


Pneumatic spearguns generally have a compact design and use shafts that are around 0.31-inches (8 mm) thick making them hard to bend or break, ideal for penetrating larger fish. The power of a shot is determined by the strength of the user and how much air they can pump into the speargun. After placing the shaft into the barrel, this compressed-air fires it through the water when the trigger is pulled. The spear is fired by pumping air into the gun. They are very easy to use, have very little recoil, and can be fired over long distances with both power and accuracy. Though not as popular today as they were in the 1960s and 70s, pneumatic guns are still widely used throughout the spearfishing world. However, it usually comes down to personal preference and spearfishers tend to find the style that works best for them and stick with it. There are many types of speargun but just two main types dominate the sport: pneumatic and band-powered. Hunting larger prey at depth will require a larger, stronger shaft and a gun with a longer range. Shallow water and reef fishing require guns with lighter shafts, a short-range, and less power. Are you planning on catching fish while scuba diving in deep waters or will you freedive and stay close to the surface? This will determine the kind of speargun, shaft, speartips, and gun length you need. The first thing to consider is the type of spearfishing you’re going to be doing. Now you know the basics, here’s what you need to consider when buying a speargun. This works like a reel on a fishing rod with the line wound around it. More advanced spearguns feature reels or have a mount where you can attach a reel. These can be invaluable as they reduce the tension on the line, reducing the risk of the line snapping.Ī line release is another useful component of many spearguns which holds the slack of the line out the way and releases it when you fire. Some spearguns use a shock cord that is attached between the gun and the line. So you don’t lose the shaft if you miss your shot and to prevent the fish from making off with it, a line is attached to the shaft at one end and the gun at the other. The shaft has a sharp tip at the end which is what goes through your prey to kill it. After loading the weapon, you aim, pull the trigger and the shaft is propelled out of the barrel, hopefully into the fish you were targeting. There are three main components to a speargun: the barrel, the shaft (or spear), and the handle with a trigger. So, how do you choose the right speargun for the job? The Basicsįor the beginner spearos out there, we’ll quickly go through the basics of how a speargun works and the jargon we’ll be using further on.

If it’s larger fish or bigger game you’re after, there’s no point using a European banded speargun as you risk bending the shaft.Īnd if you’re not the best aim just yet, using a pneumatic speargun might scare off your prey as they tend to be quite noisy.

Equally important is choosing a gun that’s right for your needs. When buying a speargun, it’s important to find one that’s comfortable to hold and easy to use.
