I've got the 54" Biller LTD Padauk, with stock 2 5/8" bands and stock shaft with threaded tip.. I line shaft and I've got two wraps with shock cord. This is supposed to be my freedive gun, I mainly hunt around coral and target reef fish.

Now the problem: I don't feel like the gun has enough power. When I fire the gun into open water, should the shaft fully extend the line, then pull the gun a little. Or is this gun made for short shots at grouper stuck in holes, etc.

I've got a shorter Beuchat and when I fire that bad boy it shoots like a dart and completely extends the line.

I also feel like the shaft is too heavy, but I'm used to shooting the Beuchat.

Would an increase to 3/4" bands help the power or would it affect the shot. You Biller owners out there,

1. What size bands do you use?
2. What's your max effective range?
3. What shaft do you use? Is there a lighter version?
4. Any recommendations for mods of the gun?

Thanks.

Joe

Never used the stock bands, but there is a difference between band materials. The stock stuff may not be that snappy.

I use spearfishing specialties 5/8" in the hi-viz yellow they used to make. I think I tie them 22", but it might be 24, don't recall for sure. SS doesn't make this tubing any more with the yellow coating, but they do make it with the rhino coating. Check with Spear One to be sure.

I dunno if that'll give you the results you're looking for or not. I typically hunt on scuba, 2 bands on the gun but only one loaded, & look for closer shots when line shafting. Free shafting it doesn't really mean anything when compared to line shafting while free diving, so I dunno.

I've got the 54" Biller LTD Padauk, with stock 2 5/8" bands and stock shaft with threaded tip.. I line shaft and I've got two wraps with shock cord. This is supposed to be my freedive gun, I mainly hunt around coral and target reef fish.

Now the problem: I don't feel like the gun has enough power. When I fire the gun into open water, should the shaft fully extend the line, then pull the gun a little. Or is this gun made for short shots at grouper stuck in holes, etc.

I've got a shorter Beuchat and when I fire that bad boy it shoots like a dart and completely extends the line.

I also feel like the shaft is too heavy, but I'm used to shooting the Beuchat.

Would an increase to 3/4" bands help the power or would it affect the shot. You Biller owners out there,

1. What size bands do you use?
2. What's your max effective range?
3. What shaft do you use? Is there a lighter version?
4. Any recommendations for mods of the gun?

Thanks.

Joe

That gun isn't really the best choice for a freedive gun IMO, it's more of a bottom scuba gun/close range gun. I've been around alot of billers (own 2 54's) and the only way I've ever been able to see their 54' gun get the performance you are looking for (you're gonna love this) is to use the stock 3 x 9/16 bands setup with fresh new bands. 100daysayear shoots a 54' LTD with 2 3/4x24 bands and he says he has power to spare, but he freeshafts alot with just one of those (scuba).

If you want high power lineshaft performance, a nice euro or a Deathstick/Wong might be a better choice.

your gun should shoot the spear out to the distance on your line and give you a slight tug when it hits the end of the line. I know my 48" Hornet does with a single 24" 5/8 band on the 1st notch of the shaft.

If its not enough power, try your hands at making your ons bands and makes you bands about 1" shorter to give it a little more pop out of the gun.

I shoot a 60" biller. On scuba I usually freeshaft with one 5/8 band (I tie my own and am not sure of the length) and have a second pined to the bottom of the gun as a backup. This is usually enough, that 5/16 shaft is carrying a lot of momentum although it might be slower than your smaller euro shaft. I have freedove AJ's while lineshafting with just the 2 5/8 bands but felt I could use a little more umph. Last time out I put a 3rd 5/8 band on to see how it would shoot and it had niticibly more zip and hit the end of the shooting line fairly hard. So I would try adding one more band, if you have a stock line shaft it should have a 3rd notch, mine does.

That being said Megabeast is right these guns are designed for scuba not freediving.

With 2 3/4"x24" bands it will shoot through a #30 grouper 12' away and straighten a new coilspring line retainer.The retainer is then lo-profile;)It will penetrate fully at it's extension.43"x5=>17'

I use mine(ballasted slightly negative with the shaft out)scuba lineshaft and freeshaft and freediving for pelagics and bottom fish.No deeper than 60' as no-one I dive with freedives so SWB is a real concern.

I appreciate all your input. I'll upgrade the bands and think about a new gun for freediving. Thanks.

Joe

What makes it not a gun for freediving?

I use pretty much the same gun, being new I don't really know better

It seems to work fine with 2 5/8X22 bands, I have punched through decent sized triggerfish and jacks at around 10-12 feet away, with a line on it.

its not that it can't be used for freediving.

i think its more that there are better suited guns out there for freediving.

guns that are easier to manuver, quieter to shoot, better rigged for a reel, floatline or breakaway, not to mention a little more powerful for longer range with the added drag of the line.

This might be a dumb question, but looking at the euro-guns in the store and seeing them in peoples pics, how is it possible for a gun with a single band to have the power and range of the biller loaded up with 2 or 3 bands?

This might be a dumb question, but looking at the euro-guns in the store and seeing them in peoples pics, how is it possible for a gun with a single band to have the power and range of the biller loaded up with 2 or 3 bands?

Typically a lighter shaft and a fatter band, sharkfin tabs let you not have to use a slide ring, which in turn gives you less drag.

^^^ I just experienced the 1 band speargun...the band is HUGE and it shoots the spear like a bullet.I shot a 110 rabitech and when the spear reached the end of the line it almost pulled the gun out of my hand it also pulled me through the water like a foot lol..

more toys to buy

No way to defeat Father physics.Energy is going to be proportional to shaft speed and mass.No one band gun with any configuration of bands and shafts could ever be as powerful as the same shaft being propelled by multiple equal bands.
More convenient,more manueverable that's about it.

lower shaft weight would decrease the velocity of the shaft wouldn't it, what other advantages of the lighter shaft are there other then requiring less band strength to push?

That is the trade off with a lighter shaft, it is faster but is more subject to bending and get less penetration on really thick bony fish (not really too much of an issue for average guys shooting average fish). A thicker shaft will have more punch than a skinnier shaft but require even more power to reach the same speed. More power makes the gun kick, which destroys accuracy. Most 5/16" shafts are used in scuba shooter guns and have slide rings which make them powerful but relatively slower. This is another reason scuba shooter will come off the line and freeshaft, lesss drag and higher shaft speed with more accuracy and less crap to reload.


The an enclosed track on a propperly ballasted gun allows a 5/16" shaft to be powered up (while maintaining accuracy) to zap some big guys further out than normal.

That is correct. speargun ballistics are very similar to rifle ballistics. lighter bullets for a given caliber will fly faster, but they slow down faster and retain less kinetic energy "downrange". Heavier bullets fly slower, but they retain more speed and kinetic energy at any given distance compared to the lighter bullet. But then again you have to take into consideration the heavier bullet will drop faster than the lighter one. So... to sum it up get thicker bands, shoot heavier shafts and you will notice a difference. and of course just like shooting rifles more recoil means the potential for less accuracy. Think like shooting a 308 Winnie then shoot a 300 RUM offhand.

Just buy a Deathstick or enclosed track Wong and shoot anything with a set of gills from 40ft away...

Wow!! Thanks for all the great responses.