I think the main thing should be ease of loading. So a relatively short rear handle, hip loading gun. Find out what his reach is from the hip.
Two 1/2" bands are what I used as a kid. Get a euro mech since they accept thinner/lighter shafts to get as much punch as possible. Think about a shape lock handle since you can easily get bigger custom fit grips as your kid gets bigger hands. Not sure what handle frame you could use that is small enough to start though.
Awesome you are getting him started early!
At 7 years old that is too young for a speargun. Kids don't understand the consequences of their actions, they think only of the immediate "now" rather than a chain of events in terms "if I do this then what will happen next"? Build him a toy gun that looks the part, not the real thing. If he had an accident then the responsible adult takes the fall, it is not worth the risk for either him or yourself!
I guess I didn't even see the age, only the question. Pete is right, 7 is too young to be given the responsibility of a speargun.
At 7 years old that is too young for a speargun. Kids don't understand the consequences of their actions, they think only of the immediate "now" rather than a chain of events in terms "if I do this then what will happen next"? Build him a toy gun that looks the part, not the real thing. If he had an accident then the responsible adult takes the fall, it is not worth the risk for either him or yourself!
These are good points. And I would not hand my kids a hunting weapon at 7. But I don't feel strongly I should decide it for someone else. I would feel even worse if the father handed him an adult size gun and he had an accident. I think it could be valuable to expose the child this early IF properly trained, and with size specific speargun.
How young do people start with bow and arrow? 22 riffles? B'B guns?
I was considering a rubber tip until he grows into it.
-DB
I was considering a rubber tip until he grows into it. Quote: DB.
I'm with Peter on this one, If he lifts it out of the water and pulls the trigger a rubber tip will get pierced as the shaft lodges in Dads chest.:@
BB guns break windows and kill small birds, a rubber powered gun slinging steel throw weight is no joke out of water or in, fired on a skyward path. I think 10 is a better age even with a pole spear.
Cheers, Don
Might be better off at that age with a pole spear like Don said.
At 7 years old that is too young for a speargun. Kids don't understand the consequences of their actions, they think only of the immediate "now" rather than a chain of events in terms "if I do this then what will happen next"? Build him a toy gun that looks the part, not the real thing. If he had an accident then the responsible adult takes the fall, it is not worth the risk for either him or yourself!
+1
I had a gun at about 8 along with 2 other friends with zero parental supervision, did try to shoot as close to my friend in the water as i could without hitting him :nono: its that ages mentality..:@ hope that helps :laughing:
At that age I start with a sling shaft:) .
I have a 10 and a 12 year old that I'm getting into spearing.
The 10 year old loves it but I have to restrict him. He uses a Riffe C3x or a Wong 55 hybrid. I was thinking of buying cheaper, shorter guns for them but.....haven't gotten around to it.
I've gone over gun safety with them many times and they're very good about not pointing it, even unloaded, at anyone, etc.
I put long 9/16 bands on the guns for them but Mo, 10, still can't cock it. I do it for him and swim with him. But one day he hit a yellow jack....maybe 7 lbs? and it pulled the gun right out of his hand. The drag was set too tight on the reel. Lucky we could follow the fish and get it back.
Then Tino shot at a big barracuda about 30 feet deep. The shaft stuck in the bottom a but and he just let go of the gun and swam up. I told, "what if you had hit and not stoned the fish? the gun would be gone over the wall".
Patience is required. You're baby sitting and not hard core spearfishing with boys that age.
So, having rethought a lot of this, I do agree that a pole spear would be a better choice.
Patience is required. You're baby sitting and not hard core spearfishing with boys that age.
So, having rethought a lot of this, I do agree that a pole spear would be a better choice.
I agree with you Hank. My son is 10 and he is using a pole spear. He hasn't hit anything yet other than soda cans but it's teaching him how to get close to fish plus and he is able to shoot on his own. In addition, there isn't a huge investment if he loses it.
My son had a Riffe custom made by Jay and Julie as a Christening gift when he was born. The point is sharp as hell, so I kept it locked up in my knife case till he was 5. He is yet to get a Calico with it because he is limited to pole spear only till he turns 13 in a few weeks.
Cheers, Don
My son had a Riffe custom made by Jay and Julie as a Christening gift when he was born. The point is sharp as hell, so I kept it locked up in my knife case till he was 5. He is yet to get a Calico with it because he is limited to pole spear only till he turns 13 in a few weeks.
Cheers, Don
Don, that is so neat. Don't let him get it wet, keep that treasure in the case.
My Grandfather gave me a black and decker drill when i was 3, he had to promise my mom I would not get hurt. I used to sit in the garage with him and drill holes in scrap wood for hours.
Wow, turning 13. What a fun age to be a kid.
a pole spear would be the way to go until he understands the severity of something going wrong. and till you think he is ready.
Against everyones sound advise......here is what we came up with...... BTW, the kid is nearly 8, and will be with a professional coach, he is expected to grow into this gun after proper training.
With only 12 days to conceive and build and test, it was a rush to say the least. It took all 4 in our group to get it done.
Stock is 32" long x 1 7/8" wide, 1 1/2" tall. Slimmer at nose.
2 x 1/2" dia power bands.
Custom Vector Marine 1/4" dia shafts, with Euro Notch, and 4 euro shark fins spaced at 2". The extra shark fins are for "low power" or loading tabs as needed. We built one threaded, for a small trident. and 2 others with floppers at 41" and 38" long.
Neptonics euro mech,
Neptonics Line anchor
Custom 1 off handle. Designed in SOLIDWORKS on a sunday. Made to insure grip/control, trigger reach, and an extra wide trigger guard. Made from laser cut 1/8" SS, welded together, then fitted with Jatoba side stocks and walnut dowels, all hand shaped to fit a small hand.
Rigged with 2 wraps of 300lb mono, and fitted with a muzzle bungie.
It did not require any ballast, and a test showed we could only at 2 ounces max.
It was tested Sunday and shipped Monday.
I have to say, it was extremely fun to navigate the tight reef and kelp with, swims and swings around with ease. The small dia shaft brings near zero recoil. I didn't kill any fish with it, but after several test fires on kelp blades it looked dead accurate, and I would suspect the effective kill range on small fish like perch and bass to be 6' or better.
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It came out very cool, prayers for safe hunts always.
Cheers, Don
Looks awesome. Why two wraps with 1/2״ bands? Seems like a lot of mono for a little kid. But then again, I don't like a lot of line
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