OT: New Airgun

[Modoc ED]

After reading the thread "OT: Airgun Advice" the other day that discussed rifles and my thread "Airgun Pistols/Revolvers" and a PM between AmBraCol and myself, I bought an Airgun Rifle.

It is a "GAMO Whisper", Spring Piston, Break Barrel in .177 Cal. and is rated at 1200 fps with the GAMO Raptor 5.0 gr non-lead pellet and at 1000 fps with lead pellets. It came with a BSA Airgun Scope (3x9x44 AO) which I mounted this morning.

I had intended to get the GAMO CFX like AmBraCol has and I even PMed him and talked to him (errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr typed to him) about it and was ready to place the order with www.pyramydair.com but had to go to town for lunch. When in town, I went to my local gunshop and low-and-behold he had the GAMO Whisper in stock. I like to spend my money in my small town when possible so I bought it. Saved shipping etc..

Anyway, I have only shot the new GAMO Rocket Balistic Tip Pellets (9.6 gr) in the new rifle and after zeroing the rifle my best group has been 1&1/16" but I have more pelets with different weights coming from pyramydair and will try them out to find out which ones the rifle likes the best.

Thanks very much to all who provided info on "Airguns" in both threads. The information was very informative and I have saved all the links provided because I've already got a feeling that this will not be my only airgun.

Of course since I got the rifle yesterday, I haven't seen one bird, squirrel, rabbit, etc. on my property -- not even a flea. Seems like they got the word.

[rjohns94]

congrats. I wish you well with it. funny how the critters get the word.

[Old No7]

Gee, I just got a Gamo too, also after reading all those threads! I grew up (though some would disagree with that statement) with a Gamo air rifle, and I too was thinking about getting the new "Whisper". But like you, I stopped in a local shop and walked out with what they had -- a Gamo "Shadow 1000" with fiber-optic sights.

No way to tell if it's really hitting 900 or 1,000 fps, but it sure seems more powerful than the one we had as kids. I mounted a Simmons 3-9X AO airgun scope on it -- a great scope for the low $$ from a dealer on eBay -- and it's super accurate. 3 to 5 pellets in one ragged hole at 25' in the cellar, offhand -- IF I do my part that is. (And I don't do that all the time -- which is why I needed this for the practice...)

So, tell us... just how quiet is the "whisper" anyway???

I was expecting mine to be much louder, but all I hear is a slight crack and that's drowned out by the pellet hitting the .22 bullet trap. But with 3 leadshot bags full of sand placed on the back of the trap, even that sound is deadened some.

Oh, one more thing, I also tried those "ballistic tip" pellets and got lousy accuracy -- some were so undersized they hit the floor -- dropped right out the muzzle that is! -- before I could snap the barrel shut. No wonder why they won't group!

So far, I've had the best luck with an old (like 25 years old!) batch of Crossman flat-face match pellets or the Gamo "Hunter" (round nose) or Gamo "Power-point" (flat-face with small point in middle). Those last 2 group in the same spot too.

Anyone else got a Gamo???

Old No7

[AmBraCol]

Guys, you can upgrade them to a better trigger thanks to http://www.charliedatuna.com It's an easy swap - even I can do it. And the shootability went way up compared to the factory trigger.

Modoc, that whisper looked like a good one, but I was fixated on a fixed barrel. I pulled the scope rail off and put a Mendoza rear sight on. It's too high, shoots about a foot high at 40 meters even cranked to the bottom. I'm still trying to figure out what my next step will be, I really want to use this with open sights. In the meantime, i'll probably put an old Bushnell airgun scope on it and see what I can do that way.

Kind of wish I'd picked up a better rear sight, but the bank account was stretched thin by the initial order anyway. Eventually, perhaps, i'll pick up something else - or modify the front sight. There's a few ideas circulating in my brain, time will tell. In the meantime, it makes for fun shooting.

