Where do you measure the distance of you shot from?

[cousy]

What is the starting point that you use to measure the distance on your shots? My starting point has always been my out stretch hand because I consider a speargun to be an extension of my hand.

After talking with some other divers I realized that they measure the shot from the muzzle of their gun. It seems that this is the way most divers measure the distance of their shots since I recently read an article in Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine where they tested the accuracy of several Euro style guns in a swimming pool where they shot at a distance of 13 feet from the muzzle of the gun.

I will always estimate my range from my out stretched arm because it is easier me since I use a number of different length guns. But, in the future if I am asked the distance that I shot a particular fish I will subtract the length of the gun that I was using from my estimated range.

 

[drunkinbda]

personally, i say the shot is from the tip of the spear (i use polespear).

Basically, i would say somethign along the lines of the fish was 10ft away, but it was a 5ft shot.

:friday

 

[foxfish]

Good question but as with a lot of things spearfishing, there wont be a documented answer.
I would personally measure the distance from the spear tip - ie - I shot a bass today at point blank range or in other words my spear tip was almost touching the fish?

 

[Mr. X]

Agreed, it is a good question. I guess we do this automatically without thinking about how we do it. I think I probably estimate from the spear tip for a close range (e.g. "the fish was only a foot away") but from my face (i.e. viewing point) or hand for longer distances (e.g. "vis. was less than a metre - I couldn't see the end of my spear"; "the fish was 10 feet away, just out of range").

 

[Almostafish]

I think you should use the GHA of your spear tip and combine that with the LHA of Aries to produce a great circle track of the spears movement through the required latitudes and vertexes.... Making sure to use the haversine method in conjunction with Noires tables. Not forgetting the catenary affect of course..:t

 

[drunkinbda]

I think you should use the GHA of your spear tip and combine that with the LHA of Aries to produce a great circle track of the spears movement through the required latitudes and vertexes.... Making sure to use the haversine method in conjunction with Noires tables. Not forgetting the catenary affect of course..:t

seems complicated... can we not just use pythageros? Triangle between the speartip, bottom and fish?

SOHCAHTOA

 

[Pastor]

I know that JBL measure the range of their guns from the tips of their fins rofl

 

[flyflicker]

I sense tension in our midst - but there's only one way to find out -- fffffffffight!!! :martial

 

[miles]

Play nicely guys!!:naughty:naughty

Almostafish, the question asked is a legitimate one, one even i wondered about in my newbie days. Getting a response like yours, especially considering that the cousy is new to our forum, is not proper ettiquette. Secondly, personal attacks WILL not be tolerated! (as per our Forum Rules)

 

[blaiz]

I know that JBL measure the range of their guns from the tips of their fins rofl

roflroflPastor... you never disappoint!

Ive always estimated the range from the tip of my spear. Hey Cousy, where in hawaii are you?

 

[Old Man Dave]

I have always used the range of the "shot" to be the distance the fish was from the spear tip but the range of the "fish" to be the distance from my eyes/head to the fish.

Just another complicated view.

Dave

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Since I have no access to a pool where distance can be measured, I have no idea what the range of my guns is, so its not relevant to say whether the range is from my hand, the tip of the shaft, or the tip of my fins. I think I have a pretty decent idea what it looks like when a fish in in range, and that is what counts.

I've frankly always been puzzled by questions like this and the resulting answers. I have yet to encounter a fish that will hold still and let me run a measuring tape out to it.

 

[Mr. X]

I've frankly always been puzzled by questions like this and the resulting answers. I have yet to encounter a fish that will hold still and let me run a measuring tape out to it.

The original question referred to specific tests in a pool but it's the sort of thing that can come up in discussion. It's more about crude estimates than precise measurement - close shot/long shot covers most situations, spearguns have quite limited range. The magnifying effect of seeing through water (parallax?) doesn't help.

I was surprised when I repeatedly missed several good bass opportunities on a dive early in the season. I don't dive deep but these shots were at fish above me so I was surprised when my spear didn't reach (I was using a new, shorter gun). I laid out my two spear guns later & fully extended the spear-lines to compare the ranges. The range was better than I expected and the difference was quite a lot smaller than I expected but perhaps enough to be significant in the circumstance.

 

[Almostafish]

I've frankly always been puzzled by questions like this and the resulting answers. I have yet to encounter a fish that will hold still and let me run a measuring tape out to it.

Its more diplomatic than my last offering but this says it all for me.

Missing fish because you underestimated the range has more to do with the need to improve actual real life skills and not having another discussion about it perhaps. Also being familiar with your gear to the point of just knowing if a fish is in range without having to waste half a second working it out is pretty much a must in my humble opinion.

If you are going to insist on measuring range then from the tip of the spear to the fish sounds the best.

 

[Bill]

Interesting topic. IMHO it doesn't care how 'you' measure the distance, it's how a fish measures the distance. If you swing onto a fish he seems to measure from the muzzle of the gun but if you're holding the muzzle and point it at the fish before you extend the gun, he seems to measure distance from your mask. I thought that I invented the method of carrying a big gun by the muzzle and at the hip (upside down too if that makes a difference) but I've seen enough pictures to wonder if a majority of blue water hunters do this.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I thought that I invented the method of carrying a big gun by the muzzle and at the hip (upside down too if that makes a difference) but I've seen enough pictures to wonder if a majority of blue water hunters do this.

I have no idea who invented it, but I carry that way too. And not just in blue water- I carry it that way in the kelp too. In addition to the fact that its not sticking out in front of me scaring fish, it permits me to extend the gun at the fish rather than swing at the fish.

For those who wonder what we are talking about, here is a photo that I scanned from Blue Water Hunting and Freediving by Terry Maas. The diver is holding a big tuna gun in the photo, but with the guns I usually carry, the muzzle is behind or right next to my head, and I usually don't even need to support it with my left hand.

 

[Almostafish]

Yeah I have dived with a few deep " Med " guys who use that method, I use it every now and then in rapidly moving water when swimming forward as it gives less drag and allows you to get the gun on the fish in one uncluttered forward movement.

 

[Mr. X]

...I thought that I invented the method of carrying a big gun by the muzzle and at the hip (upside down too if that makes a difference) but I've seen enough pictures to wonder if a majority of blue water hunters do this.

Italian spearo Georgio Daparin does the same in a DVD I have. Although not always, more on the deeper, longer dives with longer(/heavier?) guns. I wouldn't think drag is reduced but it certainly reduces muscle strain. Holding the RA out front while swimming got tiring after a couple of hours as it is a little tip heavy & requires some tension to keep the tip up. Not such an issue with the little XXV which is much lighter and shorter, although slightly tip heavy too.

 

[Bill]

Now that you mention it 'tip heavy' has a lot to do with it. For the first 40-50 years I never used a shaft smaller than 8,5 mm nor a balanced gun.

 

[Almostafish]

Aye thats it, What does Bills 40-50 years experience have against discussion's? Hmmm? Errr Lots??

Don't think drag is reduced.. Well try it..



Sir dark night Almostafish.