Author Topic: Calling all magnum springer shooters (Read 1887 times))

HOSPassassin · « **on:** December 19, 2024, 08:41:08 PM »

I was zeroing my Gamo Magnum GR today with the bundled 3-9x40. It is mounted with a one-piece mount, a scope stop pin, and Gamo's Recoil Reducing Rail (about which I have heard varying opinions). Each shot would cause the scope to rotate clockwise about 1 degree. I kept taking the rifle inside to loosen the rings, rotate the scope back to vertical, tighten them back down, and go shoot again. This happened three times during the morning. I finally took off the scope and decided to roll with the irons, which are actually pretty nice and one of the reasons why I got that particular model.

I tightened the rings and the mount down as hard as I could with the little Allen key that Gamo provides. What more could I have done? Would an upgrade like a Diana ZR mount or different rings fix this? When the scope rotates it causes my POI to rotate with it.

mikeyb · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2024, 09:01:15 PM »

Sorry I can't offer a positive solution. I went through so many scope/mount-wandering problems on my Hatsan123/130/135 magnums that I no longer even try to use scopes on rhem.

Other folks have had some success. I gave up.

Frank in Fairfield · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2024, 10:43:47 PM »

Line the rings with some rubber or electricians tape.

Berserkeley Mike · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2024, 10:55:31 PM »

Same here, my group size shooting springers is NOT the scope's fault. I know there are accurate springers out there, and accurate shooters, but for me and mine, peep sights bring out the best I can do.

Nukall856 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2024, 10:55:55 PM »

HOSPassasin,
When mounting a scope any scope, I remove the factory tape on the mounts which is usually some kind of nylon and replace with Vinyl Electric tape that I also use for shimming the scope. It provides a good grip and I'm sure it absorbs even the smallest amount of vibration. I have not had a scope turn on me though I do not have a GamoMag GR to speak of, though I do have a few magnum break barrel Air rifles. Try the Electric tape it might help... Good luck Aye.

NVak

Blowpipe Sam · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2024, 11:29:32 PM »

I use 3M black cotton friction tape on my rings. I have a 4X32 AO Winchester branded scope on my mod 135. It has held up fine for nearly a year now. It is mounted with a cheap CenterPoint cantilever mount which permits proper eye relief and can actually use the Hatsan scope stop. My .25 cal mod 125 has worn a 3-9X32 AO Leapers scope on UTG rings for over two years and it shows no sign of quitting. The 4X on the mod 135 came out of the bargain bin at Academy sports for under $20. When it expires I will pitch it and grab another one out of my box.

If I could shoot well with iron sights I would prefer them. But my eyesight is just too poor. My advice for scoping one of these hogs is keep it simple. Fixed power, no illuminated reticle, and the lighter the better. IMO cheaper is better too. Some folks will argue the economy of a good quality scope versus a cheap one. I'd rather the beast ate cheap scopes since it's going to regardless. So I'll stick another cheap scope on it every year or two. The 4X is perfectly adequate for ranges out to fifty yards and I don't think anyone thinks of the mod 135 as a long range precision rifle so why stick more scope than you need on it?

splitbeing · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2024, 10:33:28 AM »

Count me in on the tape suggestion.

Also count me in on good quality, cheap scope. The two best bang for your buck, springer surviving scopes are the beeman 4x and the winchester 2-7xao. I haven't tried the 4x winchester Captain Carter mentioned. The beeman 4x has an adjustable front lense piece if needed (like a poor man's, unadvertised parallax adjustment). Anyhoo, both of these scopes are great glass for the money.

Good rings have also helped me. The 4 screws per ring are better than 2. The sniper offset mount, which is rugged and inexpensive, has also worked well on my magnums. I think Captain Carter also uses these on his magnums?

lefteyeshot · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2024, 11:42:49 AM »

When a scope breaks sometimes the cross hairs will rotate in the tube but will start throwing the pellets all over.

The big Hatsan's factory mounted picatinny mounts are to far forward and need a off set one piece for good eye relief unless you have a long neck. Poor man's off set is two piece rings, both in front of the turrets

My 155 springer broke a scope before I could zero it, like 10 or 12 rounds.

