GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Gamo Gate => : RainDog July 21, 2008, 03:45:44 AM
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Well, sure enough... after posting on another thread that the Big Cat was reasonably accurate, I take it to re-sight from 20 to 25 meters, and my groups were all over the place. Bad. I'm talking three inch groups. Fiddled with elevation and windage or a while, looked for any signs of scope creep, removed the scope and locked it back into its accushot one-piece mount, and tried again. Groups like a shotgun.
Now, though I'd gotten the new mount and the GRT trigger, this is the original scope that came in the box.
Think it kicked the bucket on me? I noticed during the first few shots after buying it that the breech seal looked a little chewed up, but didn't seem to be leaking and still doesn't. It's not any worse looking than it was either, and it was no problem back then.
Any ideas? Nothing sounds loose in the scope when shaken. Are there other possible problems I should be considering, or should I just buy a new scope?
After two vacations and my son's birthday this summer I'd sure like to resolve this myself. Can't really afford to be sending it off for someone to diagnose.
Any thoughts would surely be appreciated!
Thanks a lot,
Parks
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Well Parks,
I can't tell if you changed your pellets, or if you opened a new tin, or if you are now shooting off of a harder rest, or if your shooting off a rest at all ??? Or the make of the scope your using, and if it is airgun rated ???
So if nothing has changed since you were happy with your groups, and you have checked to see if the screws holding the rifle to the stock havent worked loose, it is most probably your scope !
I hope this helps :(
Bill
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Okay, nothing changed to my knowledge. Same rest, pellets, same everything including the hot, miserable weather we're having. The scope is the 25 dollar Gamo branded 4X32 that comes with the rifle. Stock screws are tight. No creeping.
My main concern is that if I run buy another scope during this little money crunch that I'm having for the next couple of weeks that I'll find it didn't help, that I had overlooked some other possible cause.
As I mentioned, there's no OBVIOUS problem with the scope. Not dented or deformed in any way, nothing loose-sounding when shaken.
So thats a vote for the scope itself being the problem.
Can anyone think of anything else that could mess up my groups so badly? They're all over the place. High, low, left, right, and all combinations.
Does it HAVE to be the scope, or could it be something else?
Thanks!
Parks
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I have noticed the breech seal getting chewed up quickly on all the newer gamos I've owned. I had this same exact issue with my varmint hunter, but when I flipped the breech seal around and shimmed it a little it was back to normal. I then proceeded to order a bunch of breech seals from gamo's website as backups. It took awhile for the breech area to smooth out without chewing up the seals bad, but after a few thousand rounds it was good to go.
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I'll take a look and get at that right away, see if that could be the solution.
Thanks!
Parks
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The scope is not of very good quality to say the least and could very well be the problem but then so can hold sensitivity and torque.
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Well, I had high hopes for hiroller's suggestion, but no-go. Same deal. Thanks though, hiroller. Guess that unless someone else chimes in with another possible solution I'll just get a better scope and cross my fingers. Was planning on it anyway, just not right now. haha
Gonna order some new breech seals from Gamo too. If it doesn't need one now it sure looks like it will soon.
Thanks for y'all's help, and if anyone's had a similar experience with their Gamo, please let me know how you dealt with it.
Y'all have a great day, hear?
Parks
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And if it does, have you tried those?
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Vin, good idea, no sights. I'm putting my money on the scope. I have 4 Gamos, not one of them has the scope it came with. All went in the garbage, literally. Almost impossible to sight, if you were lucky enough to get it to sight, it never held. NOt sure which one is on the Cat, but I have a CFX, Shadow Fox, and 2 Whispers. The scopes all looked just about the same. And performed the same, not good. Parks, I know money's tight, but until you can get a decent scope, THAT DOES NOT CRAWL, and Tuna it, I don't know what kind of groups you'll get at 25 yards. That thing has a rough kick, you have a $10 scope on it. Hope it works out bro, been there, done that. Sent it to the Tuna and put a nice piece of glass on my Whisper and I cannot begin to tell you the difference. The CFX is not tuned, original trigger, but a sweet scope, shoots good. Good luck bro!!!!!
Joe
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Sure does have a rough kick, doesn't it?
Yeah, guys, I'm bettin' on the scope too. Breech seal is a little rough and needs replacing too.
I'll report back when I have it licked. Scope had to go eventually, anyway, and it really is a piece of junk so no loss.
Thanks for the comments, and wish me luck as I do you.
Thanks again, and have a good 'un,
Parks
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Apparently the average life expectancy of a gamo 4X32 scope is 2 weeks on a Big Cat.
Gamo/BSA made good on the scope for a $10 fee to cover return shipping. However, you will only get back another scope that will croak in 2 weeks. I wasted the $10 plus the $7 it took to send it back.
I suggest you just say "Darn!" and order a real scope that is air gun rated. I have 2 actual airgun BSA scopes that are OK so far and I just ordered a Barska airgun rated scope. I hate these cheap combo scopes!
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Hah! You hit it on the nailhead! Two weeks!
What a laugh!
Seeya!
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Fisherdude and Raindog, me three! My Big Cat is acting exactly the same way. It went from very accurate to all over the place in two weeks. I've currently super glued the mount screws to try next. Blue loctite didn't do it for me. I will re sight in tomorrow and keep you posted on my progress or lack thereof.
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Superglue? Wow. I envision archaeologists of the future speculating on how the sighting device on the primitive weapon could possibly be so firmly attached after 80,000 years in the bog. Gonna be able to get those screws out?
