Gamo GX250 | PCP Rifle Reviews

It's no secret that Gamo's PCP models are actually made by a certain famous brand based in Birmingham and are very well received. The combination of no-frills features and value for money has found a huge following, so when I heard that the GX40 had now been updated to the GX250, I was keen to get my hands on one to test.

The same and yet different
First off, I'll say that the Gamo GX40 was one of the best value PCPs I've tested, and a big part of its appeal was the synthetic composite stock. The configuration is just a beautiful piece of design work, and it's one of those rifles that feels right at home in the shoulder. The open thumbhole includes a drop-down, semi-sighted grip that's nicely thinned out, and the slim forend is perfectly shaped to be held comfortably up front. Both the handle and forend are covered in raised grip sections, all part of the shaping, while the high-profile, super-stylish cheek rest works brilliantly. I must add that I've seen the cheek rest advertised as being adjustable, but despite that very misleading profile suggesting it should be, it's, er, not!
Anyway, the same stock is fitted to the revised Gamo GX250 and believe me, that is very good news and a brilliant starting point. So visually the GX250 is very similar to the 40, the only real difference is that the cylinder has been extended by a few inches. So if it's almost identical, what's the big deal?

Rationalization & streamlining
Production costs must be taken into account by manufacturers and with the ever-increasing cost of energy and raw materials, it is not easy to remain competitive. Sometimes changes have to be made to restart the process and that is what appears to have happened here with the production line behind the scenes. By revising, streamlining and optimising the entire manufacturing process of this Gamo and its assembly, manufacturers have been able to reduce the cost of various elements, resulting in a lower RRP for the customer. This is good news in a time of economic uncertainty when external pressures are acting on the market.

Combined offer
Look inside the box: The GX250 comes with a sleek Phox suppressor, detailed instruction manual, fill adapter, magazine, and a Gamo 3-9×40 scope and one-piece mount. I have to be honest and say that I set the kit scope aside for the duration of the test because the one-piece mount has a stop/lock pin in the base and I couldn't get it to retract. Since there's no lock hole on the gun's body, that was a no-go, so I bolted on an MTC Viper Pro Tactical I had on hand. In the real world, if faced with the same stubborn one-piece mount, a trip or call to the dealer should solve the problem. I'd also like to add here that I'm rarely satisfied with a kit scope, and while it can be handy to get us ready to go out of the box, this GX250 is the classic case where the quality of the gun is such that it simply justifies better glassware.

Familiar functions
Focusing on how it works and considering where this model is made, it's no surprise that it comes with a cold hammer forged BSA barrel that will give any air rifle a good start in life. There's also a built-in pressure gauge, valve cover, 2-stage adjustable trigger, manual safety, cylinder bolt, ½” UNF threaded muzzle and a 10-round magazine. In theory, this model has a cylinder that's a few inches longer than its predecessor, so the round count should be higher too.

On the level
The ten-round magazine is a familiar rotating cartridge design and features a small display showing the number of shots remaining. These magazines do not require priming, so simply drop a pellet headfirst into the empty chamber, spin the drum and repeat until all chambers are full. It's a handy feature and worth noting that the magazine well is fully enclosed within the receiver, allowing a full-length dovetail rail to run across the top. Anyone familiar with competitor configurations where the magazine extends well above the top of the receiver, necessitating the use of tall mounts, will appreciate this slightly more civilized approach. Mounting a scope is therefore easy.
The cylinder needs to be charged to 232 bar using the probe adapter provided. The synthetic valve cover just needs to be pulled off and then the air line/probe can be carefully inserted. For safety reasons we should check that the probe is still fully inserted even after a short charge, but otherwise this method works well. The front-mounted pressure gauge is not particularly clear (or safe) to read, but the colored sections give it away – the lower red area means too low pressure, the green middle band is the usable pressure range (100 to 232 bar) and the upper red area means too high pressure. The gun's pressure gauge should, as always, be used as a secondary baseline guide, so use the charging equipment for a more accurate picture.

Handling/Operation
At the range, with the GX250 loaded and ready to go, I was excited to see how it fires. Pull back the slide's conventional handle and hear the action click. Then, with the slide fully extended, slide the full magazine into its slot from the left side. Close the slide and we're ready to go. In testing with this model, I found the cocking mechanism a little sticky when operating and found that a positive cocking motion was required to ensure everything was set correctly. If you take a half-hearted and too gentle approach, the magazine may have moved on to the next shot, but the hammer and trigger are not always set. Pull the slide back with a strong swing and everything should be fine.
With its pleasantly flat surface and crisp action, the trigger is similar in look and feel to Gamo's Smooth Action Trigger (SAT) system and certainly responds in the same way, with a super light first stage that I like and a little creep on the second stage. Overall, though, it's a fairly light release, so while it's not the most sophisticated unit, it's all very acceptable and suits the no-nonsense brief on offer here. I can't help my indifference to safeties, but as mentioned, there is a manual safety in the form of a tab in the guard just in front of the trigger blade. Snap it back to lock the trigger and push it forward to release the mechanism.

Stat Attack
According to Gamo, this model is equipped with a “self-regulating valve.” Although this is considered less sophisticated than a full-fledged regulator, in practice the difference is largely theoretical.
The stated shot count is 120 shots in .177 and 135 in .22. In my test session, I fired 125 shots with my .22 rifle at a stated starting pressure of 232 bar, all with a total spread of 24 fps, which I consider to be pretty excellent. I stopped at a residual pressure in the 80-90 bar range and used BSA Goldstar pellets for the record. I have no doubt that I could have achieved the stated number, but the velocity actually started to drop after that. My only confusion came from the fact that despite claims that this model was 25% more efficient than the GX40, my results with both rifles were almost identical.
As far as accuracy goes, all I can say is that the BSA choke barrel made its presence felt, with erratic keyhole clusters at over 30 yards and then groups of just over .25″ at 40 yards! That's pretty damn good, and that too in the heavier .22 caliber.

Verdict
An honest assessment concludes that there are more sophisticated weapons out there and that you need to be careful in use due to the slightly jammed bolt barrel. However, there is a difference between slower, aimed shots when it counts and semi-rapid firing during a chronograph testing session. Quite simply, despite its flaws, this is an above-average PCP for the money, capable of serious performance. So my advice is not to get too caught up in the increased efficiency adverts and simply appreciate this new version as a clever cost-cutting measure that keeps a quality PCP in the sub-£400 price bracket, which is no small feat. While the official RRP is £399, this model can be had for considerably less and in my opinion it is a bargain either way.
Many thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this rifle.