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Jaxom · Senior Member

I have to admit there seems to be a rather odd mix of opionions on Gamo rifles. I've read many posts here speaking about how the quality just isn't there and such. Then I also have read where many folks like them.

When I asked about a week ago which companies to avoid, gamo was mentioned. I'm a newbie when it comes to air guns, so I'm relying on those that have actually owned and operated these rifles. So I don't doubt what has mentioned. It's just rather confusing.

Could it be that there's a manufacture's issue in production? I recall one thread mentioning that Gamo products made in Spain are excellent in quality where as those made in Turkey or someplace in Asia was mentioned were substandard.

Or could it be that some people just like them and other's don't? Of course there could be a posiblity of both cirumstances?

I only ask this, because tonight on Satelite TV Maxium Adventure Network (man for short), they had American Rifleman show. And they did a review of a coupld Gamo rifles. Now, I didn't catch the whole show, I was flipping channels when I came across it, so I can't tell you which modle they were talking about it. The guy reviewing the rifle seemed rather pleased with it. Although he did mention that the rifle was "loud" and suggested that you use sound softener (silencer?) As he did two dry fires showing the realitve sound levels. He also claimed that the rifle was very accurate right out of the box, doing 1" groups at 20 yards.

I'm rather skeptical of such "reviews" on many sports shows. Seems to me that the name of the game for these networks is to get as many sponcers per show as possible. And so as not to upset the advertisers they don't quite lie about a product, they sometimes over hype them. Why would the NRA/American rifleman magazine be any different?

I tried searching all my sports channels to see if the show was going to be repeated so I could post a time and date should anyone else want to see the review and give their oppinion, but I couldn't find another listing.

Another posiblity I just thought of is, could it just be that Gamo is over pricing their line? That to me seems to be a common thought on the forums here that for the price there's many other rifles of better quality in the same range. I'm just wondering at what price point when they go on sale or are in the process of being discontinued, that buying one would be "okay" or the whole product line should be avoided, and invest in another brand would be best over all better idea?

Thanks,

Jax

thepaladin · Senior Member

You know what they say about opinions, and it's true. Some people here and on other forums will have strong opinions and gamo seems to inspire that more than most other "budget oriced" air guns. There may be several reasons for that, for one thing they seem to be more readily available than a lot of other brands. But I suspect tha on big problem is that maybe they tend to run "hot and cold" on quality. I own one Gamo rifle and it's a good rifle. You'll hear cpomplaints about Gamo's trigger, and it's true that it's not as ggod a trigger as you'll find on the higher end rifles, but it's not awful either. My rifle is a Stutzen, and it performs well, I'm sure that you'll probably get other answers here from those who have nothing good to say about any gamo.

Another example, I owned a co2 pistol, a PT80, and it was never any good. The barrel was never secure, it wouldn't hit the "proverbial" broad side of a barn, and no matter how often I tightened things up... it failed to stay "repaired". Finally, the seal broke and I tossed the thing into the bottom of a popcorn can where my cane rests when I'm not using it. My son on the other hand got the same model pistol, has a laser sight on it and it's very accurate. Thus my wondering about their quality control.

Bottom line for me? I'm sure they "can" make a fine rifle, but if I'm planning on spending my money in the future, I'll probably plan on a different make rifle. It may often cost a little more, but usually you can get a reliably good rifle for only slightly more.

If on the other hand there is a Gamo model you happen to really like, then I'd just be sure that the distributer as well as the mfg. are willing to stand behind it. that way, if you get a lemon, you don't have to mess around with it, just exchange it.

yourdaddyjoe · Supporting Member

I am just as confused when it comes to Gamo...

I would take one as an everyday, don't care about the finish plinker...

Then again I would probably mod the hell out of it just for fun...

Like he said... if you get one... do the trigger... The GRT-III trigger is the one that everyone raves about. http://www.charliedatuna.com/index.html

Wal-mart sells Gamo... Enough said?

Slavia · Moderator

I bought a Gamo "Young Hunter" for my son a few years ago. I chose it because the stock fit him, and it was available locally. I bought it about a year after I bought my Slavia 631, so I'll compare the two as they were "out of the box."

Both are break barrel, spring piston designs. Both were in the $100 range at the time. Both shoot about 600 FPS.

The Gamo wins on finish - the metal polish was smoother and more consistent than the Slavia. Gamo also did a better job filling in the wood grain and leveling off the finish. The Gamo also had less spring vibration ("twang") than the Slavia. On the other hand......

The Gamo could manage a 1/2" group at 10 meters; the Slavia could get all shots touching (remember, this is out of the box). The Gamo had way more plastic parts than the Slavia, in places like the rear sight and trigger adjustment where you really don't want slop. The Gamo trigger was poor - it swing through such a long arc that it didn't break until the trigger was swinging upwards, and the adjustment screw was threaded into a plastic piece that in turn was simply snapped into the trigger housing. No matter how you adjusted it you couldn't get it to feel the same every time.

