Are "Chamber Mates" Necessary ?

[Cav]

Hello everyone, had trouble finding a site to ask this, hope I chose the right one. Gamo's technical support is not available for some reason....

Anyway I just bought a Shadow Express and I already have two incredibly stupid questions to ask....  1. I hesitate to load my 22.cal daisy pellets into the chamber without a chamber mate as depicted in the manual and box.  They didn't have them at the wal-mart where I purchased the gun nor (obviously) did one come in the sealed box.    2. Is it normal for the air shotgun shells to crack at the spot where it's hit by the backplate?

Edit: Also was this gun discontinued or something? Because google is pulling up lots of "Shadow 1000" and "Viper Express" info instead of the Shadow Express which I own.

[Splash]

I've never heard of a Shadow Express, but if it's the same as a Viper Express, return it for a refund, you'll be glad you did. The Viper Express has a nonrifled barrel, so pellets will not shoot straight and the shotshells are no good past 20ft. That's just my opinion, but I think you would be much happier with something else.
Mike

[Cav]

Oh really now, In order to dual as an "air shotgun" the barrel needs to be smooth correct? In that case I'll consider the purchase worth it for that function alone, It's been fun watching the buck shot rip through boxes, The manual does mention it's for medium to close range and I've found it to be pretty accurate within that range.

 Since my first question still stands I haven't even tried pellets yet.

[Splash]

I guess you didn't read my reply very well, I said I have never heard of the Shadow Express, only the Viper Express. All of my opinions were based on the Viper Express, but if your happy shooting $7.50-$12per 25 shotshells at cardboard boxes then have fun and enjoy. Contact Gamo and they should get you the part.
Mike

[Cav]

Well when you put it that way, is the big cat any better?

[Splash]

The Big Cat is a good rifle, but I don't really care fore the plastic covered barrel, that's just me. About the best deal on a Gamo product is the 440 from Natchess for $99, same power plant as the BC, but a metal barrel and wood stock. I'm not sure if they still make them, but I used to get Rat Shot for a .22 rimfire, $1-$2 per 50 and those were fun to shoot. Same concept as the shotshells, but enough power to actually use for something.
Mike

[CharlieDaTuna]

Cav... you don't have or own  a Shadow Express shotgun. There was no Shadow Express made that I'm aware of  (that's why it doesn't come up on a search) and I've worked on just about every Gamo made in the later years productions. But I suppose that if you like making itty bitty holes at 10 feet or so and that lights your fuse, that's great and and I guess you got a good deal.   But that's about all it's good for. The Viper Express was one of the biggest flops that Gamo ever made in most peoples opinion. Of course, it does make them itty bitty holes, if your close enough, that them other guns don't make ifn' yer into making itty bitty holes.  And making them itty bitty holes gets to be expensive.  :0

[preez]

Shadow Express is a Walmart Special, I have seen them @ my local store. It does what Viper Express does. Cav, do yourself a favor and return it for a Big Cat that yoour store most likely carry.

chris

[Cav]

Ok thanks for the help everyone, should have come here first.

One last question, Is the big cat just as loud? For that matter are all break barrel guns really loud?

[preez]

A lot fo Gamos are loud due to sloppy spring fit to the guide. If you want to stick with Gamo I highly reccommend a tuneand trigger by CharlieDaTuna. If you want to go another route I can't reccommend the chinese bam B-26 enough. It's a great rifle at a great price. $140 for a lube tuned and sorted out from Mike Melick.

hope  this helps

chris

[SGTMEATSAUCE]

Top consistent shooters in most 1000fps rifles are pellets in the 7.9-8.5 range, the sweet spot is suppose to be around 8.2-8.3g. Try RWS superdomes (8.3g) these work work well and so do Crosman Premier hp's(7.9g), Gamo Hunters(8.3g) and Rockets(9.6g or 8.2g different sites says different, nothing on the can) and Predators(8.10). Except for Gamo's alot of rifles like their own brand of pellets, where as the chamber and pellet are sized according to manufacturers specificatons.

[davee1]

I bought a Shadow Express at Walmart about two weeks ago. I knew that it had a smooth bore, but I bought it just for something to fool around with. This is a brand new model that is just now showing up in a few places. They are about ~150 bucks at Walmart. ~180 bucks at Pyramyd.

At 20 yards with pellets this gun is reasonably accurate, anything beyond that gets worse. The shotshells are expensive, so I reuse the plastic casings and load my own shot. The stock shotshells are great for taking out gophers or bumblebees, but you have to be close like within ~10ft, so that the shot charge is still reasonably close together. Wasp nests are fun too but you better shoot n run.

My chamber mate came in a little sealed bag in the box. You can also buy them on the Gamo site.

[Randino]

I think its a Walmart version of the Viper Express. It has a stock that looks like a shadow or bigcat, and the same shotgun effect of the viper express. I was looking at it in walmart a few days ago, and it's set at $150 bucks. I'm debating if the 22 smooth bore feature would justify it if I don't use the shot shells. The Viper express is to expensive, but this is about my range.

[VINNY]

There is a Shadow Express on Gamos site. Its under the Viper section.