Gamo GX 40

So, you’ve decided to opt for a pre-charged pneumatic. You don’t want to break the bank, and you don’t want to have to renew your gym membership in order to be able to lug the thing about. If this all sounds familiar, then you may wish to have a long, hard study of my test rifle here.

Origins and pedigree

What makes Gamo’s GX40 such a viable candidate? Well, it’s really quite simple. In a word - pedigree. It’s no secret that the Spanish brand, Gamo, is also part of the main concern that owns BSA, and for a while now the business arrangement has been that all PCP models are made by BSA in Birmingham, whilst the spring guns, for both BSA and Gamo, were manufactured in Spain by Gamo. Just recently, we’ve had BSA announce that they are producing a couple of their springers back in Blighty, but that has been the routine up until now.

Look at the side of the GX40’s receiver, and ‘Made in UK’ is clearly visible. No prizes then for guessing the origins of this one. Let’s remind ourselves that Gamo launched a package deal a while back, with a very similar gun, the Phox, supplied complete with a silencer, 3-9X40 WR scope, a Gamo gun bag, and a pump. This is still available, and the Phox is actually the same gun but with a shorter barrel (14” against 18” here). Great value it may well be, but it always occurred to me that not everyone would want the package deal. Gamo recognize that, and the GX40 as we see here, is the result.

Features

BSA’s 10-shot magazine system is utilized, and the colour-coded internal drums denote the calibre. I’ve got red for the .22 on test, and blue denotes .177. For the record, my test gun was supplied with the slimline Phox silencer, but the production GX40 actually comes with the short, screw-fit barrel diffuser as standard.

There’s a manual safety catch, a manometer in the front of the cylinder, and a half-decent 2-stage trigger, too. And so to the GX40’s raison d’etre. This is a full-powered sporting rifle with a full-length moulded synthetic stock and a suitably scaled-down, slimline pneumatic action. At 6.7lbs in weight, it’s a hunter that just begs to be picked up. But before we do, there’s some quick prep work to be done.

Readying the action

To fill the mag, just drop a pellet into each chamber, twisting the drum in turn until all of them are full. Now, to charge the cylinder, this is done via the probe adaptor supplied. The plastic valve cover is clearly an area where costs are saved, and this can be twisted to open it or pulled clear altogether. Insert the probe, slowly open the airline to 232 bar, bleed, and replace the valve cover.

Talking stock

Synthetic stocks are increasingly popular in today’s market, right across the shooting disciplines as it happens, and the quality of moulding can vary wildly. Many are cheap and hollow sounding, which really detracts from the inherent practicalities on offer. Pick up the GX40, and I’m pleased to say that there are no nasty surprises. The stock here is sufficiently dense and precisely moulded, making it a pleasure to handle. All the practical box ticking is possible, as this medium is impervious to the outside elements and largely warp-free.

However, it’s the slick configuration and tactile qualities that really get the thumbs up. That super-high cheekpiece is a breath of fresh air for scope/eye alignment, even though what looks like an adjustable comb section is just a detail in the clever moulding. That said, I didn’t miss any adjustment, and the drop-down thumbhole grip and graceful forend, all combine beautifully. In short, the GX40 balances and handles perfectly in the aim, and that breeds confidence.

Handling and stats

Pull the bolt back to cock the action, and the full magazine can be inserted into the receiver, where it gets pulled into its slot via a small magnet. Unsurprisingly, the barrel is BSA, and for that, read ‘cold hammer forged’.

Initially, the GX40 proved a little pellet fussy, where compatibility with the magazine was concerned, and this meant the bolt was a little sticky in operation. However, after a little experimentation, RWS Superfield pellets proved the perfect fit, and thereafter, everything worked faultlessly. Gamo’s Smooth Action Trigger (SAT) is extremely pleasing too, offering a wide trigger blade, a light first stage, and a fairly predictable release after a small amount of creep.

Over the chrono, my .22 model recorded 130 shots, all within a total spread of 25fps. Considering the short cylinder, I reckon that’s mightily impressive from any angle. In terms of accuracy, sub 1/2” groups over 35 yards were regularly and easily achieved, and I’m sure that could also be tweaked over time, and with more pellet testing.

Conclusion

This slick little beauty really is hard to ignore for the asking price and has to be one of the best airguns in its class. I warmed to it the moment it hit the shoulder, and with satisfying performance to match the handling, it seems an easy choice at the current ‘bargain’ asking price.