Which is more Powerful?

[Marwan]

I know its not really apples to apples, but which do you think will have more Punch/penetration power:
1- Mares Supersten 100 with 8mm shaft OR
2 - Rabitech 120 Apex with twin 16mm bands and 8mm shaft?

Im more used to the rabi and trying to decide which one to take on a trip where big species may be encountered :martial :crutch ... appreciate your help on this one guys...

 

[getawayFK]

I am not sure which is more powerful, but I know that airgun have more power in proportion to their length compared to rubber guns...

However one thing to keep in mind is that airgun are very loud... So when u shooting at a fish that is lets say 6m from u, the fish will have some time interval in which it will be able to move a lil bit till the spear hit it (speed of sound in salt water like around 1500m/s compared to the spear speed of an air gun (I think the max would be like 90m/s).... So lets say for a big game fish, the fish will have some time to twitch and move till the spear hit it which could reflect into a missed perfect shot (e.g: a tail shot versus a perfect spine shot)....

Also one thing I find negative about airguns is that they lose power after every few shots so you need to keep the pump around, go to the surface and repump.... Also I heard tons of stories of guys breaking the pump into the airgun while refilling...

I think rabitech makes perfect guns that are solid, accurate, durable, silent, and reliable... Maybe a 130 or even 140 could fulfill your need too.... The only issue i guess would be the transportation ( I guess any gun 130 and above needs a car with a lot of space :head )...

That's my .02 cents

Have safe dives mate !

 

[Fondueset]

If you want to use an airgun for range I'd suggest something like a Mares Cyrano - rather than the Sten. The Cyrano has a smaller piston diameter (less water to push) and shoots a 7mm shaft. This gives it more velocity and range. The sten shoots a heavier shaft at lower velocity.
The ultimate is to put a mamba kit on the air gun - these kits seal the barrel so the piston does not drive a water column and have very high velocities and good range - also with a 7mm shaft.

The Cyrano also is not particularly loud due to shock absorber at the muzzle and the polymer piston - with a mamba kit they are even quieter. The higher velocity of the shaft increases your chance of hitting where you aim.

With respect, Properly functioning air guns do not lose air and normally require pumping only after routine maintenance.
It is important to safeguard against getting sand in the barrel - as this can scratch the interior and disrupt the seal - but airguns are generally quite durable and require maintenance less often that band guns require new bands. I personally owned several air guns as a teenager and never had to pump air into them during 3 years of abuse - with no loss of power. The gun designs are much better now.

The right airgun will shoot much further and faster than a band gun of comparable length equipped with two bands. The drawback is the airgun's shaft will be relatively shorter - so less kinetic energy - but much higher velocity - particularly with a mamba kit. The DB user Shaneshac has extensive experience with a mamba equipped air gun - do a search here on Cyrano or Mamba to learn more.

 

[spaghetti]

Marwan, I've been told here on DB that SA guns are equipped with very powerful bands, but nontheless I still think (just supposing) that an 8mm shaft on an "euro" double band gun is too heavy: too thick, and much longer than an airgun's shaft, which means even more weight, too much for long shots. Use a thinner shaft if you can: more speed, more penetration.
On the contrary, the supersten will have no problem to give an 8mm shaft the proper punch, with or without the Mamba kit, but yes, Frank Johnson is right: the Mamba kit on a supersten would make a hell of a gun. And however, a 100cm airgun is not the optimum length for "blue water" style hunting: 110 or 115 wiìould give you a significant "plus" compared to a 100.

 

[Fondueset]

As an American I have no choice but to act as if I don't believe you then, sometime later, proceed as if I had invented it.

God Hail George Washington

FJ

PS - I have heard of an 8mm shaft on an omer cobra.

 

[Huw]

Yeah all of these points seem right, however one thing i would say is that if for some reason you do decide on taking the band gun with the 8mm shaft, you may want to consider taking some 18mm bands aswell as your 16mms.

This way if your out there and you find the shaft too heavy and power too low, then the thicker bands should help straighten out the trajectory and also wack a little more power too. Just check that the triger can take the strain.

Have a good trip

Huw.

 

[MARMIR]

....if I had to use a 8mm shaft I would use Supersten...an 8mm shaft for a doble

 

[MARMIR]

...Sorry If I had to use a 8mm shaft I would use Supersten...an 8mm shaft for a double 16mm bands (120 long) is too heavy, maybe a little bit more energy due to shaft lenght (heavier) but no speed...not to mention
manageability....