Out of 10-12 broke scopes over the years 6 were Hammers.

I've had good luck with Center Point and Simmons 2-7 and 3-9 mag but no AO. $50-60 bucks at Walmart.

Blowpipe Sam · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2024, 12:31:38 PM »

After few years of shooting the Hatsan magnums I have come to believe that pellet choice makes a difference in regards to the shot cycle and the life span of scopes. Almost all of the magnums I have shot have an unpleasant shot cycle with light weight pellets. Conversely too heavy a pellet also makes for a crummy shot cycle. Pellet weight isn't the only factor since head and skirt diameter and pellet drag also play a part. Find the right pellet and hit the "Goldilocks spot" and the gun will shoot remarkably smoothly.

splitbeing · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2024, 01:13:21 PM »

The difficulty of getting inside the gamos prevented me from making the following comment before, but here it is: consider tarring the spring. Some gamos really buzz, twang, and vibrate. Settling that all down will reduce vibrations affecting the scope on the tail end of the piston strike punches it is taking already. Also might make the shooting experience better too, unless there's no such twang on yours, HOSPAssassin.

Blowpipe Sam · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2024, 01:26:52 PM »

I don't know what the Gamos look like on the inside but I have had a great deal of success using MikeyB's design for a spring guide on my Hatsans. It tamed the .25 cal mod 125 and made my mod 95 a 56 yard squirrel killer.

Roadworthy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2024, 01:59:49 PM »

Instead of vinyl tape try Scotch 2259. It's more "rubbery". You may have to get it from an actual electrical supply store.

HOSPassassin · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2024, 02:52:15 PM »

Quote from: splitbeing on December 20, 2024, 01:13:21 PM

The difficulty of getting inside the gamos prevented me from making the following comment before, but here it is: consider tarring the spring. Some gamos really buzz, twang, and vibrate. Settling that all down will reduce vibrations affecting the scope on the tail end of the piston strike punches it is taking already. Also might make the shooting experience better too, unless there's no such twang on yours, HOSPAssassin.

Funny you should mention that...

The Magnum GR is a 28 ft-lb gun with a steel spring. It costs about 300 bones at gamousa.com. The .177 Varmint that I also have is a 14 ft-lb gun with a steel spring that costs a little over $100. Guess which one has a less twangy, more refined shot cycle? The Magnum! I think there are higher quality components or maybe some factory-added tar on the spring. Seriously, the shot cycle reminds me of a gas piston, just a little "moreso." It's a very quick thump with no buzz or twang. I thought about buying some Tune-in-a-Tube for the Magnum and now I think I will probably put it on the Varmint.

I appreciate the suggestion for electrical tape. I'll have to try that and Captain's suggestion about a cheap Winchester scope when I get time. It's still squirrel season here and I try to spend my hobby time in the woods rather than tinkering.

nced · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2024, 06:21:39 PM »

Quote from: Nukall856 on December 19, 2024, 10:55:55 PM

HOSPassasin,
When mounting a scope any scope, I remove the factory tape on the mounts which is usually some kind of nylon and replace with Vinyl Electric tape that I also use for shimming the scope. It provides a good grip and I'm sure it absorbs even the smallest amount of vibration. I have not had a scope turn on me though I do not have a GamoMag GR to speak of, though I do have a few magnum break barrel Air rifles. Try the Electric tape it might help... Good luck Aye.

NVak

I use a .177 Beeman R9 and a .177 HW95 that have been tuned to about 13fpe (hardly a "magnum") but I needed to line my rings with electrical tape to stop mscope slipping.
When I was using the one piece BKL mount I had "scope creep" in the bare rings with 15 in/lbs screw torque.............

After that I lined the rings with cloth electrical tape and no more scope sliding in the rings but the mount slid on the receiver dovetails even though the 6 base screws were torqued to 45 in/lbs (10 in/lbs above the recommended 35 in/lbs.........

Anywhoo, I solved my scope slipping issues by replacing the (stop pinless) BKL mount with a dovetail to Weaver/Picatinny universal adapter which does have a stop pin..........