Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

EXCELLENT GUN, EASY TO HANDLE AND ACCURATE. I BOUGHT AFTERMARKET SPRING STEEL SHAFTS, MUCH BETTER THAN THE STOCK ONES, WHICH ACCEPT THE STANDARD 6 MM AB BILLER SPEAR TIPS. ALSO I BOUGHT A RETRACTABLE AFTERMARKET HANDLE THROUGH NEWPORT DIVE CENTER, WHICH MAKES LOADING EASIER FOR SHORTER DIVERS (I AM ONLY 5.11). IT IS ALSO USEFUL TO LENGHTEN THE STRING OF THE LOADER SO AS TO PULL THE SHAFT IN WIHT YOUR WRIST FOR THE FIRST 5 OR 6". WITH THESE TRICKS IT HAS BECOME EASIER FOR ME TO LOAD IT EVEN AT 30 PLUS ATM.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I use the Cyrano 850 for red snapper, grouper, parrot fish found near shore and for snook in some local rivers. It shoots fast and is definitely a step up from my old Cressi Sub 70cm. Can't attest to its durability, as I haven't had it very long, but it seems to be very well built. Want to check into getting a Mamba kit for it in the future.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I use the 700 for shooting mullet and sheepshead. great gun I've had it for about 10 years and the only thing replaced is the 5 prong I use. I USE My 850 for scuba diving. I shoot grouper, cobia, hogfish and anything i see thats legal and it performs well, better than any band gun. But i'm going to step up to the 1100 series for added distance. Happy hunting.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I like the fact that you don't need to worry about bands and stuff. One thing, it's long so you don't load it like the shorter pneumatics, resting the handle on your foot. Hold the top of the barrel with your hand, rest your wrist on your cocked knee, then you can reach the top of the spear with the loading handle and pull down to load, no problem. This is my second gun, same model -- first one I got all the accessories and spare shaft stolen so I decided to just buy a spare gun.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have a 1100 that replaced a Californian that I had for about 15 years. Had the accessories stolen from my car so gonna get another one for the accessories and as a backup. I like the fact that you don't have to worry about the bands and will sacrifice other issues just for that. I learned that to load the 1100, grab the top of the barrel with a gloved hand and rest that hand on your knee, then load the shaft with the other hand. This way, you don't have to be a giant and rest the handle on your foot. Try it and I think you'll find loading pretty simple.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have two of those (different length). Both required service (leaked air, certain handle parts would be lost, etc.) It is a good gun if you can service it yourself. I can. It required adding mineral (or castor) oil and replacing o-rings. Not very easy to disassemble. It is bulky and can not be dragged through the water quickly if you want to follow with it a fast moving fish. It is pretty accurate and very powerful. Ability to change strength of the shot is a plus.
Since the handle is in the back, it is not balanced at all and it could get tiresome to hold it in a proper position - aiming forward.
It shoots louder than a rubber gun and some say it scares the fish away. Stock shaft is a painted steel prone to rust. I have a bunch of 7mm stainless stell shafts. Overall for heavy usage prepare for problems in case you can not service it yourself. For me it is a hobby, so I am OK with that.

For deep water fishing it also requires a reel and at least 30-40 yards of line which adds a significant expense.

850 is difficult to load for somebody less than 6 feet tall - it requires pressing the handle against your leg.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

THIS IS A GREAT GUN! BUT YOU NEED TO REPLACE SOME OF THE FACTORY ITEMS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT. IT NEEDS A NEW SHAFT,LINE AND TIP. IT ALSO NEEDS A SPRING TO HOOK YOUR LINE TO THE SHAFT.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

The speargun itself is a great tool but the orginal 7mm Stainless steel shaft is weak. The best is to buy an after market shaft and you have a great speargun.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

great gun used it today in lake michigan very fast used it for 34" to 12" fish i will get a mamba dry barrel kit in the future.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

today was the first day i took it into the water. i use it in lake michigan, and it was able to take down all fish i came across 35" to 12" no problem.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

iam a avid spearo, and have rubber spearguns and pneumatics. i recently bought the cyrano 1100
and added the mamba kit/dry barrell kit which makes it alot more powerful and lightning fast shaft speed that my 52 inch rubber gun can not touch. thank again leisurepro

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have owned this MAres 750 for nearly 6 years now, after 5 years of rubber-gun hunting.. Northeast and northwest USA all season.. from 5 lb flounder to 20 lb striped bass.. to 15 lb lingcod and tons of rock fish in between.. this gun is fabulous...packs the same punch as a rubber gun 30% longer. i have only recharged it twice with the pump that is supplied in the package.. i suggest buying a 6mm adapter to improve your spear-tip selection, and always store it barrel down. I am hoping to spear some salmon this season and stash it in the kayak before anyone knows. I will absolutely by a bigger one (950) with a reel for some blue water monster hunting.. the rubber die-hards dont know what they are missing

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I bought my 970 about two years ago and i have know complaints. Gun Is very light and accurate i have used it in blue water to bag 20+ pound dolphin and in the reefs to wrangle nice size grouper. Gun really packs a punch without sacrificing accuracy. Very versatile gun highly recomended.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

This gun shoots nice and is accurate and powerful. It is amazingly difficult to load and prone to bending the spear when loading. Once loaded its FANTASTIC, getting it loaded is not so nice.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

