Seatec Guns: Snake or Geko?

[Mufazalov]

Hey guys,
I am planning to get myself a new gun soon and I am just curious which one should I get. I fell in love with Geko a long time ago, but I just didnt have a chance to hold it in my hands yet, so I need some help with a proper gun for myself. Currently I am using HF110 (omer) which is a pretty good gun, but it aint mine. I am using a single 17,5mm rubber + 6.5mm shaft and my problem is that sometimes I am lacking power. I only hunt on reefs, usually in aspetto. So every 50 cm counts =]
So yeah, I just really really liked seatec when I first bumped into it online. Seems to me that the quality of their goods is very good + their guns look very pretty(you know, when you have the sexiest gun in your hands all the fish comes checking u out). So I narrowed my choice to 2 guns: Snake (probably Mimetic) and Geko. The length would be 110. I am planning to use 2x16mm + 7mm shaft on the gun. So I am seeking an advice on which one is a better buy.
Few things to keep in mind:
1) I am not negative about heavy guns. I mean heavier doesnt mean worse=I am looking for a bigger mass to "fight" recoil. (I hope it will not be as heavy as a 140cm Riffe I used today though)
2) I am a reef hunter, but I probably will be hunting blue water pelagics as well.
3) the are all in the same price range, so the price is not a big question here.
4) I believe the "insides" are alike, so its not very important.
5) A-HA! Buoyancy! Which one is a better swimmer (floater). HF110 floats loaded, that was very handy. very very very handy!

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Anvar Mufazalov

 

[hteas]

You need to ask Spaghetti about this one.He's a big time supporter.

 

[Mufazalov]

You need to ask Spaghetti about this one.He's a big time supporter.

I know, hteas. I did send him a msg, but he didnt get online recently. I thought somebody else could have an experience with these guns.

 

[Broseidon]

If you like Seatec and want something with lots of power, have you looked at their new range of roller-guns?

I've heard good things about them!

 

[Mufazalov]

@ Broseidon. Yeah, I ve checked seatecs rollers. But, I would rather go with a cuttlefish shaped sexy Geko over a circular barrel super powerful Roller. Anyway, I found pretty nice Geko on italian ebay. Its 110cm and the owner changed the head to fit 3 ruuberbands. It does look pretty good. And thats the setup I would love to have. So I guess that would be it...

 

[Broseidon]

The Seatec rollers are actually just Gabbiano's / Snakes with a different muzzel & band set-up - so you still get the cuttlefish-shaped barrel:

 

[azapa]

is no one else bothered with those line releases? it looks to me that the line load would force the back of the spear up after it left the cartridge, at least enough to alter the point of impact.

seatec are so cool and well engineered though, that I can hardly believe they would make such a mistake?

 

[Mufazalov]

I dont even understand how seatecs line release works. Does the wrap of line (mono) simply slide down? Thats strange, I have never seen a "passive" line release yet, but people do seem to favor Seatec for its accuracy. So maybe it is not that bad, heh?

 

[Broseidon]

The line release will only come into effect once the rear of the spear is one entire barrel length from the muzzle tip - think about it

​

 

[azapa]

so, once the spear leaves the trigger mech, there is an upward force on the back of it, as I said.

am I thinking wrong?

 

[Mr. X]

Lack of power, for reef spearing...really? If 50cm is so important perhaps you should consider a longer gun, e.g. 115cm, 120cm or 130cm.

Have you considered an SA-style railgun? With an RA bulk rubber closed muzzle you have an extra 10cm of rubber involved over a typical screw-in band gun. The (American made) bulk rubber seems thicker-walled and more powerful to me too. You could for example get a Rob Allen railgun with 2x16mm bands & 7mm spear (you can fit 2x20mm bands & an even thicker spear - but shouldn't be necessary).

Alternatively, perhaps new bands or thicker bands on your existing Omer HF would do the trick? A 110cm gun with 17.5mm bands and a 6.5mm spear should be pretty powerful. Can it take double bands? (My Omer XXV can but probably not a good idea with its slim 25mm carbon barrel unless using, say, 2x14mm - I've only seen one Omer picture of this configuration). How about the Omer HF2?

Beuchat Marlin looks like a pretty cool, powerful euro-gun (having adopted several features of an SA-style railguns). Or an Omer HF2/Cayman? I too like the look of the Seatec Snake & Geko though:

 

[Broseidon]

so, once the spear leaves the trigger mech, there is an upward force on the back of it, as I said.

am I thinking wrong?

Come on! I even provided pictures! rofl

The line release will only engage once the rear of the spear has left the trigger-mech and has traveled down the entire barrel -only then will the mono be pulled taught and engage the line release..

The mono attached to the spear runs from the muzzle down to the spear-mech providing an entire barrel's length of mono before the line release will engage.

Make sense?

 

[foxfish]

I fact if any thing - any upward force on the spear would be relaxed the micro second the tension on the running line was released!
It would be great to see a slow-mo film of the firing cycle!
However I must say the line release system is not exactly high tech LOL.

 

[azapa]

Bros mate, I think I see where your line of thought gets a little pear-shaped. The energy of the spear does not pull line off the line release. Most line releases that I know let the line wrap fall away as the trigger is released. This happens when the spear has just left the mech.

Try this: place your spear in the gun, but don't click it into the mech. just hold it along side (outside) the mech. Then do your wraps and tighten the reel to stop the line flopping around. If I am right, without the spear over the line release to hold it down, the line release will pop up = upward force.

Don't get me wrong, Seatec kicks b*tt and I would love to own one, just as an engineer, this feature grates upon me in an otherwise very cool gun...

 

[foxfish]

Yes, there is a upward force on the spear while the gun is loaded with the spear in place but, when the spear is released the line will go slack & release the tension on the line release!
The spear will have to travel two barrel lengths before the line release is lifted up..

 

[azapa]

sorry foxy, I am lost. My whole point was, that upward force on the back of the spear (from the tension made by the reel to stop the line flopping around) would exert a force lifting the back of the spear as it leaves the cassette, hence altering point of impact lower (fractionally). Do you not agree?

I'll just have to buy one and test it! Good thing it's friday!

 

[foxfish]

You just need to think about it a little bit more - as soon as the spear begins its travel forward the line release is no longer under tension - so no it would not lift the tail of the spear.

 

[azapa]

fair do's Fox (and Bros) I see your point(s). I still don't like that line release though

 

[Broseidon]

Well I heard that the line release doesn't like you either! rofl

 

[azapa]

it just needs to see my softer side.....