The Best Speargun for Beginners in 2024 [Tested & Reviewed]

Finding the right speargun for beginners can be overwhelming, with many options and confusing features. In this guide, I’ve personally tested and used various spearguns to provide honest advice. The top pick for beginners is Rob Allen’s Tuna Railgun for its accuracy, power, and durability. 

Despite some declining quality in other brands, this speargun remains reliable and well-balanced underwater. It’s a smart investment that will last for years and help you catch plenty of fish. So, if you’re eager to start spearfishing, consider getting the Rob Allen Tuna Railgun for a successful and enjoyable experience.

Also Read: How to Go Spearfishing and Be Safe and Responsible

Walking into a dive store is exciting with all the cool gear on display. But when you’re new to spearfishing, choosing the right speargun can be overwhelming. Should you prioritize quality or price? Which brands are reliable? With a pushy sales rep in the mix, it’s tough to make a decision. 

As someone who’s been there, I understand. That’s why I conduct polls and tests each year to gather insights from diverse experts. I’ll give you honest advice on the best speargun for beginners, based on real experiences and recommendations. So, let’s find the perfect speargun for you!

Editor’s Choice: Best Speargun for Beginners

For years, I’ve been recommending gear from Rob Allen because it consistently delivers great performance. And that’s the same feedback you’ll hear from the pros. As a beginner, you can’t go wrong with Rob Allen’s Tuna Railgun. It offers a perfect balance of value and quality, ensuring durability season after season. Plus, it provides accurate shots, giving you an edge when starting in spearfishing. 

This speargun is also ready to use right away. For beginners, I suggest starting with a smaller size, like 90cm or 100cm if you’re shorter, and 100cm to 110cm if you’re taller. This makes loading easier and makes spearfishing more enjoyable as you explore the ocean. Most of the spearguns we tested for this review were in the 100cm to 110cm range.

Why the Rob Allen Tuna Railgun is the best speargun for beginners

The integrated rail ensures your shots fly straight and hit the target accurately. With two powerbands, this speargun offers plenty of range and power for your dives. Its ergonomic handle is comfortable for long spearfishing sessions. 

The low-profile open muzzle is easy to handle and streamlined underwater. This versatile speargun works well for shore dives and deeper dives alike. It’s a high-quality piece of gear that will last for many years of use. 

Wife’s Favorite: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Hammerhead Evolution 2 speargun offers many great features. It’s a Euro-designed speargun that moves swiftly in the water and is slightly lighter than Rob Allen railguns. It has less drag and improved buoyancy at the front, providing stability, especially for shore spearfishing. 

With twin 14mm powerbands, it offers excellent range and accuracy. This speargun has been recognized as the most accurate in America by Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine and Spearing Magazine. The ambidextrous safety switch is convenient, and the sighting down the shaft is precise. From the shark fin tips to the open muzzle, it’s a top-notch choice. 

Combination Reef & OffShore Diving: Best Speargun for Beginners

If you need a versatile speargun for all conditions, consider the Salvimar Hero. It stands out with its acid green highlights and offers easy customization for left or right-handed grips. What’s unique about this speargun is its barrel design, which is a flattened oval shape. This design helps it move smoothly through the water, with precise aiming straight down the barrel to the open muzzle.

It comes with a spearfishing reel, and the 105cm barrel we tested has twin 14mm powerbands, providing plenty of power. Whether you’re spearfishing along the headlands or from shore, this speargun is reliable and powerful. 

Best Cheap Option: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Cressi Apache speargun is a great choice for beginners who want an affordable option. It comes in different lengths, from 35cm to 75cm, making it suitable for shooting small to mid-sized fish. Lightweight and easy to handle, it’s ideal for navigating in the water. 

You can add a second band for extra power in your shots. The closed muzzle makes loading easier and provides security when swimming in waves. Whether you’re spearfishing around rocks or learning the ropes, this speargun is perfect for reaching tight spaces and targeting fish like cod.

Best Value Option: Best Speargun for Beginners

I’m a big fan of Mares spearfishing gear, and the Mares Bandit speargun is their beginner-level option. Testing the 110cm speargun, I noticed the 16mm band is slightly oversized, which makes loading easy but sacrifices power. You’ll want to shorten the rubber and add a second band for more range. 

The extended loading pad is comfy, and the handle works for left or right grips. The guided rail in longer spearguns adds accuracy to your shots, so I recommend at least this size with the Mares Bandit. I didn’t like the tri-cut tip on the shaft, so I filed it down a bit.

