Switched to a 6.5 mm shaft

  • Nice video. Great diving. Do you teach courses? :D


    We see cuberas come up like that here without FADs. But only uneducated ones and even those will take one look.....and if you don't get a shot, they're gone. We won't see them again.....unless you can dive to 90 - 100 and hide on the bottom. I can't.


    That's why everyone should have a jake on board :)

    i like to spear fish

  • I have hit a World Record Cero Mackrel (20 lbs or so) from about 15 feet away, with a single banded 120 and light sharp shaft.
    Placement and speed where a bit to good and cracked his spine mid body.


    Was grinning ear to ear, was mid water in about 80 but at end of long dive.


    Shaft went in to the flopper.


    As soon as I surfaced and tugged gently shaft slipped out.


    Even with half his body paralyzed, he easily escaped into deepwater.


    Have also had it happen with a nice yellow jack. Back when I used to use the twin gun (1m with beast bands) and had it happen on 2 consecutive shots into same fish. Both where perfectly placed into spine from less than 8f away at diffrent angles mid body. First one stopped him cold. Long enough to shoot it a second time as it sank for good measure as i suspected poor penetration,
    both hit spine squarely slipped out.


    In the pic look like the shots were high. But they transected spine because of the downward angle. ;)


    Difference was, it went head first into reef and we were able to recover it.


    After that I give momentum more of a consideration.


    Point being accuracy and speed are only part of the equation on once in a lifetime fish. Punching power can make a difference but everything is a compromise. Im a fan of the 5/16s and the 7mm myself. But am pondering a 7.5 for any trips overseas just in case

  • But that was with a single 19mm band, 2 x 16mm bands is much more power.
    With a double gun the bottom shaft is way underpowered.
    A spine shot on a 20lb fish will stop many a shaft.


    I'd say that being longer a 6.5mm shaft for a 130cm has the same weight and carries almost the same momentum as a 7mm shaft for a 120cm gun.


    Just weighed the shafts:
    170cm 6.5mm RA: 452 grams
    160cm 7mm stainless steel Speardiver: 476 grams


    24 grams doesn't amount to much where penetration is concerned.


    Anyways proof's in the pudding.. I have to shoot more fish and then will post results. A big cuda is a good test, robust spine, and is easy enough to find.

  • This particular twin was tweaked with a long overhang 7 mm shafts, sharpened before each outing, rail upgrades and super tight bands, think they were 20 mm Just on the verge of overpowering both of the shafts.


    I had utter faith in that gun, and stoned most of the fish I shot with it. Upto 30 lbs gags and 50lbs ajs. Would love to still have it. Deadly accurate with both shafts. But it had its clear limitations


    24 grams doesn't sound like a lot but it carries momentum.

    I like the idea of a chart with weights for different length and diameter shafts.


    Can really help getting a clear picture of the ballistics.

  • You'd have a hard time finding a true 20mm band. They're mostly 19mm rubber referred to as 20mm. Not that it makes much difference power wise, just to be accurate. However the power difference between 1 x 19mm and 2 x 16mm is significant.

  • Dan. Do you have the weights of these shafts or are you weighing them? I'd like to know the weight difference on the same length for a 160cm shaft at 6.5,7,&7.5 and for the same at 170cm


    I feel like the compromise will almost always come out a matter of personal preference and what you are used to.

    i like to spear fish

  • There is another fact to take into consideration when using long/thin shafts; they wiggle when overpowered and loose reach/punch.


    My favorite thickness overall is 7 mm.

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

  • :@ and castle doors


    Hahaha



    I also favor 7.5mm shafts. They bring the pain and still zip
    I have a thicker shaft on my bw gun
    I really like the idea of a 90 cm gun with a 120cmx6.5mm shaft. Feel like that would be a shallow reef reeper
    Plus thinner shaft will tear up small fish less.

    i like to spear fish

  • I shoot 1/4, 9/32, 6.75mm, 7mm, 5/16, only 3/8 in Baja, like bullets they all need different power depending on the barrel length and prey. I have no favorites, they are just tools, I have lot of them.


    They remind me of cars.1/4'' Ferrari Fast but high maintenance, not good for towing shite.(400#mono):(
    3/8'' Mercedes S class, fast when hi powered, but once moving...keeps moving and it can go though a wall.:D (will tow a F-250 if you have a hitch)....500# mono and wire rope):D.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

  • I shoot 1/4, 9/32, 6.75mm, 7mm, 5/16, only 3/8 in Baja, like bullets they all need different power depending on the barrel length and prey. I have no favorites, they are just tools, I have lot of them.


    They remind me of cars.1/4'' Ferrari Fast but high maintenance, not good for towing shite.
    3/8'' Mercedes S class, fast when hi powered, but once moving...keeps moving and it can go though a wall.:D


    Cheers, Don


    Well said and I agree, although I have limited experience compared to you buddy.


    But the difference is, you can choose to use the Ferrari (1/4") but on your way home, your buddy's F350 is broken down and you have to tow him.
    Kind of like going out with a 7 mm or even 1/4" and having a 60 lb cubera swim up to you and go like, "what, you gonna pull that trigger or stare all day"? :D


    For that reason, I prefer a little extra fire power. I'll blow a bigger hole in a 2 lb school master but if I DO see that big one. I can take him.

  • But the difference is, you can choose to use the Ferrari (1/4") but on your way home, your buddy's F350 is broken down and you have to tow him.

    No you don't....your in a Ferrari, head to the swankest strip club in town...park up front and head for the table dances. Your friend can get his broken truck on the hook tomorrow:D.


    Now while I'm on the whiskey... Viagra may make a steel shaft stiffer, heat treating will not. ;) for that ....
    you want greater cross section.:thumbsup2: Yeah Baby.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • No you don't....your in a Ferrari, head to the swankest strip club in town...park up front and head for the table dances. Your friend can get his broken truck on the hook tomorrow:D.


    Now while I'm on the whiskey... Viagra may make a steel shaft stiffer, heat treating will not. ;) for that ....
    you want greater cross section.:thumbsup2: Yeah Baby.


    Cheers, Don

    Don you are hilarious!!

    i like to spear fish

  • What I was alluding to is: All steels have basically the same modulus of elasticity and are all equally stiff.
    Heat treating ( precipitation hardening steels) will not make a shaft harder to bend but will change it's yield strength before permanent deformation....as in... dat flecken big Gropa pretzel'd me shaft.:@
    Fat spear shafts( greater cross section) (of the same material) are stiffer then their thinner counter parts.


    P.S. I've shot a shite load of fish up to 50# with 1/4'' spring steel shafts, my first ones were made of Maraging heated steel.
    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited 3 times, last by Don Paul: typo ().

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