Gamo Viper Shotguns
Who has experience with the Gamo shotguns. Are they effective? I sem to remember Migrod posting that he was using one with pellets to eradicate some pest species with great success, but have any of you been pleased with their performance as a shotgun? If so at what distance and on which critters? I have heard of people reloading the shells…have any of you done that? If so what’s the deal? Would you share with us your technique for reloading them?
http://www.gamousa.com/family.aspx?family=Shotgun/Air Rifle Combination&familyID=83
[video src="http://www.gamousa.com/videoplayer.aspx?videoURL=videos/viper_express_1.flv" /]
[video src="http://www.gamousa.com/videoplayer.aspx?videoURL=videos/viper_express_2.flv" /]
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/gamo-viper-break-barrel-shotgun.shtml
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/gamo-shadow-express-shotgun-air-rifle.shtml
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=1756
I have started several threads like this one and each time I have been surprised at the great responses. It seems like many of us have the same questions and just don’t ask them. It also seems like so many TAG members have great experiences that they would share if only someone would ask the questions. So, again, thanks in advance for the great responses that I know will show up here over the next week or so.
(Another member PM’d me with this question. Like I know what I’m doing or something? 😯 I have actualy been wondering the same thing…so here we go). 😀
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Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
why not take a 410 barrel and just machine it to fit the airforce?
the take a .410 wad and load it muzzle loader style using a cotton ball at the muzzle end to hold in the shot? then you would have a shotgun barrel capable of using chokes
OK I’m getting the picture. So we take a Condor and give it a custom .45 caliber smooth bore barrell with matching bushings. Use .modified .45 Auto Rim brass shells to hold our shot charge (enlarge the flash hole to the diameter of the flash hole, or larger). Load them with #6 or 7 1/2 shot. Use a heavy hammer to open a Blodknob valve to release enough air to make this thing work. But its going to be loud and prompt Mr Llama to ask how do we fit a LDC to a shotgun? Which actually might work for the first few inches. It being a shotgun, it will require some personal adjustment to the shooter which could be accomplished with a WOK Butt. Alright, I know, stop smoking crack and come back to reality. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92mxyGb4se0&feature=related
You can also make your own shotshells for larger calibers with just rolled and crimped paper. Coin rollers if you will..
I found this about, or how to reload the shot shells:
ATP,
I agree and that’s why I posted the video of a larger air shotgun. The shot spread is pretty rapid and thats OK if you’re starting with a lot of shot. But if you are starting with just a couple balls from a tiny bore….
The Gamo shotshell is just too small to hold enough shot to make it worth while, no less in a monster air gun like the Airforce guns. I’d like an air shotgun to fill a niche, but I’d be looking for at least .380 bore.
30 yards or 90 feet is a long way off and not a distance that I was considering. I am thinking of distances of 10′ to 30′. What is a .62 gun?
But again, I am curious if anyone has bought one of these and wants to share their experiences? My personal use would be snakes and rats at close range.
I doubt you’re going to find many stories of squirrel kills with the little Gamo shotgun. The video below is of a 30 yard shot with a .62 gun shooting 550 – 600gr of bird shot. This is about the max range I’d take a squirrel with this gun as I want to kill them not wound them.
I’d like to see an Air Force gun rebarrelled to use the Gamo shotshell. I think that has promise.
Rob, you are right about Gamo. I have had several bad experiences with Gamo customer service. I did’t want to start this thread with negative statements about Gamo. I was looking for real worl experiences from our forum members. Gamo has good marketing. My experiences with led me to my TSS, (thanks Gamo).
My thought was for snake killing at 20 feet or so. I thought that they couldn’t screw up a scatter gun for close kills, but then again its Gamo, (klank-twnag). Migrod had posted that he liked his, but was using .22 pellets for a oppossum problem. We’ll see who posts.
Please post your experiences…we are interested in the good and the bad.
Yea I put the feed below the wall now and wait. I have a concrete wall about 4 feet high. I aslo put some plywood in front of the wall to slow it down before it hits the wall. I figured if thing would kill them I could shoot them on the lawn. My yard is 50’x80′ including the house square in the middle not much wiggle room. I would never shoot squirrels there if they did not invade my house. I had a nest literally 6 feet in diameter in the attic when I bought the house. 20 + garbage bags of leaves and sticks. I called and exterminator and they do not guarentee anything for about $500. I said hell I will buy a talon ss for that much and proceeded to wack away. 24 squirrels in a couple months. Keep in mind I have one tree in my entire yard! I have them under control now just looking for another excuse to buy a gun. I did 4 or 5 searches for viper shotgun and did not come up with anything. I did read reviews on line and found that they said it was of marginal power. I was hoping someone would say hey get within 10 yards and they work. wishful thinking not logic. 🙄
@SteveLA…..alot of the good stuff is forgotten in the forums old threads…and somewhat lost with the demise of TOG…generally people are lazy they wont do a search of google or forum….but rather just ask
i agree with robert on the shotgun though….its crap in most cases….however since i know how and where you shoot, it might be a good rat gun for shots under 30 feet.
but for squirrel shots i think you have to be point blank for it to work properly
some reports have been that you have to be lucky to kill a sparrow with it at 15 yards….those small bb’s slow down real quick in the air, combined with low power and it just makes no sense….
for neighborhood safety…..keep in mind light pellets loose power faster and therefor safer to shoot. if you worry that you might shoot your neighbor or his property….well then you shouldnt take the shot at all….reposition the feeder for a safe shot….squirrels will sit on the ground and eat if they feel safe….so make them feel safe by giving them “shelter” some branches a log….so they dont have to worry about birds of pray etc…just make sure you got a clean shot…logs makes for great backstops 🙂
I have read no positive reviews on this gun save for the drivel that people who are paid to write put out.
The general consensus is that a Trapmaster or a Shark (if you can find them) are the best out there save for a very few PCP specialty guns.
I had good success out to 10 yards with a modified 2240 and using some 7/16 OD brass tubing as a barrel. Have to muzzle load it, but works a treat and out to 10 yards, sparrow sized game are no problem.
I love the idea of an air powered shotgun, but sadly, the Gamo offering just dont seem to cut it in real world usage.
Besides…. it’s a Gamo. 😆
I too am interested in real world opinions on this shotgun. I would like to clear my birdfeeder of squirrels. they are pretty ballsie (not sure thats a word) I can get within 15 feet of them. I have used the talon ss but in my neighborhood it could travel too far if i miss. would like to use the pellets at real close range on squirrels. follow up shot at 1 foot OK with me.
Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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You are right CP! I think that what we find are all of the reasons that air powered shotguns are so few and far between. It just isn’t practical. No matter how we power them, they are limited in range and effectiveness…AKULA’S 12ga 3″ magnum 00 Buckshot loading not withstanding. 😉 But even that monster load has limits to its its effective range.
But you are absolutely right CP, a .410 bbl with interchangable choke capability would be useful for my only-half-serious Condor/shotgun experiment.
Is there anyone willing to admit that they bought a Gamo here on this forum? And if you did buy a Viper shotgun, how is it working out for you?