speargun opinions wanted

I am looking at buying a speargun within the next couple months. A buddy at work has had a JBL magnum for about 10 years and likes the gun. I read a bunch of stuff on a spearfishing forum where the overwhelming majority said they are not all that good of a gun. I also saw the AB Biller guns. They are not a whole lot more in cost. I am looking to spend around 200 bucks, if need be.

So, any experience with these 2 guns or any others in this price range? What about wood versus aluminum? What is the life of a wood gun in saltwater? Any opinions on this would be appreciated....

Hey Chad,

You can't go wrong with a good OMER band gun. I use the Omer Excalibur 83. It's carbon fiber so it's super light. It's a great gun for everyday hunting down here in S. Florida. They go for $250 to $300. Spend a little more and you won't have to buy another gun for a long time.

Chad Jacobsen
Hogslayer

I've got a 48" Biller Floridian and love it. Nicely balanced and amply powered. I've only had it for 1 1/2 years, so I don't know about the lifespan yet

FL_Chad:

I am looking at buying a speargun within the next couple months. A buddy at work has had a JBL magnum for about 10 years and likes the gun. I read a bunch of stuff on a spearfishing forum where the overwhelming majority said they are not all that good of a gun. I also saw the AB Biller guns. They are not a whole lot more in cost. I am looking to spend around 200 bucks, if need be.

So, any experience with these 2 guns or any others in this price range? What about wood versus aluminum? What is the life of a wood gun in saltwater? Any opinions on this would be appreciated....

Click to expand...

Oh boy, you are openning to a big @$$ can of worms here . Hope you are ready for this.

Ok, asking about buying guns is like asking about buying BCDs or buying cars. Everyone have their own opinions about it, their own tastes. It also depends on what your particular spearfishing experience, local condition, habit.... blah,blah,blah...

That said, you asked for opinions, here is mine .
Wood is much better than aluminum, when shoot underwater, wood will absorb/not reflect the sound of the bands go off. Much more better at balancing underwater also. And it also looks much cooler.
ABBiller and JBL guns are ok guns, if this is your first gun and you want to go the inexpensive route and get the JBL/ABBiller, that's cool. But experiences shown that very shortly, you will out grown JBL/ABBiller and move up to the premium guns.
I got mine a midhandle hybrid from Daryl Wong guns http://www.wongspearguns.com/hybrid.htm.
It is a wooden gun, and it is semi enclosed so you have a much more accurate shots.
Daryl Wong guns are in the premium class so you will pay a little more but believe me it is worth every pennies.
Give him a call and he will talk with you personally. Ask you a tons of questions about your habit, where you going to shoot, the water, the conditions....
And he will make your gun by hand, balance it personally. Everything is custom made.
Oh, and everything is LIFETIME warranty. No questions asked.
I went and shot mine and the shaft line broke at the crimp place, so I lost the shaft and tips. Called up Daryl and he rushed me a whole new shaft and line and all. No charge to me and the whole shaft and line and tip are over $150!!!!.
He is a class act guy, based out of Hawaii and his partner Rick is also an awesome guy.

No, I don't work for him , just that he treated everyone that buy his gun as his first and only customer. Awesome customer service... Even invited me to Hawaii to shoot fish with him... but that's another story.

Anyhow, there are much more gun discussion at spearboard.com if you care to search. And search for Daryl Wong guns on there too. All you will see are very positives comments about his guns/operation.

Now young man, go out and buy a gun and spear some fishes . Enjoy.

another vote for the omer excalibur, i have one and love it...

Chad - join the Melbourne Beach Hunt club - they meet every second Monday night at MeeMaws on EauGallie Blvd in Indian Harbour Beach - just plan to show up around 7 pm. If you want more info on it, PM BlueWaterRocket on www.spearboard.com

I live in Indian Harbour Beach - am a member of MBHC - and between me and my husband, we've got a 50" Wong FL Freeshafter (I won at tournament this year), a 48" Spearfishing Specialties Rhino Classic (they sell those at Hatts and the new shop in Rockledge), a 54" Biller Paduk limited, and a 42" SeaHornet. The SS Rhino and 42" SeaHornet can EASILY be had for around $150 used. Once you've figured out what gun you want, I'd post a "wanted __ " post on www.spearboard.com. Most of the members live in FL so if you're willing to drive you might just get a GREAT deal on a used gun. For diving on the east coast - Canaveral or Sebastian - you'd be good with a 42" reef gun for putting under ledges to get fish (longer guns just can't fit into some of those nooks between ledges) or a 48/52 for more distance/larger fish.

IMHO - Wong guns are AWESOMELY ACCURATE and sweet to shoot. For a beginner gun, I'd recommend a SS or Hornet - probably a 48" or 52". Happy shooting and I hope to see ya at the next meeting

For cost,simplicity and ease of finding replacement parts JBL or Biller are heads above.Both have muzzles which can accomodate up to 3 5/8 bands,have replacement shafts for under $40.Tips from $10 on up or you can freeshaft a Hawiian shaft for the same $40.As far as accuracy goes that is a function of the user more than the gun.Riffes and Wongs are quieter but double the cost for comparable power and replacement shafts ain't cheap.Spearfishing Specialties are good guns built along the same lines as Sea Hornet,Biller.
I use a 54" SS Biller with 60" or 66" sharfts and 5/8s Spearfishing Specialties black cable bands.1 band for little fish in close and up to 3 for long shots.
Wood is probably better for most people as it allows you to attach spareshafts and lights more readily.

I have a 48" Spearfishing Specialties gun, it's a very nice workhorse of a gun.

I would personally find out what's available in your area and what shops specialise in spearfishing gear. If you can only get JBL stuff locally, I'd go with that. Getting spare parts and shafts is a very importiant part fo the choice.

I would have a seriously hard time freeshafting a $150 spear.

oh, and you really want to have the option to freeshaft. it's the only way with snappers and groupers. You'll shoot twice as many fish.
Rice

Thanks for all the info. How does the wood hold up, assuming it is taken care of? Is it something that will last for years and years? Is there any maintenence with a wood gun like putting a coat of something on it once a year or just rinse in fresh water after every use?

TD - I may come and check that out sometime. Pork platter from Meemaws sounds good!!!!!!

A single piece gun will hold up MUCH better than a three-piece gun. By single piece, the wood is uninterrupted from butt of the gun to the muzzle - usually you can see the wood grain uninterrupted by the handle. If a plastic handle covers it, chances are it's a piece of wood for the butt section, then the handle mechanism, then the forward wood part - hence the three-piece. A single piece will handle the tension of the bands and much more abuse over the years than a three-piece gun - simply more places for things to break.

Care - rinse in fresh water - particularly the trigger mechanism. If you want a pretty gun, you can sand and re-finish as you'd like, but not really necessary.