Gamo Roadster 10X IGT Gen2 -Simply ingenious

My first foray into airguns came properly in 1979, when I became the proud owner of a Vulcan, but prior to that, the excitement had been building as a young teenager. It was a curious thing back in the 1970s, but it was still legal to sell airguns through mail-order catalogues, along with all and sundry, and I remember thumbing the pages of Grattan and others, eyeing the rifles and pistols, and dreaming of owning one. Alongside a range of models from big players such as the Sussex Armoury, there was a smattering of guns from Gamo and the like. So, why do I mention all this?

Pioneering
Well, for good reason, as one of the models on those well-thumbed pages was the Gamo/ASI Paratrooper, one of the very first (if not the first) pellet-firing, repeating, break-barrel spring-powered airguns. The Paratrooper sported a tubular, gravity-fed magazine that sat around the breech. It was clever, and it worked. Fast forward to the modern era, and it was Gamo again who brought us their Maxxim Elite, this time with a rotary-style magazine, again fitted to a break-barrel (back in 2017 if my records are correct). On test here is a further development on the theme, and this model is the Gamo Roadster 10X IGT Gen2.

Modern visuals
Open the box, and the Roadster 10X is a very modern-looking sporting airgun, and the visually pleasing synthetic thumbhole stock plays a big part. The full-length shrouded barrel is striking, but it’s the bulbous magazine assembly sitting over the breech that grabs the eye. Gamo actually includes their own branded 3-9x40 scope and one-piece mount inside the box with this model, but all I would say is, don’t get too excited. These kit scopes are very cheap, not always easy to focus satisfactorily, and with the market currently awash with very modestly priced scopes at the lower end, you may well find it pays to overlook the one supplied.

IGT
IGT stands for Inert Gas Technology, which, for those unfamiliar, is Gamo’s version of the gas-ram. No main spring here then, just a pre-sealed chamber of gas that gets compressed on the cocking stroke and expands to power the piston as the rifle fires. Air ahead of the piston powers the pellet in the normal way. Gas-rams are characteristically quick as far as lock-time goes, but they can also be a bit harsh, transmitting more recoil to a scope, so to this end, you’ll notice the raised dovetail rail and buffer fitted as standard. Whether this has much effect, I’m not sure, but it certainly helps to raise the sightline above the special breech configuration in any case.
For the test, I did use the Gamo scope, as the one-piece mount supplied also includes an arrestor stud, which locates straight into a pre-drilled hole. Scope creep shouldn’t be a problem with this setup, and the mount can be utilised with alternative optics too.

Handling
Gamo specifies the Roadster’s stock as being formed from automotive-grade glass-filled nylon, and whilst it feels fairly conventional to me, the configuration is highly appealing. Roughened panels of stippling are all part of the moulding, and these add real grip along the perfectly flared fore-end. I love the thinned-down full 90-degree drop-down grip, and this gets further panels. Look to the butt, and the rubber pad has plenty of give, and it even allows the user to remove the small inserts to vary the feel.

10X and all that
And so, to the main feature—the Roadster’s 10X Gen2 Quick Shot Technology. To access the magazine, pull forward the front lip of the plastic housing at the breech. This then releases the magazine, which can be pulled up and out from the front. Pellets are simply inserted into each chamber in turn, twisting the inner drum anti-clockwise each time until full. An irritating feature of the Gamo magazine, however, is that the open chamber sits off-centre due to spring pressure, which is never ideal. However, I’m not denying the system works. When the magazine is full, fit it back into the breech carrier from the bottom first, and snap it down in position. A word of advice though—just ensure the pellets are totally flush, gently seating them with the head of the next pellet if necessary as you go, and this will aid smooth operation through cycling.

In operation
Breaking the barrel to cock the action is a really smooth and fairly easy operation. The actual firing cycle is, I would have to say, classic Gamo. Their gas-ram system always seems a little too lively for me. However, the quick snap of a shot will appeal to many. The two-stage CAT (Custom Action Trigger) is well above average, however, and with an ultra-light first stage and a nice broad blade, squeezing off the second stage is more than acceptable, if a little spongy/creepy.
The muzzle report is nice and muted, and that’s the result of the Whisper Fusion sound moderator up front, which doubles up as the perfect cocking aid.
Look closely at the magazine feed, how it moves up and around the breech to feed the next pellet as the barrel arcs downwards, and it’s hard not to marvel at the clever design work. Take care though, for it’s vital that when the magazine ‘shot window’ shows the warning triangle symbol, that the last shot is fired or used, then remove the magazine and check the gun is clear, pulling the trigger whilst pointing the gun into a safe spot. The multi-shot system is quite brilliant, but it’s the very nature of the design which means it isn’t easy to check for a clear barrel. Stick to a safe regime, and all will be well.

Stat attack
I used Air Arms Diabolo Express pellets (7.8gr) while testing the airgun over the chronograph, and I managed 10-shot strings with a total spread of just 17fps or less, and this equated to textbook energy levels of around 11.3ft-lbs. Plenty of full-power punch to play with then. As for accuracy over my 30 yard test range, the Roadster 10X produced a string of respectable groups. Remember, this model is more about fun and speed shooting, as there’s little point in having that clever repeater technology at your fingertips and not letting rip in record time. But I would say expect average groups of around 1” at that distance, and you won’t be disappointed. That’s respectable for sure, and blasting away in a tin can alley scenario is where this model will really shine.

Rolling development
Gamo has apparently now pushed the system even further to a Gen3 specification, which will prevent double-loading via their new ‘inertial’ magazine, but there’s no doubt my Roadster on test here is a cracking piece of hardware. Simply ingenious, great to handle, and a whole lot of fun!
Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, for the kind loan of this airgun