hmmm.. often the slating isnt snobbery (sure it sometimes is), but can be based on experience - ive seen club members never return as they couldnt get the rifle to perform so thats actually interest in the sport actively lost. But wont go into that here.

In my view there are better multishot systems than the gamo one. I think the crosman magfire system may be better than the gamo based on how it presents to the barrel - its more sturdy. 

The multishot carrier etc on the gamo is prone to failure if there is a little wear (which its plastic so there will be some wear and tear). 

For me, on a break barrel dont buy one that has a plastic breech block - plastic does stretch, and even if it doesnt, it goes brittle over the years. 

Gas ram is usually smoother to shoot, and the spring versions are generally twangy without further tuning work.

Id give Youngs airguns a call, he gets them all to fix so can steer you in a direction to whats most reliable

I've owned four Gamos now and still own an early magnum.  It is is a beautifully made gun, equal to the top end consumer guns available now.  I bought it from GC as one of a pair of faulty units they regularly sell for $1 reserve on Trademe. The other three were rubbish and the plastic breech they use now is just very poor engineering - it's never going to produce a consistent lock of the barrel.

I made this point not so long ago.  Poorly made guns such as the Gamo, Stoeger and others (although the Gamo is the predominant brand on most retailers shelves - as an ex retailer I assume this is because of higher margins from the importer) is bad for our sport as Jono says.  I don't have any numbers, but personally I was about to throw away any involvement with airguns after my first Gamo and it was only through a weird circumstance that I got into as deeply as I have after purchasing a second that was equally as bad.  After having bought and sold many poor performing air rifles over the last two years or so, I'm now a advocate for the higher end brands.

That said they have their faults, especially with QC as you will find out in my next post about my new HW98.

Sorry about the rant Kruza, but despite what you say this brand does not help our sport grow and the next time I go into a H&F or GC store I will be telling the staff that if they encouraged customers into a better product initially they would be more likely to have a customer for life.  The crap guns that go into the closet when the owner gives up in frustration eventually ends up on the market only to do exactly the same damage again (potentially) to its next owner.

 

I have had eight Gamos, these three have some merit:

2012 .22 CFX under lever which is a cracker, converted to gas ram and trigger has been refined. (14ft/lb)

2019 .25 Shadow gas ram break barrel, mid-power so CAT2 trigger is reasonable. (15ft/lb)

2019 .22 Black Knight gas ram, unusually reliable and CAT2 trigger is better than others. (20 ft/lb)

When they were $350 - $500 they were a fun purchase well below the cost of a Weihrauch or Diana.

Many Gamo models are now close to or over $1000 and there are better brands in that price range.

Quite simply they should be 1/2 the retail price and post Christmas you pick up the disappointments.

Even at 1/2 price they need to improve the quality of internals and further improve the trigger assembly.