Riffe v. Wong v. Rob Allen

[GCJ]

After researching Deeper Blue forums I've decided to buy a 120cm gun and have narrowed my choices down to:

Daryl Wong Aluminum or Carbon Railgun
Rob Allen Double-Band Vecta
Riffe Metal-Tech #3S

DW's are known for their quality triggers, RA's for their range and accuracy, and Riffe's for their quietness and flexibility to accommodate additional bands while maintaining accuracy.

RA's literature claims the range of their 120cm is 8m. Riffe says the 3S has a range of 7m. Does anyone know what DW's can do? Can anyone confirm if the advertised ranges are accurate?

Any advice or experiences Deeper Blue members can provide would be greatly appreciated.

-GJ

[Bill McIntyre]

I'm a big fan of Wong guns and have 6 of them, but I don't have the Aimrite rail guns, so I can't specifically comment on them except that of the guns you mention, they are the only ones that have a true life-time warranty.

I have friends with Rob Allen guns and they are very happy with them, but as far as range and accuracy go, there is no magic to it. If an Aimrite gun has the same length and thickness of bands and the same weight shaft as a Rob Allen, it has the same range.

Are you a freediver or a scuba diver? I know many freedivers who were very disappointed to find that their Metal Tech guns sink with the shaft out. Its a real pain in the ass to be down there trying to get a fish out of kelp or a cave and have the gun come down and join you. You can fix it with various wing kits but they cost extra, so make sure you factor that into your decision.

[GCJ]

Thanks Bill. I am a freediver. I knew that the Riffe was a "sinker." Thought this might be a bit safer as you'd need less weight on your belt and ditching the gun in an emergency would give you even greater buoyancy.

Do you know if the mid-handle on the Riffe makes much of a difference for ease of pointing and shot stability?

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by GCJ

Thanks Bill. I am a freediver. I knew that the Riffe was a "sinker." Thought this might be a bit safer as you'd need less weight on your belt and ditching the gun in an emergency would give you even greater buoyancy.

Do you know if the mid-handle on the Riffe makes much of a difference for ease of pointing and shot stability?

I don't think sinking guys are a good thing for freedivers. You really want the gun to wait on the surface while you go down and untangle a fish. Otherwise, you might bring a fish to the surface and then have to go down again after your gun, while holding a fish too. I wouldn't get the Riffe unless I also got the wings that make it float after you shoot it.

As far as mid-handle goes, that's why I have the Wong Mid-handle hybrids and magnum hybrids rather than the Aimrite or other Euro style guns. I just prefer they way mid-handle guns handle. But obviously, that is just a personal choice, and many hunters who are much better than I am use Euro style guns and do very well.

[Fondueset]

I have a small riffe MT0 and a 90cm Omer Cobra. The euro style guns are much more intuitive to aim. I also think - based on limited experience and what I've seen here - that there is a tendancy to overpower the riffes in hopes of getting more range out of short gun - resulting in shaft whip, nasty recoil and dubious accuracy. Iyadiver has a few great analytical posts here about his MT0 and powering it up for things like tuna (!?) But he has also added considerably to the guns mass. I went the other way and put a 34 inch 1/4 shaft on mine - and it is deadly at 12 feet with no recoil to speak of. (for softer fish) It took me several hundred shots to learn how to aim it ( or rather 'how not'). It also sinks like a rock and there is nothing to be done about it. I'd say a float line is the way to go for that issue. Rigged this way I can shoot it one-handed with no problems

The Cobra, on the other hand, hit a fish precisely where I wanted it to the very first time I shot it. The euro guns manage recoil nicely due to the higher handle placement (the aimright rail gun does not have this) but they are longer for their power. Omer has some interesting euro models in their 2007 catalog. I like, in particular, the handle ergonomics and trigger force on their new Cayman guns.

The Wong guns have an impeccible reputation.

[Coral Sniper]

Hey GCJ,I have guns from all 3 brands that you are talking about and I have a few things to say. Rob Allen,I just got a 160cm and really like it.It performs very well very good accuracy and it seems like it is a well made gun! Riffe,I have a C3 It is one of my most accurate guns the gun is beautiful! Every part of it is well made I am very pleased with the gun! Wong, I have a titanium magnum 55'' a have had alot of problems with it. I also dont like there line release because it has no spring so you have to push the line release back before you can load the gun unlike Rob Allen and Riffe.A Riffe competitor is a great gun but if you want to save some money go with the Rob Allen you cant go wrong.

[x-frog]

Originally Posted by Coral Sniper

Wong, I have a titanium magnum 55'' a have had alot of problems with it. I also dont like there line release because it has no spring so you have to push the line release back before you can load the gun unlike Rob Allen and Riffe.

Coral, I think your Wong have some missing part or something...............the line release of my HM 55" works like any other, go back to its position every time I load the gun. Talk to Daryl

[Coral Sniper]

I just got my wong back from Daryl and the mech is the same.(I sent it in because of accuracy problems) I did not know that my wong mech was diffrent then the rest of his guns. I would think he would have see this when he tried it out?

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by x-frog

Coral, I think your Wong have some missing part or something...............the line release of my HM 55" works like any other, go back to its position every time I load the gun. Talk to Daryl

The Wong line releases do not have a return spring. You have to make sure the line release is in the rear position before you push the shaft into the mechanism. But how hard is that?

This is hardly a big deal for me. Riffe didn't add that return spring until a couple of years ago, and I was using his guns without it with no problem. Alexander mechanisms still don't have a spring.

Its a nice touch, but hardly anything I would base a choice of guns on.

[strangelove]

I would go with the wong, if you can afford it, but one can't go wrong with the Rob Allen.
The Riffe metal tech is a no no for me, I am not sure if floats without shaft.

[Coral Sniper]

You are right Bill it is not that big of a deal,but when you pay 750.00 for a top of the line speargun you think it would have a spring.

[Fondueset]

Hell, My Omer Cobra don't got a spring neither - one less thing to fly out and roll under the refrigerator when I take it apart. Bill - by god you're right! My Riffe does have a spring!! But the little rubber washer thingy what makes it quiet keeps it from working. If that ain't irony I don't know what is.

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

Hell, My Omer Cobra don't got a spring neither - one less thing to fly out and roll under the refrigerator when I take it apart. Bill - by god you're right! My Riffe does have a spring!! But the little rubber washer thingy what makes it quiet keeps it from working. If that ain't irony I don't know what is.

I suspected that the spring might be just one more moving part to cause problems. I didn't know about the washer thing, but now that you bring it up, I recall that when Jay told me about the new return spring, he also mentioned something that made it quiet.

I guess progress isn't always without its costs.

[Fondueset]

I feel bitter suddenly.

[Ron S]

Hey Fonduset, I just browsed your photo album. Absolutely incredible!!!
Ron.