Powderheads/Bangsticks

[100days-a-year]

http://www.beco-products.com/images/product/MVC-238X.JPG
Beco Products Company History

These have been ubiquitous on the East Coast,with B&B and Torres also manufacturing them for a long time.They have been in use since at least that early.

Edit,forgot to mention Ray Odor as another early manufacturer of powerheads

 

[Texasguy]

Still, how loud is .223 underwater? The bangstick has like 40" handle. Does it also mess with your head from the bang in the immediate vicinity? If one is shot from a rifle, it is LOUD. In the water it should transfer the sound even better, no?

What happens to the projectile, does its release pose risks?

 

[sealark]

A 223 does less damage than a 38 357 or 45. Why, Because of the hole size more damage is caused By a large shock wave instead of a 223 size hole. I have made and tried them all. The best I have used was a 45 magnum. I use the standard 45 Auto built to military specs. As for the noise there isn't enough to worry about.

 

[Sam Miller III]

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From my earlier post to this thread :

Most of my experience has been with the 38 Caliber Samson power head -- It is loud and can and has "rang my bell" on several instances when I was a wee bit too close or encased in a kelp canopy.

My tribe had several rules -Use only with a clear shot in relatively open water (difficult when you hunt in kelp) don't fire toward the surface - the sound will be bounced back, and don't fire into a hole, never ever fire into a hole when you are near.

We made our own 20 gauge bang sticks from common items and always used near the surface to send a message toa BSB - which was the last message they received .

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Jack & I used a 38 as a hole banger -- we were always or generally always fired down or straight ahead -- I don't recall a problem,

I had a 38 cal Sampson Power head fire when I pulled the safety pin at a bout 30-40 feet deep -- gave me a thrill -- blew powder into my fingers and ears rang for a day or so...(the joy of those days of yesteryear )

Never a problem with our homemade 20 gauge shotgun poker bang sticks -- used them generally near the surface, report was as you would hear firing a 20 gauge in the air --loud and clear.

sdm

 

[SEA_ARCHER]

When i first bought my simple slip on powerheads i practiced with them in my pool. I bought a .223 and a .357. I shot them at a 18 inch diameter pine log weighed down by a 5 gallon bucket full of concrete. I shot from a distance of maybe 6 feet from the end of my speargun (maybe 11 feet from my mask). The sound was suprisedly muffled between the distance and i would imagine much of the force of the explosion going into the wood. Its a really good way to practice with your powerheads if you're curious how they handle.

 

[Sam Miller III]

You apparently had a Bang Stick not a power head--

Power heads aka Point Impact heads were only made in 22,cal --Jack Prodonovic, Bottom Scratcher's-1943
or 38 cal Herb Samson , Long Beach Neptunes 1951

Lets not confuse Power heads and Bang Sticks after all these great years

SDM