Today reader RidgeRunner, tells us even more about his experience shooting his Gamo Bone Collector Gen3i. If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, RidgeRunner
RidgeRunner’s Gamo Bone Collector Gen3i: Part Three
by RidgeRunner
Gamo Swarm Bone Collector.
This report covers:
- Morning coffee
- Home, home on the range
- SAT trigger screw
- Pellets
- At the range
- Loading the magazine
- So, what did I shoot this morning?
- Suspicions
- Summary
Morning coffee
Starting the day off right.
Home, home on the range
Well, here we are with a little more range time with my Gamo Swarm Bone Collector 10X Gen3i. My, that sure is a mouthful.
Today, I am going to give the artillery hold the good old college try. I do hope all of you keep in mind that I am an old, fat, bald geezer who really is not very good at this anymore.
SAT trigger screw
Something else a little different this time is that I ordered a SAT trigger screw from Airgun Detectives. What this does is replace the screw behind the trigger with one that is a little longer, making the trigger a bit more adjustable and a little lighter if that is your desire.
WARNING! If you screw this screw in until it bottoms out, the piston catch will not work. You will need to back this screw out seven full turns, as any less will make the catch too light and cause an accidental discharge. I would recommend that a slam test on the buttstock be tried to insure the catch holds. If you do not understand any of this, PLEASE do not attempt this modification!
Now, if you do this modification correctly, you will have one of the sweetest sport triggers you have ever had. No, it is not a match trigger, but there are few who would be able to tell the difference without having a match trigger to compare.
Pellets
Once again, I do not know what to expect from this air rifle so I will be starting with the H&N Excite Hammers that did reasonably well in Part 2. They weigh in at around 14.66 grains and are cheap. I will also be trying out some of my better pellets after this one.
At the range
Oh oh say can you see, With the dawn’s early light? What so proudly we hail…
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Yes it will be light soon. When the sun comes over the ridge, it will soon be hot and muggy out here, so I am waiting for it to be light enough to shoot some before this old, fat, bald-headed geezer starts to sweat too much.
This time while at the range I am going to try to use the world renowned artillery hold and see what I can do at twenty-five yards. I will also be using the vastly improved SAT trigger.
Loading the magazine
Loading the magazine is a real pain. H&N pellets are very difficult to load. The JSB pellets are a lot easier, but it is still no fun. I have not investigated removing the magazine assembly and turning this into a normal breakbarrel as of yet.
So, what did I shoot this morning?
The first pellet I sent down range was the H&N Hammers. Eh.
The next pellet I tried was the JSB 18.13 grain. Really?
After that I loaded up with the JSB 15.89 grain pellet. That was a little better I guess, but was not anything to brag about.
You may have noticed by now that not only am I not showing any pictures of the groups, I am not even telling you their size. They are that bad.
For my next trick, I decided to give the FX Hybrid 22-grain slugs a try. I shot off three of them and gave up without wasting any more of them in this sproinger. They were really, really bad.
After that fiasco I shot some H&N Baracuda Hunter Extremes that weighed in at 19.09 grains. What a waste of pellets that was.
Suspicions
I am starting to have some suspicions about this air rifle. I am going to shoot some of the previous pellets and pay real close attention to what is going on.
The first pellet I was going to try again was the JSB 18.13 grain. It was better, but still not something to write home about.
The next pellet I tried out was the JSB 15.89 grain. It was a little better, but still no cigar.
I did finally confirm what my suspicions were telling me. My scope is walking on me[moving in the rings from recoil]. The recoil of this air rifle is so great that with each shot the scope is moving a little bit. I am certain that is affecting my group size some.
Summary
This gas spring air rifle sure does have a lot of recoil. My cheek tells me that it is not exactly happy getting slapped all the time by this gal. The question now is whether I can keep this scope from walking and whether I can make this gal dance well enough to stay here at RRHFWA and RRHHMM. That will likely happen, but whether I talk to you folks about it is questionable. At this moment I would not advise you to spend your hard-earned dollars on this gal, but that is your choice.
RR
Those buffles keep coming to my mind, besides that scope moving.
Bill,
I have not seen where the baffles have been causing any issues, however I cannot see way down in there and that whole shebang is molded onto the barrel. Not much chance int removing it.
I have since removed the scope and installed it on another sproinger. The issue was not enough stop pin inserted in the rail hole.
