What speargun? C4/Teak/rabitech

[sundown]

Hi all!

I am new to these forums, but have looked at them every now and again to get my spearfishing fix. I haven't been fishing for a couple of years, despite the fact that its one of my passion. However, I am now moving to the PHILIPPINES and am going to get right back into it. I have primarily been getting smaller fish due to having burst my eardrum on a dive - it took ages to be able to handle pressure again. However the vis in the Philippines will be excellent so I'll need a fairly powerful gun. I'll also be trying to expand my technique to get bigger fish.

My last woodie was confiscated. I think it was either a 1m or 1.1m. So now I'm in the exciting position of needing a new speargun. My choices are:

1) C4 Mr Carbon 104 SECOND HAND 18mm bands, 140cm 6.5 mm spear. £230


2) Unbranded Teak Woodie 110cm 2x16mm bands, 150 cm 6.5 mm spear, omersub reel. Open Muzzle. According to the current owner, the rifle has only been used in a swimming pool test where it had an effective range of up to 6 metres. (I have enclosed pics of this gun)
£100


3) Rabitech Aluminium Apex. 120 cm. 20mm bands 7mm spear.
£140

Thanks for any help guys. I know a couple of you own the C4 so some advice on that one at that price would be much appreciated. My main concern with the C4 104 is the range...
That woodie looks very sweet though.

Alex

[strangelove]

I would go with the mr. carbon, on the teak gun that omer aluminum reel is a pain, it works well when is new but after a while the salt water eats the aluminum (I own three of those - or used it !)

In fact for 230 EU, I would buy the Mr. Carbon my self !

[riffehunter717]

i would go with the teak just because i prefer wood guns. the reel is always removable. But thats my personal opinion listen to what the other guys have to say most of them provide EXTREMELY reliable info

[Marwan]

Hi sundown..
have you fished in the philippines before? i think the best starting point to know which gun would be the place where you will use it, what kind of conditions are there, what type of fish will be the main prey etc...
a gun like the c4 is a good all rounder, not too short, not long, but if you are using it in very bad viz it wont be effective, you see what im getting at...
if the viz is too good and fish are mainly jacks, mackerel tc....then maybe a longer gun lie 120 rabi wuld be better...so thats why i cant really say which will best for you, maybe if you post some more info onthe area....but generally speaking let me say this:
1 - there is no such thing as "one gun for everything" , if you hunt in various conditions, it will b more effective to have the right gun for each condition
2- the price tag on that c4 is incredible, and in terms of range, it would easily go through a mdium sized fish 3-4 meters away
3 - the rabitech is a great gun as well, but i prefer the carbon version on the longer models, in fact i have a 120 apex carbon and its great
4 - I agree with strangelove about the woody, im not in love with it, although i like woood guns too
good luck

[sundown]

Thanks for your helpful replies guys.

The C4 will definitely go at that price if I wait until I get there (2 weeks time). My friend has been and says that the vis is 1st class. In considering the issues Marwans raised I have dug around the forum and will copy and paste 'Poachers' short trip report and some pics taken by other Deeper Blue users of the catches in the Philis.
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Plenty of guys spear in the philippines using home made guns not sure where you can buy a decent gun some guys I met that lived on the beach near san fernando between Naga and CarCar in cebu took me out for a dive they speared some small fish on a shallow reef but were scared to swim with me near a F.A.D in deeper water I saw some small Rainbow runners there and in closer some small mangrove jacks.

I think you can spear pretty much anywhere except in some sanctuaries - like most spots where they run tours for scuba divers - best avoid these places local fishos get Tuna and Talakituk (trevally or jacks ) and Lapu lapu (Coral Trout or grouper) and Tenigue (spanish mackeral)
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PS Poacher also posted a pic of some of his Filipino friends with homemade guns. They look pretty sick...

