Newbies speargun??

[adv_diver1]

What would be a good newbie gun? I have experience on land with guns and rifles, but never underwater and they do alot of spearfishing on the wrecks here in Charleston, SC, so I wanted to know what a good entry level gun is without blowing the budget.

Thanks

[Grin]

48 Biller is a good gun for around $200.
For around $300 you can get a much more powerful, and much nicer Aimrite gun. I have a 90 Aimrite that is a very nice gun. Aimrites are going on sale at Florida Freedivers(they have a website). You can also get them straight from Aimrite(there is a website for this also), but they are in Hawaii and you will pay alot more for shipping from Hawaii. Onsale and much less shipping $$ from FL freedivers. I also have a $600 extreme gun for clear open water and big fish. But a Aimrite 110 would be a great gun for any fish that swims for a great price. Get a 100 or 110 Aimrite and you'll be one happy spearfisherman. All the sizes of Aimrites are close to the same($280-$300)The Aimrites are powerful because they use the entire length of the gun to hold as long of a spear as possible, and this also gets you more band stretch(more power). The tradeoff is, they are harder to load for some people. Personally I don't think they are hard to load.
The benefit of the Biller is, it is easily loaded on your hip, but there is alot of wasted length used for the Butt of the gun to allow this. So you have a smaller spear and less power.
If you get the Biller you will want a new gun soon, but they work fine. If you get the Aimrite you will be happy for quite awhile.
EBAY has alot of guns on there also.

[adv_diver1]

Thanks for the great info!!! I will check it out. I am actively looking for something, but don't want to buy something too flimsy or one that I will want to upgrade later.

Thanks again.

[ScubaJW]

Interesting, I may as well check it out since I am a newbie to speargun.

[Puffer Fish]

I've used a JBL XHD (48").. I know that JBL is not considered a real spear gun, but the the XHD is a tank of a spear gun...

On our recent dry tortugas trip, it got the biggest grouper...(I was not the shooter, I loaned it, while I caught lobster)...it went completely thru the fish.

There are only two concerns with it... if you leave the standard bands on... you have to be superman to pull them (unless you have practiced a lot). And do not use all three bands, unless it is a very, very big fish and there are no rocks on the other side.

I have used Biller's and Wang's and Riffe's... but I learned on the old Dacor aluminum ones...and still like the design. I do like some of the European designs (including the aimrite), but don't find them tough enough.

[adv_diver1]

Think it is possible to get ahold of one of the old aluminum Dacor's????

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by adv_diver1

Think it is possible to get ahold of one of the old aluminum Dacor's????

I don't know, but the only issue with the JBL's is the crappy trigger that wears out if you use it a lot. The XHD solves that issue. The shaft of these guns can be broken, but for the most part, not bent, which the dacor's also had.

The Biller stainless Steel is a nice design, and reasonable in price. They use the thinner shaft, that is easier to get going, and will penetrate farther, with smaller bands, but they can easily be bent.

[navyhmc]

A few helpful tidibts.

1. A pneumatic speargun can be used is salt water, but I don't reccommend it-seals are a bear to replace and costly too-these are best used in frech water. Nothing will damage a pneumatic like firing the thing out of the water-don't do it. If it's cocked and locked-either shoot it in a safe direction before you get out of the water or place the tip against a solid object like the ground, put your weight against the gun, pull the trigger and slowly ease the sper out. Also, when done for the season, release the pressure and store the gun muzzle down.

2. While it's common knowledge, when loading a rubber gun with multiple bands, load from the front to the the back of the gun. If you go to the furthest back notch first, you will either never get the next band on the forward nitch or will expend a great deal of energy doing so.

3. Puffer fish is dead on about the standard bands. They are a bear.

4. Just like firing a rifle on land, always be aware of what is down range-be very careful when shooting towards rocks r coral. Nothing messes up a spear tip like rock and coral. If the tip has a bit of a bend in it, the spear will track the same way as the bend-makes for poor accuracy.

5. I have had large Groupers actually snap off a spear tip. Some folks use spear tips that have break-away tips (the head attached to the shaft with a length of cable-the tip separate from the shaft and offers something more flexible for the fish to fight against. These too can be broken by big groupers. i.e. be cautious when going after the big guys and be very accurate in your hit.

6. Always have a at least two spare bands and a few spare tips in your Save-a-dive kit. A spare shaft isn't a bad idea either.

7. Most important!!! You are not the top predator in the sea. The fish you spear is sending off the stuff sharks track-blood and fish in distress pressure waves. Having a stringer full of fish attached to you is not a good idea. Get 'em into the boat and out of the water as soon as possible. If the shark wants your fish-let him have it. And keeping an eye out for jaws is a prudent move, not one of paranoia.

All that siad, have fun. I hve been on a number of spearfishing competitons and they can be fun as well as being able to meet a lot of great fellow divers.

[adv_diver1]

Cool info. I have wanted to give it a run and will do so this summer with these suggestions. Thanks again to everyone for the info.

[navyhmc]

good luck and let us know how you do.