If you saw my last post I am shopping for my first gun. It is gun only but I figured I can get the shaft local here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-Woody-Sawed-Off-Magnum-Speargun-SCUBA-FREE-SHIP_W0QQitemZ110153312926QQihZ001QQcategoryZ47353 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So what do y'all think?

I think I got a lot to learn:D

I think it is way too short for more than 5' vis. It shouldnt be that much more money to get one bigger. Think at least 50" shaft.
-Chris

Why dont you just get the gun and shaft for 180.00 here? For the same price or a bit more you can get a 110-120 euro gun which will be much better. What type of diving you doing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-JBL-53-Sawed-Off-Woody-Magnum-Mahogany-Speargun_W0QQitemZ290080493476QQcmdZViewItem

I bought the same gun for my first one. I think it is a great starter gun and a great gun all around in terms of quality and accuracy but it is a short gun and as you become a better shooter and go deeper you will probrably want to upgrade to a bigger gun. It also depends on what type of diving you do to determine what kind of gun to get. You will end up having several guns if you love to shoot fish, just like a wetsuit you have one for every different scenario.

Why dont you just get the gun and shaft for 180.00 here? For the same price or a bit more you can get a 110-120 euro gun which will be much better. What type of diving you doing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-JBL-53-Sawed-Off-Woody-Magnum-Mahogany-Speargun_W0QQitemZ290080493476QQcmdZViewItem


I do both Free and Scuba Diving, so I know its tough to have just one universal gun. But I am really just getting into it. And I'm on a bit of a budget.

Thanks for the link, I missed this one.:toast:

But I will definitely look into the Euro guns. Any manufacturer in particular??

Chest loading on scuba, hmmm...

You can get the Omer Cayman aluminum for cheap, and it has the strongest euro trigger mechanism that I know of, and the barrel has an extruded rail. I know of several guys that liket to shoot Omer euros for both free and scuba diving, and everyone is raving about the new Caymans, especially the Cayman HF (a bit more expensive). Plus, Omer customer service here in the states is top notch.

I think everyone I know hip loads them while on scuba.

Edit: the Rob Allens have a big following and the folks at Florida Freedivers are very nice.

Flfreedivers is selling rob allen euro guns at a real cheap price.

You can get the Omer Cayman aluminum for cheap, and it has the strongest euro trigger mechanism that I know of, and the barrel has an extruded rail. I know of several guys that liket to shoot Omer euros for both free and scuba diving, and everyone is raving about the new Caymans, especially the Cayman HF (a bit more expensive). Plus, Omer customer service here in the states is top notch.

I think everyone I know hip loads them while on scuba.

Edit: the Rob Allens have a big following and the folks at Florida Freedivers are very nice.

What about the stuff I've been reading about the wood guns absorbing more of the shot, and being more silent? In addition buoyancy issues, being new to this I am definitely gonna want something that I can let go of, and not worry about it sinking. Please excuse my ignorance on some of these questions.

Thanx
Bryan

You'll find that most guns float when shot. About noise, I would say dont worry. However start off with a good gun, if you dont want it chances are someone will buy it for a better price than a cheap one.

Get a52"+ and don't worry about the rest. It will come. U will b happy.

To be honest JBL is about the worst choice for doing both scuba and freedive applications. That gun in particular shoots way too short of a shaft to be usefull for most open water hunting with clean water. A basic 52" spearfishing specialties gun will be far better and more versatile, but better for scuba then freediving.

Pat, have you used the 52SS for freediving? I recently bought one and have to admit I hate it for freediving, I find myself reverting to my 42 biller for freediving, granted I mostly freedive the keys in 40' or less. The SS seems way to big and awkward, dragging it around the reef is a PITA. Great for SCUBA though.

Man, that 53 JBL for $180 is very tempting, but I'm still sticking with my current first choice of SS Classic Rhino 48.

Go with this one if you can get it at a good price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150149675786&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT&ih=005

I won't bid against you! :-)

To be honest JBL is about the worst choice for doing both scuba and freedive applications. That gun in particular shoots way too short of a shaft to be usefull for most open water hunting with clean water. A basic 52" spearfishing specialties gun will be far better and more versatile, but better for scuba then freediving.

Glad to see you over here pat!

You can chest load a rob or any chest loading gun on scuba no problem with little practice. Dont buy a jbl if you want to freedive and scuba. A rob allen 100-120 or a similar sized gun will be just fine. Maybe a similar sized riffe if you want to spend some more $$$$