Crossbow or pneumatic spearfishing?

Manufacturers of spear guns

The operating principle of models from different companies is similar. The weapon gives the harpoon great momentum, which allows it to hit a target at a distance. However, there are a number of features that need to be taken into account when purchasing. In addition to comparing the number of additional functions and the configuration of the selected device, it is recommended to check the reputation of the manufacturer. The build quality of the gun, the convenience and durability of its operation often depend on it. The following companies are considered the best in the field of creating devices of this type:

• Alpinasub is a Russian company that develops and produces pneumatic underwater guns at a low price. The brand's assortment includes 3 types of models of different sizes. The main advantage of the devices is their reliability.
• Salvimar is an Italian manufacturer of spearfishing equipment. The only brand in the country that has not brought its production facilities to China. This allows us to talk about the best characteristics and high quality of devices in comparison with models of other brands. Conducting laboratory tests with the participation of athletes ensures prompt implementation of changes.
• Mares - an Italian company is considered a world leader in the production of equipment for divers and underwater hunters. The brand's products attract people with their technology, reliability, quality, and design. Motto.
• Pelengas is a Ukrainian manufacturer of underwater equipment at an affordable price, which is maximally adapted for fishing conditions in the CIS latitudes. The assortment includes more than 120 product items. The desire to improve products ensured their modernization, reliability, and ergonomics.
• Aquatex is a Russian company that produces equipment for spearfishing in the climatic conditions of Russia and Northern European countries under the Scorpena brand. French and Italian designers, professional athletes, and engineers take part in the work on the models. Products are valued for low prices and good quality.
• Imersion is a French manufacturer of spearfishing equipment. The merger with the Ets.Desiage company allowed us to expand the range and improve the quality of our products. Due to the introduction of innovative technologies, the models fully meet consumer requirements.
• Beuchat is a French company working in the field of development, production, and sales of swimming equipment. The range includes crossbow guns, masks, fins, and diving suits. The brand's products were used by the Jacques-Yves Cousteau team and sports teams participating in the world championships.

Which underwater gun is better: crossbow or pneumatic?

The choice of a speargun for spearfishing depends on several factors. Crossbows are very popular among underwater hunters due to their simplicity of design, reliability and high accuracy. An underwater crossbow gun may be preferable to a pneumatic gun in conditions, for example, of sea hunting (good visibility, absence of thickets of algae and snags).

In turn, pneumatic underwater guns hold the lead among small-sized underwater guns, mainly because hunting in the reeds and low water transparency require the use of small-sized weapons, to which air guns belong.

Advantages and reasons for the popularity of air guns:

• sufficient fighting power with a small size;
• the ability to adjust the firing force on a loaded gun (if there is a firing force regulator);
• wide selection of standard harpoons;
• good maneuverability of the underwater hunter;
• compactness;
• long traditions of using this type of shotgun, both in the world and in Russia.

Disadvantages of air guns:

• lower shot accuracy than a crossbow gun;
• requires good aiming skills;
• high force on the trigger;
• relatively loud sound at the moment of the shot;
• decrease in shot power with depth;
• unsafe charging process (manipulation of the speargun tip at the time of loading);
• low reliability, possibility of sudden failure (depressurization).

Advantages of underwater crossbow guns:

• intuitive and easy to aim;
• no barrel tossing effect when firing;
• the shot is almost silent and sharp;
• safe charging;
• simplicity of design;
• ease of trigger.

Disadvantages of underwater crossbow guns:

• large dimensions;
• drop in shot power when water temperature drops;
• reduction in traction efforts over time;
• the impossibility of regulating the force of combat during the hunt with a loaded gun.

Rating of underwater guns

Based on their design features, there are 4 types of devices: spring, pneumatic, crossbow and hydropneumatic. The first ones are considered the simplest and are used when catching large fish that are able to resist after being shot. Crossbows are very popular among beginners because they have no recoil and are characterized by low noise. Pneumatics show the best efficiency, but operating such devices requires a lot of experience. The last option is considered the most expensive due to the possibility of underwater hunting under any conditions, even in reservoirs with dense vegetation. When testing the nominees, specialists from the website Vyborexperta.ru conducted a comparative analysis of the following characteristics:

• Length of gun, recommended harpoon;
• Material of the barrel, handle;
• Weight;
• Diameter of the piston, throwing gun;
• Range of target destruction, harpoon flight;
• Types of elements included;
• Sight accuracy;
• Additional functions;
• Noise level;
• Reliability;
• Ease of use;
• Price.

The review contains the best underwater guns of the pneumatic and crossbow type. When choosing the latter, the features of the rods were taken into account, which affect the power and accuracy of the model. Each section provides a description, pros and cons of operating the devices.

The best camera traps for hunting

The best underwater crossbow guns

The operating principle of the devices is to spring the harpoon out of the barrel when the trigger is pressed. The models attract hunters with their noiselessness, high shooting reliability, and almost complete absence of recoil, which ensures safe use for beginners. Good shotguns are made of carbon, which maintains high rigidity of the device with low weight. Bending reduces shot accuracy, so the quality of materials is an important selection criterion. The main disadvantage is their large length, so crossbows are not suitable for hunting in difficult places. Analysis of test results and user reviews made it possible to select the 3 best options from the top 5 nominees.

Scorpena RedLine

The presented model belongs to the line of equipment for beginners. The simplicity of the design ensures the reliability of the device. The barrel with a diameter of 28 mm is made of aluminum. Ease of loading and ease of use are guaranteed by the presence of a large stop with a shaped rubber pad. The elements of the trigger mechanism are made of durable ABS plastic. A wire hook connects paired 14 mm rods to threaded bushings. For those who decide to install a coil, special fasteners are provided. The crossbow is produced in 4 lengths - 40 and 50 cm for low visibility water, 60 and 70 cm for fishing in clear waters. The kit includes a harpoon with a diameter of 7 mm, a removable single tip, and a strong line.

