GAMO Arrow

Gamo is one of those huge airgun manufacturers that has a global reach, and their extensive range of models is often tailored for specific markets. This means we don’t always get to see everything they make. It also depends on the UK importer as to what models will be distributed, so when I first caught sight of the test model here in some trade publication, I didn’t get too excited for that reason.

Light on the pocket
Well, here is the Gamo Arrow, and the visuals are fairly dramatic. ‘Black tactical’ is very much in vogue at the moment, so the Arrow instantly ticks that box. Unlike various other Gamo PCPs, the Arrow is manufactured in Spain by Gamo. It’s all aimed at the budget market, and when I tell you the asking price is just £350 for the gun only, or £395 when purchased as a kit with an Edgar Brothers Opti 10 3-9x40 scope and mounts, it becomes obvious this model is all about value for money.

Easy handling
It’s also designed to be ultra-manageable, and at a shade over 6lbs in weight, this model can be carried for some time. The weight belies those fairly bulky lines, so how do they do it? Well, Gamo manages to keep the pounds off by extensive use of plastics and synthetics. In fact, almost the entire breech block is synthetic, and if you look carefully, you’ll notice this is one continuous moulding, with that sizeable barrel shroud/muzzle assembly. The cylinder contained within the fore-end is metal, as is the thinned-down barrel liner held inside the shroud. But that’s about it, save for a few key internal components that need strength and pressure resistance.

Clues in the name
The result is a sporting rifle that can be picked up and enjoyed by most, and with a host of features built-in, we certainly seem to be getting a lot of gun for the money. A key feature of this stylish multi-shot PCP is the straight-pull mechanism and the arrow-shaped bolt handle, and that’s where this model gets its name from. It’s certainly distinctive, and we’ll come back to that shortly. So, let’s get set for action, and then I’ll highlight features as we get to them.

Charging cylinder & magazine
Charging is via a Foster filling valve, and whilst the filling adaptor was missing from my test rifle, the fact that this is a semi-standardised item meant that my charging kit snapped straight on with no fuss. Marvellous. In fact, look closely and you’ll notice there’s even a micron filter built into the valve head, meaning crud and dirt should be prevented from gaining access. It’s just a pity that after that attention to detail, Gamo has failed to include a valve cover. Oh well. A maximum fill pressure of 230bar is specified with the Arrow, and for peace of mind, there’s a manometer at the front of the gun’s cylinder to check on residuals. Obviously, try not to look down the barrel while viewing it!
The plastic-fantastic theme continues with the plastic, colour-coded ten-shot magazine, and this requires no pre-tensioning before filling. Instead, just drop a pellet head first into each chamber, twisting the drum anti-clockwise to reveal the next chamber in turn.

Sighting options
The Arrow comes fitted with rather neat fibre-optic open sights, and these take the form of the hooded red element up front and a fully adjustable rear sight. Twin finger wheels feature here for windage and elevation, and whilst they carry no markings, the click adjustment is precise. The sight picture is excellent too, so don’t be in too much of a rush to bolt on glassware. Indeed, the feeling of shooting free from a scope, and the subsequent weight advantage, can be most liberating, relaxing, and fun.
If the compulsion for more advanced optics is too hard to fight, then mounting a scope is easy. Unlike many rival designs, the Arrow’s magazine doesn’t sit higher than the receiver, resulting in a continuous run of dovetail rails to play with, instead of two sections. OK, the rails are also synthetic (which I don’t deny, sounds scary) but everything felt positive and worked well on test. The gun came supplied with an Edgar Brothers Opti 10 3-9x40 scope, but to be honest, I would take the ‘gun only’ route, as there are plenty of better bargain optics out there. I switched to a Hawke model, for added sharpness.

CAT among the pigeons
Gamo fits the Arrow with their Custom Action Trigger (CAT), and this offers a pleasingly wide blade, a very light first stage, and is adjustable for first stage, second stage release, and travel. Given that my test gun arrived with a reasonable setting, I left it well alone. In use, I was rewarded with a silky first stage, a slightly spongy feel to the second, and a fairly light release. Overall, it was perfectly acceptable. Anyhow, exploded diagrams showing all the adjustment screws await, for those who wish to tweak.
It’s also worth mentioning the in-guard safety catch, positioned just forward of the blade. Just pull it rearwards to apply, and nudge forward to disengage. Operation is manual, but it’s nice to have the choice.

Hands-on
Shoulder the Arrow, and the fine ergonomics of the synthetic stock soon come into play. Gamo specifies the compound used as ‘automotive grade glass-filled nylon’, and whilst the material doesn’t feel anything special, the contours and configuration are just about spot-on. The beefy extended fore-end has a nicely rounded base, and the large panels of moulded stippling feel great in the aim. Similar panels cover the dual cheekpieces (this is an ambidextrous design), and the height and definition are perfect for scope use. As for the drop-down pistol grip, the combination of finger contours and dual thumb shelves works perfectly. In short, this model feels good in the aim, with control and handling difficult to fault.
To cock the airgun, first push the arrow-shaped bolt handle down slightly, against the spring lock, then pull it all the way back. This cocks the action, setting the hammer and trigger. Next, snap the pre-filled magazine into its slot within the receiver and close the bolt, allowing it to move up and lock. Granted, it’s not exactly the most sophisticated system but it works.

Whisper Fusion and all that
Squeeze the trigger and then backup shots are available just as fast as the bolt can be operated. On test, my Arrow did prove pellet fussy, and where the mag is concerned, I would stick to short-bodied pellets, such as the Air Arms Diabolo Express used on test, or JSB Exact RS Diabolo. It also pays to gently seat pellets, so they stay fully flush, just to guarantee smooth feed in the firing cycle. Gamo’s magazine is slightly irritating in the way the sprung mechanism forces the chamber to sit off-centre until the bolt feeds through, but again, it all worked on test.
As for the firing cycle, the muzzle report is seriously muted, with no harsh notes. This is a direct result of what Gamo calls ‘Whisper Fusion Sound Moderation Technology’. A series of internal baffles and an expansion chamber eat up the decibels, making this a supremely civilized gun to take to the range or field.

Figure it out
And so, to the stats and figures. To recap, we filled to 230bar. The manometer will give a rough guide as to when to refill the cylinder, but for the record, I shot the Arrow down to a residual pressure of around 100bar. Gamo claims 90 shots for this model, and on test, the Arrow certainly came close. I shot nine mags over the chronograph, and the first 70 shots produced a total spread of 28fps, which isn’t bad at all. Don’t forget that this is an unregulated action. Extending that to 80 shots stretched the spread to 43fps, whilst another 10 shots saw the velocity drop off down to 742fps, from the high of 813fps. However, stick to the first 70 shots, when the consistency is in the 20fps range, and the performance is highly usable.

Verdict
Pick up the Arrow and it really is plastic-fantastic, with 80% composite material used throughout. So, this isn’t the most sophisticated airgun available. That said, synthetics keeps weight down, and its use is extremely practical in a field setting. Basically, bar the cylinder encased in the stock, there’s not a lot to go rusty. Factor in the ambidextrous configuration, and this is clearly a rifle to be shot by most with ease. It handles superbly, the performance is respectable, and with the super low RRP, it’s great value as a first gun, a first PCP, or a general knockabout.