Well I've figured out what all of the fuss is about a $74 Gamo S1K now. I bought it having never shot one, but after hearing everyone rave about what a great deal they are, and because I wanted another springer. Today I got a chance to shoot it a bit in my backyard mini range(13 yards). I don't have a huge assortment of .177 pellets as I really prefer .22 (easier loading for tired hands), so I grabbed a 1/4 full tin of Gamo spire tipped things...uhm, not magnums, I dunno the pointed ones..I had them laying around my garage for ages, so it was time to use 'em up. First thing I noticed on this thing is the size and weight. I'm a bit of a stock snob, so the synthetic stock doesn't do much for me, although I have to say the shape is pretty comfy. Would like to replace the buttpad with something a little softer and adjustable, I shoot with the gun a little high on my shoulder (no jokes about my big melon head guys, gals!). The overall size and weight is very appealing to me though. Seems to shoot nearly as hard as my old B30, but a good 2+ pounds lighter, a definate plus when sighting in for a long time...B30 got really heavy after awhile, especially with big glass...I think it weighed close to 11 pounds. Cocking effort, is not bad at all. I shot 100 rounds or so and my bum shoulder isn't really bugging me...maybe tomorrow it will:) I think the barrel lockup is pretty tight when it's all closed up, but not bad to break open when loading, I think this is part of why the fatigue on my shoulder is ok. My RWS M92 has less spring, but breaking the barrel open can be a little tough..not so with the S1K. On with the shootin'! I haven't mounted a scope on it yet, and might not for awhile. I find the fiber optic sights pretty darned nice for a $74 gun. So I set out my trap, and some tomato cans, no paper yet, I just wanted to see how she handles. Shot one, can knocked down! Shot 2, can knocked down! Pretty good since I didn't even set the sights:) Keep shooting and killing the cans shot after shot. When I was walking out to the cans I saw a little 3/4" x 1 1/2" piece of cedar that my dog probably picked up in my garage and took out in the yard to knaw on. So I picked it up, set it on top of one of my tomato cans, went back to my battle station, cocked, loaded, aimed my fiber optic sights, and wham! First shoot and the little piece of wood went flying...pretty good at 13 yards, open( but still never sighted in) sights offhand. I think I got a winner! I let my 9 year old shoot it a bit, I had to load for him, but although it has too much LOP for a kid his size, he was still managing to shoulder it and hit the cans almost everytime. It's kinda odd seeing a 100 pound kid shoulder a gun that size and shoot fairly decently.
All in all I am very pleased with my purchase, I think it's a keeper! Next step will be a good lube tune and some work on that trigger, which I have to say is a very stiff trigger, but mine seems to be fairly predictable at least. Also, mine has a little metal plate screwed into the scope groove area...I assume this is supposed to be a scope stop, but it doesn't look any thing like what I've seen posted around the forums...just a plate with a screw through it, nothing else. Anyone else got one like that?
Off to change a smelly diaper, baby son is waiting...
Dan