Advantages

• Anatomically shaped handle;
• Possibility of installing additional rods up to a diameter of 19 mm;
• Closed headband;
• Active line discharge;
• Low price;
• Wide range of upgrade options.

Flaws

• There is no adjustment for trigger softness.

In terms of technical equipment, the nominee meets all the needs of a novice hunter. The advantages include a good level of power, efficiency, upgradeability, and build quality. At this price, the shortcomings are considered minor.

Immersion Training 50

In terms of technical characteristics, the nominee is slightly inferior to the previous model. The diameter of the aluminum barrel is 25 mm and its length is 50 cm. The head part is made of durable plastic. The crossbow gun for underwater hunting is equipped with a 7 mm stainless steel harpoon and a 13 mm ring cord. The target engagement range does not exceed 2 - 2.5 m. The design includes a safety lock that prevents accidental pressing of the trigger.

Advantages

• Positive buoyancy;
• Corrosion resistance;
• Low price;
• Possibility of replacing the rod with a larger diameter;
• Rear toe;
• Strength of materials.

Flaws

• Target engagement range;
• The harpoon cannot be replaced.

The owners of the nominee confirm the reliability and good level of safety of using the model. Positive buoyancy prevents the device from being lost when it slips out of your hands after a shot. A length of 50 cm ensures effective fishing in troubled waters, but the low fighting power does not allow catching large trophies.

Beuchat Arka Competition

The device is equipped with an additional guide on the barrel, which prevents sagging of the harpoon and the automatic line releaser. The barrel is made of metal, and the plastic handle is covered with soft rubber, which does not allow the crossbow to slip in your hands. The model is produced in 3 lengths - 50, 60 and 75 cm. The kit includes a harpoon made of hardened steel, which increases the size of the device by 35, 40, 49 cm, respectively. The length of the rods is 14 cm, the diameter is 16 cm. These parameters ensure the catching of larger prey in comparison with previous nominees.

Advantages

• For hunting at great depths, it is possible to install a reel;
• Average price;
• Strength of materials;
• Build quality;
• Reliability;
• Easy.

Flaws

• Small harpoon diameter;
• It takes a long time to recharge.

Users have no complaints about the effectiveness of the model, with the exception of hunting in dense thickets of reeds. The crossbow is easy to use, the price corresponds to the quality, but to adjust the accuracy you need to shoot. The disadvantages include the weakness of the factory rods; it is recommended to replace them immediately.

Features of a crossbow for underwater hunting

The crossbow is powered by a rod, which sets the weapon the required speed and firing range. Moreover, the thickness and length of the rod are directly proportional to the strength and power of the arrow's flight. In the design of a crossbow weapon, the arrows are light and airy, without removable tips.

The main advantages of crossbow weapons are:

• Silence of the shot and simplicity of the trigger mechanism.
• Ease of aiming and sharpness in reaching the target.
• The absence of impact recoil, which makes it possible to calculate the accuracy of a shot to millimeter accuracy.
• recharging safety.
• Simplicity and ease of use is ensured by a specific design in which there is no piston and vacuum barrel.
• The price component is much lower compared to pneumatic weapons.

The main disadvantages of a crossbow in spearfishing are:

• The weight of the weapon makes it impossible to fish underwater in large thickets of reeds or small river channels.
• Response of shot force to water temperature. In cold currents it is difficult to calculate the power and speed of movement.
• Short-lived operation of the hook, especially when hunting large prey.

Which underwater gun is better?

Before purchasing, you need to clarify the conditions for using the model. For fishing in freshwater rivers and lakes, pneumatics with a good range are suitable. Crossbows are best used for catching large fish in the depths of large bodies of water. In shallow water with dense vegetation and snags, large devices will be ineffective. The range and accuracy of the shot directly depends on the length of the barrel. Anti-corrosion material ensures long service life. The following recommendations from the VyborExpert project team will tell you which gun is best for spearfishing:

• The most inexpensive model is Alpinasub RPPA RPP-3;
• Best build quality – Mares STEN-11;
• Users' choice - Pelengas 55 Model T;
• The best device in terms of price/quality ratio is Scorpena RedLine;
• The best device for hunting at great depths – Beuchat Arka Competition

For beginners, it is better to choose budget options, since significant errors can affect the operation of the gun. It is easier for more experienced fishermen to evaluate the price and functionality of the device. The information in the rating will help you clarify in advance the nuances, pros, and cons of using the model.

How to choose a breathing tube for spearfishing?

In addition to a crossbow or air gun for underwater hunting, you need to take care of the rest of the related equipment for this. An essential accessory for an underwater hunter is a breathing tube.

You can choose a snorkel for spearfishing by following these recommendations:

• The snorkel should follow the contours of your head so that you don’t get caught in it on any obstacle underwater. The presence of fasteners to the mask will help you with this;
• It is better to give preference to a rigid tube over a corrugated one;
• The tube must have a water intake, which, if water gets into the tube from above, will not allow it to flow down;
• The mouthpiece of the pipe should be moderately hard, without a rubbery taste, and be sure to fit your size.

photo. How to choose a snorkel for spearfishing?

Thus, each hunter decides for himself whether a gun or a crossbow is better for underwater hunting and selects the appropriate model for himself. Equipment plays an important role and should also be chosen carefully.