Why the hate?

[l0keman]

Why does everyone hate JBL spearguns? I always see that they are the least reccomended and that everyone should avoid them like the plague. I see every noob trying to break into spearfishng (like myself) asking what gun to get, they are considering a JBL.... then everyone says no, get anything but a JBL. They never say why... just not to get one. I see one of 2 kinds of posts reguarding JBL guns... people who have one and love it and people who swear against them and never say why.

So I am considering a JBL Gulf Magnum XHD Speargun.... so how is this a piece of crap compaired to the Riffe guns that are $500 more and has worse stats. Like I said, I am a noob, i just am very comfused. I held a JBL at the store and a Riffe at the store. The JBL seemed far superior when I was looking. I don't want to pay $500 dollars more for the riffe just to get some trivial amount of performance. Like .04 inch tighter groups or to shave 2db of noise off.

Let me know if this gun is indeed a POS and exactly why, please.

 

[azapa]

go fishing with a few buddies and borrow guns until you try something you like. Most people IMHO buy far too big and cumbersome guns for what they intend to shoot. Have you thought of a pneumatic ..

 

[deep thinker]

I have absolutely no experience regarding the JBL. Ill second Azapa though and say try as many guns as possible until you find something you like as there are so many brands out there some mite even be cheaper and better than the JBL or Riffe ( not to step on any toes though lol ). What grounds are you planning on hunting, what types of fish, what is the average size of fish in your area and what will your general visibility be as this will all affect your final decision. Have you looked at RA or Rabitech guns as these too are very strong very rugged brands and with the Rabitech comin from south africa they should be relatively cheap...
Final word of advise, remember that you can kill fish with a sharpened broom stick if you have the rite technique...
Goodluck and happy diving mate

 

[drunkinbda]

So I am considering a JBL Gulf Magnum XHD Speargun....

NO.. DEF DO NOT GET IT!!!!!

just kidding..but come on someone had to say it..
i honestly just ignore extreme comments against things. Its the whole deal with if you have a good experience, you never say much, but if you had a bad you want everyone to know..

:friday

 

[icarus pacific]

Wher do you dive, what's your intended usuage, what depths, etc...?

I have had all the guns mentioned here and more and I have zero problem letting you know if a gun isn't suited for you. I have old pre JBL guns that have taken more fish than my waaay more expensive guns, but in areas and species that they were better suited. A piece of crap in someone else's hand is a helluva tool in another.

 

[Erik]

They are too heavy for a freediver, they do not become bouyant when the shaft is freed, the trigger mechanism is noisy, clunky and horrible. I took 4lbs of my belt when I switched to a Eurogun.
For a scubadiver they're acceptable, but when you're freediving you want something light, neutral, balanced and silent.
JBL's are good for laying around the deck and getting weights dropped on them, stepped on by scubadivers and still work fine. They are tough and durable... my comaprison is a 4X4 1975 pickup truck (JBL) to a Ferrari (Eurogun).

 

[Fondueset]

I used JBLs when I was a kid. The design hasn't changed. They shoot a heavy shaft and are generally heavy guns and not particularly well balanced. The JBL carbine I had was an extremely poorly constructed gun. The trigger would frequently jam and it sometimes fired accidentally - or would not fire at all. They are relatively slow guns but with quite a bit of punch. The other models are fairly reliable.

My little riffe MT0 never jams - even when packed with sand. It is extremely quiet (vinyl enclosed track), accurate and reliable. With the Riffes there is a big tendancy to overpower - heavy shafts - lots of bands. Mine is rigged with a light shaft and just enough power and it is extremely accurate and fast. It is also heavy but not like the JBLs - and with the mid-handle there is not much strain on the wrist.

I also like the euro guns - light, maneuverable - easy to aim and very good ones can be had for not much. I'm a big fan of stalking skills over huge guns.
Guys like Erik and Icarus Pacific have much more experience than I but that's my eleven cents.

