How to choose a spearfishing gun

Types of underwater guns

1. Crossbow.
   The most popular speargun design for beginners. The firing range depends on the number of rubber rods and the size of the barrel. The advantage of a crossbow is considered to be low noise, almost complete absence of recoil and high shooting reliability.
2. Spring.
   Available with one or two springs. The simplest and most trouble-free underwater guns. Professional models are equipped with an effective design with springs of different diameters (located one inside the other), and have increased power, and therefore increased firing range.
3. Pneumatic.
   Convenient and effective spearguns for spearfishing. Powered by compressed air, compact. However, there are also disadvantages - the equipment is noisy, often misfires, and requires care when charging. It is also difficult to aim, which affects the accuracy of the shot.
4. Hydropneumatic.
   It does not limit the hunter at all, allowing him to easily do what he loves in any conditions, even in reservoirs with dense underwater vegetation. Hydropneumatics give the best impulse to the harpoon, and in some models the force of the shot can be adjusted. This is the most expensive spearfishing equipment.

The best shotgun manufacturers

Which company is better to choose the model that suits you? Prices for underwater equipment depend on the manufacturer. After all, only a worthy brand can provide a powerful and reliable weapon to the consumer. When the criteria for choosing a suitable device arise, it is necessary to turn your attention to manufacturers who have earned a worthy reputation not only among domestic but also among foreign audiences.

SALVIMAR

An Italian manufacturing company that has been producing equipment and accessories for underwater hunting on the world market for more than fifty years. The brand offers its consumers innovative and interesting designs that are developed and created by specialists in various fields using the latest technologies.

Advantages:

• High-quality samples of equipment for spearfishing;
• Innovative technologies.

Flaws:

• Cases of sale of counterfeits.

MARES

A well-known brand whose popular models of diving and underwater fishing equipment are in great demand all over the world. The range of products from this company is very diverse, so both a beginner and a professional underwater hunter can choose the right equipment for themselves.

Advantages:

• High-quality and reliable equipment;
• Huge range of products.

Flaws:

• High price for the product.

PELENGAS

A well-known Ukrainian brand specializing in the production and production of equipment for underwater hunting. The company is constantly improving its models, striving to bring them to the ideal. Its reliable and ergonomic weapons are created using high-quality materials and undergo strict final quality control.

Advantages:

• Reliability and ergonomics of produced samples;
• New technologies in creating models.

Flaws:

• Insufficient quality of harpoons included in the kit.

Is a permit required for a speargun?

This question arises for almost all beginners who decide to join this type of outdoor activity.
At the moment, the legislation of the Russian Federation does not provide for any permits for underwater guns of all types. At the same time, there are often cases when fishery inspectors, police officers or employees of other law enforcement agencies make a detention, confiscate this equipment or draw up an administrative protocol. In fact, there are only a few requirements that the owner should consider:

1. The speargun should be stored and transported in a special case and unloaded.
2. The use of underwater guns in crowded places (beaches, swimming pools, etc.) is prohibited.
3. Use together with breathing apparatus (scuba gear). In almost all countries it is equated to poaching (the exception is the USA).
4. A ban on fishing during the spawning period, as well as compliance with other fishing rules in force in the Russian Federation.

All other interpretations can be safely appealed in court, not forgetting about moral damage.

Spring shotgun for underwater hunting

A spring gun works on the principle of tensioning one or more springs, which, when released, forcefully throw a harpoon into the fish. It has a large number of significant shortcomings, as a result of which it is not particularly popular.

Professional underwater hunters do not recommend that inexperienced amateurs choose this type of gun as their first gun.

The main advantages of a spring speargun for underwater hunting, designed for long-distance shooting, are its reliability, simplicity of design and reasonable low cost.

Today's market offers the following types of springs, different in design and use:

• Only compression springs are used;
• Only extension springs are used;
• Combination of tension and compression springs.

The first version of guns is used for long-distance shooting. They have a long barrel, and therefore a long harpoon. The second is shorter and is more often used in underwater pistols.

Shotguns with two springs have more power, but cause some difficulties when reloading.

Disadvantages of a spring gun:

• Not buoyant.
• Weak combat power.
• Throws up when fired, which significantly reduces the accuracy of the hit.
• Noisy not only when reloading, but when firing.

Hydropneumatic speargun for spearfishing

The device of this type of underwater gun differs from a pneumatic device in the presence of a chamber with liquid. The chamber contains an elastic partition, which is driven by compressed air. Thus, the fluid moves in the piston chamber.

The liquid in turn pushes out the piston, which is in direct contact with the harpoon. Thus, it is possible to increase the combat power, and if necessary, you can easily discharge the device under water.

There are 3 types of hydropneumatic guns:

1. Hose.
2. Plunger
3. Piston.

Hose hydropneumatic guns consist of a finely perforated barrel, onto which a rubber hose is attached. During installation of the harpoon and loading, the piston displaces water behind the holes of the barrel; during a shot, the reverse process occurs, water under pressure pushes the piston out along with the harpoon.

