old school shadow 1000 blues...

[lillysdad621]

I got a 2004 shadow (sticker edition) which must have been a serial killer on it's past life. It is dead on accurate out to 45 yards and it drops squirrels like the plague. when i bought it it shot 7.9 at 890 or so, and then shot the 7.0 basic at 935ish... well i happened to chrony it out of curiosity to see where it had settled and now i am shooting both pellets at 790 and 870 respectively. what gives? i don't know what could have caused this drop, but should i be concerned? I mean, is a disgustingly accurate and deadly rifle, a bit twangy but not much. is it worth it to gas ram it and giving it a trigger? i got better rifles that i actually shoot less just because i know that the gamo will get the job done. does anyone experienced this gradual, significant drop in pellet speed out of their gamos? what causes it? how do you cure it and avoid this happening again? any input is appreciated. oh yeah... i got like 1000 shots thru it.

[tjk]

Even though it only has 1000 or so rounds through it,...A five year old spring will weaken over time I would think. But 790 with 7.9 pellets is still a respectable velocity,....besides,...if it still shoots, and has deadly accuracy,...who cares what the FPS's are!!!! Remember the old adage,...if it ain't broke,...don't fix it!!!! If you drop a new spring in it,...who knows how it may effect the accuracy. I'd leave it alone until the spring snaps,..or it continues to drop in velocity at a rapid rate. 600 would be my "red-flag" alert to replace the spring and seal. Just my thoughts, tjk

[daved]

I mostly agree with TJ, although my velocity floor would be quite a bit higher, around 800 fps with a CPL.  Try the tissue test.  Load it, lay a Kleenex over the breech and shoot it.  If the Kleenex gets blown off or even moves significantly, you may just need a new breech seal.  That's one of the few parts available from Gamo, around $10 for a 3 pack, IIRC.  With only 1000 pellets through it, I wouldn't expect the spring to be the problem, although it's quite possible the piston seal is going.  Gamo leaves lots of sharp edges behind when they assemble these things, and it's very common for the piston seal to be damaged.  BTW, I wouldn't bother with the gas ram, but I'd sure get a gold trigger for it.  Good luck.

Dave

[longislandhunter]

I agree, if it's accurate and still getting the job done then just leave it alone.  790 FPS isn't  that bad and besides, I'd rather have a rifle shooting 790 that's dead on accurate than a rifle shooting high 900's that can't shoot a group....  I'd just leave it........

Matter of fact I have 3 of the older version GAMO Shadows (I don't like the look of the newer ones) ,,,,, 2 of them shoot CPL's in the low 900's  ........ the third one shoots CPL's around 780 ,,, but it's so accurate I don't care.  I use it as a "backyard" gun.  Chrony results on the gun show it to be extremely consistent with a variation of only 3-5 fps difference and like I said it's dead on accurate.  The rifle has been shooting like that ever since I bought it new, I tested the breach seal and it's fine,,,, maybe it's just got a weak spring, but I don't care, I like it the way it is.....  

Jeff

[lillysdad621]

well, i was going to leave it be, but a chrony was available again so like an a$$ i run it through... with daisy wadcutters (7. it did a best of 756fps... very depressing. I brought it home, sat at the kitchen table and served up a shot of Southern Comfort for the two of us; silently, i started to ask myself if it was worth it to respring it, or ram it, a trigger,etc...after all is just a shadow. All of the sudden memories of glorious shots came rushing back, mental images and replays of past forays into the woods and taking shots that common sense (if i had any...) would make you relegate to the "it's not happening, bud..." drawer. This little rifle has done me good... So this morning i dropped it off at Cobra Airgun, and  a Venturi gasram is being installed as well as a trigger and a tune. To top it off, so as to not miss the face of the next squirrel that finds itself staring down my barrel, it also got a Nikko Stirling 3-10x42 nighteater... I am picking it up tomorrow... Seems like tomorrow i am working half a day... I can't wait. The little shadow deserved it!

[Gene_SC]

You may be sorry Gabe. You were given some good information above by some very knowledgeable members..

[lillysdad621]

Guys... i apologize if i offended you by not taking your advise. I can only justify it by saying that the gamo has always had a special spot in my heart... It was my first breakbarrel high power rifle. I have a hard time just accepting that 750 with a lightish weight pellet is ok... accurate or not. I got a 2100 pumper that shoots consistently at 735 fps on 10 pumps...my gamo has always been regarded as more "powerful" than the 2100. Also it does not help to know other shadows and whispers and cfx shooting 8.8 gr fts at over 830 fps...  Again. not searching for numbers, but a gun i can trust to be humane at long ranges. So lets hope i can see 800+ consistent with 7.9gr... or seeing high 800i in 7.8 guise... sorry gene...

[Big_Bill]

Well Gabe,

Let us know how you like her after you shoot her a bit !

Good Luck !

Bill

[longislandhunter]

Hey Gabe,,,

No need to apologize......   noone is offended  

It's your gun and you are the one that has to be happy with it.  A couple of members gave you their opinion, myself included, but it was just that.... our opinions....  

You did the right thing because you did what you felt was right for your rifle....    

Let us know how it turns out..  

Jeff

[geewhiz380]

clean out the barrel with moly paste and put some patches through her cause it might be that time if u r shootin her alot to unseason her a little .definitly get a grt3 trigger from cdt or gene cause those triggers r sweet and if your rifle is accurate check it once the trigger is in her .you will be the tiger woods in rifles .jorge

[daved]

Ditto to what Jeff said, you gotta do what feels right for you and your rifle.  I put a gas ram in a CFX I used to have, back when the only choice was Theoben.  Ended up spending as much or more for the overhaul as the rifle cost, but I was happy with it.  Keep us posted.

Dave

[lillysdad621]

shot the gamo at the shop... WOW... what a difference. It is quieter, smoother, and th trigger is heaven.chrony numbers... well... shot kodiaks at 720, then down to 668... then another one at 577, then back up to 711... fps are everywhere. we are tearing into her again. think is th seal, as soon as she is back together,i'll post more info. But just how different she is shooting, it was definitely worth it. it is solid...

[lillysdad621]

end of the odyssey... we split the gun apart again and finally saw that there were 2 large gauges in the upper side of the seal. replaced it with another original gamo parts and went back to the chrony... try kodiacs at 830 fps!!! then i got a hold of some 8.4 gr pellets... 870 fps!!!... then good old cpls... 900fps!!! I am ecstatic! it is solid and the report is one decisive thud. tried grouping... a bit difficult as the gun became a bit more hold sensitive. but i was stacking them in a 1/2 inch hole from 15 yards standing unsupported... the trigger breaks even and crisp. took her out last night and was able to dispatch 2 birds of medium size at 50 yards using a medium weight pellet (7.6 gr) and was definitely shooting more effectively. It has graduated to be a serious hunter. I'll try crow magnums tomorrow, lets pray that she likes them as they would be perfect for that application. I appreciate your input guys... this forum has being a great tool to increase the enjoyment of our sport. once again, thanks for everyone's support.