Second Rubbers

[Fast Eddie]

Greetings all.

I have had my Imersion JB Esclapez Carbon railgun for 4 ears now and love it. I am just worried that my rubbers might be a little less effect these days, and also whether they might snap on the first load of a perfect weekend dive trip.

Also, I am going to have to replace my spear soon and am thinking of going a little gruntier in terms of spear thickness (up to 7.5mm) so I am thinking of adding another rubber, or changing my current one. My gun is 100cm.

I am just interested in a few answers that I haven't managed to find on the net:
1. Has anyone actually had a rubber snap on them?
2. My immersion gun has what seems to be a second rubber whole in the muzzle but it is lower than the attachment for the screw-in first set of rubbers (which are perfectly in line with the rail of course)? and has anyone run in to trouble with this set up since the second rubber is not in-line with the rail?
3. What do you guys think is a reasonable set up for getting my power up a bit? - going to a single 18mm rubber? Or adding another 16mm. Obviously, two 16mm will be more powerful, but I have never dealth with two rubbers, and wonder if there are some pitfalls with this approach. I can see loading time as an obvious problem, but I am sure there are more - like does the second wishbone tender to interfere with the first, especially if you choose to only load one because there are only small reef fish around?
4

As with most things, experience with some common sense is very useful, so I am interested in what people have to say?

Cheers,

 

[Pastor]

1. I've had a brand new rubber snap on me, first time out. 4 years old? Replace it
2. Personally I wouldn't use that second attachment, it does destroy the shooting geometry of the gun. It was designed for screw in bands so I would stick with them. If the gun had a rail then that would be different.
3. More power? Go with the 18's or even 20's

 

[BennyB]

Moved to euro spearguns.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[alexrom1207]

1. I've had rubbers break on me, although the usually tear rather than snap (just a matter of semantics I guess). I usually change mine every year or so.
4. As for loading several bands, the wishbones can tend to interfere when you're snapping them into the spear (especially when it is a grove and not a fin attachment). I use an AB Biller and when loading the second band the first can tend to slip out of its grove. At which point I curse and check all my fingers to make sure they're all still there. If you want to keep one slack just make sure it's not in the way of spear when it gets shot out, there's the possibility it could slingshot the spear back at you (I've heard stories of this happening).
IN THE END I would agree with pastor and go with a single 18mm or 20mm band. Both for simplicity and accuracy.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Thanks for all the good info. It sounds like I am fortunate not to have had it tear already, although truthfully, I tend to be a binge-diver, only finding time to do it when I am on holiday, so perhaps I have not worked them as hard as a regular spearo- that will change soon, I hope.

Sounds like I might have to invest in a pair of 18mm or even 20mm. Just hope I can load the gun then!!!