This review is for a Gamo Arrow .177 which I have shot every day for over a week, at least 1000 pellets through it.
Photos are at the end.
Out of the box performance
Out of the box you get 4 magazines (40 shots) in the 865-900 FPS range with crosman Premier 10.5 grains.
7-8 grains pellets will be over 1000 FPS, and will be innaccurate at this speed.
Build quality
On the outside everything is synthetic.
The receiver is entirely synthetics.
The metal screws which hold the left side receiver plate will screw into this synthetic/plastic.
Metal screws in plastic will not last very long.
The internal parts are also mostly synthetic, except for the hammer, hammer spring, bolt, etc.
The barrel shroud and the right side of the receiver seem to be one big piece of plastic.
It is impossible to remove the barrel without destroying the shroud, and making the rifle useless.
Two plastic straps hold the air tube attached to the shroud.
The valve is attached to the air tube and you can get them both out of the rifle without degassing.
The super smart guys at Airgun Depot call this plastic "high-quality, firearm-grade synthetics": https://www.airgundepot.com/gamo-arrow.html
I do not have firearms, but I doubt I would buy any if they were made like this.
Noise
Out of the box the rifle is reasonably quiet.
It is substantially more quiet than a Gamo Urban and slightly more quiet than a Umarex Notos.
With a weaker hammer spring (and lower power), the noise goes substantially down, enough to make it backyard friendly.
Internals and partial disassembly
The disassembly involves:
-remove the 2 stock screws
-remove the stock
-remove the 4 small receiver screws,
Hold the receiver plate because it can pop out.
-remove the receiver plate
Do the reassembly in reverse order.
Internal photos are attached.
Do not shoot the airgun disassembled because the 2 plastic straps holding the air tube will detach, and some screws will fall out
.
Tuning
The main tuning involves changing the hammer spring, since there is no hammer spring adjustment.
The original hammer spring dimensions are: 1.1-1.2mm wire, 11.5mm outer diameter, 67.5mm length
For my hammer springs I have used this: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800219014836.html
I have made 2 springs:
-52-53mm long for lighter pellets
-62-63mm long for heavier pellets (Crosman 10.5 grains)
When cutting the hamnmer springs the maximum velocity with Crosman 10.5 grains was around 960-965 FPS which gives about 21.5 FPE.
If you want more power you will probably have to drill out the transfer port.
Another option (if you have a lathe) is to make your own transfer sleeve/port with different diameters.
Shot strings
Stock hammer spring
865-900 FPS for 40 shots starting at 3400 PSI with Crosman Premier 10.5 grains
62-63mm hammer spring
895-930 FPS for 40 shots starting at 4000 PSI, with Crosman Premier 10.5 grains
52-53mm spring
870-905 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with Norma domed 9.1 grains
895-930 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with Norma domed 8.4 grains
915-950 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with CPHP 7.9 grains
Accuracy
I have tried 4 pellets: Crosman domed 10.5 grains, Norma domed 9.1 grains, Norma domed 8.4 grains, CPHP 7.9 grains.
At 17-18 yards I could get about 0.5" groups with the Norma pellets.
I tried to shoot past 30 yards at various targets and could rarely hit them.
So accuracy may be acceptable (not great) at a shorter range, under 30 yards.
The barrel cannot be removed (without destroying the shroud and attached receiver), so accuracy cannot be improved by recrowning, etc
Similar airguns
Gamo Arrow retails around $220.
Compare the Gamo Arrow to the Beeman offerings (Chief 2 Plus, underlever 1357/1358, Crosman Icon etc).
For about the same price as the Arrow, the Beeman PCPs have a solid build and good to great accuracy.
The only thing that is better for the Arrow is the shot string which is due to the excellent BSA valve.
Other reviews
Troy Hammer's reviews
www.airgunnation.com
Tom Gaylord's review
Airgun Depot review (they obviously want to sell this)
www.airgundepot.com
There are several youtube reviews which are usually paid and are a combination of clueless and promoting.
Positives
Excellent shot strings, 40+ shots (4 magazines) with a 30-35 FPS spread.
The Gamo Arrow uses the same (or similar) valve as the BSA air guns (Urban, Buccaneer, etc) which explains the shot strings.
3 years Gamo warranty
Relatively low noise
Cheap magazines
The Arrow uses the same magazines as the Gamo Swarm Gen 1.
The magazines cost less than $15, usually around $12-$14.
Negatives
Accuracy which is acceptable, not great.
Build quality reminding of Crosman/Daisy multi-pumps (Daisy 880, Crosman Legacy, etc).
The cocking bolt/arrow sometimes blows slightly open when shooting which will lose velocity and make lots of noise.
Even after many pellets I kept having this issue.
This is clearly a poor design.
The Foster nipple is located in a very tight spot.
You can use only 2 fingers to attach the fill hose female Foster to it, which makes it pretty hard.
Conclusion
After 8 days and over 1000 pellets I decided I had enough and sent the Gamo Arrow back to the store.
Photos
Photos are at the end.
Out of the box performance
Out of the box you get 4 magazines (40 shots) in the 865-900 FPS range with crosman Premier 10.5 grains.
7-8 grains pellets will be over 1000 FPS, and will be innaccurate at this speed.
Build quality
On the outside everything is synthetic.
