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I had a chance to test fire this a few times in Wood Guy's test tank today, and I learned a few things:

1. Wood Guy's high speed camera is freakin' COOL for this kind of stuff!
2. The roller gun design works nicely. It was easier than expected to load, the wishbone arresting pins worked well, and I had no issues with the bands jumping off the roller.
3. This gun has surprising power compared to a standard band setup. One of the advantages to this build was that I could easily replace the roller muzzle with a standard muzzle and a single band with the same stretch ratio.

In Wood Guy's tank, we were shooting at a foam archery target that's about 12" thick. With the standard muzzle, my shots were hitting about 4" low (10' to the target) and penetrating about 7-1/2" into the foam target.

With the roller muzzle, the shots were dead on vertically, and protruded 4"-5" through the back side of the foam target. I like this setup a lot, and I am excited to tinker with it more. I think it would have plenty of power for what I want to do, even if I shorten it a bit more from the current 42" length.

Wood Guy shot some really nice video of both the roller and standard muzzle, which shows the shaft moving forward with measured marks in the background to calculate shaft speed. He'll post it as soon as he has it ready.

A "Lion Tamer" was donated to the prize table today! By Rob Murphy and Florida Freedivers of WPB!

Something from "Pursuit" would be AWESOME too! Hint hint! :ashamed:

Updated Prize Table - Updated as prizes come in

JBL SS Three Prong Barbed Paralyzer Tip -

Set of Sporasub/H.Dessault footpockets with AB Biller blades - Size 44-46

A Foldspear - Folding, holstered polespear.

Several Mono Fish Stringers -

Lion Tamer - Specialized Lion Fish Spear -

Quote from Dan

What's stopping the rubbers from popping off the rollers?

Hopefully, the wishbone snags on the two arresting pins while there is still enough preload on the bands to keep it from jumping off the rollers. If need be, I can extend the metal sides to wrap around the front and capture the bands. I elected not to do that at first to keep the weight down.

Quote from japsw

pardon my ignorance but what is the benefit in a roller style gun compared to a standard band gun?

A little more power in the same length, or a little shorter length for the same power, without adding additional bands.

Hopefully I can shoot it this weekend. You may be perfectly correct, but worst case, I put the old muzzle back on and I've lost only some time.

I've been wanting to try a roller gun for a while, but I thought it would be interesting to adapt some of the stock parts I had on hand, instead of building a gun from scratch. So I made up a Delrin and stainless muzzle, and will try the two stainless buttons at the rear to secure the bands. The quick and dirty slide ring was just my simple way to use an existing shaft, because the shooting line couldn't run to the shark tab without likely fouling on the wishbone arrestor pegs. This isn't intended as a long range gun, so I'm hoping the affect on accuracy will be minimal.

I chose the peg arrangement because I wanted the bands to stop before they got pulled part way around the roller and affected the spear trajectory. I'm a little worried that the pins will be a weak point, but I did use heat treated 416 SS dowel pins, which are about twice as strong as 316. Also, I don't plan to use a lot of preload, so hopefully the force on the pins will me manageable.

I thought overall that the design made for an intersting approach, because it could be a "bolt on" mod for anyone who had the same barrel and a shark fin shaft.

The gun is 42" overall, which should be about right for the dirty water I'll use it in. Grouper is closed here, and Snapper will be in another month, so this will be for those quick little mangroves on the shallow wrecks.

Nice fish man! The wrap looks great btw!

I was wondering about those big ass lizards - I bet it would make a nice curry no? Hardcore Dan!

did you find the lead concentrated in small groups like that or did you put them together for the video?

Date tentative until pavilion reserved - Hopefully one is available for July 16th! If not - Date will be changed to the next available Saturday - Stay posted!

This event will focus on promoting the sport of spearfishing and freediving the Treasure Coast and South Florida regions.