Best Mid-Range Option: Best Speargun for Beginners

Investing a bit more in the Cressi Comanche speargun offers beginners a better shooting range. It comes with a tough-to-load 16mm band, which can be challenging but ensures good power. However, replacing the mono shooting line with a Dyneema one is recommended due to poor crimps. 

The trigger works well with a precise release, but the loading pad lacks padding. Overall, it’s a decent entry-level speargun for its price, providing good value for beginners learning to spearfish.

Best Premium Option: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Jurassic model shares a similar design with Hammerhead’s Evolution 2, which my wife loved as a beginner. However, it has some notable differences. It features a cleaner, minimal design with simpler lines, an enclosed muzzle, and a notched stainless steel shaft with a tri-cut tip. 

The oxide shaft resists corrosion. It comes with one 16mm power band, with room to add another for increased range. The internally ballasted barrel reduces recoil and keeps shots on target. It’s easy to load and reload, with a comfortable contoured pistol grip. Plus, all parts are interchangeable with other Hammerhead models.

Top of the Line: Best Speargun for Beginners

Riffe spearguns are top-notch, and the Riffe Euro Series is perfect for beginners. Despite the higher price, it’s worth it for its quality and performance. The teak barrel is lightweight and absorbs recoil and sound, making it durable for years. It has excellent trigger and safety mechanisms. 

The streamlined Euro barrel moves smoothly through the water, improving accuracy and range. With twin 16mm bands and the patented Mag Track, it’s reliable and easy to reload. Overall, the Riffe Euro speargun is a top choice for beginners aiming for quality and success.

Most Powerful: Best Speargun for Beginners

For more power and range in spearfishing, consider bluewater spearguns with multiple bands. But they can be bulky and hard for beginners. Instead, go for a roller speargun like the Rob Allen Tuna Roller. Its bands are positioned under the handle, giving more power in a smaller size. 

Rollers provide greater velocity and range, without sacrificing accuracy. They’re also quicker to load. The Rob Allen Tuna Roller is quiet, has minimal recoil, and offers excellent range. Even the 110cm model competes with larger spearguns. It’s a compact yet powerful choice for beginners.

There are plenty more spearguns to explore. With so many options, it’s hard to know which one to pick. You might be eyeing a different model or brand. In this review, we’ve tested several other beginner spearguns. 

Keep reading for my honest opinions on each one. I’ve spent a lot of time testing these in the water, so I hope my insights can help you make the right choice for your first speargun.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

If you’re after a shorter speargun, the Salvimar Intruder Wild Pro is a solid choice, measuring just 75cm long. It’s great for murky waters or tight spaces. In my early spearfishing days, I often encountered reef fish hiding in caves where a shorter speargun was essential for accuracy.

This beginner’s speargun comes with 14mm threaded bands for easy replacement, along with a comfy ergonomic grip and a 6mm shaft. While I’d prefer a stainless steel trigger over the plastic one, it’s one of the most affordable entry-level spearguns available. If budget is your main concern, it’s worth considering.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Proteus from Hammerhead Spearguns is a solid choice for beginners. Available in sizes ranging from 35cm to 75cm, it’s versatile and compact, making it great for those new to spearfishing. The 16mm band that comes with the 75cm model is a plus.

With its enclosed muzzle and extended butt pad, reloading is easy. Plus, it features a patent-pending metal wishbone for added safety. However, out of the box, it lacks power. You may need to shorten the stock bands to improve performance.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Seac Sub Sting is a shorter speargun, coming in either 55cm or 75cm barrel lengths. Despite its size, it has space for a second power band, a well-designed grip and handle, and an ergonomic shape. It also features a butt pad for easy loading.

While it’s a decent buy for the price, it’s important to remember that it’s an entry-level beginner’s speargun. In the water, it has good buoyancy and isn’t tip-heavy like some cheaper alternatives. However, it lacks a shock absorber in the line, which may be needed if using two bands.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

Mares offers the Sniper Alpha as another option for beginner spearguns, available in barrel lengths ranging from 35cm to 75cm. Even though it’s on the shorter side, the 75cm version still delivers a strong performance, packing a surprising amount of power. 

