Gamo Shadow Express .22 Air rifle

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I want to get a good air rifle and this one has caught my eye because of its ability to fire shotshells as well as pellets. the questions I have are if this is a good rifle and if you can reload the shotshells with shot.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Gamo is just so-so as air rifles go... and if you want a really good bunch of guys to give you an honest evaluation (plus a great place to shop) see
http://www.straightshooters.com/

My quality air rifle is a Diana 54, quality wood, killer performance, but as with all other hobbies, it really depends on what you want to do with the piece.

KKKKFL

 

[desidog]

Shot out of a rifled barrel will give mediocre results at best. With an air rifle, I wouldn't bother - I'd rather have one accurate pellet than a bunch of inaccurate pellets; and you can't fit enough shot into a .177 to damage most anything except maybe Bumble-bees at close range.

 

[osteodoc08]

I purchased a Beeman at Wally World last year. i got it for pest control around the house and in that role it does just fine. It is not the most beautiful, most accurate, or most powerful. It does work for its intended use. It has both the .177 and .22 barrels. I normally use the 22 barrel on it.

So what do you plan on doing with it? If it is just to pass the time away, you can't go wrong with one of the $100 Beeman/Gamo/Crosman wally world specials.

If you want true accuracy and are looking to going into competition, forget it, you'll have to pony up the money for a good one.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The plan is mostly for afterschool anti-can fun with friends.

 

[desidog]

RWS model 34 gets my vote. Mine's more accurate than any of my .22lr's, and the projectile is going about the same speed as subsonic .22 ammo.

When i last checked the price, giving one to a nephew for Xmas, they were about 200 bucks. That's good value for top-quality German engineering, IMO....especially compared to Gamo stuff.

 

[chicharrones]

ability to fire shotshells as well as pellets. the questions I have are if this is a good rifle and if you can reload the shotshells with shot.

My first thought to that about the shot shells is, "OMG No!!!". Well, maybe you would like it, but I think that is Gamo's most useless airgun. +1 on what desidog said.

For the money I do like the other Gamo's though. The triggers are kinda creepy and draggy, but much better than Winchester's/Daisy's Turkish built air rifles that have been out a while.

If you get a Gamo and find after plenty of shooting time that you feel the need, there is a great trigger replacement from http://www.charliedatuna.com/ .

I ordered one directly from that website about a year ago. It's a super easy install, lightens the trigger pull and eliminates the gritty creep. For me, it was worth my money and time.

Even then, I don't shoot spring piston airguns very consistently. I do much better with a pump gun or a CO2 gun. For instance, I have a Crossman 2260 CO2 gun that I'm more accurate with and while not a target grade air rifle, is more than accurate enough for squirrel and the like at 25 yards.