This is not to say Gamo products are bad, at least not "bad" like a $20 Cummins Tool Sale gun. It means there are better options out there.

Regarding the TV show: I wouldn't say a 1" group at 20 yards was "very accurate." (Check through the 10 meter offhand results posted in this forum's target shooting section to see what I mean.) And I would question a reviewer's airgun knowledge if he dry fired the gun. For some reason about 80% of the airgun reviews in the American Rifleman magazine are about Gamo products, which causes me to doubt the conclusions from the outset.

On an emotional level I distrust Gamo because of its advertising hype, and because of their devotion to velocity. They have a video where a shooter drops a boar with a Gamo product. Obviously possible, but maybe not ethical. Their advertised velocities are with the light PBA pellets, which doesn't always reflect real world performance.

Let me temper my comments about the marque with this: If you buy a Gamo and have tons of fun with it, then it will have been a good purchase. And as regards this forum: It doesn't matter what you shoot - there's a welcome matt at the door.

yourdaddyjoe · Supporting Member

You got an amen here Slavia. Shoot... I have crosmans...

Welcom Jax

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I don't think the "Gamo issue" will ever die, will it? I have two Gamo's, but they are both the lowest end models (Shadow series). Even got one at walmart! I've never really shot a highend springer so I have nothing to compare them to. I have to say that the quality of the rifle is pretty good as far as durability and such. Trigger pull and accuracy is probably not as good as RWS and Beeman though, not to mention power and accuracy.

Gamo is a relatively new airgun company and they had to take a unique position in this market in order to survive. They went mainstream like crosman and daisy, and in doing so they had to come up with marketing gimmicks like the PBA super velocity pellets and inflated velocity readings on their rifles to attract power hungry novices to their brand. It was primarily that tactic that alienated them from a lot of serious airgunners who know what REALLY matters when it comes to airgunning.

Truth is that Gamo is not that bad at all, even when you disregard all the hype. I've said it before, but they are innovative and have developed a number of unique rifles (whisper and viper shotgun) and the PBA pellets. Do those give you any edge? Not really, when all is said and done. But it's something new and fun and just another part of airgunning.

I say just take them at face value and judge them for yourself. They may be right for some people and not right for others.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Jaxom · Senior Member

Thanks again for the advice. It is apperciated. I'm not ignoring comments made.

I think I should go into some more details as to why I asked about gamo's. The main reason is it seems I'm going to be stuck buying any future air guns via the local big box stores. I've checked many of the online dealers, and either they won't deliver air guns to Chicago, which they keep getting confused with Cook County. I don't live in Chicago, I live in a suburb there of, but still within the same county. So I'm blacklisted by some sites because of this. Other online dealers won't ship to my state period!

Next issue I have is my FOID card. It's expired. If the state won't let me have a fishing license because I'm behind on child support, they certainly aren't going to let me have a FOID.

Before anyone jumps on me for thinking about buying another air gun while I'm behind on childsupport. Here's my logic. Even if I get a job tommarow (and I pray I do!), it's going to take a loooooong time before I catch up on bills. If I can continue suplementing our food with squirrels, pigeons, rabbits, that's less money I spend on food, and the faster I can catch up on the support payments. At least that's my plan.

Since my local Sport's Mart is openly willing to sell air rifles that have fps ratings 1000 and higher and not require an FOID, that looks like the place to go. Last time there I seen several Gamo's (whisper I think), crosman of course (I think a quest). And one remington. (isn't that also crosman?)

Next time I'm up that way, I'll write down the exact modles so I can get a review of them.

I do have one general type question that perhaps can be answered. And that's about sound/report from air rifles. During the day, I can shoot my 1077 all day long and nobody notices. So that's what I've been doing. Tossed some sunflower seeds and stale bread out in my back yard and then I wait by the 2nd story rear window. At night though, like right now, even though I'm blocks from a hospital and a rail station, it's pin drop quiet. But if you look out my front windows to one of the very few empty lots between houses that's across from mine, you would see four rabbits grazing!

Whatever I get must be "quiet". I tried to get a rabbit one night, but the sound and echo from my 1077 was so bad that I could hear every dog in the nieghborhood barking after I took the shot. Neighbor next door to me to the north has one of those little yappy dogs that barks everytime a cricket farts. I understand the concepts behind speed and sound. And that speed isn't as important sometimes as much as how much energy is transfered into the target/game. For this reason, I would like to stick with .22 caliber. I just hope sportmart sells them!

Jax

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Can't anyone sell you a good and used air-rifle?

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I take back every good thing I ever said about gamo. They sent me this computer disk a while back and I just go around to looking at it. It was allegedly a "virtual target practice" game. It was the single gayest thing I've ever seen. All it was was the background of a golf course (of all things) and a bunch of floating cans and bottles that got bigger and smaller as they drifted around. And there was a little mouse operated crosshair which you could use to shoot them. I've seen interactive banners on websites that are more stimulating and sophisticated than what they had. And gamo puts this on a disk and sends it to people like they think it will be fun to play!? TFG