Anyway, yeah. Please keep me posted. I probably won't be springing for a new scope until next week, much to my son's chagrin. (and mine)
I'm looking at Leapers 3-9X32 Golden Image, Tasco Golden Antler, and a Bushnell Sportsman in a blister-pack from Walmart, as well as anything the good folks here might suggest in that general price range.
Seeya!
Parks
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I'm convinced, the Gamo scope has got to go. Got the Big Cat zeroed in nicely. Shot at cans for a while after that. Started missing the cans and went back to paper. The POI shifted 3 in left. I guess it's nothing that hasn't been posted here before. Too bad, I really the rifle itself, shoots nice groups with Crosman premium pointed pellets. The Crosman Premier Hollow Points did not shoot as well in this gun. Gamo sure is dropping the ball on this one by shipping a good rifle with a junk scope. RainDog I actually used thread lock on the mount screws which did hold this time and was able to remove the scope with no problems.
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Hey Parks, it can be frustrating when you do that process of elimination thing.You said you were getting good groups at 20 yds? But things went down hill at 25 yds?Did you continue to get good groups at 20 yds after the blow up at 25yds?If it still groups at 20 yds and less but goes all to heck at 25 yds and beyond then 20 yds may be the limit for good accuracy with the pellet you are shooting. Try a different pellet if that's the case to try to find one that will group at 25yds and beyond.Could your barrel be dirty and in need of cleaning?If you clean the barrel you might need several shots afterwards before it starts to group again.If it will no longer group at 20 yds and less then it may likely be your scope.Like CDT said it's not a high quality scope I guess.Good luck to you.
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Hey Progun. No, the ranging change was just circumstantial. Just one of those "It grouped well, and then it didn't" deals.
I read someone's suggestion on a similar thread yesterday afternoon, and tried flipping the Accushot mount bracket over. Y'know, a shot in the dark done without reason, since it had been fine previously. Mostly just done as a way to give myself time to think about the problem.
But, while trying to zero the scope it displayed this behavior: It would group for two or three shots pretty well, then go back to shooting all over the place. I'd try zeroing again, get another couple of hits right next to each other, then again shotgunning all over.
Something's shifting in the scope, wouldn't you think?
Anyway, good morning to ya... or evening... or whatever's appropriate. Good day?
Seeya,
Parks
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Took a second look at the scope off my Big Cat. Rattles like 3 or 4 pellets in a soup can! I agree with fisherdude, I won't spend $17.00 to fix this scope. Accumounts and a leapers 3x9 are looking good about now.
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I just got some Cabella pellets last night and tried them out, really nice looking pellets, I shoot at a 12" x 12" block of foam from 21 yards, I missed the dam block about half the time! I thought, oh well, the cheapo scope gave out just like RainDog's, but I shot some RWS pellets thru it and they were all around 1". The Cabellas are really hard to get into the barrel too, if I didn't have a callous on my thumb to push them in I would've had to use a golf tee. This is the first pellet my Varmit Hunter didn't like at all.
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Hey Parks, might be time to try another scope me thinks.
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Messed with it some more, and the scope began to develop a distinct rattle. Guess THIS problem got solved!
Thanks or everyone's help! I mentioned to my wife that I had gotten all these helpful tips and suggestions, and she was impressed.
And so am I.
See y'all,
Parks
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Jim, in regards to the Cabela pellets.....which ones are you talking about???? I have 2 whisper Deluxes, one is my son's, a CFX, and a Shadow Fox. We've gone through 3 tins of the hollow points. The ones that are dome shaped and look like they drilled out the tip. Nice looking, clean pellets. We never had a problem!!! We were shooting long range withem too and getting some really nice results. These are the only ones we've tried. I was going to take a ride up there and get a couple of more tins and try the other types. I think you just changed my mind. Either I got lucky, or you got unlucky. I'd really love to find out which, because we loved those pellets. Don't want to get 5 tins and wind up with a swollen thumb!!!!! If any pellet is that tight, don't use in the future. I'm not positive, but I think you can do some damage. Anyone?????????????
Joe
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Joe, it's the Super Point Hunting Pellet, I've never tried the other Cabellas. I tried them in my Tempest and P1 pistols, no problem fitting the breech, but didn't get a chance to test for accuracy. And I've heard the same thing, if they are really tight in the breech, they could cause damage and is another reason I gave up on them in the Varmit Hunter. I agree with you, very good looking pellets, almost like they were machined individually. But these just don't fit my Varmit Hunter at all. I shot the Gamo again tonight with the RWS samplers (all of them) and the patterns were nice, no flyers and most were around 1" CTC. I hope this helps.
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Jim, as a rule the only 'pointed' pellet I will use are the Tomahawks. Any other pointer has never grouped for me, Beeman, Gamo...........................but the Cabela hollow points were VERY nice in all 4 Gamos. Weird. Hey, mileage may vary bro!!!
Joe
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Tell ya what I did. I bought a big cat and put a grt trigger on it. Put the gamo scope in the original box and got a b-square one piece mount. Also got a barska 3-12x40 ao scope from opticsplanet.com for bout 55 bucks,free shipping. Set up at 25 yds. with either rws superdomes-8.3 gr. or beeman field target specials 8.8 grs. on no wind days will shoot 1 moa or less at 25 yds. on good days will shoot 1/2 moa or better( depends on how many buds i've had) B
PS got maybe 2000 rounds shot and scope has never been reset.
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Sure enough, I put a new Centerpoint 4-16X40 on the Big Cat and it's shootin' better than ever.
I feel like a teen with his first airgun! Hurray!
Then I remembered... I'm 47 years old and it's my SON'S airgun, not mine at all. haha
Thanks for all the help. You guys are really something.
Yours,
Parks
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Cool! I bought a 3x9 this weekend for when mine gives up, hopefully not soon.