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From England but living near Christchurch
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Elliot87 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 19 Feb 2023 at 5:24pm
Hi folks,

I spent a year in NZ in 2017/2018 and have just returned with the goal of settling here permanently.

I used air rifles a lot for work and recreation back in England and I'm looking to buy an air rifle to help deal with some of the smaller pest species where I'm currently living.

As a kid I used traditional springers but have got used to using pcp rifles (nothing fancy, a kral NP02 and BSA Ultra) but without a FAL currently those are not an option.  I'm after a relatively quiet, accurate and reliable rifle, mostly for rats, rabbits and invasive bird pests, plus perhaps the occasional possum.

It hasn't taken me long to realise the air rifle market is a lot more limited here in NZ (one of the very few things I prefer about the UK) so I'm hoping to get some recommendations from members here on which rifles to look at and which to avoid.

A couple I've looked at so far are the Gamo Swarm Fusion Gen3i and the Gamo Wildcat Whisper.
I use .177 back home because sub 12fpe .22 are slow and the trajectory sucks but I'm open to using either here with the higher power rifles.

Thanks, looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.
Pom that wants to be a kiwi
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nunga View Drop Down
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Posts: 1012 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote nunga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Feb 2023 at 6:04pm
Welcome, I wouldnt touch the gamo myself, but i have worked on a lot of them fixing their crappy triggers.

They might have improved over the years but ive seen nothing to lead me to think so, But everyone is different and depends on what you are wanting to do with it.
2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014
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Elliot87 View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elliot87 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Feb 2023 at 6:10pm
The more I read about them, the more I'm getting the impression they should be avoided.  What is a good option that is readily available in NZ? So far it seems to be gamo, crossman and stoeger at the couple of big stores locally.

I'd considerer a CO2 rifle for more pcp like characteristics but none I have looked at seem powerful enough for hunting anything bigger than a rat at a reasonable distance.
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mercs View Drop Down
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Hi from Stratford, Taranaki.
Great, you are asking the right questions for down under options.
Stay away from Gen ii and Gen iii multi-shots.
Wildcat is probably ok but I note it is not listed on Vaughan Sports sales list and they are the NZ supplier.

When heading out to manage pests I choose a .22 which is lightweight and mid power 15-20ft/lbs.

Have a look at fixed barrels, for Gamo this would be a CFX and please consider the .22 calibre, well proven and one of my most effective hunters. (see under reviews)

I would steer clear of the higher power units >20 ft/lb, they are difficult to cock, harsh to operate and will wreck any scope.

The large consumer brands all have good and bad options. I have many Gamo and several Umarex units which I am perfectly happy with but I recognise their limitations.

Alternatively a preowned but well made European model with good maintenance will give many years of quality service.

Do not discount a well mannered CO2 powered rifle, sub 12ftlb but fixed barrel will lend itself to accuracy.

I will post up a few proven choices and please check out mine and other members reviews for a NZ point of view.
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Elliot87 View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elliot87 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2023 at 12:08pm
Hi Mercs,

Thanks for the advice. My number one choice atm is a Cometa Fusion, having seen some very favourable reviews on this rifle. I want to compare it with some others like the Cometa Fenix to see if one suits my needs better than the other.
I'm also leaning towards the nitro version of the Cometa Fusion but haven't read any actual comparisons between it and the conventional spring version, so not sure if the extra $100 being asked is worth it? It comes with a Hawke 3-9x40AO scope, I've had a few of these and always been happy with them but on pcp's, hopefully they will hold up to the recoil too.

I'm certainly not discounting CO2. Having only used sub 12ftb air rifles previously, I'm very comfortable using these for hunting, so long as they are accurate, or should I say so long as I can be accurate with them. I know I will have to relearn good springer technique having gotten used to pcps.

I took a lot of rabbits and squirrels with a 7ishft/lb Slavia rifle when i was a lad, it was very smooth and accurate, swapped it for an 11.5ft/lb webley xocet which recoiled quite violently imho and I think my success rates probably went down despite the extra power.  That has made me a little shy of powerful spring rifles.

