How to Choose the Best Aluminum or Carbon Speargun

Dano here with MAKO Spearguns. There are a lot of spearguns on the market. So, I put together a checklist highlighting all the important features found on the best spearguns available.

NOTE: The parts, circled in red below, ARE NOT SOLD IN THE USA.

Number 1: Double Roller Trigger vs. Old Style Friction Trigger

The best spearguns are equipped with the patented, 100% stainless steel “DOUBLE ROLLER TRIGGER” made by Ermes Sub of Italy.
These DOUBLE ROLLER TRIGGERS are the smoothest, most accurate triggers ever installed on a speargun.
These Double roller triggers have two wheels which eliminate friction between the trigger and the sear and again between the sear and spear.
Older triggers, have no wheels so friction occurs between the trigger and the sear and again between the sear and the spear.
This friction causes scaring in the metal and gets worse over time
This scaring makes for a harder trigger pull which eliminates accuracy.
However, the wheels on the double roller trigger eliminate this friction so you get a super smooth trigger pull, no matter how many bands you have or if you power up your bands.
These DOUBLE ROLLER TRIGERS are a total game changer in speargun technology!
THAT IS WHY ALL MAKO SPEARGUNS INCLUDE THE 100% STAINLESS STEEL DOUBLE ROLLER TRIGGER MADE FOR MAKO BY ERMES SUB!

Number 2: Loading Butt and Pad vs. No Loading Butt

Make sure your speargun has a “LOADING BUTT AND PAD”.
Spearguns with LOADING BUTTS AND PADS are much more comfortable.
They are easier to load and don’t slip while loading.
FOR THESE REASONS, ALL MAKO SPEARGUNS INCLUDE A COMFORTABLE, PAIN FREE LOADING BUTT AND NON-SLIP, LOADING BUTT PAD.

Number 3: Easy On/off Reel Mount vs. No Reel Mount

When choosing a speargun, make sure it has a “BUILT IN REEL MOUNT”.
BUILT IN REEL MOUNTS allow you to quickly and easily install a reel.
It also allows you to switch from reel to no reel in seconds.
Also, if your speargun has built in reel mounts, there’s no need to drill into your barrel.
All MAKO Spearguns include an easy on/off reel mount.

Number 4: Spears With Sharkfin Tabs vs. Spears With Notches
And
Carbon Spring Steel Spears vs. Stainless Steel Spears

When choosing your next speargun, make sure it includes a spear with SHARKFIN TABS.
Sharkfin tab spears are much stronger than spears with notches.
Additionally, Carbon Spring Steel Spears are much stronger than stainless steel spears. Although carbon spears will rust over time, they will not easily bend like stainless steel spears.
ALL MAKO SPEARGUNS COME WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN, CARBON SPRING STEEL SPEAR WTH SHARKFIN TABS

Number 5: Spear Guiding Barrels vs. Non Spear Guiding Barrels

When choosing your speargun, pay close attention to the barrel.
The best spearguns have barrels with either “SPEAR GUIDING ENCLOSED TRACKS” or “SPEAR GUIDING OPEN TRACKS”
These Spear guiding barrels are more accurate because they keep the spear straight and minimizes flexing as it exits the gun.
These pear guiding barrels are also much faster and easier to load.
SPEAR GUIDING ENCLOSED TRACKS and SPEAR GUIDING OPEN TRACKS are available on our MAKO Titan Elite Spearguns and will soon be available on our Spartan Elites.

Number 6: Aluminum Roller Gun With Barrel Float
Vs.
Aluminum Roller Gun Without Barrel Float

Aluminum spearguns with roller muzzle, should have a “BARREL FLOAT” attached to the barrel.
Roller muzzles are heavier so a BARREL FLOAT is needed to add buoyancy.
“BARREL FLOATS” also make the speargun more accurate by eliminating fatigue.
When buying an aluminum roller gun, make sure it has a barrel float.
ALL MAKO ALUMINUM ROLLER GUNS INCLUDE A BARREL FLOAT TO INCREASE BUOYANCY AND MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE AND ACCURACY.

