I bought a Gamo Black Knight a few years back from a big box store. It was one of their cheaper models as I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The scope I put on it was a cheap Remington 3-9x40 scope. I bought some H&N pellets based on their reputation.
With that said, accuracy is minute of coke can at 20 yards. I was hoping for better accuracy than this and I really have lost interest in it. What should I expect accuracy wise from a Gamo? What would you recommend to tighten up groups? Would JSB pellets be the way to go?
Try as many different pellets and weights as possible before you give up. You should find a combination that shoots better than what you are experiencing now.
I've had great accuracy from JSB pellets so give them a try too.
Had a Gamo something It was minute of rat at 25 feet so was good to go.
Air guns are notoriously picky about ammo, you really just need to try a bunch of different brands and weights. Don't buy the cheap stuff.
I just got a new PCP rifle in 22cal. All my other stuff is 17cal, so I have to buy a bunch of new ammo unless I get lucky.
I bought a Gamo Black Knight a few years back from a big box store. It was one of their cheaper models as I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The scope I put on it was a cheap Remington 3-9x40 scope. I bought some H&N pellets based on their reputation.
With that said, accuracy is minute of coke can at 20 yards. I was hoping for better accuracy than this and I really have lost interest in it. What should I expect accuracy wise from a Gamo? What would you recommend to tighten up groups? Would JSB pellets be the way to go?
Learn the "artillery hold" if you haven't already. And unless that scope is air rifle rated, it either has, or will, fail.
Good luck.
I've never been a huge Gamo fan, but I'd say the problem is that cheap scope. It's probably broken from the spring gun forward recoil.
The artillery hold Brazos mentioned helps with zeroing the rifle so that it will shoot to the same point off handed, but I've found it's not needed if you're just testing for accuracy off sandbags. It can get great groups just resting on the bags, but the point of aim when shooting off handed or with leaning against a tree can be several inches off at even 25 yards. When I zero for hunting, I use the artillery hold on the bags.
What do you recommend for a cheap scope that can withstand the spring?
UTG Bugbuster gets good reviews. $120 on Amazon.
Yeah, could be the scope. But, I only put cheap, really cheap scopes on my springers and they’ve worked fine.
The H&N pellets might have a good reputation but doesn’t mean they’ll work well in that gun, especially if they are light weight. Gamo sells because of their high velocity marketing with super light pellets. You know, accuracy smaccuracy, my air rifle shoots 1600 fps!
I’d try some heavy pellets, in the 10 - 11gr range. JSB is a great choice but the heavy H&N Baracuda, 10.65r surprised me by shooting better than the JSB Exact Heavy that weighed 10.34 grs.
Of course, if you’re shooting either of these pellets and they are that inaccurate, check/replace the scope or buy the RWS 48 I’ve been trying to sell. :-)