Gamo Arrow.
This report covers:
- Scoping the Arrow
- More about the scope
- Leapers — HELP!
- The test
- Didn’t happen
- Zeroed the rifle
- JSB Exact 8.44-grain dome
- H&N Baracuda Match with 4.52 mm head
- RWS Superdome
- Discussion
- Summary
Today I mount a scope on the Gamo Arrow and we take a first look at accuracy. I spent several weeks pondering which scope to mount, but in the end there was only one clear choice. The Arrow is a five-pound precharged pneumatic (PCP) rifle, so regardless of how potentially precise it might be, you don’t want the scope to add a lot of weight. But you still want to see the target at some distance to take advantage of that accuracy.
Scoping the Arrow
The smaller Meoptas would be ideal for the Arrow but for their weight. The one clear choice for the Arrow has to be the UTG Bug Buster 3-12X32.
The Bug Buster 3-12X32 scope is ideal for the Gamo Arrow. I had to set it back almost as far as it will go to get enough eye relief when shooting off a rest.
More about the scope
Before we move on I want to say more about the scope I selected. It would be perfect if it had another 3/4-inches of eye relief. I’m going to address this in my next report on scope mounts, but here is what I’m talking about. The Bug Buster has such short scope tube sections for the rings to clamps to that it has to be mounted further forward than I would like. Now there is another third of an inch of rearward positioning that’s possible but until I posted this report for publication I didn’t see it.
Leapers — HELP!
Here is an idea for Leapers to consider. How about scope rings that allow some movement backward and forward for things like this? Sure, offset rings are the way to go but they usually only come with one of the two rings offset. The Arrow needs both rings offset to use the Bug Buster, so it can be slid backwards closer to the eye. Leapers, there is a freebie for you from BB Pelletier!
Of course it doesn’t only have to be Leapers to make the rings but to date they are the only manufacturer who has listened to me.
The test
Today all I wanted to do was get the rifle shooting well with a scope. There will be at least one more accuracy test to come. This was the setup day.
So I shot 10-shot groups from 10 meters off a sandbag rest. Yes — 10-shot groups. In the last test, shooting 5-shot groups, I found the best pellets for the Arrow — or at least some good ones. Today I want to settle down and shoot a few good groups.
Didn’t happen
Alas, things did not turn out that way for me today. The Arrow I’m testing shoots VERY low. The Bug Buster was shimmed in the rear but even that wasn’t enough to correct for the droop. I know ways to solve this, but I also know workarounds and that’s what I did today. You see, when I back up to 25 yards the pellets should rise somewhat and I don’t intend to put this rifle into my personal arsenal. SportsMatch adjustable mounts are one sure fix, but they sell for a major portion of this rifle’s purchase price, so for today I will just soldier on.
I adjusted the scope so that I aimed at one bullseye and hit the bull below. The pellets were hitting about two to two-and-one-half-inches below the aim point at ten meters.
Zeroed the rifle
I shot about 20 pellets trying to zero the rifle. That’s when I discovered the pellet drop issue and set up the scope for that. Then I was ready to test.
JSB Exact 8.44-grain dome
First up were 10 JSB Exact 8.44-grain domes. They made a group that measures 0.393-inches. It’s nice and round and in an amazing coincidence it’s extremely close to the group of five the same pellet made in Part 4 at 10 meters. Actually that was a group of 4 in 0.378-inches. That group had a flier that I was sure was a fluke and I believe today’s test proves it.
The Gamo Arrow put 10 JSB 8.44-grain domes into 0.393-inches at 10 meters.
At this point I was delighted. The Arrow is just as accurate as I remembered and I was shooting 10-shot groups this time. Next up was the most accurate pellet from the last test. Would it still be the best?
H&N Baracuda Match with 4.52 mm head
The Arrow put 10 Baracuda Match domes into 0.209-inches at 10 meters. In Part 4 five of the same pellets went into 0.175-inches. This rifle is incredibly consistent from test to test! The pellet did climb a little this time but I left the scope set as it was.
