Spearguns for Spearfishing

Spearguns for spearfishing

Choosing a speargun is never easy. We all know that a single speargun cannot cover every fishing technique and adapt to all environmental conditions, much less be equally effective on different types of prey.

In this guide, we will cover everything from propulsion types and materials to the ideal lengths for different spearfishing techniques.

What is a speargun?

A speargun is a device specifically designed for spearfishing. It works through propulsion mechanisms that allow a metal shaft to be launched with enough accuracy and force to pierce and catch a fish.

The shaft is connected to the reel line, when present, or directly to the speargun muzzle via a shooting line or nylon monofilament.

The effectiveness of a speargun lies in its ability to deliver accuracy and power, allowing the spearfisher to take a specific target while keeping their impact on the marine environment to a minimum.

Unlike other fishing devices, this tool allows you to select a single fish, for which you will have only one chance to make the catch. This makes the speargun the most selective and eco-friendly device for bringing a fish to the table.

Band-powered speargun vs Pneumatic speargun

There are mainly two types of spearguns: band-powered spearguns and pneumatic spearguns (oil-pneumatic compressed-air spearguns). Band-powered spearguns use latex bands to generate the force needed to shoot the shaft, while pneumatic spearguns rely on the pressure of compressed air inside their reservoir to drive the piston, which in turn launches the shaft.

Among band-powered spearguns, in recent years a “subtype” known as the Roller Speargun has become popular. Roller spearguns still use band propulsion, but it is combined with pulley or roller systems that allow the band tension to be redirected underneath the speargun barrel as well, delivering different ballistic performance compared with traditional band spearguns, which rely exclusively on the direct pull of the bands.

The choice between Speargun and Pneumatic is often driven by personal preference and specific hunting conditions. Both types have distinctive characteristics that affect underwater performance and the overall spearfishing experience.

Band-powered spearguns

Below we will analyze the main features of band-powered spearguns.

Standard Spearguns

They use one or more bands, attached to the speargun muzzle, to propel the shaft. Loading is generated by stretching the bands until they hook onto the shark fins (or notches) on the shaft. When the user pulls the trigger, the shaft is released, allowing the bands to transfer the stored energy to it and propel it toward the target.

Roller Spearguns

This band-powered variant, although more complex in its operation and maintenance, can in some configurations reduce recoil during firing and make better use of the band travel along the speargun barrel. Roller Spearguns are characterized by pulleys in the muzzle, whose purpose is to route the bands underneath the speargun barrel. Unlike traditional Spearguns, which have the bands only on the upper part of the barrel, a loaded roller will have bands both above and below the barrel.

Quietness

One of the advantages of Spearguns is their low noise during firing, making them ideal for avoiding spooking nearby fish.

Intuitive aiming

One of the features most appreciated by speargun enthusiasts is the intuitive aiming. This is possible because the shaft is fully exposed above the speargun barrel, allowing the user to sight the target directly along it.

Customization

They offer greater customization flexibility, allowing users to vary the number, diameter, and stretch of the bands to adapt to different hunting situations.

Maintenance

They usually require simpler maintenance than pneumatic spearguns. In addition to rinsing with fresh water, they almost exclusively require replacement of the bands, which, being made of natural latex, tend to wear and degrade over time, leading to reduced performance and, eventually, breakage.

Pneumatic Spearguns

Below we will analyze the main features of oleo-pneumatic spearguns.

Action Mechanism

Pneumatic spearguns use compressed air as the propulsive force to launch the shaft.

The tank (speargun body) contains compressed air. Operating pressure is usually between 15 and 30 bar, depending on the user’s preference. Inside the body, in a central position, is the speargun barrel, which houses the piston responsible for launching the shaft during the shot. When the speargun is unloaded, the piston rests against the speargun muzzle; during loading, the user pushes the shaft into the speargun, moving the piston down until it engages with the trigger mechanism. When the user pulls the trigger, the sear releases the piston, which in turn drives the shaft out of the speargun, thanks to the compressed air in the tank.

The compressed air in the tank never leaves the speargun’s “closed” system, so there is no need to recharge the pneumatic speargun with new air at the end of a fishing session.

The muzzle of pneumatic spearguns can be either standard or vacuum type, the latter increasingly popular among those looking for top performance in this type of speargun.

Power Regulator

For pneumatic spearguns equipped with one, the power regulator is certainly an advantage of this type of speargun.

The power regulator allows you to significantly reduce the speargun’s shooting power when, for example, you need to hit prey inside a hole or in direct contact with the rock.

By operating a dedicated lever located near the handle, the tank can be partially isolated, so that only part of it contributes to driving the piston, effectively reducing shooting power. With a simple click, you can switch from full power for open-water hunting to reduced power for hole shots.

Standard Muzzle

The standard-type muzzle causes the barrel to flood during the loading phase. This means that, when the piston drives the shaft out during the shot, it must expel not only the shaft but also the water that flooded the barrel during loading. The muzzle is in fact equipped with holes that allow the water to be forcibly expelled from the barrel during the shot.

Vacuum Muzzle

Vacuum muzzles, on the other hand, use a system of seals that prevents water from entering the barrel during loading. This offers numerous advantages: first and foremost, the piston only has to expel the shaft (no longer shaft and water), allowing a significant increase in performance at the same pressure. In addition, the vacuum muzzle, also thanks to a special damping bushing, significantly reduces noise during the shot, making the vacuum pneumatic speargun as quiet as a band speargun, if not quieter. However, vacuum pneumatic spearguns require greater care and more meticulous maintenance to ensure the integrity of the muzzle’s watertight sealing system.

