by B.B. Pelletier
If you want a lot of fun in an accurate pellet pistol with features galore, take a look at Gamo’s Compact target pistol.
The Compact is for adults
Despite the funny name (for a target pistol, anyway), the Compact has a very nice package of features. It is a single-stroke pneumatic that takes about 35 pounds of effort to charge, so this is a gun for adults only. To keep the internal O-rings well sealed, remember to put a drop of Crosman Pellgunoil in the air intake hole of the compression tube.
It’s light!
One endearing feature of the Compact is its light weight. It’s at least half a pound lighter than other genuine target air pistols, yet it holds its own as far as accuracy and power are concerned. There are a lot of synthetic parts, plus a large part of the interior is a hollow reservoir, so the pistol is suited to anyone needing a lighter or smaller handgun.
Everything is adjustable
At this price, you don’t expect to get the kind of adjustability the Compact offers. The sights are adjustable, as well as being very crisp and easy to see. The grip has an adjustable palm shelf for right-handers. Lefties will have to buy aftermarket grips from gripmakers like Ralph Brown.
The trigger is not only adjustable, you can see the mechanism as you adjust it by removing the grips and looking through the right side of the frame, where there’s a clear plastic window in front of the mechanism! The pull can be brought up to the ISU minimum of 500 grams, with a 15-gram safety margin. Both stages are crisp and positive, and the trigger can even be repositioned for maximum control.
It’s got power!
Even though the Compact is a single-stroke, it’s got plenty of pep. It shoots a light .177 pellet at around 400 f.p.s. That means there will be a substantial pop when it fires. It’s still quiet enough for shooting in your house or apartment. Use a silent trap like the Crosman 850 to further reduce the sound.
Which pellet shoots best?
The Gamo Match wadcutter pellet works very well in the Compact. It’s a lightweight pellet, so the velocity stays up, and the wadcutter nose cuts a clean hole in the target.
Targets, too
Don’t forget to pick up some targets when you buy this gun. They’re made of special paper so they show the holes better than plain copier paper (which often tears).
The Gamo Compact has a lot going for it. If you want a good target pistol with real target features, this is a good one.
Can you use another lubricant such as hoppe’s oil to lubricate the air intake hole?
Don’t use an oil with a petroleum base, such as Hoppes Gun Oil, when lubricating airgun powerplants. Use silicone oils only. The one exception to this rule is when you oil leather piston seals petroleum oil is OK, but you won’t see any modern guns with leather seals.
B.B.
Can you also use silicone oil for for lubricating the tips of co2 cartridges?
Yes. It’s my understanding that Pellgunoil is pure silicone, so other silicone oils should work well. In fact. many veterans use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) because it is silicone. I find that buying a quart of oil is a little much when only a drop is needed, but a lot of people do it.
B.B.
I have an Avanti 747. The first one I received would not hold air out of the box. The replacement sent to me has begun to periodically let air hiss out after being pumped- but it still shoots. Do you know what is causing this and is it something I can fix or do I have to keep sending the gun back to the manufacturer?
Thank you for suggesting tomorrow’s blog. Please be patient, because I think a lot of folks will want to read this, too.
B.B.
I have a question about the compact gamo pistol, i had a daisy 747 but it was sold to a friend of mine, can you tell me if the gamo compact pistol is as quiet as the 747,? thanks, mike
Mike,
No, the Compact is louder because the barrel is shorter. I don’t have the two to compare, but I remember observing the Compact’s sound when I shot one in competition. It’s not objectionable, but it is louder than the 747.
B.B.
Could you comment on how the Gamo Compact compares to the Daisy 747 in terms of accuracy, feel and balance, and general handling? Is one superior the other?
The Daisy is quite a bit heavier than the Compact, and because it is also much longer, it feels very muzzle-heavy. I like a muzzle-heavy gun, but, lacking a good tight adjustable grip, the Daisy is harder to hold steady.
The Compact almost floats in your hand, it is so light. It has the better trigger, by far, and I think the better sights, too. The grip is much more of a true target grip, which makes the Compact more of a pure target pistol than a Daisy. I wish it were heavier. It is much harder to pump than the Daisy.
As long as you are in the neighborhood, don’t overlook the IZH 46M, which is the best of the three guns, by a wide margin. It combines the Daisy’s ease of pumping and the Gamo’s good trigger and sights.
B.B.
