AB Biller

[new storm]

Whats up everyone, Im a newbie looking for a decent gun. The AB Biller appeals to me the most, pricewise. What I would like to know is how good of a gun is this. My brother is die hard on Riffe, but I cant see spending that amount on a gun, for me. I have other expensive hobbies, so I gotta be a bit frugal. I will be spearing in Rhode Island for striped bass, mostly. Well, that will be the largest fish on the menu. I was thinking of this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7167392422&category=47353

What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

 

[MilitantMedic]

How big do Stripper Bass get? Anything smaller than 3 feet then that gun is too big, and that's pushing it. Unless you are out spearing tuna I would get something smaller. Like a 24" to 36" those are much better "all around" guns. If you are planning to spear on reefs keep it small. Big guns are for blue water and big fish.

AB Biller makes good spearguns a step up from JBL IMO, but you get what you pay for...and you'll pay plenty for a Riffe.

 

[Johnoly]

Biller makes great entry level guns and your right in that they can't be beat for value and price. In RI you probably see viz between 10 - 20 feet if you are shore diving and more if you are offshore. I'd still stick with a 48 to give you some range when you are off shore. That price is also very good and an excellent shipping charge. I'd go for it.

 

[new storm]

This summer my brother speared a 40 lb 44" striper. So they do get well over 3'. Keeper size is 28". Also right now there are yellowfin tuna around. A friend of my bro saw one estimated 48" give or take last weekend. My bro doesnt have trouble with his riffe, I think its a competitor series. It is 40" with a 48" shaft. That AB Biller is the closest to it. The next size down I fear will be too small in some circumstances. I play tons of paintball, and have spent top dollar to get the best gear, so I know you get what you pay for. Can you tell me what makes a Riffe better than an AB Biller? My bro cant come up with anything good enough to convince me. He just says there sick with no explanation why.

 

[MichaelBaranows]

I am new to spearfishing so I am probably not a good reference. I suggest you ask this question over on spearboard.com. There are alot more guys that can help you over there. That seems like a good gun and is alot like my Rhino SS. I am hunting rigs and everyone has told me not to get a gun less than 48". A small gun might be cute and cheaper since you aren't really sure if you are going to like it. But make sure and get a big enough gun so that you have enough power.

 

[new storm]

Actually, Johnoly the local shop can get them cheaper somehow. They have been great. The stuff I have bought, I cant find online for cheaper. Amazing. Where are you from? PM me.

 

[Johnoly]

We like to use a restaurant chef analogy. When you have a great meal, do you run back to the kitchen and ask what kind of oven they baked it in? Probably not.

Same goes with guns, the most expensive gun in the world can't hit a fish if you are not accurate with your shot placement. Get the Biller and get in the water. If you really find that you love the sport, are getting better accuracy but want longer range, and you are hitting everything you shoot at, then throw the Biller up on e-bay, get 60% of your money back(approx) and buy another gun. I'll bet your buddy will let you try his riffe as well as most spearo's will let you try their guns, if even for one shot then trade back U/W. There's a lot out of variety out there.

I hunt the Florida southern east coast. For what it's worth, I shoot a Spearfishing Specialties Rhino 48 with a hair shaved off the bands. It's deadly accurate for my style of hunting. Other guns are also very accurate as evidence by the many fine posters on Spearboard.com

 

[ranger]

I have a Biller Custom 52" and love it. I spear with guys that have the Riffe and they are great guns, but it takes longer to reload due to the way they wrap the line across the spear to hold the spear in the gun. If I were to be in the market I would be looking at Speafishing Specialties guns, our shop just picked up a distributorship, and they are super well made. You can contact Kevin via his website and if you don't have a distributorship in a close proximity to you, he will sell direct to you.

 

[ranger]

One thing I forgot to mention, don't go smaller than 48" because you will loose to much on the distance shots. I upgraded to a longer gun because of that reason, as our large grouper like to hang 15 to 20 feet away, making it impossible to get close shots. With my Biller 52 I have stoned big grouper (36 to 48 inch) 20 feet away. They are strong and tough, very much like the stripped bass you'll be hunting.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I have a 54" Mahogony Bill er, it works well enough. When I'm on a reef and want to shoot smaller fish, I bring my polespear. The trigger action on Billers aren't near as smooth as on a Riffe. So far, I've found it to be reliable though, even with a 3rd band.