I just bought a used 50" Yokooji titanium mid-handle hybrid with an Omer reel. My intent is to use it for WSB and YT. I was hoping to find a 55-57" hybrid, but couldn't find anything affordable. It has a 9/32" shaft , but the bands are falling apart. Can you guys please give me some advice on how to set it up and shooting technique?
1. It has a single wrap of mono. How well does a gun of this size and type shoot at double wrap range?
2. Am I better off with a 9/32" shaft, or a 5/16"? The impression I got from some Spearboard threads was to go with 9/32". Is the gun and shaft too short to bother using a threaded shaft and sliptip? The current shaft has a Hawaiian flopper.
3. The 2 bands on the gun are a blue rubber, and I don't think they were the original bands. What length bands should I tie? The muzzle only accomodates 2 bands (definitely less than 20mm).
4. What is the best technique to use to shoot the gun? I've never shot a mid-handle gun before. I thought I could pin the butt to the inside of my right (shooting) arm using my left hand for stability, but it cants the gun at an awkward angle. It looks short enough for me to shoot one handed.

TIA.

Howard,

I think its a bit short to be ideal for wsb and yt, but then it would still work now and then. I got a 50" Wong mainly to use for halibut and calicos, but just to try it out, I shot a yellowtail on Farnsworth bank last summer, and I landed it. (I still haven't shot a calico or halibut)

I would definitely stick with a 9/32" shaft. A gun that length would have to be very beefy to use 5/16" and I even use 9/32" on my 55" regular hybrid, which is similar in design to your gun.

I'd stick with the Hawaiian shaft.

I'm guessing that 23 or 24" bands might be about right, but if you want to be anal like me, you could always use this formula.

1. Take a measure tape and measure the distance from the middle of the
band slot to the center cocking tab.

2. Double the distance ( for both sides of the gun )

3. Subtract the length of the wish bone. (Alexander and Riffe's are
approx 6", Daryl Wong uses about 3".)

4. Divide the number by 3 1/2.

5. This is the length of your powerband if you are using a standard 3 1/2
: 1 stretch ratio. This is a measurement of the powerband from knot to
knot. For actual rubber length, add 1" to this length or 1 1/2" in you
are tapering the ends of the powerbands.

If you have separate holes for each band as with the newer Aimrite/Wong muzzles, then rather than measuring from the center of the band slot (you don't have a slot) to the middle tab, measure from each hole to the appropriate tab, and you will have a different band length for each hole.

You should be able to shoot is with one hand. But if in doubt and if you have time, back up the butt with your other hand.

One of the reasons why I don't like mid handle guns is that its awkward to shoot them one handed. But that doesn't help you out. I'd say as long as you can properly lock your arm you should be able to shoot it one handed. Also you really won't have a huge amount of recoil with the stock set up of 2 bands and a 9/32" shaft. Also stay with the standard flopper as all the other tips will unbalance your shaft. Also practice a lot with this gun. A mid handle has a much higher parallax then a rear handle and so with the shorter guns really makes that noticeable. So you'll have to figure out where it points and shoots.

Agree with Bill to stay with the 9/32. I'd go with 2 wraps of 200 or 300lb (if line is supple) mono.

Cut the old bands off and measure them. Get some fresh bands and tie at the same length.

Aiming a mid-handle. Lock your trigger hand. Put the palm of your support hand over the butt of the gun so that your thumb and index finger chokes your forearm. Apply slight tension on the forearm with the thumb and finger so that both arms and gun are as "attached" as possible. After a while, you won't need the thumb/finger choke on the forearm.

Go shoot kelp leaves if you don't want to shoot fish for target practice. I like sargo so I usually use them or calicos for target practice. I eat what I shoot. You can practice like the Japanese archers practice. Start very close and continually move further back. Keep shooting it until you get a really good feel of how the gun performs.

Howard,

if you plan on being at the meeting tomorrow night, bring the gun with you. I will rig it for you at the meeting and give you my two cents on this gun. It is my preferred gun.

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Howard,

if you plan on being at the meeting tomorrow night, bring the gun with you. I will rig it for you at the meeting and give you my two cents on this gun. It is my preferred gun.
Thanks for the offer John. I plan on attending, although I have a case at work that may run late for me. I'll bring the gun since I should be able to make it there before the meeting ends.

