Gamo Delta Fox GT Whisper .177
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: Technical
Forum Name: Reviews
Forum Description: Rate your airgun or pellets here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=839
Printed Date: 15 May 2024 at 7:01pm
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Topic: Gamo Delta Fox GT Whisper .177
Posted By: RangerPete
Subject: Gamo Delta Fox GT Whisper .177
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2023 at 10:31pm
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I won this air rifle on a trade me auction, the title mentioned a “youth” rifle, so I bid on it for my 11year old son. It retails for $270, I won it (brand new) for $115. The box says it weights 2,9kgs, and it really is light. I believe my son could carry it around for a few hours. It is supposed to be a mid power rifle, and thus should be easy to cock, and yes, it is. I’ll test it’s velocity and power out put in due course. Out of the box, it is small (for me being 6’4) but the right size for my son. The stock is a black polymer (plastic) ambidexteriois thumbhole, as most Gamos seem to be these days. The LOP and pistol grip are too small for me, but again right for my son. The barrel is covered with a plastic shroud from the breech/back sights all the way to the (whisper) “silencer”, so there is no exposed metal on the barrel or the breach at all. Infact, the side plates of the breach, which are usually metal and show the serial number and caliber, are also plastic. The open sights are very basic, but usable. Three tiny little fiber optic dots make up the sights (and I mean tiny) and the back sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation. The first time shooting it I was able to get a 15mm group on a small paper target at 10m, but my older eyes would DEFINATLY appreciate the addition of a scope. The first thing I did was to clean the barrel. This rifle was manufactured in 2021, so although it is new, it has been in storage for about 2 years. A bunch of patches and some Hoppes no9 later and I was satisfied the barrel was clean. I tightened up the 3 stock screws, 2 of them needed about a quarter of a turn to nip them tight. To “lead” in the barrel I used some old “boxer” pellets I had lying around and also used these first 20 pellets to set the open sights. Starting at 5m to check that it was on the 14x14cm paper target I then moved back to 10m and adjusted the sights. A The trigger on this rifle is absolutely HORRENDOUS! There is simply no other way to describe it. The first stage is ok, longish, but ok. The second stage is never ending, and is so heavy it almost required 2 fingers to pull through! Youth…? Hummmmm. I will defiantly be doing the same “lengthen the little screw behind the trigger” mod that I have done on my Gamo CFR. After suffering a few convulsions and forgetting to breathe numerous times because I was concentrating so hard on squeezing, I managed to get through the first 20 pellets. A 15mm group had started to appear close to the center, which I was quite happy with, considering I could barely see the target 😂. Step one done. Step two, fit a scope, adjust trigger, keep sending pellets down range.      ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Replies:
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2023 at 10:57pm
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Spent a bit more time with the Delts Fox GT this afternoon. Did the upgrade to the trigger. Big improvement. The first stage is still very long, but the second stage is usable now 👍🏻. Shot a respectable group with the open sights even though I could barely see the target. I then fitted an old Gamo 3-9x40 that I had lying around. I was a little suspect of the scope because the rifle I took it off couldn’t hold a zero, but I put it on and tried it anyway. After another 20 pellets and 2 horrible groups I decided the scope was buggered and took it off. I then fitted a Nikon 3-9x40 and started the process again, finishing off with a ragged hole somewhere in the middle of the target. Something of interest I noticed while checking the poi of each pellet, is that I came across a few pellets that were very “loose” in the chamber, and just dropped in, as apposed to the others that needed to be gently pressed into the chamber. They clearly had a smaller head size and they also shot to different poi’s then the rest of the group, usually low and left. Flyers is what we normally call them, and you always wonder was it me, was it the pellet, or some other external factor… well now I know, these flyers were Definatly from “loose” pellets 🤔 I was happy to leave it there for now. I now have about 100 pellets through the rifle, and will start testing different types of pellets.  Stock screw on left, new longer screw on right.  Zeroing the two scopes. Finished with the Nikon on the right. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2023 at 7:06am
| So what was the head size it prefured. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2023 at 11:35am