 

[Seal]

I have a JBL Sawed Off Magnum. In my opinion having owned/pwned 7+ guns, it is a great beginner gun. Yes it is heavy, but it's solid, and the spear will never break, never! The bands are fine just stay away from the black ones, they are too thin unless you are weak. Get the yellow bands, I belive they are standart on the XHD

And they look awesome, and that's a motivating factor when you are a beginner spearfisher.

+ I have never had it jam, or misfire or anything. And that's the only gun I have never had problems with. I would not pay for a Riffe untill Im loaded with money or know 100% what model I want.

Buy it, own it, love it!

If I where to pick a gun that should last me the next 10 years the XHD is it

Just look at it, sturdy, rugged. A torpedo launcher. Then use the 500$ on a pair of good fins or suit. Just my 2 cents....

 

[GreekDiver]

do more research and buy a real gun. I started with jbl because of the price. I shot a lot of fish with them too. They are just poorly balanced and designed and the trigger is very stiff. So make a choice on what you want to do. I would save up a little more money and buy a real gun that has a resale value if you dont like it. JBL has no resale value. Buy a rob allen or go pnuematic like i did.

 

[Seal]

I own a Rob Allen 140 carbon, it's a nice gun. But a XHD is also nice, and it will not break if it gets a scratch.
I also own a Totemsub Pelagos (wooden gun) Super nice to look at and hunt with. But it gets scratches, and need varnish now and again.

Stay away from a JBL Carbine, but any XHD will be fine. I want one, it's the only gun I would trust to poke in a sharks mouth, try doing that with a carbon or wood gun : )
I still say it's good value for money, It wont win any smuggnes awards but it will kill some fish.

 

[azapa]

this has obviously turned into a "fave gun" or "dream gun" hijack. Being Friday, and heading out to the beach, I will make things worse:
Maorisub - mamba90car
now that is power in a short (movable) package. Come July, bank balance pending.....It will be MINE hahhahaa (bad guy in James Bond films laugh please)

 

[Fondueset]

I've got a cyrano 970 with mamba intentions...

 

[Seal]

Mmmmmm the maaamba (Simpsons voice)

That's my current dream gun right now. Think i'll get one next month 90 or 110 can't decide?

 

[spaghetti]

this has obviously turned into a "fave gun" or "dream gun" hijack.

I'll throw my 2 cents in the Stetson hat: in the cheap range nothing beats an OMER T20. Elegant but still cheap and strong, light but still solid and accurate. I'm loving it more than ever.
...
From what I've heard on JBL, what makes me wonder the most is the extremely THICK shaft: I guess it takes soooo much power to gain velocity and penetration with such a big spear.

 

[azapa]

Mmmmmm the maaamba (Simpsons voice)

That's my current dream gun right now. Think i'll get one next month 90 or 110 can't decide?

the 90 loaded with spear is about 112Cm en total, quite long. From what I have heard, you will probably be under pressurizing to avoid too much power! Without water in the cylinder the piston really smacks forwards...

 

[Fondueset]

Right - but the kit includes a new muzzle and piston designed to handle the speed. Out of the box the cyrano shoots nice. I've heard of mambas on guns as short as a 70 with very good results.

Since I got into all this again my first speargun in decades was the little riffe MTO. I have fantastic visibility and for a long time I thought it was too short range. Now that it's tweaked however, and my skills have improved it is really quite good out to about 4 meters.

 

[Seal]

Oh yeah one last gun recommendation.

Omer Mimetic Carbon, best euro band gun evar!(at the price) With two bands it rocks and with that reef muzzle you can aim it like no other. And it's cheap.

*Roger on the 90 beeing 112 with spear, I want to be able to load in water*

 

[colt.45]

75cm sporasub black viper love it, never had any reliability problems and shoots like a laser. and if you look around youshould be able to find one for well under $150 usd

 

[Marwan]

c4 104 mr carbon!

 

[spaghetti]

c4 104 mr carbon!

BOOM!!!

ciao Marwan!