Been using the 850 for a year now and LOVE IT! Clearly pnumatics don't get the kudos from dive shops because there is way less profit in them and no consumable items (bands) that regularly need to be replaced. I use this gun freediving as well as scuba no problem. It is fought over by my diving family compared to my banded guns (AB Miller and JBL). Note of caution. Be sure to choose the size gun based on your ability to reach and load. Also pumping the gun beyond a certain limit provides diminishing returns in power/speed as opposed to rapid loading.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

It's my third spear gun, Mares 850 is what I needed since the beginning. Very easy to use, but could get hard to load from times to times. Overall, perfect performance.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I use my 1100 for a variety of small and large fish spearing. I've found the 1100 to be a fantastic gun with very good power. The only downside of the gun is the fact that it can hard to load. I'm 6 ft and just manage to reach the spear tip with the gun resting on the top of my foot. Anyone shorter would not manage. Overall i would recommend this gun to any potential buyer!

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I am 5'9". I can't load the mares cryano 1100 by putting the butt of the gun against the top of my foot. When I do that, my hand is still about a foot away from the tip of the spear. To load the gun, I have to grab the nozzle of the gun with my left hand, and then push against the spear tip with my right hand. Because of the way I load the gun, I can't push very hard; therefore, I have to keep the pressure in the gun very low. And that means there is less power.

If I had known that there is correspondence between my height and the length of the gun, I would have bought a shorter gun like the cryano 850, which I would be able to load by placing the butt of the gun against the top of my foot.

But besides the loading problem, I find the gun to be very accurate and light.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I always look for best quality, best functionality, and best price. I found everything I was looking for in this gun. Two full years of use on my gun and absolutely no troubles or maintenance yet. I also bought 5 more for my buddies all have been trouble free.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

Mares pneumatics are well made and you can take thousands of shots before recharging. If you going after fish over 5 lbs., you should get the 85cm or 97cm guns, as they have the power you need. Guns over 97cm can be difficult to load, especially if you're short; they are also bulky for long dives. The first few times you load your pneumatic, you're likely to feel awkward and think it's really hard; but with practice, you get better. The downside to all pneuamtics is servicing: Everyone services bandguns and the usual problem is just worn out bands; few shops service pneuamtics and you often have to ship the gun back to Mares.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have purchased four of the 750 spearguns for friends and myself, over the last 6 years. We are die hard lingcod spearfishermen. All but 1 has been trouble free and functioned perfectly. They are easy to work and quick to reload for that second shot.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

good gun shoots real fast, and accurate but shaft is weak, bends easy.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

Great stopping power, I have shot Cubera Snapper over 90 pounds with my Mares 850 gun. Clip this gun off on your dive bouy when doing your decompression and blast a KingFish, then hold on!
I have used Mares guns to feed my family for over 15 years, you can take it back when I die and only then. Use the 1100 for open ground and clean up with your 850 once they hole up.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

Nice gun, powerfull the only issue I have with this gun is that it is hard to charge (the 1100). I am 5' 7" and the gun and spear makes it too long for me too charge.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I lost the first gun when a teather came loose so I bought it again. I have ued this gun both fresh and Salt water. I shot an Amberjack from about 10-12 feet and it preformed well.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

This is the best spear gun on the market. It definitely needs a different tip (JBL Double Spinner is a good choice). You can also replace the nylon tether with a plastic spiral shock chord (16'-20' length works pretty good). Ling Cod and Rockfish don't stand a chance against it! More than enough power and as accurate as it gets!

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I will always own a 44 inch Mares. The only problem is that at like 30 feet and deeper it looses its power. The deeper the less power. Great gun powerwise in shallower depths.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

Very good gun small and powerful.
I have speared many big bass in the 40+ lb range.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have both the 1100 and the 970 and have had the Long Tom before them. The 1100 is not for a short diver. I'm 6'1" and it is a stretch to load. The 970 is great all around and I have bagged many 20 pounders with it. The down side is these Pneumatics need factory service every couple years because once they get any salt water penetration in the barrel they corrode easily and quickly. Look for bubbles coming out the end of the barrel once the shaft is loaded.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have only owned the Cyrano for about a month. I have gotten wet with it 3 times and I have to say I love this gun. Great accuracy, decent range and a whole lot of power up close. I love the power switch for when a fish holes up and you dont want the spear to dig into the reef. I would recommend the Shock Coil that is mentioned in the first review. If you freeshaft you might be amazed at the reloading times with this pneumatic. Pretty much 20 seconds from shot to reloaded. I do not know how effective this would be on big game as I have not tested the penetration strength on anything bigger than 10lbs. If you get this gun, happy hunting.

Comments about Mares Mares Cyrano Pneumatic Spearguns:

I have had the Mares Cyrano for one year now. It has been a very good and pleasant experience so far. Absolutely trouble free use. Zero maintenance. I have improved the pleasure by changing the shockline to a Sea Spring Coil, and I also changed the double-barbed tip for a 5 prong by Omer. I use my gun for small to medium size fish, and found this setup to work very well. I spear Walley, Pike, and Bass. I also got a stainless steel stringer. I would recommend this setup to anyone wanting to do this type of spearfishing. A friend of mine has the Mares Sten, and he's had it for several years. He has not had to put a single penny into that gun yet. No maintenance at all. This has been a major factor in my decision to go pneumatic rather than elastic bands, as the elastics are expensive and will need to be replaced, likely once a year if you use the gun a lot. After much reading and research, I went for the Mares Cyrano 700 (28 inch), and am to this day very satisfied.