Omer Airbalete 110

Went out for some blue (Green) water tests,
Balance of the gun was very good with the 7mm shaft. The gun was at 30bar of Nitrogen. I was looking for some small top smelt to practice on when a pair of small bonita breezed past app 4 meters off the tip.
I aimed at the eye on the larger one, pulled the trigger, heard a slight metallic clink as the slide ring connected with the tail piece. The shaft pierced the gill plate and the flopper toggled under the eye.
Found out locking the wing down with the ring retainer was of little use to remove the shaft. One would have to slide it down and through the wound
path to the flopper side of the fish. (maybe I will add a very small spot of TIG weld to stop it closer to the flopper).

After stringing the fish, the larger bonita swam by to watch me reload.
He must not have known I like his kind for Sashimi. I waited till I thought he was barely in range and aimed again at the eye.The shaft zinged out and struck one inch below my target and out the gill plate.

I built a different reloader handle and will post pictures Wed.
The shaft stows nicely with the tail piece slid over the line on the reel and retained at the front by a Oring around the front barrel groove.
Cheers, Don

__________________

The fish swims the same on both coasts, that's why I love shooting them, and the meat makes great Poke.

The gun shoots very smooth at 30 bar with the 7mm, I shot a old Sten 140 a few times and this gun is way more quite. In the blue a loud metallic clank is not a big deal, many times it just brings in more curious
fish like Yellowtail and tuna. I can tell you first hand the white sea bass ''make no noise under water'' hunt is
not always the case. i have had more than a few come over to check out a fish I have just shot.

When I convert this to dry barrel I will most likely just run it at 25 bar for what want to stalk lying on the bottom, and talking to the croakers. (WSB).
Cheers, Don

Quote from sdeisen

just out of curiosity is bonita sashimi similar in taste and texture to tuna?

Close, a little bit more delicate in texture. Best after one day on the ice, lets the meat calm down.
Don

Quote from Marco

I'm glad you're happy with the fartgun.

Thanks.
Yeah, that's what happened when I tried to cock the thing in the water
I found out I'm way out of top form, you can now call me a Bubble Butt.

I keep having dreams I'm at a spot called PV looking for calico bass (10# is huge) and a 100 lb WSB swims
in front off me and my wood gun clan,s voice is saying . WHAT THE F CK were you think Barrney?

Cheers, Don

Quote from Marco

Well, EVERYBODY is taking WSB in SoCal. Even Mr. Billymac....

Stop testing your fartgun and give him some real action!

I have already taken one far from the coast line where they are not trying to spawn.
Blood is thicker than water, I belong to a different clan, 99% will not be playing kiss and tell on a open forum with WSB.

Don't bother looking over there for any of my fish I have taken in the last few years.;) that's how I roll.

When I get a WSB I am proud of, you will see it here, but without a map to the spot.
I plan on posting here many of my offshore adventures when the Yellow tail and Tuna return along
with a Blue Water Meet later in June.
Cheers, Don

Quote from Marco

+2

We old men have to kick youngster's asses!

Some do... '' This is only a exhibition, not a competition.... Please no wagering''.;) Letterman.

Ciao, Don

When I swam the gun through the kelp,the reel would hook on stringers.The green hard pack tuna line in image 5 will serve 3 functions.
1.Blend a little old school texture into all the metal and composite.
2.Help shield the reel from kelp stringers hooking.
3.Keep the reel and gun together should the reel tangle or hook a loop and be detached from the gun by a large fish.

I do not intend to use this gun for shooting grouper in caves so I'm loosing the Bald Eagle looking white handle.
No hate male please Omer... or all you gun losing types.;)

I made the handle grip using my cheap old school ways....( inner tube and 3m 5200).Line loop in image 4, is 600lb kevlar going up though the main handle body.( for drag line when needed).
I then re-machined a rubber plug I had and 5200ed it to the spool end to keep less sand going into the spool/bracket mount.

The bright shiny reel mount is a Omer part I reworked to replace the plastic/composite bit.
Made a rubber plug for the hole at the rear of the handle for adjusting trigger settings.
To be Cont....

I did this work last week and already changed out the green tuna line for some 2mil black coated wire rope.
If the gale winds ever stop blowing off shore, I'll get it wet along with the Fine...Fine...Fine looking Pursuit Carbon fins.
Cheers, Don

Quote from Adrian

That handle came out really nice, good job Don.

Thanks buddy, it was very easy and really improves the grip.
Wait till you see my wood gun I'm going to post in a separate thread at the end of the week.
Cheers, Don

Quote from Dan

The gun is looking mean! Don, can you explain a little more how you did the grip? I'm assuming it's a bicycle inner tube.

Sure, the tube is from a mountain bike called VeeRubber size26x1.75. The tubes are powdered inside so first fit is
easy. Cut of a piece a inch longer then handle, just take your time and stretch it up to a good fit. Then
let it stay in place for a day to stabilize. Use a exacto knife to trim to fit top and bottom. I filled in any voids
at the bottom with leveled 3m5200 after I super glued the edges, but remember it takes 48 hr to cure. Turpentine works well to get off your skin.

I use to do the same thing on my darkside barrels to keep them from getting chewed up in ledges.
Cheers, Don