I hate that you are having issues with accuracy with this girl RR. I really do. I had decent luck with mine. I could never say it was a tack driver but it was always minute of squirrel head accurate for me. 1/2″ groups at 10 -15 yards and 1 inch at 20-25 yards were the norm. You are dead on with the recoil evaluation, she has a kick!
My first springer was a Gen 2 version of this rifle and the one that I learned to shoot springers with, so maybe that ingrained something in me that I can not articulate in how I shot the Gen 3i that got decent results. /shrug. Next time you take her for a spin around the block, try some CPHPs, JSB Hades and H&N FTT pellets as I seem to recall that mine liked those best. Glad you got the trigger straightened out.
Bob
Just for giggles, I just might try her again. You never know. If she does OK, I just might tell you folks about it. We shall see.
Can’t recall if you tried different hand placement. On my relatively heavier recoiling spring guns, they tend to like being held further out on the forestock. Perhaps it is a leverage thing. Might as well try everything to tame this wild thing. You certainly can’t rely on all the marketing hype….
RG,
Do you think I listen to marketeering hype? The politicians lie enough. I am curious as to where the marketeers get the “stuff” they spue out.
From their elbows, if course.
Elbows? Yeah, OK. Close enough.
As in, they don’t know their a** from their elbow.
Oh, I understood.
RidgeRunner,
I don’t suppose you can show the breech of the Gamo Swarm Bone Collector 10X Gen3i without the magazine inserted or can you? Although Tom did state when he was evaluating it that there seemed to be no way possible to insert just 1 pellet into the breech without using the magazine. I’ve got a feeling this lady will dance it’s way out of RRHFW rather soon though.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
The only way to show the breech is to remove the magazine assembly.
This gal will likely be looking for a new home soon. I have a whole bunch of other airguns that would really like to spend some range time and maybe even have me let you folks know about them. Hey, she is nice looking and now that trigger is real sweet. She does not dance well enough in my hands though and I am not a big fan of the gas spring in her.
Can this sow’s ear be made into a silk purse? Maybe, but I do not have the time to try. If someone else wants to try, more power to them.
RR,
I think life is too short to spend too much time trying to improve something that even if working at its best would not make you proud.
Re-reading this last sentence, I realize that I should have followed my own advise a few times.
I would find a new home for this gal – who knows, she may become a treasure to its new owner. Hopefully they like its dancing style, slapping and all!
Henry
Henry,
Very likely she will find a new home and it is my wish that here new owner enjoys her.
It would be interesting to see what a pellet looks like after being rodded through the barrel but I’m not sure that’s possible on this?
Many inaccurate barrels will benefit from a polish to remove rough and tight spots
Ade C,
The magazine assembly would have to be removed to do such. It does not look to be that difficult, but I just do not feel like messing with it. I have too many other gals who dance right nicely and a few I have not even danced with yet.
From the description in the product web page:
“… In addition, the IGT Mach 1 inert gas piston powerplant results in smoother shooting and cocking than a typical spring piston air rifle, as well as more power.
The Gamo Swarm Bone Collector features an 11mm dovetail Recoil Reducing Rail, which helps protect optics by significantly lessening the forces applied due to recoil. The Shock Wave Absorber recoil pad adds to the comfort of the air rifle by cutting down on recoil by almost 75%.
The attractive, high-grade beechwood stock offers checkering on the forearm and grip for an improved hold, as well as a laser-engraved Bone Collector logo. This air rifle also includes Whisper Maxxim noise-reducing technology, which results in less recoil as well as using two chambers to help limit noise.”
Smoother than a typical spring piston???
Your description seems to indicate otherwise.
11mm dovetail Recoil Reducing Rail???
It is difficult to tell how that is supposed to work from just looking at the photos. But if there are moving parts, perhaps they are not returning to the proper positions each time?
Shock Wave Absorber recoil pad??
It that supposed to be just the pad on the butt of the stock? If not, then what is it?
Whisper Maxxim noise reducing technology??
How does that supposedly result in less recoil?
I would also try to investigate whether or not any pellet deformities are happening during the loading processes.
Elmer,
The cocking is smoother and quite easy really. The gas spring also causes her to slap you side the head smoothly.
Recoil Reducing Rail? My scope mount did not notice.
Whisper Maxxim noise reducing technology? How does that supposedly result in less recoil? Well, the forward burst of air theoretically will push forward on the baffle system, but there really is not that much air involved.
Shock Wave Absorber recoil pad? It that supposed to be just the pad on the butt of the stock? Yes.
Sounds like a whole bunch of marketeering gibberish to me.
