Gun Reviews >
Find a Dealer >
Find a Club >
Competitions >
videos >
Reader Survey >Gamo Delta Review: A Lightweight Air Rifle for Young Shooters
- Last updated: 13/08/2025
I remember my first air rifle and the excitement it gave me all those years ago. The Webley Vulcan was a cracking gun, but I was 13, and large-framed even then, and I could cope with its weight and cocking effort. Many youngsters get their first taste of airguns at a far younger age, and that’s something we need to encourage, under the correct supervision, of course, to get new blood into our sport.
The problem is being able to handle a gun safely, and there’s nothing worse than giving little Jonny a heavy, full-powered adult air rifle that he can barely lift, let alone operate! The answer, of course, is dedicated hardware, and if you take the time to look, you will find a good range of air rifles specifically aimed at the little people among us who are showing an interest in getting involved.
Gamo is a huge Spanish manufacturer, and unsurprisingly, they have a few options among their burgeoning product line-up. The Delta is perhaps the most basic, straightforward, and cost-effective option among them, and I happen to have one on test here. So, time to give it the once-over and see just what we get for our money.
First impressions of the Gamo Delta, which is available only in .177, are of a straightforward yet stylish airgun. Copious use of synthetics means weight can be kept to a minimum, and Gamo is the master of the art. Visually, everything is synthetic, other than the main chemically blued cylinder and the adjuster leaf in the rear sight. The curved cylinder end block, trigger, and safety are all plastic, yet I have to say functionality is in no way compromised.
Up front, the full barrel shroud is all part of a single moulding that incorporates the breech block and sight base. Gamo then runs a thin steel barrel liner through the centre, and this is rifled in the usual way. This process again allows for significant weight savings, and the end result is a spring-powered airgun in the featherweight category.
While on the subject of weight, or lack of it, I’ve seen the Delta listed as being 2.1kg (4.6lbs). However, on lifting it up from the box, I found that hard to believe, so I thought I’d run it over the scales for myself. Sure enough, it comes in at a mere 1.9kg (4.2lbs), which is great news for mini-mes who want a stress-free start to shooting.
Pick up the Delta, and it just feels so comfortable and pointable. The sporter stock configuration has plenty of detail in the moulding, but it’s the grippy surface that appeals greatly. Good looks and practicality combine well, and while the raked pistol grip will be a bit of a stretch for some small hands, ambidextrous credentials keep things easy and inclusive.
The Delta comes fitted with open sights as standard, and these are easily adjustable with clearly marked finger wheels for windage and elevation. I’m a big advocate of sticking with the ‘irons’ at the start while teaching youngsters the art of shooting, and there’s something liberating about keeping things simple. However, we also get dovetail rails machined into the receiver, for when the clamour for scopes becomes too great.
Gamo designs the Delta to be deliberately low-powered as a junior model, so with a scaled-down powerplant, the cylinder can be shorter. Cocking the action follows convention, and I would always say butt into groin to keep firm control of the gun, then grip the shrouded barrel, jolt the breech open, and pull down in one positive motion until the mechanism engages. I have to say that, given the ultra-low power output, the cocking effort was far higher than I expected. Still quite manageable, but some kids will need help, I would wager. Not quite as easy as it should be is the honest assessment here.
Thumb home a pellet, snap the barrel back up, and close it. Look inside the trigger guard, and the tab just in front of the trigger blade is the manual safety. Smooth in operation, this is just pulled back to apply, and nudged forward to release. Don’t need a safety? Then simply ignore it. At this point, it’s worth mentioning that the action is fitted with an anti-beartrap device, so the action cannot be de-cocked without firing it off. No big deal, just an observation.
Firing the Delta reminds you it’s a Gamo, with their characteristic firing cycle — a little bit unsophisticated, overly lively, and loud. But with only modest recoil to worry about, we need to remember the price point here. As for what Gamo calls their standard trigger, it’s really hard to fault. Yes, the blade is plastic, but it’s nicely shaped, and with a light first stage and fairly light, if slightly creepy, second, it all trips predictably. Immeasurably better than my old Vulcan trigger, I hasten to add!
I started with the open sights to gauge their worth, and adjustment was straightforward. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, so I’ll admit I struggled over a longer period. That said, I recognise I’m not the target audience for this Delta. We are missing the bright fibre-optic elements here, but in good light, all works well.
Sub-½” over 10 yards, and 1” groups over 20 yards, proved the potential of the system, and when I fitted a suitably compact Hawke 2-7x32 Airmax scope, ¾” clusters over 20 yards were par for the course. Very respectable in my book, especially given the low power output.
And so to performance. Over the chronograph, a variety of ammunition returned much the same average of around 2.7ft/lbs, with BSA Goldstar pellets returning great consistency of 10fps over a ten-shot string.
Overall, then, where the Gamo Delta is concerned, it’s hard not to conclude that it represents great value for money. Superlight, visually appealing, and accurate enough to reward hard work.
Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this airgun.
click on image to enlarge
