Gamo's strange .22 cal policy!

To this day I simply do not understand the decision of Gamo to do away with the .22 caliber.  It must be the ONLY company to do so.  Even Crossman still has several .22's models running in the spring piston category.

It took me almost two years to track down and purchase a 220 hunter in .22  I am BEYOND thrilled both with the accuracy power and performance of this gun.  It is absolutely comparable to the Diana 34 in power and accuracy but much smaller and lighter weight which are two huge advantages over the Diana.  Having both there is no contest to me which I will shoot more.  I also have the Webley Xocet in .22 caliber and it is about 100 fps. slower ! than the Gamo 220 not to mention about $150 more expensive.

To add to the strangeness of Gamo they keep the Viper in .22 only because it needs to be this caliber in order to shoot the bird shot stuff with is totally usless.  I think only novices would purchase this gun.

As if that was not enough, all of a sudden it appears on the market the Gamo CFX combo in .22!! How? Why? When? Where?  I am glad it is being made but if the company can so easily go from one thing to another, why cut themselves off an entire market of people who worship the .22 and withdraw the caliber from all the hunting guns!!

The worst thing of all is that they boast of having the fastest gun in the world in the Hunter extreme (1660 fps  :emoticon: ) but is not offered in .22!

If anyone understands or knows the background for all these decisions I would love to know your opinion.

RC

[longislandhunter]

If you live across the "pond" I believe you can get all the GAMO .22 cal rifles you want.   I agree with you,,,, I wish they offered them here as I love the cal for hunting.  I was able to purchase a new GAMO 1250 Hurricane in .22 just before they stopped selling them.  I wouldn't trade that gun for anything,,,, what a powerhouse......

Jeff

[shadow]

From what I heard, everyone was jumping on the .177's and the .22's wern't moving all that well, less pellet selection etc. . Now this is just what I heard awhile back but then the .22 CFX showed up and we just had to have one and I'm glad that I got my hand's one one, GREAT Hunter!. I also have the Gamo Hunter 220.22, another GREAT! Hunter. Ed

[HNT5]

I wonder if it had anything to do with certain State/ County/City policies where ANY .22 pellet gun is considered a firearm? Maybe Gamo figured it would be easier to sell only .177 rifles so as to avoid any legal issues or lawsuits here in the US. I know that Gamo could say (and rightly so) that it is the buyers responsibilty to check all local laws before ordering and or possesing a air weapon. They (obviously) still make them for the rest of the World. It would be nice if they would reconsider the policy (or the reason behind it) rationaly. Gamo could be missing out of a part of the market share here by not offering any .22 cal rifles.  But I don't know what the Gamo Corporate bean counter, legal analyst, market research person, etc etc was thinking when they recommended that policy. I agree, it doesn't make any sense to me. But what do I know, I'm just a customer and if I want a .22 cal rifle, I spend it on something non-Gamo.
Regards
Nathan

[jct842]

last week I emailed them asking about getting a .22 for hunting.  I don't remember exactly how they answered but it was in poor english and gave me the impression they would rather have me buy from some one else.   I have a couple .177 springers, the rws45 has taken its share of tree rats and has wounded way too many.  A .22 co2 will out shoot it any day of the week and almost never has a cripple.  I have not got an answer from mike in iowa yet about one of his springers.  I do intend to have a decent .22 spring gun soon.  I have been shooting the rws lately at targets and with the JM spring it is 100% better that it ever was when new. After I put it in I had all but wrote it off.  I first tried to go to uremex for parts and all they wanted was for me to send them my gun.   I was P.O.ed, put in a JM spring and just let it sit.  I have no love for companies that tell me what they want me to do.  John

[Gene_SC]

The Reason why:  Some call them Bean Counters.. The difference in volume is tremendous. The .177 sales numbers tell the story. And you will find the same numbers with other manufacturers. The sales here in the US for .22's was a losing battle. You fingered that 80 percent or more people just use air rifles for target shooting around there back yards etc. Part of the sales are parents buying there kids air guns and most of them will just by a .177 because they think they are less dangerous.. My thoughts are on demand. The bigger the air gun community gets there will be more demand for .22 air rifles. And Gamo still make the .22's for Europe. And hopefully the Liberals won't pass any laws that outlaw .22 air rifles in the future. I hope the NRA will help support our constitutional laws about bearing arms. I am a member and make regular contributions.

Gene

[brokenarrowjbe]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/thread/1201146288/FS-+Gamo+Black+Shadow+Supreme+.22++w-+scope
here is one, it is tempting..... the wife ..... the need for school supplies..... help, send winning lottery #'s for saturday john

[Jaymo]

Federal law prohibits any government entity from classifying air guns, muzzle loaders, bows, crossbows, or wrist rockets as firearms.
I don't understand the trend either. Almost half of my airguns are .22. I have 7 .177s and 6 .22s, soon to be 7 .22s. If the trend continues, I will get a QB78 deluxe .22 (tuned by mike), a TF89, a Benjamin-Sheridan 392,  Benji pump and CO2 .22 pistols, a Crosman 2240 or 2250, and if I'm really lucky, an Air Force Condor .22.
Of course, there are more .177s that I want, also I just prefer the .22 because it's more powerful for hunting, and the pellets are easier to handle with my thick fingers, especially when they're cold and nearly numb.

[Splash]

Alittle proud of it,but it's another .22 Gamo option besides the CFX.

http://jgairguns.biz/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7965

Mike

[Gene_SC]

I bought a new Gamo Black Shadow Supreme .22 over a year ago. Very nice shooter with lots of punch..

Gene

Well, I still think that Gamo is missing the boat big time.  I understand that .177 sell more but what could it hurt to simply offer both?  I am no business guru but it seems to me that all markets are divided and that the more variety you bring to the table the better you are at making money.  I don't believe I am the only .22 nut.  Up until last month I had SIX .22 caliber rifles which are non Gamo and two gamo .177 because it is all they carry.  Had they carried the .22s I would also have just about every Gamo model in .22 they could thow at me especially their big beast. I finally found a 220 in .22 and it is what I shoot the most because of its light weight, easy cocking and relative weight to power ratio.

[davee1]

Now of course Gene...I just have to ask....where did you get that? I would like to have one of those to compliment my CFX .22.

[Splash]

There was onein the yellow classifieds a few days ago, don't know if it's still there.

Mike

[Gene_SC]

Dave, I think I bought it off of Gun Broker. The .22's were falling off fast and I found a brand new on for under $150.00. That was a deal. It had a muzzle brake, with the riser on the top of action for scope. Almost like a Gamo 440 but with a syn. stock and no iron sights.. In fact I probably do not have 500 pellets through it since it was tuned.

Gene

[Splash]

Gene, you shouldn't starve your girls like that. I know you like them light, but that's just down right abuse. Send her to me and I'll fatten her up for ya,hehe.

Mike