Hi, I'm new to this site and new to airguns. My son wants an air gun for Christmas and I don't know what's good and whats not. I am looking to spend about $230.00 usd. He is interested in the gamo product line. What are your opinions on the best gun for $230.00 usd or under?

Thanks

Welcome to Air Gun One, I think that Gamos are good for the money and easy to get.But you might also look at the RWS Diana 34 either the reg or the panther
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_rifles=show_guns_manufacturer&Manufacturer=RWS
Or depending your sons age RWS also has a youth model.:thumb:

Hi Nick, welcome! If your son is strong enough to handle adult sized airguns, then as phil points out there's quite a bit of options. I personally like the quality of the gamos for the price. If the loud spring twang doesn't bother you, Gamos are pretty decent (especially if you plan on doing some work to them yourself). I know pyramyd has the shadow rifle (gamo) for sale right now for about 150. Natchez also has the hunter 440 combo for about that price as well. The 440 is an excellent rifle...

http://natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=GN611008454&prodTitle=Gamo%20Hunter%20440%20%26%20BSA%204x32mm %20Airgun%20Scope

For about 200 bucks you can get an rws 34 (either wood stock or panther synthetic) which for the price is a very nice gun of excellent quality and shoots well out of box. The trigger is also pretty nice; it doesn't need changing like the gamo may. If you're looking for a youth sized rifle, there's a few of them that gamo and rws has, along with beeman and crosman.

Hey Nick, I just picked up a Panther 34 in .177 (RWS) and like everyone says, they are fine shooters. Lots of power and plenty accurate. The trigger is way better than the GAMO trigger and can be set down to a very nice two stage trigger. Mine isn't a very slick cocking gun and it was very dry inside, but with a little help, it'll be a good shooter. I would also recommend a CFX if you want to stick to the GAMO side. I have one in .177 and it is my most accurate rifle. I replaced the trigger with a GRT III which makes a world of difference on any GAMO. Good luck.

Thanks for all your replies. It will help me make a better decision with my son. I definitely want the best trouble free and most accurate air gun for the money.

My son is really hung up on gamo mostly for the look. I think I narrowed it down to the CFX or the Shadow Fox. What do you thing about these 2 guns.

RCnMo, can the trigger be changed on any gamo?

How old is he?

He is 10 yrs old.

Yeah gamo has some pretty cool looking rifles. Either one should be fine in my opinion as long as he doesn't have too much trouble cocking them. The CFX is an underlever whereas the shadow is a breakbarrel. I've tried a few other gamo breakbarrels and they're not bad out of box. From what I've been reading the CFX is hard to beat as far as accuracy and price goes but I have yet to personally try one.

Triggers are easy to change; once you remove the action from the stock you only need to remove 1 e-clip, slide one pin out and then re-install with either your mod or replacement trigger. Rich from Mich has a trigger insert (the Mini II Trigger Insert) for around 8 bucks that improves the stock trigger and Charlie da Tuna makes a complete replacement trigger for around 30 bucks or so (GRT-III Trigger).

Just keep in mind if he struggles with cocking/holding the rifle up he is probably going to get burned out or lose interest. I know my son did, i got him the Gamo Recon and he loves it, he can cock it without struggling and straining, not to mention the larger rifles are heavier and he will want to do more than just sit at a bench and shoot from a rest, something he may have to do just because he can't hold the rifle up off hand. My son can cock my Crosman Storm, and the Gamo Whisper I had but he didn't enjoy it. He is 10 years old also.

Here is the site for the replacment triggers for Gamos and others. http://charliedatuna.com/GRT-III%20Trigger%20New.htm#grtiiiguns

At 10 years old you can't go wrong with the Gamo Recon and the GRTIII trigger, very accurate 20 to 30 yards (At least ours is). Just my .02

Good info. Thanks. I noticed while looking at them at Bass Pro they were pretty heavy. He is shooting his friends Beeman 1040 series and it's heavy but he doesn't seem to mind. As far as cocking he has no problem, but I would assume that it is easier than the gamo.

Gamo 890 w/ scope $150, on the yellow right now.

Gamo Nitro w/ Gold trigger, 95 shipped.
on the yellow

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/message/1228161256/Gamo+Nitro+w-Gold+Trigger+%2B+Lot+of+Extras+%2495+shipped

gamo 890 w/ scope reduced.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/message/1228189137/Gamo+890s+w-+scope..price+reduced

Gamo shadow 1000 w/scope 110 shipped.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/message/1228246004/Gamo+.177+Shadow+1000+Combo+For+Sale

nice tuned maxima on the yellow

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/message/1228270174/FS-+Tuned+.177+Gamo+Maxima.

I like that one Craig! It's a shame it's been ruined by that gaudy compensator, I like the way they look stock. Wonder why they discontinued that model

agreed

What do you guys think about the crossman Phantom 1000X. My son thinks its pretty cool.
$89.95
1000 fps

i have a Phantom, i love it.

I believe the Phantom is close to if not the same as the G1, but with sights. It should be a nice shooter, especially after a little bit of tweaking...

what was that trigger tweaking site again?

Mini II Trigger Insert (uses your stock trigger): http://home.comcast.net/~peterdragin/index.html/My_Homepage_Files/Page4.html

GRT-III Trigger (complete trigger replacement: http://charliedatuna.com/GRT-III%20Trigger%20New.htm

Thanks fellas I appreciate the info. I haven't decided yet but I will let you know what I get.