Gamo Squirrel Field Target w/4 Kill-Zone
do they work well and as advertised,
looking to add some targets to the field
do they work well and as advertised,
looking to add some targets to the field
Gamo Squirrel Field Target w/4 Kill-Zone Reducers
- Thread starter Beginner
- Start date
No...the reducers will not stay on for more than a few shots without some extra means of fastening them.
The Rat on the run targets are the best for the cost. The reducers work well, and will not fall off.
The string that comes with either one is crap. Very stretchy. It will do ok on short targets...but not so good on the long ones.
Mike
The Rat on the run targets are the best for the cost. The reducers work well, and will not fall off.
The string that comes with either one is crap. Very stretchy. It will do ok on short targets...but not so good on the long ones.
Mike
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If you get the Gamo squirrel, you can bend the tab tighter on the reducers to keep them on. Still not great but they will work and not fly off.
A better way is to drill a hole in the bottom of the reducer and the target. Tap the hole in the reducer and thread a screw in from the back through the target and into the threaded hole in the reducer. Now it won't come off. Also keep a check on the nuts on the paddle mechanism, they tend to loosen up.
Have fun.
A better way is to drill a hole in the bottom of the reducer and the target. Tap the hole in the reducer and thread a screw in from the back through the target and into the threaded hole in the reducer. Now it won't come off. Also keep a check on the nuts on the paddle mechanism, they tend to loosen up.
Have fun.
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I weld a washer to the bottom of the reducer and use the existing center pull bolt to hold it in place. The strings that came with my Gamo targets work fine. Not stretchy. Main problem is that they were only 50yds long so some had to be extended. If they get regular use, you can make them more reliable by replacing wingnuts with locknuts. And the linkage pivots with something more secure. Paddles will eventually perforate. I weld the holes over. Face plates and reducers will get warped from repeated pellet strikes. You can remove reducers and face plates and pound flat. With proper maintenance, they will work well enough and last 10+ years.
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I guess I should clarify my post.
Stretchy is a subjective term. I quickly grew tired of requiring two hand grabs on long targets to pull them up. 100# braided Dacron solved that problem. Are the stock strings stretchy compared to a rubber band...no. Are they stretchy compared to Dacron or Spectra...yes.
I owned 50 of the Gamo squirrels for 2 years. They required all the modifications Scott mentioned to keep them operating for a 12fpe rifle. I left my targets out on my course all year. They required constant maintenance to ensure they worked...even after going to the turnbuckle mod.
Contrast that to the 50 Rats on the Run I now own for the past 3 years and the difference is massive. I have done absolutely nothing to the Rats since day one, except replace the string, and they keep on operating flawlessly for 12fpe. They are also made of heavier steel which will last far better with 20fpe guns.
The Rats cost me about 15$ each in bulk. The Gamos were more. I will never bother with a Gamo squirrel again. In fact, I still have a half dozen of them here that I will probably never use again unless there is just a desperate need.
If someone gave me the Gamos...I would just sell them and buy Rats. I would be money ahead in a short period of time, unless I did not have other things to do that can make better use of the time spent modifying and repairing them.
Mike
Stretchy is a subjective term. I quickly grew tired of requiring two hand grabs on long targets to pull them up. 100# braided Dacron solved that problem. Are the stock strings stretchy compared to a rubber band...no. Are they stretchy compared to Dacron or Spectra...yes.
I owned 50 of the Gamo squirrels for 2 years. They required all the modifications Scott mentioned to keep them operating for a 12fpe rifle. I left my targets out on my course all year. They required constant maintenance to ensure they worked...even after going to the turnbuckle mod.
Contrast that to the 50 Rats on the Run I now own for the past 3 years and the difference is massive. I have done absolutely nothing to the Rats since day one, except replace the string, and they keep on operating flawlessly for 12fpe. They are also made of heavier steel which will last far better with 20fpe guns.
The Rats cost me about 15$ each in bulk. The Gamos were more. I will never bother with a Gamo squirrel again. In fact, I still have a half dozen of them here that I will probably never use again unless there is just a desperate need.
If someone gave me the Gamos...I would just sell them and buy Rats. I would be money ahead in a short period of time, unless I did not have other things to do that can make better use of the time spent modifying and repairing them.
Mike
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I hear you. When I started the FT matches at our range, the Gamo target was about the only low cost option. If starting over, I would not get Gamos. The Air Venturi target is a more robust option, though only available in one silhouette (rat),
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Gamo targets are not the best and not the worst field targets. We have quite a few Gamo targets in our inventory. I have modified and bolted the reducers on. They loosen and also deform after use but can be repaired. I have replaced some of their reducers with washers that I bolt on. We have a lot of different face plates so they don't always look like Gamo targets which makes it more fun( less boring). We don't leave our targets out but the Gamos are 8 or nine years old and work fine with some maintenance. The paddles will get shot thru and I have replaced a few of them and we replaced the toggle fasteners with bolts. Generally I would say that the Gamos are an okay value for the money and great if you have no targets and want to build an inventory. The rat targets mentioned is a little nicer and a bit more heavy duty but only available as a rat. We use them too but we like to use lots of different animals and target types for our matches. We have at least 13 different kinds of targets in our inventory and the Gamos fit nicely in the mix. We also have some Nok Down targets that are over thirty years old and they still work fine.
The heaviest duty targets that we have are probably the After Hours targets by Dick Otten and The Remington brand targets are probably the lightest duty. We opted to not use any Remington targets on our courses, but again if you are looking to build an inventory inexpensively you can buy some and replace them over time..
Rick B.
The heaviest duty targets that we have are probably the After Hours targets by Dick Otten and The Remington brand targets are probably the lightest duty. We opted to not use any Remington targets on our courses, but again if you are looking to build an inventory inexpensively you can buy some and replace them over time..
Rick B.
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I third the suggestion of rat on the run resetable target. A great value for the money. While there is only the rat faceplate you'll be looking at the kill zone more than the faceplate(hopefully).
Another great target is Knock Over from Great Britan. A bit more pricey but well built, lots of variety iin faceplates and when ordering 15 or more the price comes out to $25US or less.
Another great target is Knock Over from Great Britan. A bit more pricey but well built, lots of variety iin faceplates and when ordering 15 or more the price comes out to $25US or less.
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I have several different brands and quite a few Gamos in the mix. They last longer if you use your heavy duty targets for the close ranges and place the Gamos farther out.
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