GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => Gamo & Spanish AirGun Gate => Topic started by: zshuff on September 08, 2011, 09:53:46 PM

Title: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: zshuff on September 08, 2011, 09:53:46 PM
Hello everyone, im new to this site but have been involved with air rifles for a couple years now. Im a big fan of Gamo and in MHO they make a great budget springer. I just bought there new "Hornet" model a couple months ago and love it! Yes, the trigger is prolly this guns weakest point but if the shooter uses a good artillery hold this gun is still capable of 1 inch groups out to about 35 yards.

Has anybody else any experience with this model? From what Ive seen there still relatively new to the market. Ive compared it to the Big Cat and cant find any difference in the two guns. The specs are identical....

Also, what kind of scopes are available to replace the standard 4x32? Id like something that I could adjust depending on the distance of my target.

Thanks!
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: Deane on September 08, 2011, 09:57:56 PM
First of all, allow me to say "Welcome aboard!" You're going to love the GTA. I put a CenterPoint 4-16X40AO with illuminated Mil-dot on my .177 Whisper and love it. It was $65 from Walmart.com. I've used it to break-in a .22 Benji Titan too with no problems. The scope is a little large and a little heavy (about 1.5 lbs) if that's a concern.

Charlie da Tuna (charliedatuna.com or CDT), one of the co-founders of the GTA, makes and sells the GRT-4G trigger ($34.50 shipped) for the plastic trigger Gamos and other triggers for other rifles. It is undeniably the best single upgrade you can make to your Gamo. Although I found that my Whisper's trigger broke in quite nicely after about 1,000 shots, I still bought a 4G trigger but didn't get the chance to install it before I had to return my Whisper because of lateral play at the barrel pivot screw. Read through the threads and you'll see what I mean about the CDT triggers.
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: longislandhunter on September 08, 2011, 11:24:00 PM
Welcome to GTA, very nice to have you with us.  I haven't had my hands on a "Hornet" but to me it looks identical to the Big Cat.  One of my favorite scopes to use is the Centerpoint 3x9x32 AO.  OpticsPlanet sells it for a great price and I find them to give me basically everything I need for backyard target shooting or small game hunting.  There are a myriad of scope options out there though so you have quite a few to choose from.  I'm sure some of the other members will chime in and give you their recommendations. 

Again, welcome to GTA and I'll be looking forward to your future posts.

Jeff
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: Onebaddj on September 09, 2011, 08:35:39 AM
Welcome aboard! As for scopes ive tried 1 center point and wasnt impressed. The leapers scopes work well for me and their service is awesome. Id recommed a mil dot reticle in the 4x40 or a 3-9. With te mil dot scopes you dont have to change anything just know how many mil dots to use at each range for correction.
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: dk1677 on September 09, 2011, 11:06:46 AM
Welcome to the GTA!
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: zshuff on September 09, 2011, 07:15:21 PM
Thanks for the welcome guys! Its much appreciated!

As far as scopes go Ive been heard mixed things about the CenterPoint scopes, but after seeing one that my buddy has on his Benjamin I have to say Im impressed. I really like the weight and the adjustable objective on them. I just may purchase one of these to install on my Gamo.

 
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: Deane on September 09, 2011, 09:28:02 PM
As I said earlier, I have a CP 4-16X40AO ($65 from Walmart.com) and love it. I've heard that Leapers makes it for CP. They are identical. Good luck and remember, if it breaks, just return it and get another. You definitely want to optically center it though. I haven't seen a scope yet that's optically centered out of the box.
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: ThatNewGuy on October 17, 2011, 03:01:59 PM
i am also looking into purchasing a gamo air rifle, and have been looking at a whole wide range of rifles. I have looked at rifles such as the gamo socom tactical, all the way down the price line to the gamo hornet. and i concluded that so little is differant as you go up the price cost that i will probably end up with the hornet
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: SAADE on October 17, 2011, 03:07:57 PM
Welcome, much of the current Gamo line-up is composed of same or very similar internal parts and barrels. Cosmetics, ND52 muzzles, stocks and buttpads change but...their "1250 fps with PBA pellets" rifles are all, basicaly the same gun and trigger set.

Good guns if you know what you are getting (and not getting, like a great trigger). But.. it seems that Gamo pricing has gone a bit north of entry-level IMO.
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: redone1992 on October 17, 2011, 05:15:32 PM
Welcome to the GTA
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: amb5500c on October 17, 2011, 06:37:25 PM
Welcome to the GTA.
Richard
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: lizzie on October 17, 2011, 09:30:08 PM
  I haven't had my hands on a "Hornet" but to me it looks identical to the Big Cat. 

It looks similar, but it's a little smaller and not as "beefy". When I bought the Big Cat, I almost bought the Hornet instead due to the slightly smaller size.
Title: Re: New to the site! Any difference between the Gamo Hornet and Big Cat?
Post by: gamo2hammerli on October 18, 2011, 09:14:26 PM
A big welcome to the GTA forum and family....and if you didn't know or haven't read about them....don't use those Gamo PBA pellets in your air rifle.  They're too light and will definitely ruin some internal parts of your rifle in the long run.