[Nath]

Good for you Modoc ED, it sure would be good to have ours doing those speeds out of the box instead of having to fiddle about with them some
As for the fleas check your hat
Nath.

[AmBraCol]

Good for you Modoc ED, it sure would be good to have ours doing those speeds out of the box instead of having to fiddle about with them some
As for the fleas check your hat
Nath.

Nath, what kind of speeds do 177 caliber airguns generate there? I know they don't allow the "magnum" velocities, but have never been clear as to what speed they DO allow. Also, are you limited as to the weight/types of pellets you can use?

[Nath]

AmBraCol, we can have any air gun as long as it don't produce more than 12ft/lb. Above that and it has to be an entry on a grant for one on our FAC (firearm certificate).
At that limit 22's do around 550-600fps for 14-12grn pells and the 177's clock around 750-800+ for say 10-8grn pells.
For a springer a good polishing of the cylinder and piston plus a stronger made spring is all that is required to get it up some but if you get in trouble with it the penalties are high!
It basically means we have to get alot closer to our quarry than you but not that much closer really as them light pells soon shed vel and as we all know the faster you drive something the quicker it likes to slow down.
I have seen some good shots in the past all the same, I remember a magpie at 80 odd paces(177) and we use to plink bottle tops to 60 regular.
Good fun.
It's really great living in the free world, I mean it must be
Nath.

[Nath]

Just been upstairs to put some arrow shafts away and spied a pair of crows on the back field. The closest was about40+, put the cross on top of it and touched it off. Flattened it out with just a tail flick Very good I thought.
Nath.

[El Chivo]

I think I'm going to start with a Benjamin Sheridan pump in .177. It may let me shoot in the apartment with one or two pumps, and I can try it on bunnies.

If I like it, I was looking at some Diana springers. I would stick to .177, but when looking at pellet choices, didn't see any PBAs in .177, only in .22. For lead free, I saw some saboted things but they didn't look like a good option. I may need to use lead free on game here due to the condors. But we'll see.

With the regs here it looks like I can just take it into the forest and plink if I want to. We are restricted against target shooting for firearms but it looks like they forgot to cover pellet guns. No range fees? What a deal!

[AmBraCol]

I think I'm going to start with a Benjamin Sheridan pump in .177. It may let me shoot in the apartment with one or two pumps, and I can try it on bunnies.

If I like it, I was looking at some Diana springers. I would stick to .177, but when looking at pellet choices, didn't see any PBAs in .177, only in .22. For lead free, I saw some saboted things but they didn't look like a good option.

Check out http://www.pyramidair.com for .177 PBA ammo. It's pricey, but they've got it. Gamo brand, IIRC. I've got some, but haven't done much with it due to the cost. Saving it "for a rainy day" I guess. I SHOULD put it on paper, just to see what it'll do.

[stretch]

Modoc Ed - you're gonna have a ball!

It may take a coupla hundred rounds for everything
in the gun to break in, and your accuracy may suffer
a little bit until it does. That gun has plenty of power for
hunting pests.

Good Luck!

[mescalero1]

I have a Gamo Shadow 1000, had it about a year, never have shot it.
Anyone have any experience with one?
I have to retire & get out of there, no time for me.

[AmBraCol]

I bought an Airgun Rifle.

It is a "GAMO Whisper", Spring Piston, Break Barrel in .177 Cal. and is rated at 1200 fps with the GAMO Raptor 5.0 gr non-lead pellet and at 1000 fps with lead pellets.

So, have you shot it yet? I'm very curious about the noise aspect. The Pyramidair.com site has some comments on it, which contradict each other. Some say it's as noisy as a 22 and others that you can't hear it being fired. ??? They can't BOTH be right.

I mounted the Bushnell pellet rifle scope today. Need some lower scope mounts for it, I used the high scope mounts for the 50 mm scope I brought down and they're too high but will do until I can finagle a way to get lower mounts down here. Anyway, I'm awaiting the range report. Can't wait to make it to the range myself with the CFX. I've a feeling I'll be able to shoot better with this scope than the other one.