The stainless steel trigger adds to its durability, and the line release and trigger mechanism are well-built. Its compact and tapered muzzle makes it easy to manoeuvre underwater, and you can add two bands for extra power. Additionally, it features a shaft guide to enhance accuracy. Overall, it’s a solid choice for beginners looking for a speargun under 75cm.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

The updated Cressi Cherokee speargun features a unique open muzzle design, utilizing magnets like Riffe to secure the shaft in place. It includes an integrated spear guide along the barrel for improved accuracy, and the adjustable handle allows for a customized grip. 

This versatile beginner’s speargun also comes with a reel, making it suitable for deeper dives and targeting larger fish. While it performs well in the water, it may not be ideal for shooting very large fish due to its European design and the use of a 6mm shaft with twin 14mm bands.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

Rabitech spearguns, much like Rob Allen, have been improving in quality over time, and the Rabitech Stealth X is a prime example. Built sturdy with a 29mm barrel, this speargun features double 16mm bands and a double notch 7mm spear. 

The HDPE rail fitting on the barrel ensures a quiet shaft release, and you can customize the muzzle as open or fully closed, with the option to switch to a roller. While it offers good value for the price, I believe a Rob Allen speargun might offer slightly better quality for a similar price.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

The V Pro speargun from Salvimar, though similar to the Hero model, has some important differences worth noting, especially if you’re on a budget. While it’s a step down from Salvimar’s higher-end spearguns, the V Pro is still a good choice for beginners.   Unlike the Hero, it features a shaped stock barrel with an integrated shaft guide. 

The trigger mechanism is sturdy but not as heavy-duty as the Hero’s. It comes with twin 14mm bands, Dyneema wishbones, and a reel included. I appreciate the removable butt pad and the ability to adjust trigger sensitivity with screws. Overall, it’s a decent and more affordable option from Salvimar.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

When starting in spearfishing, you’ll often hear about JBL as a reliable brand. The JBL Carbine speargun we tested here is the 105cm model, but differences between models mainly involve barrel length. It’s equipped with a sturdy 6mm stainless steel shaft and trigger, but the arrowhead tip is better suited for smaller reef fish. 

You’ll likely need to upgrade the bands as the ones it comes with don’t offer much range. Plus, some may find the lack of a loading pad inconvenient. Overall, it’s a decent beginner’s speargun, especially after adding a 16mm band for better performance.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

This AB Biller speargun is tough, which is great, especially for beginners. It’s built in the American style, so it’s strong and can handle a lot of use. The shaft it comes with is 8mm thick and feels strong. 

Plus, it has twin 14mm powerbands that give you plenty of power when you’re starting in spearfishing. It’s accurate, reliable, and a solid choice for your first speargun, especially if you prefer the American style.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

I’ve come to really like JBL’s Woody Elite series as a beginner speargun option. It’s one of the most affordable wooden spearguns out there, and they offer different models to choose from. In my review, I tested the Woody Elite Sawed-off Magnum, and my first impression was positive. It shoots straight, it’s easy to handle, and it feels sturdy. 

The stainless steel trigger is smooth to press and can handle a lot of force. The Magnum model, at 44 inches long (112cm), is a good size for reefs and deeper water. It has an ergonomic grip that fits comfortably in your hand, and it shoots stainless steel shafts with shark fin-style tabs. Overall, it’s a reliable and affordable option for beginners.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

AB Biller offers another option for those interested in wood-barreled spearguns with their Special Series Wood Mahogany speargun. Previously, they had teak and padauk options too, but there’s something special about wooden spearguns.

Internally, it’s similar to AB Biller’s Stainless Steel Professional speargun, but many prefer the look and feel of wood. In the water, it shoots quietly and stays level. Plus, it comes with a threaded 8mm shaft, making it easy to replace damaged tips. Overall, it’s a budget-friendly choice for your first wooden speargun.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

Despite the variety of spearguns from Rob Allen, another option to think about is the Rob Allen Vecta Snapper. While I usually recommend Rob Allen’s Tuna Railgun for beginners, if you’re targeting smaller fish, like those found in reefs, the Snapper might be better.

Essentially, they’re the same speargun but in different colours. The Snapper is designed for hunting smaller reef fish, with 14mm bands and a slightly thinner shaft. It’s ideal for quick and accurate shots in reef hunting.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

Trying out the 105cm Salvimar Metal Speargun was a pleasant surprise. With its sleek Euro-style design and upgraded metal trigger mechanism, this speargun moves smoothly in the water, making it easy to aim and shoot.