Such guns are very sensitive to seal wear and even with minor gaps they practically become inoperable.

Plunger hydropneumatic guns consist of a barrel, a plunger pump and a trigger mechanism. Such guns are excellent for hunting large fish that do not allow the hunter to get within close range. The plunger device allows you to shoot at a distance of up to 8 meters, and the accuracy of such a shot will be very high.

This type of underwater weapon is not cheap, and, like hose models, it is very sensitive to insufficient sealing.

Piston models have a similar design , but with some fundamental differences. An O-ring is installed on the harpoon, this design allows the water that is in the barrel to move under the piston, which moves and compresses the air.

During a shot, the reverse process occurs: the air, expanding, pushes out the piston, which directly affects the harpoon. This type of underwater weapon is characterized by high power, which can be easily adjusted by extending the harpoon from the barrel. This quality is of great importance when hunting in snags, where with a high shot power, you can drive the harpoon deep into the wood.

The best crossbows for spearfishing

The first thing you need to navigate when choosing a crossbow is the intended location for choosing your hunt. The key is to choose a universal gun, then it will not be necessary to buy different types.

Crossbows vary greatly in length. It starts from 36 cm - 1.2 m. The longer ones are intended for hunting in the seas or oceans, and the shorter ones for lakes and deep-sea rivers. The best option is 50 -60 cm. It is suitable both on the river and on the sea. In the ocean or, for example, on a deep-sea lake, something more powerful is required, from 85 cm. A meter-long weapon may seem inconvenient, restricting movement, but how much advantage will it give you, and the longer, the higher the power and firing range, and this This will come in handy in clear water.

Advice for novice submariners.

First, decide on your hunting location. If a lake, river, etc. – are quite deep and transparent, then I advise you to use a crossbow. The length should be chosen relative to visibility underwater. The further your view is, the more necessary it is to use a length of 75 cm or more. On rivers or in the sea, where visibility under water is reduced, it is better to use a pneumatic one. Typically, such waters are dominated by fast fish, and you will need something more maneuverable. You can use a crossbow with a five-pronged tip; after the shot, the ends will separate and, like a bunch, cover the fish.

Existing types of underwater guns

All known underwater guns come in two categories - crossbows and pneumatic guns. To make a choice, you need to take an interest in the features of each of them. Crossbows are an ideal weapon if you plan to go underwater fishing in the sea. When using it, it is important that there is good visibility.

When choosing a crossbow gun, you should pay attention to its length, since the combat range will depend on this parameter. Some tools reach a length of 1.5 meters, although much more compact products exist.

It is also worth considering the length of the harpoon - a loaded crossbow gun will be about 30-50 cm longer.

The diameter of the harpoon can be 7 mm and 8 mm. Crossbows with a large harpoon diameter are more suitable for experienced underwater hunters.

The choice of underwater crossbow guns is huge, so each person will choose the best option in terms of quality and cost. The advantages of such guns are their simplicity of design and ease of aiming. In addition, the crossbow gun provides quiet and accurate combat.

Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages - they are bulky and inconvenient to maneuver, as well as a low rate of fire. When choosing a model for yourself, it is not at all necessary to give preference to the most expensive product, but you should not consider cheap options either. The optimal choice would be a mid-price crossbow with a medium diameter that fits comfortably in the hand.

Air guns are ideal for fishing in freshwater bodies of water, where greater maneuverability and power are required in a small size. The combat range of such a weapon directly depends on the length, and the power depends on the pumping. Modern models, as a rule, are provided with firing regulators, with the help of which a person can adjust the force of the shot directly during the hunt.

The thickness of the harpoon for such a weapon can be 7 mm or 8 mm, with a barrel diameter of 11 mm or 13 mm. It is worth considering that a thinner harpoon flies out of the pneumatic gun at a higher speed, but it will lose inertia faster in the water column. If a person is interested in spearfishing for really large fish, it is better to give preference to a harpoon with a diameter of 8 mm or more. For shooting at close range, a harpoon with a smaller diameter is suitable.

The length of air guns is usually from 30 to 100 cm, longer models are rare. You can purchase an improved pneumatic machine on which a pneumatic vacuum system is installed. This device allows you to avoid water getting into the barrel, which negatively affects the operation of the gun. This system also allows you to reduce the toss, it increases the speed of the harpoon and makes the shot quieter.

Air guns have the following undeniable advantages: they are maneuverable, easy to load, their rate of fire is higher, and the model has a high efficiency. There are also disadvantages - a fairly loud sound when fired, a large throw and a complex design of the gun. When choosing a gun, you should take into account all its parameters, as well as operating conditions, in order to become the owner of a really good and reliable pneumatic gun.