Gamo Compact experience

[CB200]

I suppose the good side of the secondhand target pistol market is that you will very often find the pistols are very well looked after due to the nature of being indoor target pistols. My Steyr is 5 years old now but still immaculate. My Walther 400 is also in excellent condition too which I bought secondhand and I had a Steyr LP50 before both which was still mint and secondhand. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I haven't seen any pistols that look like they have been abused in my time shooting 10m at clubs and competitions.
The Walther 500 is lovely but so expensive, as are most pistols now. I recently inquired at the East Midlands Range (shop) about Walther servicing and they can do them no problem.

Thanks BnB, it is encouraging to hear stuff like that: looking forward to joining a club and seeing some different pistols in the not to distant future.

[Frog]

I shot in to the 530s with my Gamo compact and ended up in the 560s with other pistols before I gave up on 10m pistol (got fed up with having to practice a lot to keep my scores up). I think the improvement between 530 and 560 was more about having gained experience than the compact being incapable of doing better than I did with it.

[Modski66]

I moved on from a Compact to a Baikal 46M, but the issue for me with 'muscle powered' pistols was getting tired at 40 to 50 shots into a match, which was distracting and slowed me up. This would then put me under time pressure to complete all the cards in time!

It was a revelation going to co2 and ultimately a PCP pistol with much less effort and disturbance to my shot routine.

[trajectory]

PCP or CO2 is definately less fatiguing than muscle powered designs, especially over a 60 shot match with sighters as well. Theres other advantages too for instance muscle powered designs usually disturb your grip between shots, not so with PCP or CO2.
Some put high regard on relaxing or re taking the grip between shots as it helps restore circulation in your arm & especially to your hand between shots. It's a long match & at any level any help you can give yourself is probably worth it, in some regards it's a little like free pistol shooting, neither ar easy, but they seem to share certain similarities in technique.

[CB200]

PCP or CO2 is definately less fatiguing than muscle powered designs, especially over a 60 shot match with sighters as well. Theres other advantages too for instance muscle powered designs usually disturb your grip between shots, not so with PCP or CO2.
Some put high regard on relaxing or re taking the grip between shots as it helps restore circulation in your arm & especially to your hand between shots. It's a long match & at any level any help you can give yourself is probably worth it, in some regards it's a little like free pistol shooting, neither ar easy, but they seem to share certain similarities in technique.

Thanks Trajectory, that’s a great insight. I’ve never shot in a comp, only been shooting for 4 months and still not hit 500 yet! I do find it better to re do grip for circulation purposes - maybe my grip needs shaping more!

[trajectory]

Thanks Trajectory, that’s a great insight. I’ve never shot in a comp, only been shooting for 4 months and still not hit 500 yet! I do find it better to re do grip for circulation purposes - maybe my grip needs shaping more!

4 months, 2.5 - 3lb trigger..approaching 500 isn't too shabby.

Plenty of tips on line till you get to a club, a few good books out there too.

Just as an aside which pellets have you tried in your compact?

[CB200]

4 months, 2.5 - 3lb trigger..approaching 500 isn't too shabby.

Plenty of tips on line till you get to a club, a few good books out there too.

Just as an aside which pellets have you tried in your compact?

Thanks for the encouragement - I shot 494 last Sunday, so 500 not too far off.
I’ve bought and read the Ragnar Skanaker book Master Competitive Pistol Shooting, which I found very good. I started off with the Gamo Pistol Cup pellets, which came with the gun - some very tight in breech.
Progressed onto Bisley Practice, which were good. I’ve been shooting mostly RWS Diablo Basics - cheap and good. Tried some Gamo Match recently after seeing a review on them on Pyramid Air - some were so tight they wouldn’t fire!

[CB200]

I moved on from a Compact to a Baikal 46M, but the issue for me with 'muscle powered' pistols was getting tired at 40 to 50 shots into a match, which was distracting and slowed me up. This would then put me under time pressure to complete all the cards in time!

It was a revelation going to co2 and ultimately a PCP pistol with much less effort and disturbance to my shot routine.

Thanks Modski, I can benefit from your experience: I was as thinking of an older classic pistol as my next choice - FWB 65,80,100 etc, I checked them out, they are awesome! But heavy! I think a more modern lighter gun might be the way forward, funds permitting!

[RobinC]

I'm one of the old school who started in 1972 using a FWB 65, and shot nationally and internationally with it.

I have kept all my pistols from that 65, through FAS 604, Walther CP1, Walther LPM-1, finishing with Steyr LP2 compact, and LP50e Compact.

