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Just today I recieved a used BSA Meteor EVO in 22. I was very dubious about any of the Gamo owned "BSA" rifles, but also ery curious. I know that they are very light in weight (this one is advertised as 6.2 lbs) and should be very nice to carry in the field even after mounting a scope.
This one came to me in perfect condition and inexpensively. They are sleek but traditional looking, which I approve of.
With a surprisingly high energy output of 17.3 fpe, and a promising accuracy sample from the seller, I had high hopes that I had found a diamond in the rough.
I had just a little time tonight to check it out, and I hope to have more soon.
But I did get a nice little chrony sampling in, and 1 quick group.
My first impressions:
1. The rifle is generally nice. I like the stock, the cocking effort is modest, the trigger is OK (and can be a lot better I think), the firing cycle is excellent and the rifle really seems to want to shoot. Also, all 4 pellets that I tried tonight fit the bore well.
2. It's got a plastic breech block and trigger. The lockup is by a steel chisel to a pin and should be fine, but whatever material
the block is made from "muffles" the lockup sensation and it feels dull or neutral. It seems like nylon, but could even be cast because its cool to the touch.
Once in battery, the lockup seems fine, but it doesn't give you any tactike feedback when you are returning the rifle to battery and makes an otherwise nice rifle feel like a toy.
3. But it is NOT a toy, and the chrony numbers really surprised me, as all were greater than the 17-18 fpe I was expecting:
11.9 RWS Hobby - 861.1 avg / 19.60 fpe
14.0 RWS M'kugeln - 819 avg / 20.85 fpe
15.9 JSB Exact - 729.2 avg / 18.77 fpe
18.0 H&N Baracuda - 691.1 avg / 19.08 fpe
That isn't far off from the 21-22 fpe of my SIG ASP20 in .22 and definitely sets a record for power to weight ratio in my assortment of springers. Its even lighter than my RWS 94 which runs around 17-18 fpe. This should be a bumpy, jumpy rifle but it's not. Amazingly.
I'm excited to see how it likes H&N FTT's. They often shoot faster than the Meisterkugeln even though they are a little heavier. And you all know how accurate they are.
4. The shot cycle is excellent. I have a couple of other gas rams, and this one has the best cycle. Other makers should be envious. It's a fast, strong push that just stops, with no real thud to jostle the gun at the end. Nice. Really nice. I don't understand how such a light gun doesn't jolt forward at the end of the piston travel. I'm assuming a very light piston figures in.
5. The trigger needs help, like a Charlie Da Tuna upgrade. But it's much better than other Gamo triggers I've been around. It mostly suffers from a springy, vague feel to the all important 2nd stage, which is simply too long. And some of that is coming from the flexible plastic trigger blade as well.
Does anyone know which CDT unit is the right one for this trigger:
6. Accuracy sure seems good! This is where I thought things could fall apart, especially involving elevation, since I can't feel what the lockup is doing and I worried about vertical stringing.
I had time for a rushed 5 shot group of RWS Meisterkugeln, which made a little round group no wider than 2 pellets. I'm sure that I can improve that too.
I threw a light Nikon Monarch 2-7x32 on the rifle just for tonight. It's a great scope but not the best for testing at 9 yards because there is no AO.
I'll probably be looking for a 3-9x32 AO scope for this, with a decent reticle. I'm definitely going to keep this one light.
This one came to me in perfect condition and inexpensively. They are sleek but traditional looking, which I approve of.
With a surprisingly high energy output of 17.3 fpe, and a promising accuracy sample from the seller, I had high hopes that I had found a diamond in the rough.
I had just a little time tonight to check it out, and I hope to have more soon.
But I did get a nice little chrony sampling in, and 1 quick group.
My first impressions:
1. The rifle is generally nice. I like the stock, the cocking effort is modest, the trigger is OK (and can be a lot better I think), the firing cycle is excellent and the rifle really seems to want to shoot. Also, all 4 pellets that I tried tonight fit the bore well.
2. It's got a plastic breech block and trigger. The lockup is by a steel chisel to a pin and should be fine, but whatever material
the block is made from "muffles" the lockup sensation and it feels dull or neutral. It seems like nylon, but could even be cast because its cool to the touch.
Once in battery, the lockup seems fine, but it doesn't give you any tactike feedback when you are returning the rifle to battery and makes an otherwise nice rifle feel like a toy.
3. But it is NOT a toy, and the chrony numbers really surprised me, as all were greater than the 17-18 fpe I was expecting:
11.9 RWS Hobby - 861.1 avg / 19.60 fpe
14.0 RWS M'kugeln - 819 avg / 20.85 fpe
15.9 JSB Exact - 729.2 avg / 18.77 fpe
18.0 H&N Baracuda - 691.1 avg / 19.08 fpe
That isn't far off from the 21-22 fpe of my SIG ASP20 in .22 and definitely sets a record for power to weight ratio in my assortment of springers. Its even lighter than my RWS 94 which runs around 17-18 fpe. This should be a bumpy, jumpy rifle but it's not. Amazingly.
I'm excited to see how it likes H&N FTT's. They often shoot faster than the Meisterkugeln even though they are a little heavier. And you all know how accurate they are.
4. The shot cycle is excellent. I have a couple of other gas rams, and this one has the best cycle. Other makers should be envious. It's a fast, strong push that just stops, with no real thud to jostle the gun at the end. Nice. Really nice. I don't understand how such a light gun doesn't jolt forward at the end of the piston travel. I'm assuming a very light piston figures in.
5. The trigger needs help, like a Charlie Da Tuna upgrade. But it's much better than other Gamo triggers I've been around. It mostly suffers from a springy, vague feel to the all important 2nd stage, which is simply too long. And some of that is coming from the flexible plastic trigger blade as well.
Does anyone know which CDT unit is the right one for this trigger:
6. Accuracy sure seems good! This is where I thought things could fall apart, especially involving elevation, since I can't feel what the lockup is doing and I worried about vertical stringing.
I had time for a rushed 5 shot group of RWS Meisterkugeln, which made a little round group no wider than 2 pellets. I'm sure that I can improve that too.
I threw a light Nikon Monarch 2-7x32 on the rifle just for tonight. It's a great scope but not the best for testing at 9 yards because there is no AO.
I'll probably be looking for a 3-9x32 AO scope for this, with a decent reticle. I'm definitely going to keep this one light.