I can say that the pellets are not being deformed when loaded into the magazine. I seriously doubt they are being deformed when they are loaded into the breech, but since I cannot see that, I do not know for sure.
The description also indicates front and rear fiber optic sights are available on certain models. But the specs indicate no sights on this model. Can those sights be added?
Elmer,
I don’t know.
Elmer Fudd,
I don’t know how long ago that Advert Copy writer wrote that marketing piece but just recently i have heard any number of speeches that had a very similar ring to them!
I wonder if the writer (Generative AI?) knows any more about hope, the RIGHT, and morning/evening compared to not knowing much about the Bone Collector?
shootski
Well, there was three wasted minutes of my life I won’t get back.
No pictures of groups.
No measurements.
No thanks.
paco,
You only wasted three minutes reading this? You should have been shooting it.
When I was younger in the 60’s BAH (Before Artillery Hold) it was assumed that every airgun, yes BB guns as well, were able to shoot accurately. At least within its effective range. Who would be stupid enough to sell one that was not?
However, it was up to you to aim it properly and hold it steady on the target as you pulled the trigger. If it did not hit the target at first, you obviously had to adjust the sights to line things up so it would.
If you continued to miss the target, you were obviously doing something wrong or you simply were not a “Good Shot”
Shooting at close targets that were not too much smaller than a pop can was not all that hard. If you wanted better accuracy for, say competition target shooting you had to spend much more money for a good pellet rifle.
And so, we simply accepted the fact that we did not always hit everything we shot at and never really knew why. Other than we were just not expert shooters, or we were simply not trying hard enough.
Today we know better. They actually sell airguns that are simply not accurate, or not really accurate enough for precision target shooting we have come to expect these days because we know it can be done.
We know how to shoot properly these days and now have effective scopes. I say that because I actually had, and still have, a plastic 4X scope on my Daisy 1894. Kind of like placing a plus sign over the target with a wide magic marker.
We need to establish an accuracy index for new, and old, airguns so we know what we are getting. It would behoove the seller to find the best pellet or BB to achieve a higher rating.
A simple 1-10 for pistols and rifles with 1 being the best. Of course it could be broken down further into type of airgun. CO2, PCP or what have you depending on its best effective range.
It sure was nice to receive a sample target with 5 shots fired from a Western Airgun Sidewinder PCP using JSB Match Diabolo EXACT Redesigned Jumbo Monster Pellets. A good starting point or go to pellet for it.
Who will go down in Airgun History as the person who developed the Airgun Accuracy Standard? Named after the creator of course. Someone with lots of airgun experience perhaps?
Just got to thinking.
How about something like this. Make the 10 the best shooter instead, representing a 10-shot group accuracy within an inch at 100 yards. A 1 would be an inch at 10 yards.
If it shoots at half that size, 1/2 “, then add a plus sign to the number. Another half size, 1/4″ add a second plus sign.
So, an airgun that shoots 1/4 ” groups, or whatever is decided upon, at 50 yards would be a receive a 5++ accuracy rating. The best distance it can shoot a quarter inch group.
A simple 5 would be under an inch at 50 yds. A 5+ … under 1/2″ group at 50 yds.
A 3 would only shoot under an inch at 30 yards at best. A 1/4′ group would be a 3++. Food for thought.
Bob M,
You lost me somewhere with you scoring method, but I would give this air rifle a very horrible score. She would not have any plus marks with her score. Maybe a -47———————-.
Ridge-
Let me get this straight-
You didn’t install the scope correctly and so it’s the rifle’s fault you don’t shoot well?
Sorry, not buying.
paco,
I tell you what, if you would like to buy or trade for this air rifle, it is available. Maybe you can tell everybody how wonderful it is.
Bob
I have no doubt that there are already list, somewhere on the web, that rate the accuracy of rifles and pistols. But these lists,, as are all lists,, are written by people. And as we well know,, people are apt to be biased,, about almost everything.
So, there really is no way to establish any kind of accurate system that wouldn’t already be biased. And the manufacturers could still write whatever they wanted because every rifle and every person is different. It is altogether possible that someone out there, could use RR’s rifle and get much better results. But which of them is to be be believed?
All we can do is look for consensus. The guns that get the highest praise, consistently, are “probably” better than those that don’t. Or maybe they aren’t. The only thing we can do is do our due diligence before buying and then decide for ourself if we did well.
You have asked, before, for a way to rate accuracy. But to what end? We can’t buy them all,, so ,, just as in selecting a car or truck,, you take your best shot.
