Gamo Shadow Express

[moxgrove]

Anyone have experience with this micro-shotgun? Can get it for 115 bucks and seems fun for garden pests.

[blhof]

I have one and the shot shells get a little pricey.  I've gotten starling and grackles out to 25yds.  I've been using heavy dome pellets with better success out to 30yds, but being a smooth bore they get inaccurate much past that.  I also got it for around $100 and for that it's worth it.  I've been reloading the shot pellets, but with 7 1/2 shot and havent got a steady shot pattern yet, can't find  #9 around here and that seems to be all that will work.

[blhof]

I almost forgot; the trigger is terrible, kind of like a hard double action trigger on a revolver.  I paid $32. for a GR II trigger from Charliedatuna.com  I think.  It makes the trigger ALOT better, not perfect, but much better. Check out gatewaytoairguns.com for reading on different airguns and trigger jobs.  The trigger is very easy to change out; a 10 min. job. I tried the Gamo recommended ajustments and no noticeable improvement on the factory trigger.

[moxgrove]

Thanks for the info. I picked up a bag of 9 shot at a garage sale a while back for 5 bucks. I figure 25 pounds of shot is a lifetime supply for that little thing. I was gonna melt it down for casting, but then saw the little airgun and the wheels started turning. Are you just punching out 1/4 inch holes in cardboard for your wads?

[blhof]

I actually was making little shot capsules out of wax paper wrapped around a brass welding rod that is about 20 cal.; it fits into the shot shell snug with the paper wrap and the cap stays in when I remove the rod.  I drop in the shot a few at a time til wt. is close to factory full case; with my 7 1/2 shot, it's only 8.  A smaller cap put in backwards for the top and lightly tamped in place completes it.  It's time consuming, but if it's raining and you got alot of empty hulls; it goes by fast and I've reloaded them several times.  Mine came with 2 boxes and that lasted only a week for me and after my 1st order, I was glad I saved all the cases, and yes 25lbs will last several lifetimes.  You can also count the shot in a new shell, since your's is also 9 shot. Less would be less effective and I would be very careful going much over as too much wt may damage the action, you might try 1 or 2 extra as 9's are lighter than 7 1/2.