Ten Baracuda Match pellets with 4.52 mm heads passed through that 0.209-inch group at 10 meters.
This Arrow can shoot!
RWS Superdome
The last pellet I tested today was the RWS Superdome. These did well in the last test, too. I did also try Air Arms 8.44-grain pellets, but they didn’t group as well and I’m not showing them.
Ten Baracudas made a group that measures 0.402-inches at 10 meters. It looks smaller than the first group to me but it doesn’t measure that way.
Ten RWS Superdomes went into 0.402-inches at 10 meters.
Discussion
The Gamo Arrow has turned out to be a super PCP, and at the price, it’s going to compete with a lot of more expensive rifles. We still have a 25-yard test coming but I can tell from this one that we are on the right track.
The bolt blew open one time during this test. But it happened while I was shooting the best group and the pellet still went through without enlarging the group. I was keeping my eye on that bolt, and it is something I have to watch.
The trigger is still vague, but I can predict when it will fire. And the rifle is so light that I can hold it on target with no perceptible movement.
Today I tested right up to the 50-shot maximum per fill that I discovered in the velocity test. I won’t do that at 25 yards and now that I’m sighted in I won’t have to.
Summary
The Gamo Arrow is a winner! I know that already, but I’ll still do the test at 25 yards. This is fun!
B.B.
Gun seems to have potential. However, with the Bugbuster, and it’s known mounting issues, you need to get creative! I believe that either one or a combination of the below would if not eliminate the gun’s problems at least reduce them. Get a set-back dovetail to Picatinny drooper mount and some low Picatinny rings. Like this one: /product/utg-new-gen-dovetail-to-picatinny-weaver-adapter-recoil-resistant-stop?a=7424; or this one:/product/utg-universal-dovetail-to-picatinny-weaver-adapter?a=7311. This one does not even need an adaptor: /product/bkl-1-pc-mount-4-long-1-rings-3-8-or-11mm-dovetail-matte-black?a=2885 .
Times like this you need to get creative. I would rather have the scope slightly higher than perfect than have to lean into the scope and stock.
-Yogi
BB,
If that bolt continues to blow back maybe a rubber band at the handle looping around the base of the rear scope mount might be of help.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
The bolt handle flies back with too much force for a rubber band.
BB
BB,
When Siraniko says rubber band, I think he is thinking of something like a loop of stiffish shock cord, 3/16″ or so.. Would that be strong enough to be useful?
Guy
Oh Great Enabler,
Well, after a decade of playing with cheap, rebuilt, refurbished and re-loved airguns, I finally bought a Quality airgun. The replacement is, and this is partly your doing, BB,… wait for it… the Condor! In Lone Star red, of course, as the raygun style just isn’t distinctive enough. I’ve been a fan of those Airforce “utility” guns since winter 1999/2000 when I saw one in a sporting goods catalog and thought, “Wow, that’s some Johnson Space Center rocket engineering: bottle -> pellet -> barrel, with nothing but air in between!” (I hear the real story of Airforce is even more interesting.) It’s only .177 caliber, and I got the CO2 adaptor to shoot with, as I only have around 35 meters of backyard range and nice neighbors, but it’s also nice that it’s a gun with… unlimited potential?
I still need to pick up a bottle of CO2, or wait for the HPA pump (and other goodies) to come from Pyramyd, but am anticipating some quality time getting to know the new gun next weekend!
Thanks for your _many_ posts on those guns.
-Mike
Mike,
You’re welcome. In three seconds you will awaken and feel perfectly refreshed but remember nothing. One, two, … 😉
BB
BB
It is fortunate for the world, that you choose to use your powers for good,,,,,,
so far.