Despite having only twin 14mm powerbands, it delivers good range and power. The addition of a reel is a nice bonus, providing even more range and the ability to target larger fish. The 6.5mm triple shark fin shaft performs well, making this speargun a solid choice for beginners.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

Mako has been known for its quality spearfishing gear, and I recently tried out their new Titan Elite Speargun, the 110cm model. What caught my attention was the new stainless steel roller trigger mechanism, which worked smoothly and accurately underwater. The Speargun comes with a comfortable butt pad for easy loading and offers plenty of customization options.

You can switch from an open muzzle to a roller and even mount a reel. This allows you to personalize the setup according to your shooting preferences. Additionally, the open track barrel with higher side rails makes loading easier.

Shortlist: Best Speargun for Beginners

The Pathos Laser Carbon Roller Speargun is a top choice for more experienced beginners, offering exceptional power for all types of spearfishing. While it provides increased range and power in a compact size, mastering the loading technique can be challenging. Some rollers may require a load assist device for easier loading.

The 7mm shark fin shaft ensures precise shots underwater, with a clear line of sight down the open muzzle. Equipped with a 16mm band and a 14mm booster, this speargun delivers impressive power, nearly matching the performance of the Rob Allen Tuna Roller. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for those seeking a Euro-style roller speargun.

If you’re still with me, let’s dive into how a speargun works. Simply put, a speargun is a tool for shooting a spear, but it’s made to operate underwater.

You take it with you while snorkelling or freediving in the ocean to hunt fish or other sea creatures you encounter. Some people also use spearguns in lakes, rivers, and dams, but always check local laws to make sure it’s allowed.

Spearguns get their firing power in two ways

Pneumatic spearguns work with compressed air to shoot the spear. You load the shaft into the gun, compressing the air until it’s ready to fire. Then, you release the safety switch and shoot. These guns are small but strong for close-range shots.

Most spearguns use power bands, which are like large rubber bands. You stretch them and hook them onto the shaft to load it, similar to a slingshot. A safety switch prevents accidental firing. When you’re ready to shoot, you turn off the safety switch and fire.

Why are spearguns with power bands more popular?

Banded spearguns are more popular because they’re simpler and have fewer parts that can go wrong. They’re also easier to use. You just pull the bands into place, and you’re ready to shoot. These spearguns offer more range and power. The size of your gun and the length of the bands determine your range. 

A smaller gun might shoot 5 feet, while a larger one can reach 20 to 30 feet. The barrel length is crucial for power. A longer gun with more band stretch delivers more force to the shaft when fired. Other factors, like shaft width, band thickness, and shaft-barrel friction, also affect performance.

When picking your first speargun, it’s important to consider the type of spearfishing you’ll be doing. This determines the best length for your gun.

When we talk about shafts in spearfishing, they’re the spears your speargun shoots. Avoid cheap shafts made of pure stainless steel or galvanized options. Instead, go for “spring-steel” shafts made of stainless steel. They’re hardened, corrosion-resistant, and durable. Euro shafts are thinner, around 6mm to 6.5mm, with a flopper at the end. They’re one-piece and have “shark fin” tabs for powerbands. 

American shafts are thicker, 7.5mm or 8mm, with a threaded tip for easy replacement. They have notches for powerbands. Choosing the right size shaft is crucial for your speargun’s range and effectiveness. Smaller guns have thinner shafts for smaller fish, while larger guns have thicker shafts for bigger fish. Aim for a balance, around 6.5mm to 7mm for Euro shafts and 8mm for American shafts if you’re spearfishing near rocks. 

Think of powerbands as the engine of your speargun. They’re loops of rubber connected by a wishbone that propels the shaft when you fire. The thickness, length, and number of powerbands determine the power of your shot. Thicker bands and shorter lengths mean more tension and power.

However, overloading your speargun with too much tension can affect accuracy and even warp the barrel. It’s important to have a strong trigger mechanism to handle the force. Test any changes to your powerbands in the water and ensure your speargun still loads easily and shoots accurately. Practice shots will help you gauge any impact on accuracy.

After testing various spearguns, the top pick for beginners in 2024 is the Rob Allen Tuna Railgun. Its durability, versatility, and ease of use make it ideal for newcomers. With a lifetime warranty, it offers peace of mind. Understanding the type of spearfishing you’ll do is crucial for choosing the right size and type of speargun. 

Powerbands, shafts, and loading mechanisms are key considerations. Always test any changes in powerbands for optimal performance and accuracy. Remember, the best speargun for you depends on your specific needs and diving conditions. Choose wisely and enjoy your spearfishing adventures!