Speargun designs I can't stand

I've never shot a roller gun and can't comment on the recoil. But I doubt I'd shoot one even if it worked like a laser because of how they're loaded. I've seen a lot of videos of guys struggling to grab the tiny bit of wishbone sucked into the muzzle. And lots of builds that incorporate loading tools and extra handles on the wishbone. No thanks.

Which reminds me of something I dislike in general. Closed Muzzles and enclosed tracks.

Mating the end of the spear to the end of the gun makes me feel like a drunken knight trying to sheath his sword. I much prefer holding both at midpoint, poking the spear through the bands while clearing the shark fins and then dropping the spear on the track and engaging it into the mech. This works really well with a deep open track but I find that even with my carbon pipeguns shallow track I can quickly engage the spear without looking or thinking by using my gun hand to guide it.

People also seem to love building roller guns with reels. Seems like asking for trouble to me.

Polespears or gtfo

This thread is fun.

Tools are for amateurs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LksuKTD8y0o&sns=em

Quote from Dan

Good rubber is the key. That small ID stuff is da shit. It stretches and stretches as far as you can pull it. How much power are you missing?:plusone: and I don't feel this contradicts what I said before about liking to feel the "good" recoil. Still I think eventually you'll come back to the 2 x 16mm configuration

I agree 100% with this, people over here (australia) seem obsessed with using 18 or 20mm bands, i can't stand the feel of this bigger rubber, plus its much harder to re-load.

I use twin 16 for 90% of my dives and love this configuration.

Just my 2c anyway

Quote from Dan

Good rubber is the key. That small ID stuff is da shit. It stretches and stretches as far as you can pull it. How much power are you missing?:plusone: and I don't feel this contradicts what I said before about liking to feel the "good" recoil. Still I think eventually you'll come back to the 2 x 16mm configuration

I should have been more clear. I am a huge 2x16mm band user/gay lover! It's just this one gun that I'm trying it out. I'm also using a thinner shaft for that 6.75mm vs 7.5mm.

Quote from Reefchief

I've never shot a roller gun and can't comment on the recoil. But I doubt I'd shoot one even if it worked like a laser because of how they're loaded. I've seen a lot of videos of guys struggling to grab the tiny bit of wishbone sucked into the muzzle. And lots of builds that incorporate loading tools and extra handles on the wishbone. No thanks.

Which reminds me of something I dislike in general. Closed Muzzles and enclosed tracks.

Mating the end of the spear to the end of the gun makes me feel like a drunken knight trying to sheath his sword. I much prefer holding both at midpoint, poking the spear through the bands while clearing the shark fins and then dropping the spear on the track and engaging it into the mech. This works really well with a deep open track but I find that even with my carbon pipeguns shallow track I can quickly engage the spear without looking or thinking by using my gun hand to guide it.

People also seem to love building roller guns with reels. Seems like asking for trouble to me.

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Roller guns without the reel is no fun, that's almost too easy to deal with! Dan and I have spent hours over this discussion, but I just prefer reels versus a floatline.

I'm a believer in the benefits of an ET, in the sense that they keep the shaft from whipping. My buddy has a 57" ET that he's been using with a bent to hell Mori shaft, but still gets lots of fish. This shaft is visibly bent from a distance, so I think the shaft straightening aspect of the track does work. I only built it for a Bluewater gun and for the simplicity in the roller. They have to slow the shaft down.

Quote from Wishihadgills;

Im sure Don can explain better as he is an expert when it comes to speargun rubber.

I'll come back to this when I'm feeling better as now I'm sleep deprived and pumped up on sore throat and cold meds.

LR ( natural rubber) is a amazing product just like grapes, and like fine wine, fine rubber needs to be blended, cured, and aged properly.

I have spent hundreds of hrs testing rubber 20 years ago on stock specimens and custom rubber blends by a few gun builders that tried to push the edge. A new thread will be need to be started.

Short version....right now one of my guns has Dan's small id hole 5/8's @ 300% elongation. (Specimen length X 3) One gun has Mori's 5/8's at the same percentage elongation.

For optimum performance all rubber needs to be matched to the individual gun length, it's wt, along with shaft length,and dia. All this has to be finally factored into what a individual shooter can successfully cock.

Cheers, Don

Don't knock a roller gun til you try a good one.

I love my roller gun for its lack of recoil and therefore incredible accuracy.

Its also more versatile with 3 loading tabs for different power configurstions. And power? Trust me, I had to lengthen the band because I was bending shafts shooting thru fish into the bottom, there is no lack of power.

Any of you guys make it to Clearwater, let me know. We'll go test shoot them, into a bunch of fish no doubt.

C

has anyone ever injured themselves chest loading those large 18mm and 20mm bands . i imagine its a lot of force on a small area of your chest .:confused1:

It hurts bare chested, but no drama to reload all day with a wetsuit with loading pad.

Dan you mentioned your designing a new carbon gun. What to divulge any details?

Well keep us posted, please.

Quote from tufual

has anyone ever injured themselves chest loading those large 18mm and 20mm bands . i imagine its a lot of force on a small area of your chest .:confused1:

feels great :thumbsup2:

I like to think it gets me in the mood to kill something.