Number 7: Carbon Spearguns With Cuttlefish Barrels
Vs.
Carbon Spearguns With Old Style Straight Barrels

Carbon barrel guns should have a “CUTTLEFISH SHAPED BARREL” instead of a straight carbon barrel.
CUTTLEFISH BARRELS” are much more accurate because they are more buoyantmore buoyant and better balancedbetter balanced, especially with roller muzzles and reels.
CUTTLEFISH BARRELS also reduce fatigue in your wrist which also makes your shots more accurate.
“Old style straight” carbon barrels are less buoyant, less comfortable to hunt with. They are also less accurate especially when using a reel or a roller muzzle.
ALL MAKO CARBON SPEARGUN BARRELS HAVE A “CUTTLEFISH BARREL” FOR MAXIMUM BUOYANCY, COMFORT AND ACCURACY.

Number 8: Carbon Spearguns with Lightweight hallow barrels
Vs.
Carbon Spearguns Heavy foam filled barrels

Make sure your Carbon Barrel is “air filled”, NOT “foam filled”

Carbon barrels are popular because they are lightweight and more buoyant than aluminum.
Using water stoppers keeps the carbon barrel lightweight and more buoyant.
Foam filled carbon barrels are too heavy.
Foam filled barrels defeat the purpose of a carbon barrel.
No sense in paying extra for carbon if you are going to add foam that makes it heavier than aluminum air filled.
NOTE: All MAKO carbon guns are air filled (no foam) for a lighter, more buoyant gun that is perfectly balanced.

Number 9: Protected Line Release vs. Exposed Line Release

When choosing a speargun, make sure it has a “PROTECTED SIDE LINE RELEASE LEVER”.
Line release levers can break if they are not protected by the handle geometry.
ALL MAKO SPEARGUNS HAVE PROTECTED SIDE LINE LEASE LEVERS.

Number 10: Hand Made Speargun Bands with Primeline USA Latex Tubing
Vs.
European Screw on Bands (Pre Made)

When choosing a speargun, remember, best spearguns will always have HAND TIED SPEARGUN BANDS made same day with PRIMELINE INDUSTRIES tubing from Akron Ohio.
Primeline Industries USA speargun bands are the best speargun bands in the world because they offer way more stretch, and power and last much longer than Euro or Chinese pre-made SCREW ON bands.
Euro or Chinese pre-made bands, including the SCREW ON bands, use inferior tubing. They don’t last long. They lack power. And, worst of all, you don’t know how old they are when you buy them.
THAT’S WHY ALL MAKO BANDS ARE MADE SAME DAY USING 100% PRIMELINE USA LATEX TUBING. THIS IS THE BEST SPEARGUN BAND TUBING IN THE WORLD, PERIOD.

Number 11: Safe Dyneema Wishbones
Vs.
Dangerous Metal Wishbones

When choosing your speargun, make sure it has “SAFE DYNEEMA CORDED WISHBONES”. Metal wishbones are dangerous, especially during the loading and unloading process. And, they break without warning.
Whereas Dyneema Corded Wishbones are much safer and provide a visual indication as to when they need to be replaced.
BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASED SAFETY AND DURABILITY, ALL MAKO SPEARGUNS COME WITH OUR SOUTH AFRICAN DYNEEMA CORDED WISHBONES” FOR SAFE AND REILABLE LOADING AND FIRING.

Number 12: Interchangeable Muzzle Options

When choosing a speargun, make sure you have all the interchangeable muzzle options available such as:

Open muzzle with one band
Open muzzle two band
Open muzzle three band
Single roller muzzle
Double roller muzzle

Because of our easily interchangeable modular designs, all MAKO Spearguns have totally interchangeable muzzles, allowing you to change configurations based on changing conditions.

Number 13: Shark spike on open muzzles

Shark spikes are included on ALL MAKO TITAN ELITE OPEN MUZZLES. I have used this quite a bit and find it to be very useful.

Number 14: Camo and color options

Color options don’t just look cool. They are very functional when you’re in a hurry to jump back in the water. These colors eliminate the possibility of grabbing the wrong gun or having someone hand you the wrong gun. Get your gun, get in the water and look cool doing it.

Number 15: Accesories

Also worth noting are some other features to look for in a speargun. While these are not game changers like the MAKO DOUBLE ROLLER TRIGGER and all the other features found our guns, there are some cool things that you might like.

Number 16: Price

When choosing the best speargun, don’t just look at the price! Look for all the features outlined above. Because MAKO sells direct to you the diver, instead of through dive shops, our spearguns with all these important features above, actually cost less than spearguns without these features. Well thanks guys for taking time to view this. For more information on our MAKO Spearguns and our full line of high performance, spearfishing gear, please contact us a 540-361-1570 or email info@makospearguns.com

Dive safe,

Dano