[Old No7]

Thanks to Paul -- got a new trigger on order for my Gamo!

(Now if it only had a lever, it'd be WAY cool!!!)

Old No7

[AmBraCol]

Thanks to Paul -- got a new trigger on order for my Gamo!

(Now if it only had a lever, it'd be WAY cool!!!)

Old No7

Well, mine has both the nifty Charlie da Tuna trigger - AND a lever!!!







I'd love to get my hands on one of thse CO2 leverguns they have listed somewhere on pyramidair, but this underlever will just have to do for now.

[Ysabel Kid]

Congrats Modoc Ed!

Two questions:

(1) At what distance did you get your 1 & 1/16-inch group?

(2) How quiet is the "whisper" model?

Thanks!

[El Chivo]

thanks Paul, I have since found the .177 PBA ammo, it's Gamo Raptor. I just missed it the first time.

I would like to stay subsonic and the PBA's are a little faster than lead. So maybe I should get the .22, the mv for lead is 685 and so PBA should be about 800.

I like the idea that it weighs less than a spring gun. Carrying all day is more work than pumping up for one or two shots! An easy way to get started.

[AmBraCol]

thanks Paul, I have since found the .177 PBA ammo, it's Gamo Raptor. I just missed it the first time.

I would like to stay subsonic and the PBA's are a little faster than lead. So maybe I should get the .22, the mv for lead is 685 and so PBA should be about 800.

I like the idea that it weighs less than a spring gun. Carrying all day is more work than pumping up for one or two shots! An easy way to get started.

I've long wanted a Benjamin, just never had the opportunity to pick one up at a good price. If I could, I'd get one of Mac1's tuned versions. For the meantime, I'll just be happy with my CFX. No hunting 'round here, so it's range time only. Eventually I want to get some decent sights on it and use it for offhand practice at 30-50 meters. In the meantime I'll just keep using it with the scope.

When i was a kid we hunted all over hte place with Daisy 880's. They were great little poppers. We took all kinds of game with them. Lightweight and accurate. Still, there's something about the Benjamin...

[Modoc ED]

Well, here I am after messing with my new GAMO Whisper for the last couple of days.

The rifle is quieter than other pellet rifles I have had experience with. There is a definite crack but it doesn't seem to be amplified like most pellet guns.

Sobenk -

There are very few restrictions for air guns in CA. The only caliber requirement is that you must use .20 Caliber or larger for turkey. Also keep in mind that if you need a hunting license for what you are shooting at with a firearm, you need a hunting licence for an air gun too.

Ysabel Kid -

The range that I shot the l&1/16" group was 25 yards measured with a rangefinder. Once the rifle breaks in and I have tried various pellets, the groups should shrink some.

I've heard from some here and on some Airgun sites that the GAMO trigger is just terrible but I haven't noticed it on mine. Lots of creep with a tad heavy but crisp let-off.

Old No7 -

Those Ballistic Tips that you say you got lousy accuracy with are the only ones I have fired in my rifle. I've got some other brands/types coming but for now, the Ballistic Tips are all I have. I like them!!! I shot a 55 gal steel oil drum from 20-feet and although the pellets didn't completly penetrate the drum they juuuuussssssst barely penetrated to the point where you could see a glimmer of daylight showing through when looking at the inside of the drum. Thats darn good for a .177 pellet. Those copper plated hardened steel tips on the GAMO Rocket Ballistic Tip Pellets should help immensely with penetration on game. The weight of those pellets by-the-way is 9.6 gr.