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The vast majority of the pellets were “snug” in the breech and seemed to produce the grouping in the middle. The “loose” ones were usually low and left. There was also a small sub-grouping up above the main group, which makes me wonder were those pellets a wee bit extra tight in the breech??? Going forward I’ll try measure and record the head size before I load each pellet and see if I can work out a pattern. I only have a vernia that reads to 0.05mm, but I might be able to detect a size difference. When changing from one type of pellet to another, what do you think an adequate number of “leading in” pellets would be for each new type of pellet before testing it for grouping? ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2023 at 12:42pm
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Should good enough for head size. Prob be better sorting a tin out into head sizes first. It's supprising how much variation there can be and often the most common isn't the head size indicated. That way you can shoot groups of a particular size. Relaxing way to pass a couple of hours. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2023 at 5:45pm
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So pellet type number 1. Made by CZ, “boxer” pellets. No weight given. Had them lying around for a very long time. Measured 20 pellets. 4.3mm x 1 pellet 4.4mm x 4 pellets 4.45mm x 11 pellets 4.5mm x 4 pellets. Clearly these are high class, quality pellets. 😂😂😂 Kept 10 of the 4.45mm for a 10th shot grouping test, and used the other 10 to warm up me and the barrell. Interestingly the 4.5mm grouped together and high. The 4.4mm grouped together but lower. And the one 4.3mm, which I would describe as “loose” in the chamber, was a lot lower than all the others. The remaining 10 pellets were supposedly all 4.45mm, according to my old vernia. Shot at 10m, the result is in the pic below, with 7 shots in a 10.5mm ctc hole. The last 5 shots were all in the “one hole” so maybe the barrel needed at least 15 shots to warm up…??? Who knows 🤔   ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2023 at 7:23pm
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Tested pellet number two today. Also a very old tin of pellets I have had for ages. CZ, Diabolo Master. No weight given. I used to shoot tins of these through my old Diana mod42 side lever at 12m, developing muscle memory for my .458Lott. They were super accurate in that rifle at 12m, even free hand. (I’ve just found out why!) I measured the heads of 25 pellets, and… they were all identical!!! All 4.45mm. Unbelievable! The “boxers” I measured yesterday had a 0.2mm variation. These had 0.0mm variation!!! Anyway, shot a group of 10 on the left to “lead in” the barrel, then another group of 5 on the right for some extra leading in, then a final group of 10 in the center. All shot at 10m. Pretty happy with that and I think it’s going to be rather hard to beat that… 🤔 But still got the JSB hades and exact to come!  All 25 measured the same 4.45mm!!!  Seems the “leading in” really works. First 10 shots on left, (first 5 all over, second 5 settled). Third 5 shots on the right. Then 10 in the center. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2023 at 8:16pm
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That's a nice group all right. Be interesting to see how it spreads with distance. Be saving that tin of pellets. Great when you score a good tin. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2023 at 10:39am
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looking good! Lower powered airguns do often do well with flat head pellets ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2023 at 5:33pm
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For some reason I have it in the back of my head that flat/wad cutter style pellets are intended for 10m target competition, and they are very accurate out to 10m but by 20m they are all over the place… 🤔🤔🤔 Will have to test that theory once I’ve finished testing the Hades and the Exacts at 10m ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2023 at 2:51pm
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Miserable rainy day today, so I did some more testing… Tested pellets number 3 and 4 today. First up, JSB Hades 10,43gr. Same protocol, measured 25 pellets for head diameter. Very consistante, only 0.02mm variation. Shot a group of 10 on left to “lead in”, then shot 5 more on right for more “leading in”. Then a group of 10 in the center. All shot at 10m.   The group on the right was great, then the poi for the 10 in the middle shifted up, and I can’t explain why??? Same protocol with the next pellets, JSB Exacts 8.44gr. Measured 25 pellets for head size. Also very consistent, 0.02mm veriation. Started with the 5 shot group on the right. Rain stopped play and I wasn’t sure there was any more point in continuing… ???   I’ve put a pellet in the hole to show size. I know it’s “just a youth rifle” and a cheap Gamo… And I know it was only shot at 10m. But I’m pretty impressed with it so far 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2023 at 8:43pm
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youth rifles can be hell acurate so I'm told. (looks like it!) People rubbish gamo, I'm not a fan but the simple fact is, if the gun the works for you, and you achieve results, then it's a good gun. Some people love gamo and shoot them well. Isn't ten meter an official comp target distance? Thats great shooting, I'd be stoked with that too 👍 |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2023 at 10:42am