Event Location: FORT PIERCE - PEPPER PARK - EAST PAVILLIAN - (North Parking Lot)

Time & Date: SATURDAY JULY 16th, 2011 from 8:30am to 3:00pm

A small cash donation is encouraged, but is not required to attend, participate and have fun. ALL donated funds will be used to cover cost of pavilion and food items. Raffle tickets will be given to those who donate. I will bring about 50 pounds of "Boerewors" South African Sausages, bread and condiments. Any and all remaining funds will be given away via raffle at event, (or we can take a vote to donate it to the FRA! ) Leftover or uncooked meat, condiments etc, will be offered to participant's before end of event.

Must be present and have "donated" to participate in raffles. For the "Big Fish" contest - You DO NOT have to "donate" to participate, eat and have fun, and the winner gets FIRST pick from prize table! "Big Fish" will be determined by length - So if you shoot a sheepshead and your buddy shoots a mackeral - Your buddy probably wins! (NO BARRACUDA'S) This is a no frills contest for fun and to promote the sport - So we'll keep it simple. There will also be a special prize for the longest lionfish! Contest fish will be filleted and donated to the local homeless shelter at shooter's discretion.

Companies and manufacturer's are currently being contacted and asked to donate to the "Prize Table" - So there should be some prizes from several vendors and local dive shops - I am starting off the donating by donating a set of Sporasub freedive fins and a JBL 3 prong polespear tip.

One thing is for sure, a fun time will be had by all. It's a chance to meet new spearo's, and to check out all the different gear. It's a "get together" for ALL spearo's and their families to relax and have a good time. Young and old. Experienced and newbie's alike, a family friendly event! There is a play park, bathrooms, and a few grills at the venue.

Please post if you are attending - If you plan to bring guest, and what, if any food you'll be bringing -You can also "Friend" me (Dan Schalk) on FaceBook, you can then RSVP to the "Event"! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149662431773117

Prize Table - Updated as prizes come in

JBL SS Three Prong Barbed Paralyzer Tip NIP -

Set of Sporasub/H.Dessault fins Size 44-46

A Foldspear -

Several Fish Stringers -

- THIS IS A SHORE ENTRY AND BREATH-HOLD SPEARFISHING EVENT FOR THE "Big Fish" CONTEST - SCUBA, KAYAK SPEARO'S AND ALL OTHERS ARE STILL WELCOME TO ATTEND, PARTICIPATE, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME - If this proves to be a success I plan on making it a Bi-Annual event!

"Aircraft aluminum" is one of those terms you want to be careful with, becaue it often refers to any of several higher strength aluminum alloys like 2024 and 7075. I think that 7075 is fine in salt water (Don Paul used it in some guns if I'm not mistaken), but 2024 is NOT generally used in salt water because it is prone to pitting. An old matallurgist I kew who had lived in Pensacola for 60 years or so used to tell about some guys who built some pontoon boats using old aircraft drop tanks that they somehow "liberated" from the Naval Air Station. The thin walled aluminum tanks developed pits and holes after a short time and sank.

all of the apps besides the navionics app is free

if you want to pay for them, the navionics app ($10) is a great backup GPS. It has all of the blue charts for the US that include topography and markers, tide station, etc.

Theres also a spearfishing game you can get that's pretty fun <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">

Google Earth, MSW (magic seaweed), USFA spearfishing

As far as weather apps go, marine now, day tides, my radar, wind alert, and the elbo room app that lets you check on a webcam of the weather

Darren,

Sorry, but I don't have any mounts right now. I'm stuck between houses right now (selling my old one and building a new one) so I don't have my shop up and running and can't build any for a while longer.

Quote from LunkerBuster

Pretty amazing man. Do you have a place there or where do you stay.

I see how cheap it is to fly over there but I don't know where to stay or how to get out once I head over. Any advice.

Actually this should be a new thread maybe

judah im definitely interested in dping abahmas trip, but I want to do it right

Great video and awesome fish!!! Looks like you guys had a hell of a trip. What part of the Bahamas were you in?

Thanks everyone! About to enjoy a cobia sandwich!

