shadow sport vs. big cat

[sshewins]

Being new to this, is there any difference between these two?  They look the same to my untrained eye.  Almost like the big cat got a bad reputation and the people at GAMO decided to change the name (based on what I've read on the reviews).  

Thanks in advance

[LPC]

same rifle, just the grip texture on the stocks are different......and a $50 difference.

[WhisperSniper]

Shadow comes with a 3-9x40 scope, Big Cat comes with a 4x32 scope.  Do you have a local Academy?  They sell the Shadow Sport for $159.  Pretty good deal I think. At times I wish I woulda just got the Shadow and spent the extra hundred difference it cost to step up to the Whisper on a tune....oh well.

Edit: My info was according to the Gamo website.  Looks like some members got theirs at Wal-Mart and it came with the 1 piece mount and 3-9x40 scope that comes on the shadow.  May not be a bad deal there.

[sshewins]

I thought it looked the same.  I can get the BC at dicks for $139 and the SS for $230 at cabelas.  I like the one peice mount though.  Thanks again.

[sshewins]

Any one know if you can buy the one peice scope mount seperately?

Ok, duh factor here.  I just looked at pyramid and they got one for $15.

[70GTvert]

Yes, the Wal-Mart Cat comes with the 3x9-40 scope and the 1  piece mount and is most likely the lowest price for this combo. About 9 months ago I got mine for somewhere between $129 and $139 or so. I have heard others say it is still in this ballpark. For another $40, you can order a wood 440 stock right from Gamo, I did. "Course, now you have an extra $40 in the stock, most likely and extra $30 in the trigger, although I have heard that Gamo has been refining their triggers lately, and if you use the included PBA pellets, most likely another $17 for a JM replacement spring quickly, or if not, after about 3000 to 4000  rounds, $20 for his lubes, another $12 or so for a new piston seal from JM when you see the factory one has issues, so look at more realistically a cost between $200 -$240 (or more, as odds are even that 3X9-40 scope will fall apart over time, mine did after about 5000 shoots).

Thinking that way, makes you wounder why bother at all? But I admit, I had soooo much fun, I did it ALL OVER AGAIN, but for less this time, starting out with a refurb Quest ( a Chinese clone of the basic Gamo movement in the Cat) @ a $79 starting point! WEEEEEE!

[sshewins]

I have no idea who or what JM is/are, but I see them mentioned alot here.  I browsed a little at pyramid, and they had a BC w/ a air venturi piston thing.  I'm guessing it replaces the spring.  Is something like that worth it?

[70GTvert]

I have often wondered that myself, and if what I have read about them can be trusted (most of it comes from the Pyramid site) I would suspect it would be.  Here is a link to the  JM (Jim Maccari) web site: http://www.airguns.citymax.com/page/page/251327.htm
If this is your first springer, the firing cycle of the Big Cat can discourage you, being that it is relatively harsh and with, at least in the recent past, a heavy trigger pull, people often complained about shotgun type groupings and how "twangy" they are. Groupings do get better, but it is like anything else, practice, practice, practice. But that firing cycle harshness can be reduced only via a few choices, one being that air ram, another via a tune up. Gene here can do one for you. If you have ever replaced the breaks on a car with drum breaks, you have more than enough mechanical ability to do a decent home tune to, there is lots posted out there, just do not skimp on a spring compressor (you may find that it was not needed after the fact, but you may find it was, and it is tough to have found that out with a spring embedded in say, an eye).
The gas ram has been said to increase speed, make it smoother, and overall, less likely to break and if accidentally kept cocked over extended periods of time, causing no damage. A spring would suffer from that. I would go with that and the wooden stock (hate plastic, yeah , it ain't terrible, and is weather proof and less prone to nicks, but I like a more traditional look) and perhaps the trigger replacement if needed.

[sshewins]

Thanks 70GT, I currently don't have anything, cept the borrowed daisy 880 that takes a minimum of 20 pumps and then has no grouping whatsoever.  Thinking I should probably head over to Dick's and get the cleaning kit made for a .177.  Hopefully that would help.

I'm liking the BC's plastics and that it is either LH or RH.  I'm RH and the boys a LH.  This way we can share it, well, at least in theory.  LOL

[70GTvert]

Nope, don't do that either, Air guns don't respond well to "cleaning kits". Best thing is to use some weed wacker string and pull through a couple of patches coated with Goo Gone, then with some dry until all comes out clean and dry. Those kits use materials that can damage the bore of air rifles and leave residuals that can com-bust, leading to detonation issues and possible seal and spring damage. Go here: http://www.airguntoys.com/tuna.htm and start reading. A lot basic stuff here that will help you out.

[sshewins]

Thanks 70GT, I currently don't have anything, cept the borrowed daisy 880 that takes a minimum of 20 pumps and then has no grouping whatsoever.  Thinking I should probably head over to Dick's and get the cleaning kit made for a .177.  Hopefully that would help.

I'm liking the BC's plastics and that it is either LH or RH.  I'm RH and the boys a LH.  This way we can share it, well, at least in theory.  LOL

[r60us]

Shadow sport :
Loudness  Med
Trigger Pull  3.74 lbs
Cocking Effort 30 lbs.
Weight  6.60 lbs
Overall Length  43.00"



Big Cat:
Loudness  Med to High
Trigger Pull 3.79 lbs
Cocking Effort 38 lbs.
Weight 6.10 lbs
Overall Length  43.30"

[TurboTech]

70GTvert - 2/26/2009  12:13 PM

I have often wondered that myself, and if what I have read about them can be trusted (most of it comes from the Pyramid site) I would suspect it would be.  Here is a link to the  JM (Jim Maccari) web site: http://www.airguns.citymax.com/page/page/251327.htm
If this is your first springer, the firing cycle of the Big Cat can discourage you, being that it is relatively harsh and with, at least in the recent past, a heavy trigger pull, people often complained about shotgun type groupings and how "twangy" they are. Groupings do get better, but it is like anything else, practice, practice, practice. But that firing cycle harshness can be reduced only via a few choices, one being that air ram, another via a tune up. Gene here can do one for you. If you have ever replaced the breaks on a car with drum breaks, you have more than enough mechanical ability to do a decent home tune to, there is lots posted out there, just do not skimp on a spring compressor (you may find that it was not needed after the fact, but you may find it was, and it is tough to have found that out with a spring embedded in say, an eye).
The gas ram has been said to increase speed, make it smoother, and overall, less likely to break and if accidentally kept cocked over extended periods of time, causing no damage. A spring would suffer from that. I would go with that and the wooden stock (hate plastic, yeah , it ain't terrible, and is weather proof and less prone to nicks, but I like a more traditional look) and perhaps the trigger replacement if needed.

If you don't mind could you tell me which parts you got from JM, I have a bigcat as well and would like to attempt to do what you did...I don't know which part numbers to get for the spring kit and seal....