Gun test: Compact Gamo

Mark Camoccio looks at the ideal first competition pistol

Tight fit, but its still great to have a hard case

credit: Archant

I’ve had a passion for airguns since my early teens, but one system that has always fascinated above all others, is the single-stroke pneumatic. The big drawback with PCPs is the fact that they are reliant on an external power source, be that a diver’s bottle, or a pump, and of course, those of us yearning for recoilless power have to go down that route – but there is an alternative. Admittedly, designers have struggled to muster full power in a single-stroke rifle, especially in a production model, and I’m hoping that they’ll properly crack it one day, but there are no such problems where pistols are concerned, and the single-stroke pneumatic system here, works a treat.

Established

Gamo’s Compact pistol is now a well-established model, and has built up something of a reputation in Pony Club circles, where it has proved a great little match-pistol trainer for youngsters eager to get some shooting hours under their belt, with a gun that rewards hard work. At under the £200 mark, it looks like a bargain too, so let’s take a look at just what we get for the money, and see why this capable little pistol has remained so popular.

First impressions are good; the Compact comes supplied with its own padded, hard case, albeit a near perfect fit inside. There’s a tin of pellets included, along with instructions, and an Allen key, so there’s no need to delay the action. Open sights are fitted as standard, including an adjustable rear sight; there’s an adjustable trigger blade, and then, of course, the most striking feature – those anatomical wooden grips.

Elevated

Pick up the Compact, and you instantly feel like your holding a gun designed to do a job. Those anatomical grips elevate this model above much of the opposition, and being fashioned from walnut adds a further touch of class. The grip is made from two halves, and whilst the seam is clearly visible, the overall feel and support afforded is excellent.

So far, so impressive, and next month we’ll see how the Compact really performs.

Specification

Model: Compact

Manufacturer: Gamo

Country of origin: Spain

Type: Single-stroke, pneumatic pistol

Calibre: .177 only

Weight: 2lbs

Overall length: 12.2 inches

Barrel length: 8 inches

Grips: Walnut anatomical target-style

Velocity: (Using Topshot pellets)