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Ja, I believe 10m air rifle and 10m air pistol are Olympic sports. But I don’t think they would allow me to use my shooting sticks like I did for the above tests 😂. However they do use those funny stright jackets and gloves that would make Michale Jackson jealous 😂 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2023 at 10:58am
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Unfortunately all the shooting sticks have done is eliminate anything but shooter fault for free standing at 10m 😛 |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2023 at 9:53am
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The Hades looks good but id say they are too heavy for the gun. The Exacts look like the perfect pellet for that gun. Groups like that are what keeps shooters enjoying the sport, doesnt matter what the gun is. ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2023 at 9:00pm
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I finally managed to chrony the little Delta Fox GT Whisper today. It is pushing a 8,44gr JSB exact at 451fps (averaged over 5 shots), with an extreme spread of only 6fps 😳, quite impressive. Those figures combined give a whopping total of 3.8ft-lb of energy, so it’s no possum slayer, but then that was never its intended purpose. I bought it for my son, to be his first rifle, so he can learn how to shoot, learn how to shoulder a rifle, learn how to squeeze a trigger, learn how to handle a firearm and hopefully, learn the etiquette of good gun manners. I think it will do just fine 😉. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2023 at 3:17pm
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Looking good. Advertised velocity looks around 525fps, so with lighter pellets you should get that. May find the JSB Exact Express work well too being lighter weight. But the grouping you are getting shows its doing just fine! Its a good power level that hes going to enjoy shooting it, he can learn to handle it well and shoot on his own rather than someone cocking it for him if it was a high power gun. Hopefully another airgun fanatic in the making.Nice work ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2023 at 7:56pm
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Took my son out for his first session with his Gamo Delta Fox GT Whisper today, despite the horrible weather. He loved it and was consistently hitting spinners from 5m to 20m the whole day. At one point he said to me “Dad, this spring is really working hey.” I said “What do you mean?” He said “This spring inside my gun, my arms getting sore from cocking it” 😂😂😂 I swear he shot through half a tin of 500 JSB exacts! 😂 What I found interesting was that even though I thought I had nipped all the screws up tight, his little 3.8FPE rifle still has enough recoil to loosen the screws on the rings and the scope had shifted back a little! 😳  ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2023 at 6:20am
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Looks like a happy kid. If he's shooting that well won't be long till that under lever next to him is in his sights. Good on ya, must be a great feeling to be shooting with your boy! F&<k xbox, quality time teaching a quality skill. Tell him we all said awsome shooting, he's a natural. 👍 |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2023 at 9:35am
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Great to see. Spinners make cool sounds when you hit them. I reckon shooting is one of those skills you treasure for life as you often re discover it and it gives your mind a break from all the rubbish happening in the wotld.
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Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2023 at 10:35am
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Thanks Kruza, I’ll tell him 👍🏻 It was very nice to have some Dad and Lad time, and very satisfying for me to watch him get that satisfying feeling of hitting what your aiming for 👍🏻 And as you said, it wasn’t too long before I heard “Dad, can I try your rifle?” 😂😂😂 It’s too big for him to load and too heavy for him to hold, but if I load it and put it on the sticks for him, he hits what ever he’s aiming for 😂👍🏻. We had great fun exploding apples at 10m with .22 16gr Hades.  ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2023 at 9:19am
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I was shooting this little rifle again yesterday, and thought I’d give a little summary to finish up this review. This little rifle has been a real pleasure to shoot. It is light weight, very mild shooting, only produces a few fpe, but is really pleasant to shoot. More than accurate enough for a satisfying plinking session, and could be comfortably cocked and shot all day long. I’d be confident enough to take birds up to myna size out to 20m, and maybe even a rabbit head shot if I could sneak up on one to with in 20m. As a “youth” air rifle I think it hits the mark perfectly! 😂 I’d happily recommend it to anyone wanting an air rifle for a child (supervised of course), or just an easy shooting, light weight, all day little plinker. Gets my thumbs up 👍🏻 Pete. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2023 at 9:24pm
| Good on you, I'm glad my 8yr son has started taking an interest too. I used to have a browning youth gun (a broken one from GC which I repaired) and was very accurate. shot so many things with it and missed it after I sold it |