Gamo Compact: An Economical Competition Choice
The Gamo Compact is a single-stroke pneumatic pistol using the “over receiver” setup to keep the gun sleek and compact. With a single movement, the gun is opened up, allowing the shooter to load directly into the barrel. Closing the gun places the gun in the “firing” position, and the shooter is ready to go for pin-point accuracy at competition ranges.
The Gamo Compact comes in a foam-lined, hard plastic case with User’s Manual and a tin of Gamo Match wadcutter pellets. These pellets perform very well in this gun.
This Spanish-made pistol is an attractive piece of work, feeling more robust and looking quite a bit better than some other single-stroke pistols on the market today. This is Gamo’s entry into the upper-level target pistol arena, and it deserves a close look if you like pistol competition. At $239.90, this gun delivers a great performance-to-price ratio.
The grips are walnut, with an adjustable palm shelf. The right side is nicely stippled, and the left has a flat slab-like surface. If I have any complaints about the grips, it is that they will be too small for larger hands. I have medium-sized hands, and the grips fill my hand nicely. I would also opt for a wider thumb-shelf for the firing hand.
To load the Gamo Compact, you depress the grey tab at the rear of the receiver, located where the hammer would be on a classic .45 Colt.
The barrel is easily accessible in the upper part that pivots. You are able to place the pellet directly into the barrel from this position, seating it directly into the rifling of the barrel. There is ample room for large fingers near the breech end of the barrel, a nice touch for the large-fingered shooter!
The trigger pull is rated at 2.25 lbs according to the literature. This is adjustable, and another nice feature is that the trigger blade swivels to give the shooter a firm, flat surface on which to put pressure to initiate the firing sequence. This translates into an easier ability to stay on target while squeezing the trigger.
When firing the Gamo Compact over a chrony, I was astonished to find my first three shots going the same velocity…..377 fps. Now that is consistency, just what you want in a competition pistol. That velocity was achieved with the Gamo Match wadcutters that were included in the case with the gun. Other pellet weights will vary, of course, but the repeatable velocity figures should carry over to other pellets, enhancing accuracy.
During test firing, I used a 10-meter distance and a firm, two-handed hold with a hard rest. There is a reason I’m not a pistol competitor, but I did manage to produce a nice pattern. I clover-leafed 4 of 5 shots, with the 5th messing up the impressive group for my efforts! Like I said, there’s a reason I’m not a pistol competitor! But using the Gamo wadcutters provided with the gun, I still managed a great group. My camera went missing in action during the test firing, so I’ll upload the group later.
I give the Gamo Compact an A rating…..the only thing keeping it from being an A+ is the grips that will feel small to shooters with larger hands, and it needs a larger thumb-shelf. As a competition gun, it doesn’t have a safety. This is because competitions guns are only supposed to be loaded at the firing line as the shooter begins competition. It’s not a gun you’re supposed to carry around loaded. And though the description online states a 3-dot open sight, the sample I received did not have the 3-dot system on it.
So if you want to enter the world of competition, especially on a budget, then the Gamo Compact may be just the gun for you. Give it some serious consideration and enjoy our great sport of airgunning.
