Cressi SL Star Speargun for Underwater Hunting

Cressi SL Star Speargun: Pneumatic Speargun for Recreational Spearfishers

The Cressi SL Star is a pneumatic speargun, meaning it uses compressed air stored inside the barrel to drive the shaft, rather than rubber bands stretched along the outside of the gun. If you are moving into spearfishing from freediving or scuba, or you are already spearfishing and want a reliable, well-built pneumatic option, the SL Star is worth a serious look.

This is not a beginner's first pool toy. It is a purpose-built hunting tool with real power, a safety catch, and a load pressure system that demands some understanding before you get in the water.

How a Pneumatic Speargun Works

A pneumatic speargun stores compressed air inside its barrel. When you pull the trigger, that air pressure releases and drives the shaft forward. The barrel never needs to be loaded with rubber bands, which means the gun stays slim and easy to maneuver in tight reef spaces.

The SL Star uses a 13mm internal barrel diameter and fires an 8mm threaded stainless-steel tempered shaft. The shaft is threaded at 7mm so it accepts Cressi spear tips, including their Mini Spear Head and Mach Spear Head, as well as any other 7mm-threaded tips you already have.

Three Sizes for Different Hunting Situations

The SL Star comes in three body lengths. Each suits a different type of hunting environment and target fish size.

The SL 40 is the right choice for tight caves, crevices, and small reef fish at close range. Its compact overall length of 70cm makes it easy to swing and aim in confined spaces.

The SL 55 is the most versatile of the three. It gives you enough range for medium-sized fish in open reef or rocky terrain without becoming unwieldy.

The SL 70 is for open water and larger fish, where you need every bit of that 3.1m shot range and can manage a full meter of gun in the water.

Load Pressure and What It Means for You

Before each dive, you charge the SL Star with the included pump. The pressure you put in determines how hard the gun fires.

• Easy load: 16 bar (232 psi) gives a lighter pull when loading the shaft and a softer shot. Good for close-range work on smaller fish.
• Standard load: 18 bar (261 psi) is the everyday working pressure for most hunting situations.
• Hard load: 24 bar (348 psi) delivers maximum power for larger, tougher fish, but requires noticeably more physical effort to load the shaft safely.

Loading a pneumatic speargun means physically pushing the shaft back into the barrel against that internal air pressure. A shaft loader is included in the box for this purpose, and you should use it every time. Trying to load by hand at higher pressures risks injury and is not the correct technique.

Handle Design and Ergonomics

The SL Star uses Cressi's anatomical grip handle, which is angled relative to the barrel. That angle is not cosmetic. It lets your arm, wrist, and the barrel all sit in a natural line when you extend the gun to aim, which reduces fatigue on long dives and helps you shoot accurately without fighting your own wrist position.

The handle is bright yellow. If the gun gets knocked out of your hand after a shot or slips to the bottom, you can spot it quickly against sand or rock. The gun is negatively buoyant, so it will sink rather than float, and that yellow color is a practical recovery aid.

A line attachment eyelet sits on the handle. This is where you attach your shooting line or a lanyard to keep the gun connected to you or a float.

Safety and Line Release

The SL Star has a safety catch that blocks the trigger until you deliberately release it. This matters with a pressurized gun. You should always dive with the safety engaged until you are actively approaching a target.

When you do pull the trigger, a line release mechanism automatically frees the shaft line as the shaft fires. The line does not have to be manually managed at the moment of the shot, which keeps things cleaner and faster in the water.

What Comes in the Box

• Cressi SL Star speargun (your chosen size)
• Gun pump for charging the barrel
• Shaft loader
• Owner's manual

Note that a spear tip is not included. You will need to purchase a compatible 7mm-threaded tip separately before the gun is ready to use.

Who This Gun Is Not For

If you have never handled a speargun before and are looking for something to learn the basics of spearfishing technique, the SL Star's pressure loading system adds a step that requires proper instruction to do safely. Get that instruction first, then this gun makes sense.

If you are hunting very large pelagic fish in deep open water, a longer, higher-powered pneumatic or a band gun in the 90cm-plus range would be a better match than even the SL 70.

The Bottom Line

The Cressi SL Star is a well-established, no-nonsense pneumatic speargun that has been refined over many years of production. Its three sizes cover most reef and rocky-bottom hunting scenarios. The ergonomics are genuinely thought through, the safety features are practical rather than token, and the included pump and shaft loader mean you have what you need to get started without hunting for accessories.

If you know how to handle a pneumatic gun and want something reliable, compact, and proven in the water, the SL Star earns its reputation.