) -- I suspect 75cm would be a be better all round size though, as too often I can't even see the end of my spear . I am thinking of getting a 70cm gun - although I am yet to be convinced you can see fish in such poor viz.

Did you take a rubber off your Tuna gun or was that how it came (I think Sumora in the US - & pos. Adrenaline in Oz? - may spec. their guns a little differently -- Sumora even put their name on the barrel).

Hey Mr .X, What do you think? is it the size or the technique ... hehehe

 

[Mr. X]

Hey Mr .X, What do you think? is it the size or the technique ... hehehe

Hey, if you can't see the end -- it's too long! Must be technique. Perhaps as important is how often (and how long) you take it in for a dip ...and whether you catch anything! (Ooh ahh missus!).rofl

BTW I asked about fitting a shorter spear...you can go up or down 10cm in most cases (shorter guns not always), railguns are more tolerant of this than the rail-less guns but standard set ups are carefully balanced at the factory...you risk spoiling the set up. Some people site over the spear tip (I don't, I try to site down the side of the barrel) -- so shortening or lengthening the spear (with respect to the barrel) can effect how you aim & you'd need to adjust you sighting accordingly.

 

[merio]

I have a 1.2m Tuna downsized to a single 16mm rubber and 7mm spear.
Setup works well in Sydney.

Have had no problems with my RA gun.

How long is your range?
I'm used to work with a light spear, isn't the Rob Allen's 7mm steel spear rather heavy for a single 16mm?


Think I'll go on that one.
Thanks guys.

 

[AndrewD.]

Was glancing over this forum and could not resist chucking in my 2 cents worth.Having grown up in Durban and worked the Natal and Mozambique coast, I would not change my RA 1.2 single 20mm 6.6 for nothing. Simple, robust,deadly powerful and accurate.Its seen me thru' all sorts of conditions, not too short for clear Moz. waters and not too long for murky Natal(on a bad day) viz.
The single 20 is fast to load when u duff a shot while the big schools of ignobilis are running thick and stupid. Also more streamlined for tracking thru the water.
Happy blatting!

 

[Mr. X]

6.3mm spear with 20mm rubbers?

I recently replaced my old 16mm band with a new 20mm rubber band (not looking for more power - it was all that was available at the time). 'Have only loaded it a 3 or 4 of times & fired it once, so it is too early to have strong feelings about it. However, it is harder to load & unload and the amount of pull is shorter (because the rubbers are longer), which I find somehow less satifying. So, so far, I am preferring the 16mm band.

I currently have the standard 6.6mm Sparid spear -- pretty tough. I'm thinking of getting a spare 6.3mm spear (in case of loss/rust). A 6.3mm spear with 16mm band seems like it might be a good set up for the UK - the thinner spear offering a more speed/less drag (penetration is not an issue). However, as I said, I'm currently using a 20mm band -- do you think 6.3mm will be too thin for such a band?

BTW I'll probably get an RA spear if I can but I've been told Seatec also make very good spears that fit the RA and noticed in a catalogue this week that Picasso also offer spears grooved, presumably for Dyneema wishbones, as an option.

 

[foxfish]

You could try a shark fin type spear?

 

[Mr. X]

You could try a shark fin type spear?

Interesting idea, it would probably work with an open muzzle - but probably not with my standard RA muzzle. With my new temporary 2.5mm spear line, there is only just room for the regular spear & spearline, let alone shark fins! I tend to associate shark fins with blue water canons & American spearguns and sleeker, lighter equipment with european spearguns (a rash generalisation, I'm sure!).

You've done more spear tests than most -- do you think the 6.3 would handle 20mm rubber (I'm thinking the rail might help)?

 

[spearheads]

I think the 20mm bands will bend a 6.3 shaft. I would use a 6.35 shaft.
Does the thick line cause drag or accuracy problems?.

 

[Mr. X]

Hi Matt, I haven't tried the thicker line yet - just put it on last night. Was hoping to go tomorrow but the forecast went from good to awful:head (not much of a forecast) -- the forecast is now heavy rain & wind (was overcast with 2mph winds!).

Yes, it will cause a extra drag but the old line was 2mm & with the new 20mm bands factored in, I doubt if will be significant. Its just a stop-gap until I get a proper new spearline. It seems to be clearing the muzzle ok. Not sure what to get yet, 1.4/1.8/2mm -- I'm sure any and all of these would be fine.

I was thinking a 6.3 spear would be good with the a 16mm band - it would be better if it could work with a 20mm band as well though. Sounds like probably not though.

 

[covert]

I beleive the guns are made for optimal accuracy as well as range, and i wouldnt toy with the config's. But thats just me, the only modifications i make is shortening the rubbers a little to get more ooomf out of the Rabitech and RA's (not that they lack oomf) if you know what I mean, they are tough well build accurate guns, and very comfortable and manouverable in the water. And I can highly recommend them

 

[spearheads]

Hi Matt,

I was thinking a 6.3 spear would be good with the a 16mm band - it would be better if it could work with a 20mm band as well though. Sounds like probably not though.

The 16mm rubbers would be fine with a 6.3 shaft, i have a gun with that set up an shoots well.
My guns are set up with 400lb/ 1.8 mono and never had the line snap apart from when i used pliers to close the crimp (bad idea).

 

[foxfish]

I thought 400lb mono was washing line?

 

[hteas]

My basic RA is a 100 with one 20 mm band and a 6.5 shaft (How it came from Florida Freedivers). I use 250 lb mono for shooting line. I've done quite a bit of hunting with it, and have never been disappointed in the gun. The only problem I've had with it is fish that seem to know exactly how long one wrap of shooting line will allow the shaft to go.

I also have a 130 with 7 mm shaft and 2 x 16 bands for Hawaii (clear water). 2 16 mm bands provide more power and are easier to load, so I doubt I'd change anything on it. Because I use it for bigger fish, I shoot with 300 lb mono. I've used it a lot less, but have been happy with it.
Howard