What Size Speargun Do You Actually Need?
The right length comes down to your water, your visibility and the fish you are chasing. Answer one question and we will point you at the gun that fits how you dive.
Where do you dive most?
Short, fast and easy to swing
In caves, holes and dirty water you want a gun you can whip around structure. A short barrel keeps you quick and accurate when the shots are close.
The reef workhorse
Enough reach for average visibility without losing the quick handling you need around the reef. A safe pick for most inshore diving.
The do-it-all gun
If you only buy one, make it this. Balanced power and versatility that handles most Australian conditions, which is why it is our most popular size.
Reach when you can see
Clear water and skittish fish call for more range and shaft speed. A roller adds punch without adding barrel length.
Range and stopping power
Out wide you rarely get close, so you want length, shaft speed and power to land big pelagics cleanly.
Speargun sizes at a glance
Every size, what it is best for, and the visibility and fish it suits.
How to choose your speargun size
There is no single best speargun size. The right length is the one matched to where you dive, how far you can see and the fish you are chasing. Get that match right and everything else gets easier: better shots, less frustration, more fish on the stringer.
Start with visibility
This is the one most people get wrong. Your effective range is roughly two to three times the water clarity, so your visibility, not the fish, sets how much gun you can actually use. In dirty, surgy water a long barrel is a liability that you cannot aim or swing. In clear water, that same length becomes reach you will be glad you have. If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: match your gun to the visibility, not just the fish.
Then think about your target fish
Bigger fish need more range and more penetration, which usually means a longer gun, a heavier shaft and more bands. Smaller reef fish reward the opposite: a shorter, nimbler gun you can point and shoot in tight country. Be honest about what you actually chase most weekends rather than the once-a-year trip, and size for that.
And where you actually dive
Tight reef, caves and estuaries want a short gun you can whip around structure. Open water and bluewater want length and shaft speed. Most Australian shore divers spend their time somewhere in the middle, on reef and headlands with moderate visibility, which is exactly why the mid-range sizes are so popular. Pick for your most common dive, not your dream one.
The short guns: 70 to 80cm
Built for reef holes, caves, low visibility and shore diving. The short barrel lets you swing fast and stay accurate around structure, where a longer gun just gets in the way. It is also the most forgiving size to learn on, and it handles coral trout, reef fish and estuary species with ease.
The all-rounders: 90 to 100cm
The sweet spot for Australian conditions and our most popular size, and for good reason. A 90 to 100cm gun balances real power with the versatility to handle mixed reef and light bluewater, so it is the gun most divers reach for weekend after weekend. If you are buying one gun to do almost everything, this is it. It comfortably covers coral trout, mackerel, snapper, sweetlip and cobia.
The bluewater guns: 110 to 120cm and up
Out wide you rarely get close to the fish, so you want the shooting range and shaft speed to reach out and the power to land big pelagics cleanly. This is where a roller earns its keep: it holds power through more of the shot for a flatter, harder-hitting result. Rig it with a proper float and reel and you are set for wahoo, tuna, Spanish mackerel, mahi mahi and dogtooth.
Railgun or rollergun?
The other question we get more than any. A railgun keeps the shaft tracking straight for simple, accurate, fast-reloading shooting, which makes it the easiest gun to learn on and the natural choice for reef and inshore water. A rollergun routes the rubbers over a muzzle roller for more power and range from the same barrel length, with reduced recoil, so it shines in clear water and on bigger fish. You can dig into both in the railguns and rollerguns ranges.
New to spearfishing? Start here
Start with a 90cm or 100cm railgun. It is easy to handle, accurate, and versatile enough to grow with you as your diving improves. You can always add a longer roller for bluewater down the track, but this one gun will teach you the most and land you the most fish while you learn.
Why buy from Aimrite
We are a proudly Australian-owned, veteran-run family business, and every gun is hand-built by our team in Cairns. Each one is backed by a lifetime warranty and over 450 five-star reviews, because if it is not built to last a lifetime, it does not leave the shed. Still weighing it up? Use the size finder above, or talk to one of our team, actual spearos who dive these waters themselves.
Guns built to last a lifetime
Hand-built by our veteran-run team in Cairns and backed for life.
Aimrite V3NOM Rail
Aimrite ENVY PRO Carbon Rail
Aimrite ENVY Carbon Roller
Aimrite VENGEANCE Carbon Roller
Aimrite VENDETTA Carbon Roller
Aimrite VENDETTA KING Carbon Rail
Aimrite VENDETTA Carbon Double Roller
Wet Mammal x Aimrite Roller Speargun range
Railgun or rollergun?
The question we get more than any other. Here is the short version.
Railguns
- Fast reloads and easy handling
- Lightweight and forgiving to shoot
- Ideal for reef and inshore water
- The easiest first gun to learn on
Rollerguns
- More power per barrel length
- Longer effective range and shaft speed
- Reduced recoil for a cleaner shot
- Built for clear water and bigger fish
Match your gun size to the visibility, not just the fish.
Speargun size FAQ
What is the best all-round speargun size?
What size should a beginner get?
Does a longer speargun mean more power?
Railgun or rollergun for me?
What size do I need for bluewater?
Are Aimrite spearguns made in Australia?
Still not sure which gun?
Tell us where you dive and what you are chasing. One of our team, actual spearos and not call-centre staff, will point you at the right rig.
Talk to a spearo