I’m looking to practice target shooting and moving up eventually to a semiautomatic and entering IDPA competition. I have two little ones and safety is a prime concern.
1) I was considering the izh46m, but is it safe in a garage attached to a house?
Which airguns are accurate and safe to use in a closed garage?
Robert,
The IZH 46M is a great air pistol for you. It is as safe as any, and the proper percautions have to be taken to ensure that safety.
I’ve been a dad and I’ve also trained lots of childern to shoot. In my experience, curiosity is the biggest danger you face, and the best way to deal with it is education. You don’t have to teach your kids to shoot, but they should know how to behave around guns. They may be too young to begin this now, so just keep the gun locked in a secure place until they can understand.
When you do decide to show them what you’re doing, make everyone present wear safety glasses.
The 46M is on the loud side, though not objectionable for the garage. This can be attenuated by placing the pistol inside a large box when it fires. Both ends have to be open of course, but the box will soak up some sound.
And be sure you have a good backstop to shoot into, plus a larger backer board behind it to catch any strays that miss the box. I know it’s “impossible” to miss such a large target, but I did it about 12 times in 100K shots.
Good luck,
B.B.
HEY BB
What is the best air pistol that is inder 300$. Im looking for a highly accurate pistol that is single stoke. Thanks.
No contest. The IZH 46.
B.B.
sorry i meant to say bellow 230$ also it cant be an IZH thanks.
Hi bb, im looking for a ultra accurate gun bllow 250. Also im looking for a single stroke. thanks.
The Gamo Compact is what you want.
B.B.
Hi bb, out of these 3:colt 1911 Govnt Model, beeman hw70lp, and the comapct whcich would u say is the best all around air pistol.
The Beeman HW70LP.
B.B.
Hi bb, have you ever fired a beeman temptest? if you have how would u you compare it to a hw70lp
The Tempest is a more compact pistol and the piston moves backward insteal of forward, so it is easier to control. The HW70LP is more accurate.
B.B.
Hi B.B.
I’m looking for a set of pistols: One for my 8-year old son who will just be starting and who is interested in 10-meter air pistol competition (as part of tetrathlon event); and, another for his Dad (that’s me) who will be picking up again after 25 year hiatus.
Beeman P3, IZH 46M, and Gamo Compact seem to fit the bill – I was wondering if you had any advice and/or suggestions on which model for each of us.
Thanks
Dad,
You will have to cock the gun for yoiur son. Only the Beeman P3/Marksman 2004 is light enough, but far too big for his hands.
For you, the IZH 456.
B.B.
bb,
Overall, which pistol would you choose to shoot in a target match? The Daisy 747 or the Gamo compact
Anonymous with a question about B.B. choosing a Daisy 747 or a Gamo Compact,
This very question was asked of B.B. in 2006 and here was his answer:
The Daisy is quite a bit heavier than the Compact, and because it is also much longer, it feels very muzzle-heavy. I like a muzzle-heavy gun, but, lacking a good tight adjustable grip, the Daisy is harder to hold steady.
The Compact almost floats in your hand, it is so light. It has the better trigger, by far, and I think the better sights, too. The grip is much more of a true target grip, which makes the Compact more of a pure target pistol than a Daisy. I wish it were heavier. It is much harder to pump than the Daisy.
As long as you are in the neighborhood, don’t overlook the IZH 46M, which is the best of the three guns, by a wide margin. It combines the Daisy’s ease of pumping and the Gamo’s good trigger and sights.
B.B.
There have been several new competition pistols introduced since 2006 including the Air Arms Alfa Competition pistol that B.B. wrote Part 1 about today. The gun doesn’t have his full endorsement yet but you may want to read part 1 and stay tuned for part 2. You can read part 1 by copying and pasting this link:
/blog//
At the bottom of this new article is a link to “comments”. By clicking on comments you will join many airgunners, like yourself, that are asking similar airgun related questions, like yours, and answering each others questions.
Hope to see you there posting your questions, helping with answers and sharing your airgun experiences with all of us.
kevin
B.B.
Excellent review as usual.
You can order a left-handed version of this gun at this web site: http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com
The English translations leave a little to be desired, but they are intelligible.
I need an accurate pellet for my Baikal 46M. Thanks for any help!!
Benjamin,
Try both RWS R10 Pistol and H&N Finale Match Pistol pellets in 4.50, and 4.51mm head size.
B.B.