Beautiful craftsmanship! Love the handles.

I was supposed to be out on a boat at 6:30 AM this morning but woke at 4:30 AM feeling totally stuffed up and could not even think of diving - So I called and cancelled.

I went back to bed and woke at 10:30 still feeling gruff. A few hits of Afrin and a few Dayquil capsules down with my coffee. Before long I was pacing around the house feeling a bit better and wondering if I should have went. About 11:30 a guy I know from NJ called and asked if I wanted to do a shore dive @ FP - Against my better judgement I hopped in my car with all my gear and sped off to Pepper Park.

Once we donned our wetsuits we grabbed our gear and hit the water. We swam strait out to the 3rd reef and then started hunting. Vis was bad enough you HAD to dive and hunt in order to see ANY fish. The reef was fairly bare except for the usual tropicals and nurse sharks. At one ledge I found a bevvy of really big snook and shot a barely legal sheepshead there. A little further south I found a ledge with a whole herd of mega-sized bugs and was gonna get a pic when I saw a margate (neighbor loves them) so I shot it and moved on down the line to take some sort of fish with a big black spot on the tail. I see people keeping them when H&L fishing so on the spear he went too.

My buddy and I decided to call it a day and I said "lets just push out a little deeper and let me do a few aspetto dives - Then we'll go" - He obliged but was left a little behind in some current.

I dove down and spotted a big ray and splayed out in the sand beside him next to some worm rock - After 30 seconds or so I see what I believe to be small sharks coming toward me. By the time I figured they were Cobia they saw me and were turning away. 5 of them in total - 3 of 'em had to go over 50 lbs easy. I was only able to get a shot on the smallest one and took it - A long shot for my little RA 70cm.

The fish was hit poorly in the mid section and a bit high and he was tearing the hole bigger and bigger by the second! I yelled for my buddy - COBIA! NEED SECOND SHOT! I watched the fish enlarge the wound to the point I was afraid any second he'd tear off. So a quick huff of air and down I went with my knife in hand to subdue the wildly flailing beast. I grabbed the tail and he shook my arm like crazy - After a moment he slowed a bit and I jabbed my knife int his skull - THEN he REALLY went wild and about kicked my ass.

What seemed like an eternity we were back on the beach - Thoroughly exhausted but still pumped from poppin' my cherry. We took a few pics - Most didn't turn out well, and after much back slapping and admiring bikini babes admiring my fish, we parted ways. I gave him all my other fish.

P.S. Cobias are a totally meaty fish! BIG bones and lots of clean white good smellin' flesh!

39 1/2 inches total length and just under 24 pounds - I AM SOOOOOO STOKED!

The boat I was SUPPOSED to go on got the skunk.....

Some pics - Enjoy!

Quote from LunkerBuster

That first pic looks like some cool structure like bridge rubble or something

It is - It's whats left of the old Palm Beach pier - No shootable fish there though, just parrots, angels, and other ornamental's. A few baby hogs were hangin' out but nuthin' even close to legal. Found a pod of really big lobsters that were squeezed in to a small crack with nowhere to go...If only the season were open.

Quote from sdeisen

welcome, i have a buddy between vero and sebastion i was gonna do some shoredives with, but when i lived up that way the water was always murky, do u ever get decent viz shore and yak diving around there?

Once in awhile - Best bet is to head south 30 minutes to Fort Pierce - I take A1A all the way down so I stop and look at Wabasso first. If it's clear there I head north of the Inlet 5 miles to a private beach - Great spearing and good reef but usually bad vis - Like 4-7 feet - Kinda scary with that bad of vis! When it's good vis it ROCKS.

Lately the vis has pretty much sucked to do any beach dives up this way - Even Fort Pierce has barely had a dive-able day the last 3 weeks. I'll be in WPB Monday - Would love to do a shore dive somewhere besides the old PB pier or Breakers. Does anyone know if Coral Cove has hunt-able reef? It's near Jupiter.

Here's a few from the other day near the old PB pier.