Author Topic: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review  (Read 10187 times)

Offline bwgstock

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Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« on: February 19, 2008, 09:08:51 AM »
Received yesterday the two refurbished Gamo 890s I order from Cabela's a few days ago. This afternoon I tested one of the guns and thought some of you may be interested in what I found. First, both guns show some marks on the wood, metal, etc., as one should expect from a refurbished gun. If one is interested in a showpiece gun, refurbished is not the way to go. Included are a few images of the gun. Generally speaking it looks good to me with a few scratches here and there which are of minor importance.

http://www.bwgriffin.com/airguns/gamo890/gamo890a.jpg

http://www.bwgriffin.com/airguns/gamo890/gamo890b.jpg

The 890 appears to be a Gamo 440 with the sights removed and a plastic muzzle break added. Cabela's on-line advertisement/listing for this gun was unclear about which scope came with the rifle. Both 890s I received came with BSA 3-12x50 adjustable objective scopes. The one I used today seems to be nice, relatively clear, and certainly very functional across the entire range of adjustment from 3 to 12 magnification. The scope comes with screw-in lens covers. This was a very nice bonus because Cabela advertised earlier a fixed magnification scope for this gun. So I was surprised and pleased with the 3-12x50 scope.

To mount this scope, the 890 included high, two-piece mounts. While the scope is nice, these mounts should be replaced with something that will stay put on the scope rail. I'll be ordering a one-piece high scope mount in the near future. Since the BSA scope has a 50mm lens, high mounts are required. I tried Accushot medium mounts and they did not provide enough clearance for the objective lens of the scope to be adjusted. Also, it appears this particular 890 may have some "barrel droop" whereas my 440 did not -- I'll have to check this further with a better mount. Below is a picture showing a problem with the scope mounts; note movement backwards. You may also notice I shimmed the rear mount with paper to correct for the "barrel droop" issue.

http://www.bwgriffin.com/airguns/gamo890/gamo890scopemovement.jpg

For me the more important point is the functioning of the gun, and that I can report is well for the one I tried today. I shot a total of about 70 pellet today (Crosman Premier Hollow-point 7.9gr). The last 25 or so shots were over a chronograph. The 20 shots I recorded show these FPS:

918
934
936
927
931
939
919
924
917
935
915
937
927
931
925
935
928
913
926
925

Mean (average) FPS = 927
standard deviation = 7.74
FPE = 15.08
Max FPS = 939
Min FPS = 913

As a comparison, my Gamo 440 from Natchezss (also $99) had demonstrated these figures:

Mean FPS = 930.71
Standard deviation = 9.86
FPE = 15.20
Max = 943
Min = 921

The results, as one can see, are very similar. To give some indication of accuracy, I shot 10 hollow-point pellets at 20 yards and the results are shown below. First let me state that I am not an accurate shot compared to a number of folks on this forum. Some report shooting 2" targets at 50 yards and hitting them regularly. I cannot see a 2" target at 50 yards, even with a nice scope. So while accuracy is relative for everyone, I am very pleased with the grouping of the shots below especially considering these represent about the 35th to 45th shot fired from this gun by me.  You can see two fliers in the grouping. The far left resulted, I think, from movement by me. The upper shot on target was the first shot I took at the target and my bearings may have been off somewhat for the first shot. In short, the fliers could be due to the gun, the pellets, or most likely me.  

http://www.bwgriffin.com/airguns/gamo890/gamo890shotgroup.jpg

Overall, if one is looking for a solid .177 rifle, it appears the $99 refurbished Gamo 890 from Cabela's with the BSA 3-12x50 scope is an excellent buy. The scope alone is half, or more, the cost of this gun.
Bryan G.

Offline melloroadman

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Re: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2008, 09:33:23 AM »
You might be able to use the two piece rings you have if you try a procedure i was shown years ago. I did note that for whatever the reason you had the nut side of the mounts on the oppoiste side of the rifle than what is normal . You might try and turn them around i dont know if that will help with the elevation problem or not but it might be worth a try . The procedure iam talking about amounts to placeing a cooper penny in the screw slot on the mount nut and grabing it with pliers parrelly and tightening untill you see the penny  begaining to bend this is tight. I have never had a scope move when tightened this way and i only use 2 piece mounts with the screw slots in the nuts as yours has. This type of nut exserts a lot of presure over a larg area and aids in clamping force . Marvin

Offline shadow

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RE: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2008, 09:36:09 AM »
Look's like you got a great referb Bryan. :)  Number's look good also and from the pic's your gal is in real great shape. Keep us posted on her performence. Ed
I airgun hunt therefore I am... };)  {SHADOWS Tunes & Camo}  airguncamo@yahoo.com

Offline targetdriver

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RE: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2008, 12:05:04 PM »
Very nice report Bryan! Well done, bravo! Had I known they were coming with those BSA's I might have snagged one myself.

Mike

Offline bwgstock

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RE: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2008, 03:24:01 AM »
Melloroadman -- thanks for the tip, I may try that with the scope stop that came with it (although the stop is plastic, so I'm not sure it will hold). I think the best option will be to get a one-piece mount.

Targetdriver -- if you are interested, I think Cabelas still has some in the bargain cave:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0039518228179a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_BC&returnPage=cave_search1.jsp&QueryText=gamo+890&N=61&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Ntt=gamo+890&noImage=0
Bryan G.

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RE: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2008, 06:01:19 AM »
Those pics show a nice looking gun, refurbished or not.  Actually, I refurbed an old Diana stock because the cheezy factory finish had scratches.  Scoured with OOOO steel wool and stained with dark walnut color, it looks great, and was an easy project for just a few bucks.

BTW, what's the inner surface of that muzzle brake like?  Do you figure it has any noise reduction capacity?

Offline bwgstock

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RE: Cabela's Refurbished Gamo 890 ($99.88) Review
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 08:01:33 AM »
Quote
Otto - 2/23/2008  2:01 PM

BTW, what's the inner surface of that muzzle brake like?  Do you figure it has any noise reduction capacity?


It's just a plastic cocking handle as far as I can determine -- no noise suppression. I do like the grip for cocking.
Bryan G.