Gamo .177 CFX Combo First Impressions...

[r1derbike]

I like the BSA AO scope that came with it.  Trigger really "cheapens" the feel of this rifle.  Have GTRIII on the way from Charlie.  First shot spewed a nice puff of white smoke.  Prolly should have swabbed the barrel first.  Subsequent shots were "fresh as the morning dew" clean. The spring seems a tad too buzzy/twangy for my tastes.  This is the first "springer" I've owned, and hopefully I'll get used to the twang, or it will get better with age?

The front optic sight was dislodged on arrival, floating in the plastic bag.  The box had a picture of a break-barrel Gamo carbine on it, and I thought, "oh crap" they shipped the wrong rifle, until I opened it.  Is this the normal box they ship all guns in?

The rear inch of the scope rails look like someone had a hard time getting something on or off of it.  Possibly a jig for alignment, at the factory?

The rifle was spotless, and sealed, so it wasn't used.

It took me several shots to get used to the rotary block, but really like it now.  Lay the pellet in the channel, scoot forward with a fingernail, and all is good.  Very easy to do.

Straight-up, I don't like the look of the so-called muzzle brake (if it actually is one).  Maybe it's the plastic, but it just doesn't do it for me.  I'm sure  it makes the barrel/cocking lever ends blend together, but I can't help staring at it, like looking at a hairy wart, or something worse... :-}

I thought the cocking effort was easy.  If it's 35 lbs., it doesn't feel like it.

Jury's still out on the synthetic stock, but it's easy to hold, and does lend an air of "means business" to the rifle.

I am really surprised that the build quality of the rifle far exceeded my expectations.  It impressed me so much, that I ordered a .22 CFX Combo too!

So...coupla' quirks that ultimately I'll learn to live with, and the rifle rates an 8 out of 10, in my hands.

Charles

[daved]

You must have gotten the 2-7x32 scope, not a bad peice of glass.  That's what my old CFX came with, and what it's wearing now, but it belongs to my little brother now.  I went to bigger glasss, mostly to stretch my shooting time.  A 44mm vs. 32mm is a lot brighter, longer.

The spring buzz/twang will ease up some as it breaks in, but to make it go away will require a tear down and tune.  Worth doing, but most guys like to shoot them a bit first.

I think all the Gamo boxes have a Shadow on them, the CFX may be their flagship model, but I think the Shadow was the biggest seller.

The rotary breech is a nice system once you get used to it,but be careful.  If the pellet doesn't make it all the way into the barrel, you can squish or shave the pellet skirt.  At best, it screws up accuracy, at worst, it can damage the breech seal.

Don' like the muzzle brake either, and no, it's not really a brake, just cosmetic and a place to put the catch for the cocking lever.  I never thought the cocking effort was as heavy as they say, either.

Don't know if you realize it, but the synthetic stock is hollow.  Adding some weight to the butt can make a big difference in the way the rifle feels.  I put a pound of Duct Seal in mine, it really improves the balance.

These really are excellent guns for the price, I just got one of the .22's.  Don't know what you're using for pellets, but mine liked Superdomes, JSB Exacts, and JSB Match Diablolos.  Later.

Dave

[shadow]

Well it sound's like everyone including myself is liking the CFX. I had the .177, gave it to dad and got myself the.22. A lttle memory foam in the hollow butt will tame her some and I'm working on a alumunum muzz brake with a channel to hold the cocking arm myself. Congrat's on your new shooter. Ed

[r1derbike]

Thanks for all the info, guys.  I liked the gun so much, I ordered the .22 the same day!

Oh! BTW.  The .177 has an '04 date code on it.  Is this rifle a "clearance" factory rifle? It just seems odd that a rifle made 3 years ago, is just now coming to market?

Must be why they are appearing in the U.S. now? We Americans get the special "clearance" rifles?:emoticon:

Charles

My newly-acquired CFX also has an 04 date and it was sold 2 years ago.  I've had 2 other CFX's and they both had an 06 date.  This current one has the chrome plated loading block, and the chamber is correctly aligned so the pellet drops in and needs no manipulating to seat it.  The other 2 were slightly misaligned.
All other things being equal, I think we got the better end of the manufacturing date deal.

Bob

[r1derbike]

Good to hear, Bob.  My rotary block is also chromed or polished.  My .22 CFX should be here in a few days.  An interesting development...my wife has never shot a scoped rifle before, and she took to the .177 CFX immediately.  She loves that rifle.  I ordered the .22 to target shoot with her, although she has the better rifle (taken over the .177) for targeting.

Anyway, I'll let her use it for a while.  It has a cocking issue (scraping sound) that needs to really show its ugly head.  I suspect a spring problem, but the gun still shoots great and hard, if a bit noisy.

Charles