The receiver is entirely synthetics.
The metal screws which hold the left side receiver plate will screw into this synthetic/plastic.
Metal screws in plastic will not last very long.
The internal parts are also mostly synthetic, except for the hammer, hammer spring, bolt, etc.
The barrel shroud and the right side of the receiver seem to be one big piece of plastic.
It is impossible to remove the barrel without destroying the shroud, and making the rifle useless.
Two plastic straps hold the air tube attached to the shroud.
The valve is attached to the air tube and you can get them both out of the rifle without degassing.
The super smart guys at Airgun Depot call this plastic "high-quality, firearm-grade synthetics": https://www.airgundepot.com/gamo-arrow.html
I do not have firearms, but I doubt I would buy any if they were made like this.
Noise
Out of the box the rifle is reasonably quiet.
It is substantially more quiet than a Gamo Urban and slightly more quiet than a Umarex Notos.
With a weaker hammer spring (and lower power), the noise goes substantially down, enough to make it backyard friendly.
Internals and partial disassembly
The disassembly involves:
-remove the 2 stock screws
-remove the stock
-remove the 4 small receiver screws,
Hold the receiver plate because it can pop out.
-remove the receiver plate
Do the reassembly in reverse order.
Internal photos are attached.
Do not shoot the airgun disassembled because the 2 plastic straps holding the air tube will detach, and some screws will fall out
.Tuning
The main tuning involves changing the hammer spring, since there is no hammer spring adjustment.
The original hammer spring dimensions are: 1.1-1.2mm wire, 11.5mm outer diameter, 67.5mm length
For my hammer springs I have used this: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800219014836.html
I have made 2 springs:
-52-53mm long for lighter pellets
-62-63mm long for heavier pellets (Crosman 10.5 grains)
When cutting the hamnmer springs the maximum velocity with Crosman 10.5 grains was around 960-965 FPS which gives about 21.5 FPE.
If you want more power you will probably have to drill out the transfer port.
Another option (if you have a lathe) is to make your own transfer sleeve/port with different diameters.
Shot strings
Stock hammer spring
865-900 FPS for 40 shots starting at 3400 PSI with Crosman Premier 10.5 grains
62-63mm hammer spring
895-930 FPS for 40 shots starting at 4000 PSI, with Crosman Premier 10.5 grains
52-53mm spring
870-905 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with Norma domed 9.1 grains
895-930 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with Norma domed 8.4 grains
915-950 FPS for 40 shots starting from about 3100 PSI with CPHP 7.9 grains
Accuracy
I have tried 4 pellets: Crosman domed 10.5 grains, Norma domed 9.1 grains, Norma domed 8.4 grains, CPHP 7.9 grains.
At 17-18 yards I could get about 0.5" groups with the Norma pellets.
I tried to shoot past 30 yards at various targets and could rarely hit them.
So accuracy may be acceptable (not great) at a shorter range, under 30 yards.
The barrel cannot be removed (without destroying the shroud and attached receiver), so accuracy cannot be improved by recrowning, etc
Similar airguns
Gamo Arrow retails around $220.
Compare the Gamo Arrow to the Beeman offerings (Chief 2 Plus, underlever 1357/1358, Crosman Icon etc).
For about the same price as the Arrow, the Beeman PCPs have a solid build and good to great accuracy.
The only thing that is better for the Arrow is the shot string which is due to the excellent BSA valve.
Other reviews
Troy Hammer's reviews
Gamo Arrow
Ordered a Gamo Arrow Monday from PA. Got here today. Came doubleboxed from GAMO already. I knew from the YouTube reviews it was a 40 shot at 16fpe gun in .22 so didn't bother shooting it stock. Takes about 90 seconds to disassemble and another 5 minutes on the lathe opening up the TP to .147"...
www.airgunnation.com Tom Gaylord's review
Gamo Arrow: Part Seven | Blog | Pyramyd AIR
Today we shoot the Gamo Arrow for accuracy at 25 yards. The results should prove interesting.
www.pyramydair.com
Airgun Depot review (they obviously want to sell this)
Gamo Arrow Review | Airgun Depot
Check out this detailed guide & review of Gamo Arrow from the leading airgun experts, Airgun Depot.
There are several youtube reviews which are usually paid and are a combination of clueless and promoting.
Positives
Excellent shot strings, 40+ shots (4 magazines) with a 30-35 FPS spread.
The Gamo Arrow uses the same (or similar) valve as the BSA air guns (Urban, Buccaneer, etc) which explains the shot strings.
3 years Gamo warranty
Relatively low noise
Cheap magazines
The Arrow uses the same magazines as the Gamo Swarm Gen 1.
The magazines cost less than $15, usually around $12-$14.
Negatives
Accuracy which is acceptable, not great.
Build quality reminding of Crosman/Daisy multi-pumps (Daisy 880, Crosman Legacy, etc).
The cocking bolt/arrow sometimes blows slightly open when shooting which will lose velocity and make lots of noise.
Even after many pellets I kept having this issue.
This is clearly a poor design.
The Foster nipple is located in a very tight spot.
You can use only 2 fingers to attach the fill hose female Foster to it, which makes it pretty hard.
Conclusion
After 8 days and over 1000 pellets I decided I had enough and sent the Gamo Arrow back to the store.
Photos
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