Ed
Ed,
I see where you are coming from. Accuracy can be claimed with bias. I guess I’m looking for a definition of the term that an airgun must achieve. A low quality plinker could be 100% accurate, at hitting pop cans at 4 feet.
It looks like calling an airgun accurate must be followed with “At what?” Or under what conditions.
Distance must be incorporated for sure. As well as to what degree? Accurate (1″), Very Accurate (1/2″) or Extremely Accurate (1/4″) out to what distance? The degree of accuracy will change with distance.
But, If we established one set distance to determine accuracy for all, one all could reach, we could have a simple way to compare and set a goal to meet to determine its accuracy.
Sure, some of the same airguns will be more or less accurate. Perhaps a certain percentage of those manufactured must shoot the same for any accuracy claim can be set. Doubt companies would agree unless they are claiming to be extremely accurate.
When all else fails, I guess we can always fall back on ‘” You get what you pay for! ” … Most of the time. Otherwise, you wait for reviews and hope you don’t get the exception.
Bob
Fortunately, if you buy from Pyramid, you can, indeed, return a gun because YOU don’t feel it is accurate enough. Takes a bit of the “Buyer Beware” out of the transaction.
But as far as rating any particular gun as accurate,, I’m afraid that it is too subjective a request. There is no way to do it. BB has actually tested using a vice and found it no more accurate than the same gun in the hands of a human.
Add the difference in performance depending on pellet shape, weight or consistency within a particular tin and you have a real problem. Then there is the very real chance of litigation should any manufacturer take umbrage at your decisions. (the more widespread your list becomes, the more real that threat becomes).
So,, I’m afraid it is up to you to make the decisions,, and then to enjoy whatever it is you bought.
Ed
Edlee, I agree with you, but I know as center fire powder burner rifles have become more accurate, the manufacturers have begun to make accuracy claims “one moa–5 shots” etc. In the past, and perhaps even now, airgun manufacturers would slip in a sample target. I recall a Markman 70 that B.B. tested that had a sample target stamped with the same serial number as the air rifle.
I have said in comments before, it would be great if at least some of the manufacturers started competing on accuracy (at least on precision to be technical about it), rather than only on velocity. To me, I would never consider a Red Ryder and a Avenge X (as an extreme example) to have to compete head to head, but if a manufacturer of a mega Magnum spring or gas piston big box springer would give a realistic accuracy claim at a realistic hunting range, that would be truly helpful, rather than over blown velocity claims
Bob, see my take, in response to edlee.
Roamin,
It would be nice if they offered an accurate “Competition” target shooting barrel as an option for more money.
Even if they outsourced it. Must not be profitable?
If money is no object…then someone will be able to make a profit. ;o)
R.R.
My gas ram springers like to be held tightly. Hug’m like you love’m!
-Y
Yogi,
I believe you may be correct on the tight hold.
I only have two MAGNUM GAS springers and i don’t use the artillery hold (tried to use it but they don’t seem to believe they are artillery) with them. They both shoot MOA to 50 and 2 MOA beyond that until i run out of airspace for the projectiles.
shootski
Yogi,
You and shootski are welcome to hug this gal all you guys want.
Going to try that next time FM shoots the .25 HW90, with the understanding that any inaccurate shooting using the HM (Hug Method) is due to user error – as in FM user error.
FM,
I do hope you get tired of hugging that HW90. I would really like to try to have her move into RRHFWA and RRHHMM. 😉
It would be more a matter of FM getting tired of cocking the “90” or getting to the point where he couldn’t cock it at all. Let’s hope that won’t happen for a loooong time…places to go, airguns to hug. 🙂
One can dream.
I gave a Walther Terrus .22 that only likes the “deer hunter” hold. It’s a springer, so go figure. And it seems to like JSB Straton pointed pellets.
RR
As I’m an old geezer, but not bald!
If I would even buy a gas ram, I would do so only if I could make a profit upon its sale. This would include all Thoebens.
And if’n yall tried to give it to me….I would still make a profit!
Breeze,
I myself would really like to give a Theoben gas spring a try. At least with those you can turn them down a bit.
RidgeRunner,
I believe it is time to show this gal the EXIT from RRHFWA!
shootski
shootski,
So do I.
RidgeRunner
If you are done with this rifle I assume (I know what a s s u m e stands for) you don’t think an optics change or a strangle hold or loose screws could help the accuracy problem.
