new gun????????????

[critter getter]

I'm new to the uw hunting thing but not to being under water. i have dove a lot most of it in the GOM. i am about to buy a gun and can't make up my mind. i want a gun that will work at the rigs and out in open water free diving. heres what i have been looking at. all JBL's the 450 mag, magnum,competition mag and the sawed off magnum. i like the sawed off but i'm not sure if it wold work out in open water free diving where i would need more range? so i'm leaning to the 450mag more. looks like it has all the power i need for both. has any one are is any one using any of them?????????? any help would be great
thanks CG

[chancellor]

I have the sawed-off magnum with two bands - there is room to add a third band if you need more power. This is my first gun and is tremendous fun. It's a personal choice and depends how much power you want/need. I would recommend the sawed-off though. Hope this helps.

[blaiz]

I hate to be that guy but I just cant stand seeing people waste there money on JBLs. I started with a mini carbine because it was cheap, and cheap it was. I then got a woody magnum because it was cheap, and cheap it was. They both were crappy guns that could hit sand if dropped off a camel! When you did hit a fish they blew humagus holes in them.
anyway to the more constructive part of my post.

I would recomend getting a decent euro gun. You can find comparable sizes and ranges with comparable prices. Dont think that just because the jbls are sold with 2 bands that they have more power than a single band gun. And where you are adding power you are sacrificing accuracy. Check out some brands like OMER, Beuchat, Hammerhead, Picasso, Sporosub, Riffe, the list goes on and my personal opinion is that JBL is at the bottom!

I do not mean to offend any JBL fans and if I have I apologize for that.

[fleshy]

There is really no rap on JBL. The bottom line is that they are simple guns. Because they are simple they are cheap. This usually means that they are not of the BEST quality. Granted I used a JBL for 12 years. Never had to matenince anything except changing bands once a year. Now, was it frusterating to miss easy shots, yes, was it frusterating to see tips screw off when I hit a fish that spins? YES. Bottom line on them is because they are cheap and simple accuracy and silence of the weapon suffers. However, they do tend to be powerful, consistant, and durable. If you want a big powerful gun thats not going to cost you more than $200. JBL might be for you. If at all possible, try to get out with some guys and try a variety of gun. Only you know what suits you the best.

[Fondueset]

JBLs are old generation guns - heavy shafts - very basic engineering and design. The design has not been revisited in decades.
If you are diving in Texas - in open water - presumeably the gulf - possibly Oil rigs - and freediving you'll want something lighter - with range, speed and accuracy. I think Rob Allens are popular with that crowd - along with a mix of others. There are plenty of good divers in your neck of the woods - I'd ping them here and over at Spearboard Spearfishing Community - Powered by vBulletin

[fleshy]

I have a RA and love it.

[ILDiver]

[Jon]

I used to own an RA and was pretty happy with it, but sold it because it's not well balanced for shooting in fresh water- too muzzle heavy. I'm sure it would work excellent in saltwater, just got to be too tiring after 6-8 hours of spearing in freshwater.

Mid-handles work better in freshwater- balance better and easier to maneuverer in limited vis and weeds. Something like a Riffe MT0 would work great. Of course, now I'm hooked on Hawaiian slings but that's another story.

Jon

[slingshaft]

Hi Critter Getter, I'm just north of you. I sent you a PM.

[fleshy]

Originally Posted by ILDiver

In wisconsin... Chris... am I in wisconsin?

[agbiv]

Hey there! Slingshaft is in SATX, I'm just SE of there, slingstudtx is in San Marcos and sixshooter4 is in Port A right now. We're trying to get together a trip 7/28 & 29 to Port A. Send me a pm if you're interested.

[spearstudtx]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

JBLs are old generation guns - heavy shafts - very basic engineering and design. The design has not been revisited in decades.
If you are diving in Texas - in open water - presumeably the gulf - possibly Oil rigs - and freediving you'll want something lighter - with range, speed and accuracy. I think Rob Allens are popular with that crowd - along with a mix of others. There are plenty of good divers in your neck of the woods - I'd ping them here and over at Spearboard Spearfishing Community - Powered by vBulletin

Completely agreed. I have a AB Biller that I have already grown out of and a Beuchat that is borderline ineffective for gulf hunting. I seen some excellent advice given on these forums and I am going to try to pass on what I have seen in my extensive search to try to find the perfect GOM gun. First of all I would buy a quality gun from a manufacturer listed here:

Posiden Sub Spearguns
Sea Sniper
Spear Diver
Herranen Spearguns
Rob Allen
Rabbitech
Hammerhead

almost forgot Wong.

I believe for a GOM all-around gun I am going to go with poseidonsub's euroteak midhandle, enclosed track, 60" gun. The gun comes with 3x 5/8 bands (I am going to request 4x 9/16) and a 5/16 Mori shaft, internally balasted and balanced for about $750. This is significantly more pricey than I initially planned but, it, as well as Daryl Wong's guns, comes with a lifetime warranty. So do the math, take the cost of the gun and divide it by how many years you are planning to use it. There are cheaper alternatives but for me this is what I think will work the best.

If you do decide to go with JBL go with the XHD Gulf Magnum, its trigger mech is better and you would rather have too much than not enough. I do believe you will find longer shots challenging with this gun due to recoil (JBL's range estimates are grossly inaccurate), muzzle lift, and just the general "production line" quality of JBL's though. That said, many a big fish has been taken with JBL spearguns. Best of luck in your choice and keep us up on what you decide.

Oh yeah, I am in no way affiliated with the above companies, blah blah blah

[agbiv]

Ooops...Spearstudtx (not slingstudtx)

[jcjkspearfish]

im just addding on to what fondueset, and spearstudtx have said..

nothing matters more in the water than a good gun. between comfort/accuracy/balance/price a RA is the ticket. I have seen my friends by jbl and many other basic guns for a little less than really good gun and hate them. Im not saying rob allen is going to be the perfect gun for you, but look at guns that will preform.

[CobiaKiller]

I have gone through the whole rig gun picking process before. I dive the rigs in Louisiana and shoot big cobia, AJ's, and snapper. Don't even think you can use a Euro gun I tried the first big fish I shot made me a pretzel out of the sprear.
I shoot the JBL magnum, 450 Magnum, and AB Biller 60". The Biller cost a bit more but has better accuracy,but a fairly skinny 5/16" spear. Fish will eventually bend it. The JBL's magnum on up are very tough and can handle any fish at the rigs. As for the tips unscrewing u are supposed to be smart enought to put on removable locktite like they tell you. You'll never lose a tip again. The JBL's are great guns not as good as riffe but you could buy 5 JBL's for the price of 1 riffe. The 3/8" JBL spears are almost unbendable make sure to rig any gun you get with Stainless Steel Cable.
For your fisrt gun go wih a JBL or AB Biler. You will kill plenty of fish, be happy with the gun, and have money left in your pocket. Good Luck! Hope to have helped, and remember no Euro guns!!!!!