Recently bought a speargun - thought this may be worth posting

[Belzelbub]

If/when a powerful speargun is discharged, there is a huge amount of energy released. All the momentum delivered to the spearshaft moving forward is generated by the momentum of the gun moving backwards. This is an incredibly important issue and is SUPER DANGEROUS to the SHOOTER. The recoil is a killer. It does not matter, even a tiny bit, what the speargun happens to be pointing toward.

There is one additional important consideration, particularly when related to spearguns fired on land, which should never happen.

Recoil is not unique to spearguns. Regular guns have the same issue, however, the difference in mass between projectile and firearm is much greater than the difference in mass between spear and speargun. Hence recoil is greater. Water slows this down a bit to a more manageable level. But it is still a potentially dangerous issue. Several years ago, Sheri Daye was struck by the butt of her speargun and nearly lost her sight. This was televised on her TV show, Speargun Hunter. Sheri is a very experienced hunter, so it wasn't from not being prepared. The handle of her gun actually snapped as she fired. As I recall, she checked out her other guns and they had cracking where the handle was screwed to the barrel.

I just checked the Outdoor Channel's website, and found that the incident I spoke of was right on the Speargun Hunter videos page. Outdoor Channel

The other issue is unique to spearguns, and not really a concern underwater. Most hunters keep the spear attached to a line (usually heavy monofilament) on their gun. While underwater, the friction from the water scrubs off enough speed so that the spear is out of gas when it reaches the end of the line. Not so on land as air generates much less friction than water. When the spear fired on land reaches the end of the line, it still has a great deal of energy to spend. Since it can no longer go forward, it comes back.

 

[tursiops]

When the spear fired on land reaches the end of the line, it still has a great deal of energy to spend. Since it can no longer go forward, it comes back.

Actually, it is the tension in the line that pulls the spear back. It acts like a rubber band, stretch it out, it wants to return. So it isn't the "energy still in the spear" that causes the spear to rebound, it is the energy stored in the line from stretching it. Perhaps that is what you meant, but the difference is important because different lines will behave differently.

 

[Belzelbub]

Actually, it is the tension in the line that pulls the spear back. It acts like a rubber band, stretch it out, it wants to return. So it isn't the "energy still in the spear" that causes the spear to rebound, it is the energy stored in the line from stretching it. Perhaps that is what you meant, but the difference is important because different lines will behave differently.

Yes, that's what I meant. The kinetic energy from the spear is transferred to the line, and has to go somewhere. Point is it's not a major consideration in water, but is a huge factor on land. So, even if the gun was pointed in a safe direction, there is still plenty of opportunity for problems.

 

[Chip Elliott]

No to revive the argument side of this thread, but to post another accident and some commentary on it:
Fisherman has spear pierce through his face in gruesome injury | Daily Mail Online

There are no real details as to where, why or how the accident happened.

As it always stated in one of my favorite shows "Let's be careful out there."

 

[Sam Miller III]

Post number 2...

Once again ...

What an interesting thread.
So many experts who:
Have never owned a spear gun
Have not shot a spear gun
And possibly never seen a spear gun except in pictures...

So many experts ...I am truly Impressed !

sdm

 

[Chip Elliott]

Post number 2...

Once again ...

What an interesting thread.
So many experts who:
Have never owned a spear gun
Have not shot a spear gun
And possibly never seen a spear gun except in pictures...

So many experts ...I am truly Impressed !

sdm

Just checking in, are you referring to this post, or post number 2, or the whole thread?

 

[CuzzA]

No to revive the argument side of this thread, but to post another accident and some commentary on it:
Fisherman has spear pierce through his face in gruesome injury | Daily Mail Online

There are no real details as to where, why or how the accident happened.

As it always stated in one of my favorite shows "Let's be careful out there."

Hunt solo.

Another article states this incident happened in the Bahamas. Where the use of spearguns are illegal.

Very few details have been shared online but it is thought the man was hurt while fishing off the coast of the Bahamas.​

GRAPHIC PICS: Man speared through the head somehow SURVIVES

 

[Hank49]

Safe speargun handling is a bit more complicated than terrestrial gun handling. It's three dimensional. You point your firearm down or up on land, and you're pretty safe because your companions are probably walking near or next to you. In the water, your dive buddy could be above, aside or below you. You really need to be buddy aware. Even free diving.

 

[Sam Miller III]

"

Safe spear gun handling is a bit more complicated than terrestrial gun handling. It's three dimensional. You point your firearm down or up on land, and you're pretty safe because your companions are probably walking near or next to you. In the water, your dive buddy could be above, aside or below you. You really need to be buddy aware. Even free diving
QUOTE] "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hank, pin a rose on your nose -- you are the queen of the May.

A few other rules
* never load a spear gun on the boat
* never pass a loaded spear gun from the water to the boat
* Always unload a spear gun when entering or exiting the surf line
*If possible detach the [point from the spear shaft (arrow)
* -or--cover the point with a point protector
* never fire a spear gun at a fish unless there is clear visibility behind the fish
* recognize that a spear shaft (arrow) can travel through a fish and continue on its course

Maintenance
* disassemble the spear gun periodically to lubricate and check for sear wear
* early models had brass sears and subject to wear- later models had SS case harden sears
A typical example would be the Arbalete or the JBL - the fellow shooting the gun out of water was a JBL--JBL was designed by Joe Lamonica and sold by Voit - they went out of business Mares acquired the gun, they dropped the gun Joe acquired it and up dated it with case harden sears, Sadly Joe is in the big reef in the sky, the gun has been acquired by Guy Skinner of San Diego and is currently marketing it --with out the attention to details and the morals of Joe.

Reading
I suggest all of you to read a little about spear fishing. There are a lot of US English printed books available beginning with Guy Gilpractic in 1938-- That was the beginning currently we are some where in the middle with the end in sight.

SDM


.

 

[mikescooling]

I am an expert thank-you, and the guy tried to kill himself, I've seen it a thousand times.