Best Speargun of 2021: Reviews with Comparisons

Speargun fishing can be an exciting pursuit, as well as rewarding when you bring dinner home.

That said, you need to have a good speargun, but finding the right one is easier said than done.

This article reviews five of the best speargun models on the market to get you started in your pursuit of the right speargun for you.

Best Speargun Reviews

Hammerhead Evolution^2 Speargun

This is a very high-end speargun that is said to be the most accurate.

It may be pretty expensive, but we think it is well worth the investment.

Review

One thing that stands out about this speargun is how accurate it is and how easy it is to aim.

For one, it features a Hawaiian-style open-muzzle design that allows for a clean line of sight.

In addition, the barrel has a very high-quality shaft guide.

The reverse trigger mechanism also stands out.

This helps increase band stretch for increased power when shooting.

Moreover, this helps keep the index finger on target with the shaft, which helps with accuracy.

It is also worth noting that the reverse trigger mechanism, combined with the stainless steel trigger pull and sear, helps hold the shaft in the barrel until you are ready to release it.

This makes it safer to use.

On a side note, this unit comes has an ambidextrous thumb-operated safety, something else that helps keep you and those around you safe, whether you’re left-handed or right-handed.

Moreover, the ergonomic grip helps to maximize hand strength when shooting, thus minimizing recoil.

This is a comfortable pistol-style grip.

The trigger pull on the Hammerhead Evolution^2 Speargun is adjustable for sensitivity.

You may appreciate how the Hammerhead Evolution^2 Speargun has a stainless steel spring-loaded line that automatically resets itself after every shot, taking the hard work out of reloading.

In addition, this speargun is made with an anodized aluminum barrel, a lightweight material that is relatively strong and should not rust.

You also get 17-4 precision-milled heat-treated stainless steel shafts with weld fin tabs 2.5” from the rear; this helps increase band stretch and overall power.

Finally, keep in mind that you get dual helix power bands for maximum power.

Pros

• Great durability
• Corrosion-resistant
• Very comfortably
• Good safety features
• User-friendly
• Powerful and accurate

Cons

• Expensive
• Some issues with the safety mechanism after prolonged use

SEAC New Sting Sling Speargun

We are going in the other direction with one of the most affordable spearguns based on its level of quality.

Now, this might not be the highest-end spear gun, but it still gets the job done just fine.

You may appreciate that the SEAC New Sting Sling Speargun comes in different sizes ranging from 35 to 75 cm.

Review

One thing that stands out about this particular speargun is that it is made with extruded anti-rust aluminum, notably the barrel.

As you probably know, this kind of aluminum will not rust, plus it is also quite strong, so it should not bend, even though aluminum is relatively lightweight.

So it shouldn’t bend, rust, or weigh you down.

You may appreciate the SEAC New Sting Sling Speargun’s polyamide-filled stainless steel trigger mechanism that helps ensure excellent functionality and reliability.

In addition, the pistol handle grip is ergonomically designed for overall comfort.

However, we must point out that this is an entry-level gun without many high-quality features.

But that said, considering the price, there is really nothing to complain about.

Yet, we are rather impressed by the high-quality single flopper barbed tip shaft made of PR80 treated steel.

Although not 100% rustproof in the long run, this type of steel is relatively resistant to corrosion.

This speargun will not reload itself after every shot, so it’s not as user-friendly as the speargun we just looked at.

However, that said, reloading is not very hard. We like the SEAC New Sting Sling Speargun’s extremely powerful bands, although they are not the most durable.

However, the high-strength nylon line is shockproof and impact-resistant.

Pros

• Great price
• Good entry-level unit
• Durable considering the low price
• Quite accurate
• Fairly powerful
• Lightweight

Cons

• Takes effort to reload
• Limited durability when compared to higher-end models

JBL Woody Sawed-Off Magnum Speargun

Suppose you’re looking for the highest quality speargun around.

In that case, this is a great option to keep your eye on.

It’s not cheap, by any means.

However, you get what you pay for, and what you get here is quality, functionality, power, consistency, and accuracy. 

Review

This is an excellent speargun if you’re looking for quality and durability because the shaft and barrel are made of solid natural handcrafted African mahogany.

Each piece of mahogany is hand-selected for its straightness and quality and is then CNC machined into a barrel.

Mahogany is solid, so it’s not going to bend or snap on you, no matter the size of the fish.

Moreover, mahogany is solid wood, which means it’s automatically rustproof.

However, we need to point out that the mahogany shaft is weighty, so you better have strong biceps if you’re going to be using this speargun regularly.

On a side note, this speargun is buoyant, so if you drop it in the water, it won’t sink.

The shafts are powered by 9/16 inch nitro bands, either 2 or 3, depending on the model.

When it comes down to it, these are some of the best bands in the world as they are extremely powerful and allow for incredible velocity.

In addition, the spear shafts are made out of 17-4 heat-treated stainless steel.

The stainless steel will not rust, and because it has been heat-treated, it is also very strong and resistant to bending and snapping.

In addition, there’s an integrated full-sphere shaft track for maximum accuracy.

We like the open front design as it allows for a clear line of sight for greater accuracy.

The honeycomb pistol grip is not only comfortable to hold, but it’s also very well ventilated.

Finally, the M10 three-piece trigger mechanism is not too shabby either.

Pros

• Durable and powerful bands
• Real mahogany
• Superior durability
• Good accuracy
• Tons of power
• Comfortable to hold
• Amazing quality
• Buoyant

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy 

Mares Sten Speargun

This high-end pneumatic speargun from Mares uses air pressure to shoot the shaft instead of rubber bands (like a slingshot).