I think I will go .22, that extra 5-10ft/lb of energy from the rifles over here I assume will make them a fair bit flatter shooting that the sub 12 versions in the UK.

I'll have a look at the gamo CFX and other  fixed barrel rifles too. Cheers
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Pauly5 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1415 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Pauly5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2023 at 2:28pm
I have a used .177 Gamo CFX that is sitting unused in my safe. It functions as it should. I don't have a clue how it groups. I'm in Wellington, and would be happy with $100 + postage if you're interested. 

I might put a scope on it and shoot some groups if I get some time too.
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Elliot87 View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elliot87 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2023 at 11:21pm
Hey Pauly,

Definitely interested, thanks.  I've just been reading up on them and it seems like there are a lot of positve user reviews out there, certainly compared to some other gamos but it does seem that they still have some issues and need some work done to get them shooting very well. Ther trigger seems to be the main thing folks aren't happy with. 
Do you have any pictures of the rifle and how would you rate it? 
Also do you know the likely cost of shipping? I'm sure the rules here will be different than back home in the UK, so I have no idea how simple/complicated or cheap/expensive it would be to post an air rifle?

Feel free to send me a private message (assuming that's and option on here?) if that makes things simpler.

Cheers



Edited by Elliot87 - 20 Feb 2023 at 11:32pm
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J-S View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Pauly5 Pauly5 wrote:

I have a used .177 Gamo CFX that is sitting unused in my safe. It functions as it should. I don't have a clue how it groups. I'm in Wellington, and would be happy with $100 + postage if you're interested. 

I might put a scope on it and shoot some groups if I get some time too.



Gamo is crap.
But, the best Gamo is the CFX and $100 is a great deal and certainly a good starter to get back into airgunning here and seeing what else is around you might fancy.

After the CFX gamo really focussed on a quest for fastest velocity, and then added in things like multishot capability. The problem is the build quality is not good so they teeth rattlers, light weight stocks so harsh to shoot, the multishot mechanisms are plastic and wear out quickly.
Thats all fine if they are priced for their quality, but down here they simply arent. They should be priced at $399, not $999, for that money you can get a Weihrauch HW95 that will do possums and last long enough to hand down to your grand kids.

CFX platform is around 20 years old, pretty good quild quality and not too over powered.
Triggers are pretty firm and not the most crisp.

The cometa fusion is a great rifle for the money, better build than gamo and far better adjustable trigger. Good power, accurate barrels. I used to use one at a target shooting club i belong to, after I polished the spring ends and relubed it it could stack pellets nearly as good as my TX200
J S Airguns
Air Arms TX200('s)
Theoben Sirocco
HW77
FWB 300s
Webley Patriot
One or two others...

Current projects:
Too many..
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Elliot87 View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elliot87 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 3:30pm
I almost bought a gamo pcp back in the UK but in the end went for a BSA (could have come from the same factory for all I know) and quickly added a Turkish Kral NP02. THe quality isn't outstanding but mine was faultless and a lot of fun, and at least it was priced sensibly.  The BSA was accurate but only single shot and finicky to load whilst trying to keep an eye on squirrels running through the trees, so it didn't get much use once I bought the Kral.

I think you are right, Paul has made a very good offer and I will likely take him up on it. I see myself getting a cometa fusion down the line but as I'm new to NZ and looking for an employer that can help get me a work visa, saving the extra $$$ is probably the sensible thing to do right now.

I've never had a fixed barrel rifle like the CFX either, so I'm keen to try one out.

Short of making basic screw turn trigger adjustments I've never done any work on any of my air rifles but it would be something I'd be keen to learn and it seems like there is some good info to be found on here.
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Pauly5 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1415 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pauly5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2023 at 5:43pm
I was going to make a spring guide for it. Tinbum tuning are doing similar, and seem to be getting good results. As JS said trigger is quite heavy, and if that can be lightened it'll make a big difference.
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