Spear gun

[Tunakilla]

Hey guys, got a question for you. What is a good entry level speargun? It would be used mainly for snorkeling/free diving and needs to be somewhat compact. Any suggestions???
Thanks

[scubaru]

Okay, everyone knows I pimp leisurepro, but you can't go wrong with a JBL XHD,

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?op=CatDisplay&CategoryID=967&Context=965

ru

[Tall1fin]

Diversemporium.com was the cheapest and agree JBL XHD but for an all around gun would get the 54". I have the 38 special and is ok for small gun but also have a 63" Gulf Mag and the 54" would be a good middle ground imo.

[Tunakilla]

Thanks guys, looks like I'll be looking for a JBL XHD. I appreciate the help.

[scubaru]

The 54" XHD is what I shoot, be sure and upgrade your rig to 1/16" cable for shooting around the rig legs.

[scubaru]

tall1fin, could you post a link to diversemporium.com, I kept getting routed to divenews.com.

[Goin Deep]

Is this the link you are lookin for ru??

http://www.diveremporium.com/

[scubaru]

yep, thanks. Those are good prices!

[speckle-catcher]

if you want to go a little more compact, the competition magnum XHD still has plenty of punch for snapper, AJ's and ling.

[Nathan]

Hey all, are JBL guns pretty reliable? I am interested in buying a speargun sometime soon and I am reading and researching over at spearboard.com. Those guys basically hate JBL and love the sea hornet rhino guns. These guns are basically an AB Biller with some modifications. I have also heard great things about JBL guns. I like the gulf magnum gun and for $203 new it is hard to pass up. Question is, will I regret getting the JBL or do you all think they are up to the task. I will not use it very often but would love to try and spear some big AJ's and snapper when I can. For those that spearfish the rigs, do you usually lineshaft or freeshaft and how many times can you reload before needing to come up(how many shots can you get off?) They talk about freeshafting and stoning the fish a lot over there. I think they are on reefs and wrecks though, which are on the bottom. Basically the fish cant run away if you dont stone it. However on the rigs I imagine I will rarely be on the bottom and need a lineshaft to make sure the fish doesnt get away with my shaft, lol!. Just questions from a beginner, Nathan.

[scubaru]

Reliability is a none issue so long as your bands are good to go and you know your own limitations, these guns will perform exactly as they're designed to. It's all about how much coin you wanna drop to play the game & how often you are going to play. I personally don't freeshaft because I can't reach the Florida Middle Grounds to freeshaft hogfish, flounder, and other small reef fish. First time you don't bat 1000, time to drop another bill on a shaft and tip. I do believe that freeshafting is a common practice among spearo's much more proficient than myself though. As far as stoning the fish, I think we all try to do that (don't we?). Last thing I want is to be dragged around by an upset AJ when I'm already 100' down in 200' of water. Memorial Day weekend my buddies went out and the guy in the boat was being handed an AJ, well it woke up and went to thrashin as it was coming over the side and caught him across the love handle with 4" slip tip, wasn't pretty but could have been worse. It's kind of like deer hunting, you would rather give em' a dirt nap than have to track em all day long. You can reload until your out of air, out of strength, or out of targets.

[scubaru]

Here is an article that never get's old and portrays 2 different spearo philosophys:

http://www.slinginsteel.com/nn/articles/oilrigs10-02.html

Enjoy,
ru