The right speargun for you may not be the right speargun for the person next to you.
Adreno Brisbane's Taylor Slattery covers a range of spearguns talking us through how to choose the right speargun for everyone from a full beginner to a seasoned veteran.
Beginners: Pole spears can be useful when learning to dive at a cheap price. Something with decent weight has better momentum and power. A two piece won’t flex when you pull the hand spear, however this may occur in a three piece. A solution to this is twisting the hand spear slightly. Beginners can also look at entry level guns. Cheaper guns won’t provide you with details such as a rail to support the shaft as you shoot for accuracy. Rigging can also be a difficulty as their limited flexibility means they are less forgiving when incorrectly rigged. The materials used to produce the gun are mostly plastic. This means that when you load the gun pressure is being applied to weaker materials, and eventually you’ll have to upgrade.
Intermediate to experienced: It all depends on what conditions you’ll be hunting in and what fish you’re going for. The general gun used for all-round performance is a 110cm gun with double 16 rubbers and 7mm shafts. These guns work nicely in reef and headland diving.
Increasing in size to around 120cm will allow you to hunt larger fish. Aluminium guns are lighter but have some recoil, whereas timber guns are heavier but allow for better tracking in the water due to reduced recoil. Timber guns can also be maintained when they begin to wear with a simple sand back and oil.
Roller guns are perfect for when you need a short and powerful gun. This design allows for extra power for length as the rubbers are pulled all the way around the end of the gun at the roller points. This propels the shaft until it leaves the barrel unlike traditional designs which loose tension towards the end of the barrel.
Cuttlefish shaped guns allow for a slimmer profile for better tracking.
Larger game fish in blue water conditions can be targeted with the larger guns around 140cm. These guns are great with wings for improved buoyancy in the water and a weight which can absorb the recoil for improved accuracy.
A closed muzzle will give you better accuracy however any bending in the shaft will prevent you from using them again. It’s always important to keep spare shafts around when using a closed muzzle. Alternatively, open muzzles may be less stable however there is nothing getting in the way of your sight when aiming.
Entirely stainless steel guns are a good investment if you’re looking for longevity. Resistance to wear and tear means they will last as long as you can.
If you have any questions just contact the Adreno team or come in store and we can guarantee that we have a gun suited to you.
