Gamo Compact experience

[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!

[trajectory]

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!

494, that's coming on. Skanaker is a good source of information, well worth following the guidance in it, but keep in mind although much works for many not everything works for all, as we are all individuals it sometimes happens that we have to adapt some aspect to suit our individuality, but it's a good starting point.

Interesting about the Gamo Match pellets being too tight in your barrel. I was going to suggest that you might like to try them as a possibility if you hadn't already done so. It's a good idea to try a few types to find which pellets suit your own pistol as some are more suited than others. It's not even possible to say brand x pellets always shoot well in a model y gun. Barrels, even within a particular model may well exhibit a 'preferance' of one pellet or another. There's a wide choice available nowadays & with the size variations available it can get to be expensive & involved in finding the very best one for your pistol. I've tried a few, i like Hobby pellets, they seem generally pretty good, but match pellets from RWS or H&N are my first choice.

[CB200]

494, that's coming on. Skanaker is a good source of information, well worth following the guidance in it, but keep in mind although much works for many not everything works for all, as we are all individuals it sometimes happens that we have to adapt some aspect to suit our individuality, but it's a good starting point.

Interesting about the Gamo Match pellets being too tight in your barrel. I was going to suggest that you might like to try them as a possibility if you hadn't already done so. It's a good idea to try a few types to find which pellets suit your own pistol as some are more suited than others. It's not even possible to say brand x pellets always shoot well in a model y gun. Barrels, even within a particular model may well exhibit a 'preferance' of one pellet or another. There's a wide choice available nowadays & with the size variations available it can get to be expensive & involved in finding the very best one for your pistol. I've tried a few, i like Hobby pellets, they seem generally pretty good, but match pellets from RWS or H&N are my first choice.

Thanks for your input Trajectory: helpful as usual - do you think it’s helpful to ‘bench rest’ test different pellets?
I’m going to get another (weaker spring) for my trigger and see if that brings down the pull weight. I’m sure if I get the trigger weight down, my scores will improve.

[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!

[trajectory]

I haven't practiced with my Gamo Compact for a while so I fired a few shots with it today. I really rather like it, but I don't know if it's lack of practice with it or if I had just forgotten ......but it's really fidly loading a wadcutter pellet into the barrel in that confined space. Maybe I need to shoot it a bit more often.

[CB200]

I haven't practiced with my Gamo Compact for a while so I fired a few shots with it today. I really rather like it, but I don't know if it's lack of practice with it or if I had just forgotten ......but it's really fidly loading a wadcutter pellet into the barrel in that confined space. Maybe I need to shoot it a bit more often.

It is fiddly, but you’ll get used to it again if you persevere.