Double 14mm with a 6.25 shaft: sharpshooter? or toy?

[Tracina]

Hello fellow spearos,
              Here is the problem: 2 years ago I decided to add to my underwater arsenal a beautiful Mares Viper pro 90...this gun comes with a 19mm monoelastic and a 6.5mm shaft... I've never managed to load it past the first position (it has three)!!! Already tried both "leg-loading" and "chest loading"... but nothing. Obviously I feel I am not getting the best out of my "bazooka". I already have a seac 55 (mainly for octos) and a mares 75fv (19mm monoelastic but easy to load to the max and mainly used for "den" fishing). I've been spearfishing for about 10 years slowly learning and perfecting my technique...from agguato to aspetto...HELP! I need to figure something out because I often leave my beautiful Viper at home as after a couple of loadings I am exhausted. The other day a Seriola (lesser amberjack, I believe) swam by and circled me twice while I was in convulsions trying to load...

Here is my question: as the gun comes predisposed for the eventuality of using two bands, what would happen if I used a double 14mm and a lighter shaft... let's say a 6.25mm? Maybe I am wrong, but I feel it would yield a very FAST and PRECISE weapon (obviously with less penetrating power). But perhaps the obvious loss of power would be counterbalanced by the less weight of the shaft? I've also thought of two double 16mm, but they seem a bit exaggerated, no?

Would anyone know a shop where I could get 14mm bands by the meter and a 130cm 6.25mm shaft? I would prefer buying in Malta rather than on ebay... I've seen a couple of "colleagues" while fishing using similar setups, but didn't have a chance to ask them (underwater) ... Any thoughts? Any suggestions? I thank you all in advance for any input. Ciau, Tracina.

[ggantno1]

First of all with a 90cm forget the meaning of bazooka !!!! secondly you can keep the same shaft and try different bands  until you find the setup that is best for you.  By adding another band you will gain a little bit more power and lose a lot in accuracy which  I think that for guns below 100cm it is very important . On my 90 which i use  mostly for agguato I have the setup of 6.5 with 18mm bands  and it has enough power  and at the same time still very accurate  up to 3m . Also by adding another band it will take you more time to load than a single band !!! So for the seriola  that circled you twice you would have ended up loosing it  even with the mentioned setup    And dont forget that with a 6.2 and double bands the risk of destroying the shaft when hitting a  rock is very high

[Tracina]

Dear Ggantno1,

      thanks a million for taking the time to answer and for the suggestions you gave me. As you point out, I will try 18mm. There is one thing I don't understand, my shaft (speed 130cm) has three positions (I am using the dyneema ogiva). If I use the monoelastic, should I be able to load it to the second or third, or are the second and third positions mainly used when using 2 bands? I realize "the more, the better", but I am just trying to understand whether I am using a "low power setting", or if loading the 19mm band at the first position is "standard". With my shorter seac55 and mares fv75 the shafts come with two positions, but I can load both, and usually only use the first for extremely short shots in dens and holes (as you said to avoid destroying the shaft). Thanks again for your suggestions and availability.

Regards,

Tracina

P.s. I would love to get an even longer "bazooka", but first I need to load and master this one 
P.s.s. I think the Seriola is still laughing 

[ggantno1]

I think that I understood your problem you are used to the mares fv75  and seac which both have a normal trigger . now you  started using the viper which it has a reverse trigger which makes the trigger closer to your chest by approximately 8cm . You need to refine your technique  of loading !!!!! Most people feel the difference as you did when they change to reverse triggers for the first time .

The shaft has 3  positions to  load the power needed and to help you out while loading.  With bigger guns usually I put the gun on the hip and load till the first 1  then i put the gun on my chest and stretch out the bands till the last points. 
This technique may change depending on the adrenaline . If I need to load fast I normally do in one pull . But if there is no hurry I like to load as stated before easy and safe .   

[Tracina]

Dear Ggantno1,

             once again thanks for the expert advice. I think you hit the problem on the head. That is exactly the problem. In fact I was wondering how it was possible to have the trigger so close to the last position on the shaft. It is so close that the last two positions, for now at least, seem unreachable. The first is no problem, but the last two are very close to the chest. I was even thinking of adding a spacer behing the gun (the part which touches the chest)... I will definetly need to improve my loading technique.... by a lot ; ). Working out hard these days to see whether I can produce more power when loading. AT least now I know. I have some funny bruises on my hip... looks like I practice some extreme sexual technique ; )... but it was the same on my chest with the fv75 when I frist got it... so I know it is just a question of practice and finding the right spot...

Once again thank you for all the advice. And who knows, maybe we will cross underwater paths one day! ; )

A big thank you,

Regards,
Tracina

Tracina