Review

Pneumatic spearguns don’t have any bands to deal with, so no bands can snap and need to be replaced.

Moreover, this tends to make spearguns a bit easier to use because you do not have to use much strength to pull the bands back into the cocked position every time.

The Mares Sten Speargun is ready to go as long as it has pressure in the air tank.

Then, to prime it, simply shove the shaft down the barrel until it clicks into place, and you are good to go.

Now, it does take a good deal of power to get the shaft in the barrel and into place, but you should be able to master this process with a bit of practice.

The high-capacity air tank is already pressurized at the factory, so you should not need to pump it up for some time.

Moreover, it works for quite a few shots due to its capacity before it needs to be pumped up.

This unit is compatible with both 7 mm and 8 mm shafts.

Everything you need to get started comes with the Mares Sten Speargun.

It comes with a loader, pimp, rubber shock bungee, a shock line, shaft, and tip.

The shaft is an 8 mm harmonic steel shaft, which is very durable, won’t bend easily, and is very resistant to corrosion.

The other thing we like is how it has a very comfortable pistol grip.

Pros

• Very user friendly
• Comes with everything you need
• Not too heavy
• High-quality components
• No bands to deal with
• Powerful and accurate

Cons

• Needs to be pumped regularly
• Not exactly cheap

JBL D6 Scuba Diving Spear Fishing Gun

The JBL D6 Scuba Diving Spear Fishing Gun is a great option to consider if you are looking for an American-made model made of American steel.

In addition, this one is reasonably priced.

Review

First, we should mention that this speargun is made of aircraft-grade aluminum.

This means that it is extremely strong; t won’t bend, crack, and will resist an extreme amount of pressure without being damaged.

Moreover, aircraft-grade aluminum is highly resistant to rusting.

That said, it is recommended to wash this speargun with fresh water after use in saltwater to prevent it from rusting.

Also, keep in mind that this spear gun measures 22.25 inches without the shaft, so it is pretty decent, although aircraft-grade aluminum is very lightweight.

The JBL D6 Scuba Diving Spear Fishing Gun gets its power from a single Hi-Mod 14 x ½ inch band that is highly durable, and although this speargun has only one band, it is pretty accurate.

Moreover, the 9/32-inch shaft is made of heat-treated stainless steel, which will not rust, and thanks to the heat treatment, it also won’t bend or snap on you even with a huge fish on the end of it.

In addition, the integrated barb endpoints do a great job at hooking fish, especially the smaller and more fragile ones.

Finally, we appreciate the high-quality steel trigger mechanism and integrated safety.

Pros

• Nice pistol grip
• Durable
• Lightweight
• Powerful (for a single band model)
• Safety mechanism
• Won’t rust
• Affordable

Cons

• Not ideal for large fish
• The string/line tends to come undone

Buyer’s Guide

Before you head out speargun shopping, we want to point out a few factors to keep in mind.

Type

There are two main types of spearguns, the pneumatic variety and the rubber band variety.

Pneumatic models use air pressure to shoot the shaft, which is excellent in terms of power, but in general, it can be hard to aim, time-consuming to load and make a lot of noise.

Although the other variety has you dealing with rubber bands, they are easy to maintain and load and are very accurate, although maybe not quite powerful.

Style

If you want something small and compact that is ideal for spearing small fish, a European model would be perfect.

However, if you target big fish at a long distance, you should look for an American rail style.

These are very powerful and accurate, but also loud. They are much bigger, more powerful, more accurate, and much louder.

This American style definitely has the biggest bang.

Length

If you are hunting in shallow water and reefs, a shorter gun, such as 48 inches and under, is best, but you will want something that is 60 inches and up for long-distance shooting in open water. 

Body/Barrel Material

One of the most important parts of any speargun is the body or barrel.

Generally speaking, these can be made from carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aircraft-grade aluminum, and wood.

We like wooden spearguns as they don’t rest, are very tough and look nice too.

However, they are heavy and can be expensive. Aircraft-grade or anodized aluminum is fine for a beginner.

Stainless steel is good for rust resistance, but it won’t be very strong unless treated.

Trigger and Safety

Although not every speargun has a safety mechanism, you want one that has one.

You don’t want to take a shot by accident only to realize that it wasn’t a fish that you hit.

Moreover, the trigger mechanism should be made out of high-quality steel so it won’t fall apart the first time you use it.

On that same note, having an adjustable trigger sensitivity is a bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the Best Size Speargun?

If you are hunting for fish in very small spaces with poor visibility, you’ll want to stick with something relatively short, no longer than 90 centimeters.

However, if you are hunting big fish and open waters, you want to get something at least 150 centimeters long.

How Fast Do Speargun Shafts Go?

On average, you can expect the shaft to leave a speargun traveling at around 150 feet or 45 meters per second.

What is the Difference Between a Spear and a Harpoon?

A speargun is a gun shaped like a tube that fires a barbed spear and is usually designed to be fired underwater.

However, a harpoon is a spear-like weapon with a barbed head, generally used for hunting whales and thrown from above the water’s surface.

Conclusion

If we had to choose, we think that the best speargun is the JBL Woody Sawed-Off Magnum Speargun.

This might be our old-school mentality, but that mahogany looks excellent, and the speargun is one of the best in all respects.

It doesn’t just look nice. It works too.

Check out our Best Dive Knives Guide