[Marwan]

sundown,
I dont know, but my gut feeling is thinkig 110-120 gun for those conditions and fish..i would get both the c4 and the rabi if i were you, but why dont you ask what the locals are using, thats usually the best advice, the guns in these pics, seem to be 100-110 if im not mistaken

[deep thinker]

Seems like youve got loads of good advice allready but seeing that I know the owner of Rabiteck and being a regular user of the Apex Ive got to add my biost opinion that you cant go wrong with a Rabi




...The other guns are good too though

[spaghetti]

I'm hearing enthusiastic opinions about the Mr.Carbon from my friends. But they all hunt mostly reef fish in the Mediterranean, where a light, quick, easy tracking 100cm eurogun is the best choice hands down.
Phillies are another world I don't know.
My point is that once you've purchased such a fine gun, it's a shame to leave it home.

[Murat]

Since the conditions are unknown, you should get rather flexible gun which is suitable to use both with double and single rubber bands. This will eliminate the mr carbon, they are not suitable to use with double bands.

My other choice would be the seatec gabbiano snake at 110cm length with double bands. Its good to use both with double 16mm bands or single 17.5-20mm bands. Very well balanced gun with sensitive trigger, bears all the advantages of the woodies ( heavy enough too ) but will need less maintenance compared to teak gun.

[sundown]

I decided to drop the idea of the C4 because it seems to me that its strengths are based on the fact that its got such a balanced and almost untouchable setup. The Teak gun also seems to be something of an unknown quantity and the polls don't reflect well on it either. Considering all the advice you guys have given me and Murat's points about flexibility of setup I chose to go for the Rabitech. ( I was actually choosing between the Stealth Carbon 110 and the Aluminium Apex 120) As it turned out, the Rabitech section of Spearo.co.uk's website is outdated and he no longer stocks Rabitechs!!!!! Nor does Mikko in Finland, who is listed as the EU distributor on Rabitech's website.

Dave at Spearo.co.uk has suggested the Seatec Tornado 120 - its a 3 band gun and I think it has a rail also. I haven't read much about it online though.

At a slightly higher price another UK website is selling an Omer HF Cayman 110. I think I've read some good stuff about this gun.

I have now set my heart on a Rabitech (or a RA) but if I can't someone who can actually sell me one then I'll probably have to go for one of these alternatives.

Any opinions on the above mentioned guns will be much appreciated.

Thanks for all the advice guys. When I move out to the Philis I shall post a trip report and pics...

Murat: I shall try and find someone who sells the seatec that you mentioned in which case it will become an option.

[strangelove]

How can I buy the Mr. Carbon ?

[sundown]

Strangelov e: The mr carbon was on Italian ebay. I figured I'd be able to find Italian spearguns cheaper there. It eventually went for 50 more euros than the price I quoted, so unfortunately its gone now.
I have found Italian websites selling them new for around 400 euros, which is the cheapest I've seen them new.

Translated version of http://www.emporiodellapesca.it/index.php?cmd=prodotti&id_rep=2&id_categ=63

This is a translated version. Go to page 2. Don't know if thats too expensive but I hope its of some help and at least its a reference for any other C4 enthusiasts looking at this thread.

[strangelove]

Originally Posted by sundown

The mr carbon was on Italian ebay..

Too bad thanks any way.

[spaghetti]

italian ebay also offers this good deal on a Katyusha 120 (double band set Gabby)
FUCILE PESCA SUB ARBALETE SEATEC 120 BY VALERIO GRASSI su eBay.it Sub, scuba e snorkeling, Sport d'acqua, Sport e Viaggi

[Mr. X]

Have no idea what you'd need in the Philipines. Normally length is a pretty important consideration. I love the look of wood guns & Mr. Carbon too. But price & practicality would, I suspect, lead me to the Rabitech (it's also the one in the middle for length & price -- which lends it a reassuring Goldilock's element). That said ,the wood gun sounds like a good price -- if the quality is good (bit of an unknown quantity, is the trigger mech. a recognised brand?). Mr. Carbon seems very pricey for a speargun ... but if carbon floats your boat, it sure looks pretty.