Howard

Hey Howard,

Just to add - the formula that Bill McIntyre posted is great for tying your own bands. This ensures that you are getting the optimum stretch.

Also, you can get a 9/32 shaft with 6mm thread from Ray Odor for only $40 and you can use it with a Mori 9/32 slip tip for hunting yellowtail and other free-swimming fish. I use this setup with my 53" gun and landed a 50 pound amberjack with a not-so great shot in Hatteras last month. I doubt that a flopper would have held, or penetrated as well.

Good luck with the setup.

Howard,

if you plan on being at the meeting tomorrow night, bring the gun with you. I will rig it for you at the meeting and give you my two cents on this gun. It is my preferred gun.

I have the Wong non-magnum version of this gun and I love it. It is also my preferred gun. I can shoot just about anything local with this gun. I also found it helps to have two shafts, one with a flopper and one with a slip tip.

AL

I would definitely stick with a 9/32" shaft. A gun that length would have to be very beefy to use 5/16" and I even use 9/32" on my 55" regular hybrid, which is similar in design to your gun.
You should be able to shoot is with one hand. But if in doubt and if you have time, back up the butt with your other hand.

I have mentioned this before, but I guess it did not get much publicity. A simplified formula is 60% of the band stretch. Simply measure the distance from the center of the hole to the tab and mulitply by 60%. Cut the rubber at this length.


I have the Wong non-magnum version of this gun and I love it. It is also my preferred gun. I can shoot just about anything local with this gun. I also found it helps to have two shafts, one with a flopper and one with a slip tip.

AL

I agree.

I have mentioned this before, but I guess it did not get much publicity. A simplified formula is 60% of the band stretch. Simply measure the distance from the center of the hole to the tab and mulitply by 60%. Cut the rubber at this length.



I know I'm being anal, but that results in your using the same length of rubber with a 6" Riffe wishbone and a 3" Wong wishbone. It also results in your using the same length of rubber with tapered bands and non-tapered.

And in particular, if you have a muzzle with three different holes for three bands as on the Wongs, then some bands are going to be over stretched or under stretched.

I know I'm being anal, but that results in your using the same length of rubber with a 6" Riffe wishbone and a 3" Wong wishbone. It also results in your using the same length of rubber with tapered bands and non-tapered.

And in particular, if you have a muzzle with three different holes for three bands as on the Wongs, then some bands are going to be over stretched or under stretched.

I was gonna ask about the wishbone thing, cause i kinda wondered about that...as far as the tapering, I think it's kinda minimal, but wondered about the wishbone thing myself. As for the three different holes and three bands, based on what John is saying you'd be making three different measurements, so that should be ok. Maybe the better thing is the 60%-(size of wishbone) ???

AL

Bill, you are right in that your formula will account for the length of the wishbone. My calculation is based on a 4" wishbone. My apologies for not clarifying this. Of course people still may not care for that power factor one way or the other and may want to either go 1-2% higher or lower, for either longer wishbones or, more or less stretch. For me, the 60% works well, as most of my guns pretty much have the same muzzle and I don't change the length of my wishbones from one gun to the other. It is simply a place to start without having to remember several steps in the calculation.

Howard,

if you plan on being at the meeting tomorrow night, bring the gun with you. I will rig it for you at the meeting and give you my two cents on this gun. It is my preferred gun.

John, we spoke breifly at the meeting last night and as I mentioned I wanted to see if you could look at my AB gun that needs a new setup and bands because it's been sitting for the last 7 years. I think you stepped out a little after the movie started so I didn't get a chance to get your contact info.

Shoot me a PM in you can help i'm located in Newport Beach.

Thanks,
Abel

Just a follow up. I got to try my Yokooji hybrid yesterday. The gun is a little beat up, but it appears to shoot well. The recoil was lower than I expected for 2 bands and a 9/32" shaft. I like the way the midhandle style handles in the water. Unfortunately, the water vis was too low to assess its effective range, and there were no fish worth taking. I'll post an update on its power, range and accuracy when I can actually target fish. Thanks again John for helping me set up the gun!

Howard

You're welcome Howard. By the way, did you change out the reel line?

You're welcome Howard. By the way, did you change out the reel line?

No, not yet. I'm waiting to hear from Erik Sun on when he's going to be back in OC so I can buy some Spectra from him. To be honest, the stuff on the reel right now looks like it should work alright. I'll try it out at the Scramble Meet. If it works, then I'll keep it and save $30.