Oh yes, PCP's are so much easier to use, but are the scores any better? Hmmmm, maybe not, good technique is far more important, I shot with Ragnar Skanaker, at the early Intershoot's in Holland, he also used to come over for the bigger BPC shoots at Bisley, and was most entertaining.

His technique was total laid back, he'd do a few shots, wander off and have a chat with the RO, a laugh and a joke, shoot a few more cards, stop and have a cigarette, and continue, and still get top score, good old days, before the jobsworths moved in!

I was also privileged to see Nina Stolyarova shoot 392 ex 400 at London in the 1975 European championships in London.

She swept into the hall, like a superstar, wearing a leopard skin coat that was dragging on the floor, made out of real leopards (no PC then!), dropped the coat on the floor, pulled this scruffy plastic grip FWB 65 out of a case, and then just gave a smiling masterclass! It was a Ladies world record that stood up to the PCP era in the 90's, when a Chinese girl put one point on it!!!

Shoot what you enjoy, you'll love a PCP, but the Gamo will not hold you back for along while!
Have Fun
Robin

[CB200]

[QUOTE=CB200;8107322]

[I]

That’s an interesting insight, thanks BnB. I’m sure it is mostly about skill and technique etc, providing one has
a decent pistol to start with!

I'm one of the old school who started in 1972 using a FWB 65, and shot nationally and internationally with it.

I have kept all my pistols from that 65, through FAS 604, Walther CP1, Walther LPM-1, finishing with Steyr LP2 compact, and LP50e Compact.

Oh yes, PCP's are so much easier to use, but are the scores any better? Hmmmm, maybe not, good technique is far more important, I shot with Ragnar Skanaker, at the early Intershoot's in Holland, he also used to come over for the bigger BPC shoots at Bisley, and was most entertaining.

His technique was total laid back, he'd do a few shots, wander off and have a chat with the RO, a laugh and a joke, shoot a few more cards, stop and have a cigarette, and continue, and still get top score, good old days, before the jobsworths moved in!

I was also privileged to see Nina Stolyarova shoot 392 ex 400 at London in the 1975 European championships in London.

She swept into the hall, like a superstar, wearing a leopard skin coat that was dragging on the floor, made out of real leopards (no PC then!), dropped the coat on the floor, pulled this scruffy plastic grip FWB 65 out of a case, and then just gave a smiling masterclass! It was a Ladies world record that stood up to the PCP era in the 90's, when a Chinese girl put one point on it!!!

Shoot what you enjoy, you'll love a PCP, but the Gamo will not hold you back for along while!
Have Fun
Robin

Thanks for your reply Robin. It’s wonderful to hear about your colourful experiences with top
Athletes (not withstanding yourself of course) from the past - thank you for sharing. I’m sure other readers are happy to hear more - as I am too!

I’d also be grateful for any advice you could give to a 61 year old newbie! (5 months of 10m air pistol).

[trajectory]

Cb200,
congratulations, sounds like you are progressing well.I think you should be pleased with the way things are going. Keep practicing, but don't over do it.

If you get to a club hopefully they will have an active coaching program you might want to get involved in. Usually there are some experienced shooters who are only took willing to offer help & advice, but it seems as if you are acquiring a good solid base that you can consolidate & move on from.

Hope you continue to feel the reward from your efforts & enjoy your shooting

Ps look forward to hearing how your next 60 go.

[CB200]

Cb200,
congratulations, sounds like you are progressing well.I think you should be pleased with the way things are going. Keep practicing, but don't over do it.

If you get to a club hopefully they will have an active coaching program you might want to get involved in. Usually there are some experienced shooters who are only took willing to offer help & advice, but it seems as if you are acquiring a good solid base that you can consolidate & move on from.

Hope you continue to feel the reward from your efforts & enjoy your shooting

Ps look forward to hearing how your next 60 go.

Thanks for the encouragement Trajectory, it’s appreciated. I don’t think I will overdue it, I get bored after 20 mins of dry firing - it’s not called dry for nothing!
Hopefully I’ll get to a club in the not too distant future and benefit from some experienced folk, as you say.
Roll on the 15th haha!

[CB200]

I shot in to the 530s with my Gamo compact and ended up in the 560s with other pistols before I gave up on 10m pistol (got fed up with having to practice a lot to keep my scores up). I think the improvement between 530 and 560 was more about having gained experience than the compact being incapable of doing better than I did with it.

Thanks Frog, that’s a great score with a Gamo Compact!
Do you know what the trigger weight was at all?