Barrel

The speargun barrel is positioned inside the speargun body (reservoir) and is fixed on one side to the muzzle and on the other to the handle; the piston runs through it.

The most popular barrels have an internal diameter of 11 and 13 mm. 11 mm barrels allow quieter and more accurate shots, but offer less power, making them suitable for light shafts with diameters between 6.5 and 7.5 mm. 13 mm barrels, on the other hand, allow the use of heavier shafts, between 7.0 and 8.0 mm, thanks to their greater power

At the same pressure, pneumatic spearguns equipped with an 11 mm barrel are easier to load than those equipped with a 13 mm barrel.

Maintenance

Pneumatic spearguns require more complex maintenance than band spearguns, including checking the seals and pressure system to ensure the speargun operates correctly. It is always advisable to have these checks carried out annually by a specialized dealer. In addition, greater attention is required for general cleaning and rinsing the speargun after each use. Proper care of a pneumatic speargun prevents sand or other debris from entering the barrel during loading, which could cause damage and malfunctions.

Which speargun is best? Band or pneumatic?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Band spearguns and pneumatic spearguns are equally valid; choosing one or the other mainly depends on personal preference in relation to your skills and spearfishing habits.

An experienced spearfisher can use both systems depending on the constantly changing conditions of spearfishing. Both propulsion systems are therefore equally effective in the hands of the user.

Our advice is to try both systems for a certain period of time, so you can understand which of the two types best suits your spearfishing style.

For your convenience, we list the most popular models below.

Band Speargun: Salvimar Ares and Sigal Nemesis Pro Green.

Both spearguns feature high-level technical characteristics and excellent value for money.

Pneumatic spearguns: Salvimar Predathor Plus and Salvimar Predathor Vuoto.

Both feature a 13 mm inner barrel and power regulator. The Predathor Vuoto features a vacuum muzzle, while the Predathor Plus has the standard muzzle.

Speargun materials: aluminum, carbon, and wood.

Spearguns, whether band or pneumatic, are made from various materials, each with its own advantages. The choice of material in a speargun has a direct impact on its buoyancy, handling, strength, weight, and aesthetics. Here is a focus on the three main materials.

Aluminum

Key strengths include durability, cost, and versatility. Aluminum is preferred for its corrosion resistance and excellent value for money. It is a robust material that ensures good long-term durability and is suitable for spearos of every experience level. It offers an optimal balance between performance and ease of use and is used in the construction of both band spearguns and pneumatic spearguns.

Carbon

The key strengths are lightness, strength, structural rigidity, and performance. Carbon is renowned for its incredible strength-to-weight ratio, offering spearguns that are lightweight yet extremely strong and rigid.

These spearguns are ideal for those looking for high performance from a speargun. Thanks to its structural rigidity, carbon fiber allows reduced geometries and volumes that minimize water resistance during movement, thereby increasing the speargun’s handling, which with this material is taken to the highest level.

In assembled band spearguns, the use of carbon fiber makes it possible to have a lighter, higher-performance barrel, while in monocoque spearguns it allows shapes and geometries that would be unthinkable with other materials.

In pneumatic spearguns, a carbon barrel provides greater lightness and buoyancy, resulting in better speargun trim and improved overall performance.

Wood

Strengths include aesthetics, malleability, and mass. Wooden spearguns have a natural look and are highly appreciated by a wide range of enthusiasts. Wood has the characteristic of being an easy material to work with, even in a home workshop, so many enthusiasts with a bit of manual skill are able to build their own wooden speargun. For this reason, in our Speargun – Roller Speargun – Wood Accessories section, you will find all the components needed to build a wooden speargun. Another characteristic of wooden spearguns is their high mass, which, although it can negatively affect maneuverability, helps reduce the speargun’s recoil when firing.

This material is suitable exclusively for building band-powered spearguns.

The choice of material depends on personal preference, the type of hunting practiced, and environmental conditions. Wood is preferred for its aesthetics and simplicity of construction, carbon fiber for those seeking light weight and high performance, while aluminum is valued for its durability and good balance between cost and quality.

Choosing the right speargun length

Speargun length is a key factor that affects maneuverability and shaft range. Shorter spearguns are ideal for murky water and close-range shots in tight spaces, offering greater handling. On the other hand, longer spearguns are preferable for open-water hunting, where shooting distance and accuracy become crucial. Although handling may be lower, in this case shaft range is more important than how quickly the gun can be aligned.

In medium-visibility conditions (about 15-20 meters), 40 to 75 cm spearguns are considered short and therefore suitable for hole hunting and close-to-the-bottom hunting. Spearguns between 80 and 95 cm can be considered medium-length, useful for a mixed hunting technique. Spearguns between 100 and 120 cm, on the other hand, are considered long, ideal for open-water shots on distant or large prey. Spearguns over 120 cm long are considered extra-long and are mainly suited to bluewater hunting, such as targeting large pelagics.

In conclusion

Spearfishing is an art that requires not only skill and knowledge of the marine environment, but also the right equipment. Choosing the speargun that best suits your needs can make the difference in terms of success and safety.