AmBraCol -

I got 50 of those PBA Raptor Pellets with my rifle. I haven't tried them yet as I'm sure the point of impact with them will be way off from my scope setting for the 9.6 gr Ballistic Tips that I am using. The PBAs only weigh 5 gr and I'm wondering just how effective they would be on game. I think one reason GAMO came out with them at such a light weight was to be able to claim faster fps for their rifles. Here is an interesting link I ran across that pertains to your CFX.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/479035/m ... ong+-+pics

I know you said you wanted to use iron/open sights with your CFX but I think the way to go is with the scope. Both your rifle and mine have those fiber optic glowing sights and for me anyway, they aren't that good. The pipes are too tiny of a dot. They need to be bigger.

I was going to get the Benjamin 392 in .22 Caliber but the reason for getting a pellet gun at this time for me is to shoot pests -- mostly birds -- around the house and since the Benjamin requires multiple pumps between shots it would be more of a hassle than using a spring action gun that only requires ONE pump between shots. The Benjamins are good guns and there may be one in my future but not now.

Overall, I'm pleased with my choice of air gun. Time will tell. I may just put up with the 1&1/16" groups with the Ballistic Tips as I really like the penetration potential they have. However, I will try other pellets as they come in. I have a 1/4" steel plate in the shape of a squirrel (life sized) that swings on a frame and yesterday I set it out 50-yards from my shooting position and managed to hit it 5 out of 5 times (edit: standing off-hand) with the Ballistic Tip pellets. That's not too bad -- at least it's good enough for me.

[Modoc ED]

Shameless bump.

[Old Ironsights]

...
There are very few restrictions for air guns in CA. The only caliber requirement is that you must use .20 Caliber or larger for turkey. Also keep in mind that if you need a hunting license for what you are shooting at with a firearm, you need a hunting licence for an air gun too.

But, but, but... They use LEAD pellets!

I thought that was Ill Eagle...

[Modoc ED]

...
There are very few restrictions for air guns in CA. The only caliber requirement is that you must use .20 Caliber or larger for turkey. Also keep in mind that if you need a hunting license for what you are shooting at with a firearm, you need a hunting licence for an air gun too.

But, but, but... They use LEAD pellets!

I thought that was Ill Eagle...

NOPE!!!! The dumb-a$$es forgot to include "airguns" (BB & Pellet) in the law. Besides, the lead-free restriction doesn't apply to the whole state.

[El Chivo]

another shameless bump.

I got an e-mail today from our range officer, for the rest of the summer we can't use our silhouette range for practice.

There have been some complaints about bullets landing on neighbors property (it's the cops doing it) and we have to install baffles or barriers on the firing line.

Airgunners can still practice, though!

I might order one of the Benjamin Sheridans slicked up from Mac1 airguns. Less than $250 with several improvements, including Williams peep sight and hair trigger.

[Modoc ED]

That modified Benjamin/Sheridan from Mac1 is a real nice rifle at a good price. I hope you're going to get the .22 caliber option.

The rifle I got the other day is mostly for birds around my place and is .177 caliber but I am going to be getting a .22 caliber soon. The Benjamin/Sheridan with the up-grade package from Mac1 is definitely on my short list.

One reason to get a .22 caliber is that for some animals in CA you need a .20 caliber or above to hunt certain animals/game. Case in point -- if you want to hunt Turkey, you need a minimum of .20 caliber.

[El Chivo]

No turkeys up here, but I'm leaning toward the .22 now, even though other air hunters like the .177. It sounds like more people own that rifle in that caliber. What I do often see up where I am are small coyotes. But mostly I'm thinking rabbits, snakes, maybe quail. If I really like airgun I'll probably end up with both, or maybe a .177 in a spring gun or something. But for that pump it sounds like the .22 is a winner.

[Modoc ED]

Yep, I think you'll be pleased with the Sheridan in .22 caliber. I think it is light for coyote but should do just fine for rabbits, squirrels, skunks, and the others you listed.

If you have occassion to get to the Los Angeles area, MAC1 has a retail store and you could pick it up in person. Just call him in advance to make sure he has one ready to go and stop by and pick it up.