Gear Review : HammerHead Evolution2 Raptor Speargun

GEAR REVIEW: HammerHead Evolution2 Raptor Speargun 85cm

Contributor: New England Freedive Spearfishing Co

Date: 5/16/2016

One of the new speargun lines that I have been testing heavily so far in 2016 is the HammerHead Evolution2 Raptor Speargun. The most obvious feature on this speargun is their unique take on a elliptical or cuttlefish shaped barrel. This shape of barrel profile is nothing new in the industry but the way that HammerHead has incorporated this design with some of the other fantastic features offered on the Raptor make this speargun an animal all it’s own. First the poly urethane molded barrel is very hydrodynamic, making it easily maneuverable and adds some nice balance to the gun (we’ll get to that in a minute), while this exterior barrel covering offers a great sound deadening system both for when the gun is fired and if you should hit it on a rock or pier pylon. While chasing togs around a pier the other day I noticed first hand when I whacked the barrel against the cement base when aiming up to shoot a fish heading behind it there was no “twang” we are accustomed to hearing when we do that with an aluminum barrel gun. This speargun also features a full integrated shaft rail, so the noise of the shaft firing down the rail and bands retracting is highly minimized against this surface. Shooting is very quiet and smooth.

The most exciting fact about this Raptor barrel is that it absorbs some of the energy when firing, or what we spearos experience when firing as “kick”. This has allowed HammerHead to step up the rigging of this gun to utilize two 17.5 mm diameter bands which is different from the standard 16 mm bands we are accustomed to using on most reef hunting size guns with a 7 mm shaft. What I honestly expected was this gun to be overpowered. I expected it to kick and I had prepared myself to learn to adjust my technique at aiming and shooting to account for this. What I actually experienced is this is actually “the Perfect Setup” for this barrel! Laser accuracy, no recoil and a dependable greater shooting distance. 

I believe another key feature to enable this is the unique design of the pistol grip style molded hand grip that this speargun is outfitted with. “Hand Grip” believe it or not has a lot to do with how each person aims and fires a speargun. The molded formed grip design perfectly positions your hand and thumb when gripping it for great line of site when aiming and minimize any torquing of the wrist. Each gun comes with both a right and left handed grip to suit each diver’s need. I did miss the first fish I attempted to shoot with the 85cm. I then realized I was trying to brace my shooting arm for an expected kick to hold the gun steady on firing. So on the following drops I settled into a comfortable grip, relaxed and let the gun do the work. After that it was lights out on some tautog with some perfectly placed shots. The Raptor also comes rigged with two wraps of mono shooting line, foreseeing that you will soon realize your extended shooting range with the 17.5 mm bands. 

So how does this come into play for you here in New England? We are always dealing with our notorious ever changing water visibility here, and it usually not great.  So when diving the green haze I am now finding that I can use a shorter gun for better maneuverability and easier hunting and not have to sacrifice the shooting distance or power. I find myself diving with my Evolution2 Raptor 85 cm when the visibility is bad to good. We have all had that dive when we were using a shorter maybe 75 or 85 cm gun and had the opportunity to line up on a nice fish at extended distance and fire only to have the gun lack the power for good penetration or the shooting distance of shaft fall short due to one wrap of shooting line setup. The HammerHead Evolution2 Raptor is great weapon to solve that problem for you. With the extended shooting distance and increased power, you may consider the Raptor an alternative in situations where prefer the characteristics of a roller gun to accomplish a similar task... but with all the simplicity of 2 band railgun. I will be trying to dive outside the bay in the upcoming week and hopefully get to test the Raptor 95cm better in more open visibility conditions.

The other fantastic features of the Evolution 2 Raptor speargun are great design to the open muzzle allowing it to be easily setup for left or right hand users. This open muzzle also has deep defined posts and notches for the shooting line to sit in and not come loose, a problem I see with the design of some other guns.  

HammerHead has even designed the area (normally a line guide with not much thought put into a double line wrap use on some guns) for making the second line wrap around the line guide rounded with a lip (raised edge) to hold the line in place. Allowing you to easily make this second wrap and not worry about the line coming off its seat during reloading in the heat of battle. 

The Evolution2 Raptor is also designed with full integrated rail for the shaft on this unique barrel. Add to this list of great features their stainless steel trigger, stainless steel SIDE line release and adjustable trigger sensitivity and the Raptor boasts some really amazing features for a speargun in its modest price range. If you desire a reel with this gun the HammerHead Remora 70 meter Composite Reel simply slides on to the pre-designed reel mount on the gun and you are ready to rig it and dive. 

Another notable mention is that the Evolution2 Raptor also comes rigged with a high quality 17/64 hardened stainless steel flopper shaft with shark fins - and…. and… the flopper is already perfectly tuned !  That is another component often lacking in quality from other manufacturers and usually the first thing I change out on a new gun… with the exception of a few gun makers. Well done HammerHead !  

New England Freedive is presently stocking the HammerHead Evolution2 Raptor Spearguns in 85cm & 95 cm sizes. HammerHead also offers the Evolution2 Raptor speargun in 105 cm & 115 cm lengths. We can gladly Special Order one for you in either size you desire. Special Order arrives quickly within 3 -4 business days. Just contact me at phone #774-644-3564 or email me at mike@nefreedive.com