Today’s spearfisherman (and woman) has two main choices when choosing a speargun:
- Pneumatic Spearguns
- Band-Powered Spearguns
While each type of gun has a devout following, band-powered guns are more popular world-wide.
Band-powered spearguns come in three main categories. They are:
- Euro Guns
- Rail Guns
- American-Style, Multi-Band Guns
Pneumatic spearguns come either with a “Hi-Lo” power actuator or without one.
Pneumatic Spearguns are Compact and Powerful
The pros to owning a pneumatic speargun are:
- Compact
- Power
- Minimal Recoil
- Accuracy
- Increased Range
- Thick Spears (Bend Less)
The cons to owning a pneumatic speargun are:
- Power Limited to Diver Strength
- More Difficult to Aim
- Noisy when Fired
- More Maintenance
Band-Powered Spearguns are Powerful, Accurate and Silent
The pros to owning a band-powered speargun are:
- Powerful
- Accurate
- Nearly Silent
- Power Easily Increased by Adding More Bands
- Little Maintenance
The cons to owning a band-powered speargun are:
- Thin Spears (Bend More Easily)
- Longer to Load (Multi-Band)
- Below are some of the pros and cons of the various types of band-powered spear guns.
Euro Guns are Maneuverable and Silent Spearguns
The pros to owning a Euro Gun are:
- Maneuverability
- Silent
- Easy to Load
- Shooting Line Rigged to Minimize Drag
The cons to owning a Euro Gun are:
- Thin Spears (Bend More Easily)
- Lack of Power for Larger Game
Rail Guns are Powerful Spearguns with Long Range
The pros to owning a rail gun are:
- Euro Gun Design
- Thicker Spears (Don’t Bend as Easily)
- Longer Range
- Increased Accuracy
- Accommodates One to Three Bands
The cons to owning a rail gun are:
- Noise
American-Style Spearguns Are Powerful, Well-Balanced Weapons
The pros to owning an American-style speargun are:
- Power
- Well-Balanced
- Thicker Spears (Don’t Bend as Easily)
- Choice of Double-Barbed Tips or Slip Tip Mechanisms
- Can Accommodate up to Six+ Bands
- Stock Extension Eases Loading
The cons to owning an American-style speargun are:
- Slide Ring Shooting Line Rigging is Noisy
- Less Maneuverable
- Extra Line Loop to String between Shots
Other Considerations for Choosing a Speargun
Regardless of whether the diver chooses a pneumatic or band-powered speargun, there are several other options that must be considered including:
- Spear Gun Size Length
- Spear Type
- Spear Point Type
- Band Type and Diameter (Band-Powered Guns Only)
- Shooting Line Type
- Rigging
Most of these choices will come down to 1) personal preference, 1) the type of fish being targeted and 3) the area in which most of the hunting is done. For example, a shorter gun with a Tahitian or Hawaiian, hardened stainless steel spear and a pencil nose point rigged with a shock cord set-up and nylon shooting line may be ideal for smaller reef fish, while a longer gun with a galvanized steel spear rigged with a float line and coated stainless steel cable shooting line may be best for large open water game with thicker skins, scales or skulls.
Own Multiple Spearguns or a 48-Inch American-Style Speargun
Most serious undersea hunters will own multiple guns, each of which is appropriate for different situations. Considering cost, performance and versatility, the beginning spearfisherman (or woman) might opt for a band-powered, American-style speargun in the 48-inch range. This gun will probably come standard with a nylon shooting line and shock cord rigging. Such a set-up should serve the novice well until such time as he or she begins to specialize.
Where to Learn More about Spearguns
For more detailed information about specific spearguns and speargun techologies, take a look at the articles at XtremeSpearfishing, the leading resource for anyone involved in the sport.
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