How to load a speargun safely
How to Load a Speargun Safely: Aimrite International Guide
Loading a speargun correctly is about control, technique and consistency — not brute strength. Whether you're diving with an Aimrite Rollergun or a multi-band setup, developing the right loading technique makes the process safer, smoother and easier throughout a day in the water.
Load in the water with the muzzle pointed horizontally or towards the bottom and well away from yourself and anyone else. Grab the bridle with your non-dominant hand and place your dominant hand behind the handle. Using a push-pull method, push the gun forward and into your chest pad while bringing the bridle backwards. Reach forward and use your dominant hand as well and in one swift, controlled motion, pull it back and engage it securely into the notch.
Load one band at a time, keep your fingers away from the trigger, and never load a gun that is too powerful for you to control. Getting this routine right before you start hunting makes a big difference to both safety and confidence in the water.
For a visual demonstration of the technique, watch the Aimrite Speargun Loading Technique.
The Rules That Come Before Technique
A loaded speargun is a loaded weapon. Treat it that way every time, even in the shallows.
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Never point the muzzle at yourself or anyone else, loaded or unloaded.
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Load with the muzzle aimed towards the seabed or safely into open water and away from other divers.
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Keep your fingers clear of the trigger until you are lined up and ready to take a shot.
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Never remove the safety and leave it engaged until you are ready to shoot.
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Know where your buddy is before loading and keep the gun pointed away from them throughout the process.
Good loading technique starts with good gun handling. Make these habits automatic every time you enter the water.
Check Your Aimrite Speargun Before Loading
Take a moment before every dive to inspect your equipment. Run your eyes and fingers over the rubbers and check for perishing, small nicks or cracking, particularly around the wishbone area where the rubber is under significant load.
Check the wishbone or Dyneema for signs of fraying, make sure the shaft is straight and the tip is in good condition, and confirm your shooting line, reel or float line is attached correctly and running clear.
Most importantly, ensure the shaft is fully engaged in the trigger mechanism before beginning the loading process. If a rubber, wishbone or other component looks worn or damaged, replace it before diving rather than trusting it under load.
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Load in the Water, Not on the Boat
Always load your Aimrite speargun once you're in the water and have established a stable position.
Keep the muzzle pointed safely away from yourself and other divers and towards the seabed or open water. Loading on a boat, rocks or shoreline can put the gun at the same level as the people around you, increasing the consequences of a slip or accidental discharge.
Get settled and balanced in the water first, check your surroundings and your buddy's position, then begin loading.
Make Loading More Comfortable
The right technique should do most of the work, but the right equipment can make loading considerably more comfortable — particularly when you're loading repeatedly throughout a long day in the water.
An Aimrite Loading Pad provides a more comfortable contact point between the speargun and your chest. It helps distribute pressure while giving you a secure position to brace the gun as you perform the push-pull movement.
For divers who need additional assistance loading a more powerful setup, the Aimrite Load Assist can help reduce the initial effort required to bring the rubbers into a manageable loading position. This can be particularly useful with larger or higher-powered speargun configurations.
The goal isn't to use the most powerful setup you can possibly load. It's to have a speargun configuration that you can load smoothly, repeatedly and under complete control.
Loading a Multi-Band Speargun
Two and three-band spearguns follow the same fundamental rules: one band at a time.
Load each band completely and confirm that the wishbone is properly seated before beginning the next. Never attempt to draw two bands simultaneously.
On many setups, divers load the band nearest the muzzle first and then work back towards the handle (King Venom Muzzle style set up), but always follow the loading sequence appropriate for your particular Aimrite setup. The Venom & Envy Pro load the band furtherest away first by feeding it through the second band this will ensure the bands lay parallel against the barrel.
Remember that after the first band is engaged, the speargun is already under tension. Keep the muzzle pointed safely away, take a moment to reset your grip and position, and then load the next band with the same controlled technique.
Don't Over-Gun Yourself
More power isn't always better.
If you can't draw the rubber smoothly and engage the bridle or wishbone under control, your setup may be too powerful for you. Wrestling with an excessively heavy load increases the chance of losing your grip or incorrectly seating the bridle.
It is far better to use a rubber configuration you can load cleanly and consistently than a heavier setup you struggle with.
Newer divers, younger divers and anyone developing their loading strength should begin with a manageable configuration and progress as their technique and strength improve.
Use our speargun rubber size chart to help understand rubber sizing, and the Aimrite rubber length calculator to help determine the appropriate rubber length and stretch for your setup.
If you're unsure, speak with the Aimrite International team before changing your rubber configuration. Changes to rubber length, diameter and pretension can affect loading effort as well as the performance and behaviour of your speargun.
Carrying and Unloading Your Speargun
Once loaded, maintain control of your Aimrite speargun at all times. Keep the muzzle pointed forward and slightly down, keep your trigger finger outside the trigger guard, and never allow the muzzle to track across your buddy or another diver.
When unloading, use the correct unloading or de-loading procedure for your particular Aimrite setup. Do not attempt to improvise a method for removing a heavily tensioned wishbone or bridle.
If you're unsure how to safely load or unload your particular Aimrite model, contact the Aimrite International team for advice before using it.
Dive With a Buddy
Safe speargun handling is only one part of safe diving.
Always dive with a buddy and practise a one-up, one-down system so one diver remains on the surface and watches while the other is below. Stay aware of your buddy's position and where every speargun is pointing, and never hand another diver a loaded gun.
Good gun handling and good dive practice work together. Make both part of your routine on every dive.
The Short Version
Load your Aimrite speargun in the water with the muzzle safely pointed away from yourself and other divers. Grip the bridle with your non-dominant hand, position your dominant hand behind the handle and use the push-pull technique — pushing the gun forward and into your chest while drawing the bridle back towards you. Transfer your grip and complete the load in one smooth, controlled motion, making sure the bridle is fully seated before releasing tension.
Load one band at a time and remember that control and technique matter more than strength. An Aimrite Loading Pad can make repeated loading more comfortable, while an Aimrite Load Assist can provide additional assistance when loading more powerful speargun setups.
Watch the Aimrite speargun loading technique video to see the movement in action and practise the technique until the process feels smooth and controlled.
New to spearfishing or setting up your first Aimrite? Start with our speargun size guide and spearfishing gear buying guide, or talk to the Aimrite International team for help choosing a setup you can load and use with confidence.