Mike,
Those AirForce air rifles are awesome! I used to have a Talon SS that I passed on to GunFun1. I have been kicking myself since. I recently acquired a .457 Texan LSS w/cf tank and this weekend I bought another tricked out Talon SS at the NC Airgun Show. I hope to get a TalonP next.
I you want to get rid of that Condor, let me know. 😉
There was still one Texan there and the owner was selling me hard at around 2PM Saturday. A .30 cal if I recall correctly. Just too long and too powerful for a non-hunter like me.
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA and the new owner of a 124 Sport
Rifle fires low, bolt blows open, trigger is vague, but accurate.
Well, I think BB once said that accuracy is nothing if you can‘t put the pellet where you want it to.
There are certainly workarounds for all of the problems, but at this price point, the arrow will probably mainly be used by beginners, or pcp newbies. They will probably be disappointed if their new arrow performs this way.
Potential or not, reading your report, this gun is not delivering without major adjustmemts and therefore definitely not for beginners in my opinion. Not sure how many seasoned shooters with better options in their arsenal would buy it, at least you wouldn’t.
I’d say Gamo should get back to their drawing boards or manufacture and solve the three negative points keeping the rest as is and only then we have a serious piece of kit.
Well said Papa Schultz!
This Gamo Arrow seems to me a result of cost over quality. I think they’re being realistic because to many buyers, a perceived bargain is almost irresistible, while a high price a dealbreaker.
Personally, I have a weakness for what I think of as a high quality airgun. Too many times have I succumbed to that temptation… 🙂
Thank you hihihi, thing is we know that Gamo can do better and it seems like their base product is solid, just a question of refinement (just my gut feeling).
“Too many times have I succumbed to that temptation…”
Oh yes, same here
I have fired quite a few shots with my Arrow, and have only had a handful of bolt blow backs, all due to me not pushing the bolt home.
The trigger can be adjusted by adding a longer adjustment screw, which will actually reach long enough to make a change – I haven’t gotten around to that just yet.
The issue of shooting low is my biggest grief.
The great thing about it is that it’s ultra quiet, like a low powered springer, so my neighbors only hear the pellet strike.
Thank you ErikDK for sharing your hands-on experience. It really sounds like a great rifle for a beginner, quiet, the bolt issue being only due to not pushing it all the way home, trigger can be fixed, that all sounds great.
Just the barrel droop. I sincerely think, and I hope Gamo read BBs great posts and our comments. If they can get these issues solved, they truly have a great beginner rifle at hand which will probably also be bought by more seasoned shooters.
Papa-
I get everything you said but you can’t argue with a one-hole gun. There is an army of figure-it-out-ers out there already looking for their rubber bands.
True, and I totally agree with what you say. Thing for me is: put yourself in the position of a beginner, proudly buying his first PPPCP, hoping to make one-hole shots because he read the gun is accurate. The gun puts the pellets in one hole, so it’s repeatable, but not accurate as per the misalignment between barrel and scope base.
So the new PPPCP shooter will not have this one-hole experience – why? It’s not only due to his/her lack of experience with this platform, but the other issues. He/she’ll not use open sights, because in his/her mind you need a scope to get good results. So he/she buys a (not so expensive) scope and adjust it to a point where he/she has scope shift. And there you have it – no longer a one-hole experience. He/she will start to fettle and mess everything up, the gun will not be used anymore and Gamo will be labelled correspondingly in his/her mind. Still it is a gun with the same potential, but can not be exploited by the targeted customer and that’s my main point in what I’m saying.
I truly see the potential of this gun, in addition it has open sights which is rare and a great move from Gamo, but such a droop between scope base and barrel needs to be rectified for the targeted customer.
Still, my personal opinion, open to hear other opinions, of course.
BB,
As Papa Schultz has pointed out, there are some serious issues that Gamo could stand to fix. Has Gamo ever had a nice trigger? As for the bolt blowing open, I am certain that issue can be solved if they spend a little more engineering time. The old Lelya and Veles from Edgun had that issue. It was easily remedied. Has Gamo ever had a nice trigger on anything? They should talk to the folks at BSA.
