Gamo Help Requested

[RainDog]

Well, sure enough... after posting on another thread that the Big Cat was reasonably accurate, I take it to re-sight from 20 to 25 meters, and my groups were all over the place. Bad. I'm talking three inch groups. Fiddled with elevation and windage or a while, looked for any signs of scope creep, removed the scope and locked it back into its accushot one-piece mount, and tried again. Groups like a shotgun.

 Now, though I'd gotten the new mount and the GRT trigger, this is the original scope that came in the box.

 Think it kicked the bucket on me? I noticed during the first few shots after buying it that the breech seal looked a little chewed up, but didn't seem to be leaking and still doesn't. It's not any worse looking than it was either, and it was no problem back then.

 Any ideas? Nothing sounds loose in the scope when shaken. Are there other possible problems I should be considering, or should I just buy a new scope?

  After two vacations and my son's birthday this summer I'd sure like to resolve this myself. Can't really afford to be sending it off for someone to diagnose.

 Any thoughts would surely be appreciated!

 Thanks a lot,
 Parks

[Big_Bill]

Well Parks,

I can't tell if you changed your pellets, or if you opened a new tin, or if you are now shooting off of a harder rest, or if your shooting off a rest at all Or the make of the scope your using, and if it is airgun rated

So if nothing has changed since you were happy with your groups, and you have checked to see if the screws holding the rifle to the stock havent worked loose, it is most probably your scope !

I hope this helps

Bill

[RainDog]

Okay, nothing changed to my knowledge. Same rest, pellets, same everything including the hot, miserable weather we're having.  The scope is the 25 dollar Gamo branded 4X32 that comes with the rifle. Stock screws are tight. No creeping.

 My main concern is that if I run buy another scope during this little money crunch that I'm having for the next couple of weeks that I'll find it didn't help, that I had overlooked some other possible cause.

 As I mentioned, there's no OBVIOUS problem with the scope. Not dented or deformed in any way, nothing loose-sounding when shaken.

 So thats a vote for the scope itself being the problem.

 Can anyone think of anything else that could mess up my groups so badly? They're all over the place. High, low, left, right, and all combinations.

 Does it HAVE to be the scope, or could it be something else?

 Thanks!
 Parks

[hiroller]

I have noticed the breech seal getting chewed up quickly on all the newer gamos I've owned.  I had this same exact issue with my varmint hunter, but when I flipped the breech seal around and shimmed it a little it was back to normal.  I then proceeded to order a bunch of breech seals from gamo's website as backups.  It took awhile for the breech area to smooth out without chewing up the seals bad, but after a few thousand rounds it was good to go.

[RainDog]

 I'll take a look and get at that right away, see if that could be the solution.

 Thanks!
 Parks

[CharlieDaTuna]

The scope is not of very good quality to say the least and could very well be the problem but then so can hold sensitivity and torque.

[RainDog]

  Well, I had high hopes for hiroller's suggestion, but no-go. Same deal. Thanks though, hiroller. Guess that unless someone else chimes in with another possible solution I'll just get a better scope and cross my fingers. Was planning on it anyway, just not right now. haha

  Gonna order some new breech seals from Gamo too. If it doesn't need one now it sure looks like it will soon.

  Thanks for y'all's help, and if anyone's had a similar experience with their Gamo, please let me know how you dealt with it.

  Y'all have a great day, hear?

  Parks

[vinceb]

And if it does, have you tried those?

[palonej]

Vin, good idea, no sights. I'm putting my money on the scope. I have 4 Gamos, not one of them has the scope it came with. All went in the garbage, literally. Almost impossible to sight, if you were lucky enough to get it to sight, it never held. NOt sure which one is on the Cat, but I have a CFX, Shadow Fox, and 2 Whispers. The scopes all looked just about the same. And performed the same, not good. Parks, I know money's tight, but until you can get a decent scope, THAT DOES NOT CRAWL, and Tuna it, I don't know what kind of groups you'll get at 25 yards. That thing has a rough kick, you have a $10 scope on it. Hope it works out bro, been there, done that. Sent it to the Tuna and put a nice piece of glass on my Whisper and I cannot begin to tell you the difference. The CFX is not tuned, original trigger,  but a sweet scope,  shoots good. Good luck bro!!!!!
Joe

[RainDog]

  Sure does have a rough kick, doesn't it?

  Yeah, guys, I'm bettin' on the scope too. Breech seal is a little rough and needs replacing too.

  I'll report back when I have it licked. Scope had to go eventually, anyway, and it really is a piece of junk so no loss.

  Thanks for the comments, and wish me luck as I do you.

  Thanks again, and have a good 'un,
  Parks

[fisherdude]

Apparently the average life expectancy of a gamo 4X32 scope is 2 weeks on a Big Cat.  
Gamo/BSA made good on the scope for a $10 fee to cover return shipping.  However, you will only get back another scope that will croak in 2 weeks.  I wasted the $10 plus the $7 it took to send it back.  
I suggest you just say "Darn!" and order a real scope that is air gun rated. I have 2 actual airgun BSA scopes that are OK so far and I just ordered a Barska airgun rated scope.  I hate these cheap combo scopes!

[RainDog]

  Hah! You hit it on the nailhead! Two weeks!

  What a laugh!

  Seeya!

[tunaboat]

Fisherdude and Raindog, me three!  My Big Cat is acting exactly the same way.  It went from very accurate to all over the place in two weeks.  I've currently super glued the mount screws to try next.  Blue loctite didn't  do it for me.  I will re sight in tomorrow and keep  you posted on my progress or lack thereof.

[RainDog]

 Superglue? Wow. I envision archaeologists of the future speculating on how the sighting device on the primitive weapon could possibly be so firmly attached after 80,000 years in the bog. Gonna be able to get those screws out?

 Anyway, yeah. Please keep me posted. I probably won't be springing for a new scope until next week, much to my son's chagrin. (and mine)

 I'm looking at Leapers 3-9X32 Golden Image, Tasco Golden Antler, and a Bushnell Sportsman in a blister-pack from Walmart, as well as anything the good folks here might suggest in that general price range.

  Seeya!
  Parks

[tunaboat]

I'm convinced, the Gamo scope has got to go.  Got the Big Cat zeroed in nicely.  Shot at cans for a while after that.  Started missing the cans and went back to paper.  The POI shifted 3 in left.  I guess it's nothing that hasn't been posted here before.  Too bad, I really the rifle itself, shoots nice groups with Crosman premium pointed pellets.  The Crosman Premier Hollow Points did not shoot as well in this gun.  Gamo sure is dropping the ball on this one by shipping a good rifle with a junk scope.  RainDog I actually used thread lock on the mount screws which did hold this time and was able to remove the scope with no problems.