viper Express

[RatPatrol]

After this weekend, I love mine.
Squirrels chewed a hole in the side of my house and moved in...no way to get at them.
Hearing them chewing and running around has been driving me nuts.
Long story short, shot one in the house (came down thru a hole for plumbing and got stuck in my closet.)
No holes in the drywall (blood on some coats, though)
Got the other one yesterday...shot him when he was coming out of the hole....ventilated my downspout a bit but thats ok.

Both clean kills...dead before they hit the ground.

Mine likes the Daisy wadcutters as well...pretty accurate (a beer can at 30 yards)

I'd recommend one if they were cheaper, but....

Frank

I got one for Chipmunks and tree rats, 2 tree rats, 8 chippers, 2 moles, 2 mice. this summer. Good for suburban close shots with shells and I hit cans at 20 yards with crowmags . I did get a Beeman RS 3 as now I am hooked and waiting for UPS  today for a 850 Hammerli

[jrinehart]

I like mine as well.  with the shot shells I have killed small pest birds tearing up my house.  and the shot did not mess up the house.  My wife shot 2 chimney sweeps out of the air with it.  10 yrd max on small pests.  with the pellet insert I have taken tree rats at 20 yrds.  Plenty of power for that.  I agree with one of the other posts, that if you accept the gun for what it is and not expect a 12 ga.  you will be happy with it.    It is pretty accurate with a pellet if you shoot it like a shotgun.  (meaning point at your target dont aim)

[Evo|ve_S|66]

I used to own a Viper Express, and that being said....I was not thrilled with it in the accuracy department. I mean sure it got a 1inch group at 20 or so yards, but that wouldn't get me all jumpy. It's probably due to the fact that it's a smooth bore, being as that it was intended to use the special "shot shells" that GAMO manufactures. Which is a nice feature, but pretty pricey if you intend to use the shot gun feature of the rifle more than the .22 pellet.....and goodluck aiming with the bead sight if your using pellets. Not a rifle that is worth the buck in my book, however you can by all means get the somewhat downgraded version of it which is the "Shadow Express". Same thing from what I can see, just different stock. You can get one at Wally world for like $150 or something. Anyway, that's just my take on it =]

-Jarred

[lillysdad621]

I agree... and that is the one i have. the viper express is overpriced. And 1 inch groups at 20 yards witha bead is awesome. as a pest control tool is perfect. I shoot pellets to shells on a 20:1 ratio. I like how it shoots pellets due to the gaping holes that it leaves on racoons or opossums...

[Evo|ve_S|66]

I guess, but that's because I cheated in using a rifle table. Haha, I usually use my rifles open handed for target shooting =] All in all, if I wanted a .22 that was cheap and packs a punch. Then I would for sure look at the Quest 800 -- comes with a wood stock

-Jarred

[RatPatrol]

Just a tip...for the people who like the VE.
The little holes in the sides of the recoil pad will hold some shells and the adapter perfectly...
great for the grab-n-go-there's another squirrel in the house-type scenario.
 

[VINNY]

Nice to know. Thank you!

[pindog2000]

the viper express is garbage stay away u want a good gun get a ruger blackhawk/airhawk and save ur money on this gimmick.

[lillysdad621]

and I imagine that your opinion is based in years of comparison??? my gamo shottie got 2 raccoons notched on it's stock, both hit the deck really dead... plus is a great bird pest control gun... give it a shot, dont just dismiss it because is a smoothbore. Shoot one, beat the crap of a paint can with it, use it for pest control (it will hit a can size critter at 30 yards ALL DAY LONG and hit it real hard. Try chasing a squirrel thru tree tops with a Ruger airhawk... the bead on the shottie allows you to do that and then some... it is also really quiet...

[pindog2000]

seems like a big gimmick

[airiscool]

"seems like a big gimmick"

Friend of mine throught the same thing about 22 rat shot when he was young.... until he saw what his 12 ga did to the inside of a barn AFTER hitting the rat . About half the rat went out the hole, the other half became Rat paint that his old man made him clean off the barn wall !!!!

The Viper Exp. is just a specialized tool for pest control, not a sales gimmic.

Paul.

[lillysdad621]

well said! I don't know if Gamo meant it as such, but it is a fun little rifle that will give you years of service and wont require a specialized hold, or pellet, or scope... it just shoots close enough to be effective with the pellets and is fun to drill many holes on cans standing at about 10/15 yards.... I doubt my wife will have the time or inclination to spend days trying to make "one hole groups" with the Talon, or a R7... But she sure gets a huge grin when she lifts the barrel of the shottie, points it at a soup can and sends it flying.... no effort, just rewarding fun. I can't believe people are still trying to compare the express with a rifle... the express can be had for about 150 dollars, which is not a lot in a world of 1000 dollars PCPs.
PS. it is also the least amount of maintenance required of any airgun i own... and the one that sits right next to the kitchen door (ok... there is also a sheridan there... hey , not all tree rats are sitting within 15 yards...lol)

[dk1677]

Have a tree rat I took today in the hunting gate,  its very good at close shots