Gamo Varmint Hunter .177

[coffee437]

I'm new to high power air guns,,had Daisy 880's all my life but its time to move up,,,,Does anyone have or had one of these? I know that Gamo isn't thought to highly of,,,,,but I ordered one from Midsouth before I read some of the opinions,,,Just wanting some HONEST opinions from people with experience with this gun. Any other suggestions that I need to know would be greatly appreciate (such as pellet selection etc.)

[Lawdog]

coffee437,

About Gamo I won't comment on for very good reasons but for pellet selection get a pellet sampler as it will have a nember of different types of pellets so that you can find the type your rifle will shoot best.  As to pellet choice it all depends on what you plan on doing with your rifle.  Hunting, plinking, target shooting or a combination of all?  Lawdog
 

[jeager106]

I have a Gamo Shadow.
A worse trigger never existed!
However, once you master that aweful thing it shoots pretty well.
It's not a bad airgun, it just had a terrible trigger. Once you figure out how to hold a good sight picture while using the pry bar as a lever to pull the trigger you've got it made. :-D
It's plenty accurate enough. At 20 yards I get 0.5" groups with good pellets.
Mine, like my other and much better RWS guns, like the heavy Crossman Premier pellets.
I find hollowpoint pellets a waste of time and money. They don't expand anyway.
Most airguns that shoot 1000 f.p.s. do better wtih the heavier pellets.
0.5" at 20 yards ain't bad at all. The thing sprays light pellets all over the place, lucky to get 3/4" to and 1" at 20 yards and often much worse.
Power is good with the Gamo.
How they hold up remains to be seen.
And by the way there is NOTHING you can to to 'trick up' that trigger design.
All and all you will have fun with it and it will take small game with headshots so stick a good air gun scope on it.
Be SURE it's a scope designed for air guns and the Gamo slaps and jerks pretty badly.
Still, for the bucks, it's alright, just master the trigger pull.
Some guys use a come-along, others a pry bar. :-D

[dave]

The Gamo trigger can be fixed
http://charliedatuna.com/co2.htm
look at the GTX trigger

[MonV]

The Daisy 880 is just a re-badged Gamo 220/440.  They are not bad rifles at all once you get used to the trigger.  I have a 440 in .22.  It is powerful at 16+ ft lbs (14.7 gr @ 710 fps, chronoed ave of 10 shots), and accurate with the old Marksman FTS and the Eley Wasp pellets. I don't know if these are still available but I have a stash of 5 tins of the Eley.  Alas I am out of the FTS.  Gamos are notorious for being harsh shooting but if tuned with the right greases can shoot as sweet as any RWS or other premium brand.  By the way, if new, they don't settle down till after 200-300 shots!  I hope this helps.