Speargun Loading Tutorial

HOW TO LOAD YOUR NEW SPEARGUN

It is not uncommon to struggle to load your first speargun and suspect it has come with too short a rubber.  If this is you the chances are that you are not doing it right - speargun loading is 80% technique and only 20% strength.

Before we start lets get a few safety points first:

1.  Never ever load your gun out of the water.  To practise pulling back the rubbers note how far back the notches are and remove the shaft to prevent accidental loading.

2.  Modern spearguns must be loaded on your chest not your hip.

3.  Generally the higher up on your chest you can get the handle the easier it will be to pull the rubbers the rest of the way.

4.  It is easier in the water  with a wetsuit on.

STEP 1:

Position yourself comfortably in the water, get a good grip on the handle of the gun with your left hand (the man in the photos is a kefty so right handed guys should do the opposite) as you prepare to load.

STEP 2:

With your right hand, reach for the right elastic, pushing with your left hand.

STEP 3:

With a straight right arm, wedge the gun handle against your chest with your left hand.

STEP 4:

Once the gun handle is pushed firmly against your chest, release it and use your left hand to grab the left elastic.

STEP 5:

Use your chest to push and simultaneously pull the elastics with both arms towards the notch on the spear.

STEP 6:

Click the cable into the spear notch and the gun is ready to fire.

If you are still struggling then you may need to lengthen your rubbers.  Bear in mind that the rubbers they came with are the optimum for performance so changing them will compromise some accuracy and/or power.  Putting longer rubbers on for a few months to get the technique down then putting the shorter ones back on may be a good idea.

Another option, particuarly on longer guns with single 20mm rubbers, is to put two extra long 16mm rubbers on.  This will make it much easier to load (although it will take twice as long) but will mantain the guns power.

Still struggling?  Email me wildblue@wildblue.co.nz