But what do you say to someone when selling or trading it? You may be different from lots of us but you don’t strike me as being a politician.
Deck
Deck,
No, I am not a politician. When and if I do get around to selling her, I will say as little as is possible concerning this air rifle. Like me, the owner will likely be curious about Gamo.
If I am asked, I will be truthful. Unlike politicians, I am honest.
RR, the first thing FM did with his freebie Gamo Whisper Fusion was remove the Gamo-branded scope, since it has fixed sights. Have said this before, not impressed with it but going to dance with it a little longer and try some improvements, such as calming the spring down a bit. The trigger is not too bad. This would not be FM’s choice for a “pesting gun,” though.
FM,
The trigger on this sproinger is now great. I cannot say so much about the rest of it though.
FM,
Your Whisper Fusion was a freebie? Wow, not bad if it shoots acceptably well. I still use my full price 2013 model, with its original gas ram. Still shoots alloy pellets supersonic! Wiggly barrel block won’t work with a scope, but I do use it successfully with open sights. It’s a nice plinker with decent accuracy using JSB 8.44gr domes. I like shooting reactive targets with it. The stock fits me well and the pistol grip of the synthetic stock is especially comfortable. I forgot to mention that it has a “Charley Da Tuna” trigger and that makes a nice difference. Even though I have better springers, this one is good enough and still gives me joy – it’s GOOD plate of beans. Hoping yours is, too.
Regards,
Will
It was a freebie thanks to the non-gun loving Mrs. of a good buddy; she told him “too many guns.” He offered FM the Gamo; FM tried to compensate him for it but he would not hear of it. Maybe he secretly hopes to get it back someday when the Mrs. no longer cares and if so, will be glad to return it to him.
It shoots powerfully but with nowhere near the accuracy of the other household artillery; still, going to try a couple of things to see if accuracy improves. FM acknowledges that someone younger and blessed with better eyesight might wring out the best this rifle has to offer.
There are few things as frustrating as a rifle (air, powder burner) or pistol that is not accurate no matter who shoots it or how it’s held or aimed or adjusted. To me, I don’t recall (hey, I’m a geezer too but I’m losing weight!) Gamo having accurate barrels on any of their products. RR, try another scope with some adhesive tape and make sure that stop screw is inserted properly into the action hole. I also have used a silver marker on the scope tube to show me if the scope is moving. Let’s give this piece of scrap metal one more try.
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA
Fred,
LOL! I just might give her one more try, but I do seriously doubt if she will ever learn to dance with me. Quite frankly, BB gave up on this a long time ago. I also am of the opinion there are too many nice shooting airguns to waste much more time on this one. We’ll see.
As a little side note to dispel your belief that Gamo cannot do it, I had an extremely accurate .177 CFX when I first met you. Generally speaking though, I do have to agree with you. Supposedly accidents do happen.
As the saying goes, even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. Following up on that, I have a Chinese B5 (sliding compression chamber and underlever cocking – BAM?) that’s incredibly accurate. I guess the machining tool wasn’t worn past tolerance when this one was made.
Fred etc
Just to be fair my Gamo Urban .22 is capable of sub MOA at 25 yards. It is the only Gamo I have.
Deck
Deck,
Do not buy a Gamo sproinger. You will not be able to say either again.
RR,
When everything is checked, and optimized with the best pellet and scope and everything is the best it can be, and you still can’t shoot a group under an inch with it at 10 yards, ( An accuracy rating of less than 1 ), it simply is not accurate and would be considered a plinker or wall hanger not suitable for target shooting. We ought to be able to return airguns like that. When store bought.
Bob,
I wish I could, however this particular Gamo was acquired in a trade. It is mine to keep for the moment. Most of the time we can, but not in this case.
Fred,
I have heard some good things about that particular sproinger. I have also handled and shot one that was a real dog. Sometimes you win. Sometimes the dragon wins.
Duplicate
RR,
I hope that you will give this pretty Gamo (mouthful) another go, with the scope nailed on and all the loose modifiers and dangling participles, etc…all buttoned down.
Do you feel anything odd when you rod a pellet down the barrel? Can you get to the crown to see if that’s OK? Just trying to help, you know how to troubleshoot these things anyway. I would be interested in reading another installment, especially to see you turn it around and get it to shoot well enough.
I’m an eternal optimist and will keep tweaking here and there until eventually it becomes clear that, “It’s dead, Jim” (Dr. McCoy’s grim and often heard verdict on the original Star Trek). Good luck!
Regards,
Will