UTG and others do have offset rings and mounts. I have seen a “one piece” mount where both rings were able to move forward, backward, up, down or angled for “droop”. Yes, those Sportsmatch rings are expensive, but oh are they nice.
This does indeed sound like the newbie PCP that once they experience a truly nice PCP, this one is put in the back of the closet, never to see the light of day again.
Oops!
RWS Superdome
Ten Baracudas (Superdomes) made a group that measures 0.402-inches at 10 meters.
BB-
It seems that the BugBuster is clearly not suitable for this gun. Others have offered several solutions for mounts as workarounds to solve the scope problems. Except they will all add weight to the scope you chose because of its light weight!?! Maybe better to choose a correctly sized scope to begin with? Perhaps additional fodder for your scope blogs?
BB,
Think that the Gamo Arrow is shooting very well considering that it’s a PPPCP. Impressed and pleasantly surprised!
Do you know if Gamo makes their own barrels? Is this accuracy typical or did you luck into a particularly good one?
With the Arrow shooting so low I wonder if the barrel was indexed down instead of up.
Hank
Vana2,
Indexed barrel at this price point.
You have got to be kidding Hank! Right?
I’ll bet even at a higher price point the vast majority of airgun manufacturers don’t bother.
In a perfect World buyers would know of what you speak and demand indexed barrels as well as Receiver/scope rail/fixture aligned to bore, leade, chamber, and bore mapping and a proper crown and on and on and on.
Trick or Treat!
shootski
B.B.,
1. It IS a low power PCP!
2. It IS NOT a long scope
Expedient fix:
Remove the rear ring and use front scope ring only.
Alternate fix: use narrow (2 cap screw) scope rings.
It will have the shortened eye relief you need!
shootski
PS: in More About The Scope: “…for the rings to clamp (remove the s) to that it has…”
BB,
The mount below should go you the needed offset. I have used it with a 3-9 bug buster. – Don
/product/leapers-accushot-1-pc-bi-directional-offset-mount-w-1-rings-high-11mm?a=2409
Don,
Thanks. It means everything that you have used iot with a Bug Buster because people recommend one piece mounts without knowing if they fit.
BB
Hank,
Your thought that the barrel of this rifle was indexed up instead of down is interesting. Would you please discuss this further? It seems that a barrel will have bend to it because that’s the way of things, so the barrel is indexed up, because it’s better than being indexed off to the side?
Thanks,
Will
I went all-in a bought a “Vector Veyron 6-24×44 Illuminated Side Focus Super Compact FFP Rifle Scope” based on Andy from AAR’s review. Or “review?”
It came with Weaver style tall rings, so I needed 11mm to Picantinny converters, raising the scope even more, way to high, and consequently shooting way to low.
So I purchased very low Weaver rings, but it still shot to low, so I had to shim the rear mounting, to get the adjustment somewhat centered. It’s way to wobbly in its current form.
Since this seems to be a common problem, they should make angled down 11mm to Picantinny rail adapters.
The scope alone, without the additional mounting hardware cost more than the airgun, but I’m cool with that.
“Here is an idea for Leapers to consider. How about scope rings that allow some movement backward and forward for things like this?”
B.B.,
I really like your idea here; I have a 6X BugBuster on one rifle where I have to “schrinch” forward another half inch to really see the cross hairs as I’d like to see them. 😉
Blessings to you,
dave
Was talking airguns with my gym buddy today and learned from him that an Ace Hardware store near both of us started stocking Gamo airguns; a refreshing alternative to Big Box Wally. Hopefully, at least they will carry pellets. Gave him the link to the blog; maybe he’ll become a regular visitor.
I’ve got a quick fix for the barrel drop. Get a carpenter’s wedge and push it in under the front of the barrel until it shoots where you want it. I used two popsicle sticks for my Stormriders. Works perfectly.