Airmax Varmit vs Gamo Urban which one?

[Edtampa]

I need some opinions about these two guns.
 
Do you consider them to be a fair comparison? If not why?

I have 2 Disco's .177 and .22 but looking for something a little lighter and shorter. I have been reading everything on here and other places about these two guns. I know the Prod is out there and I have considered it until I saw these two choices which seem t have more power and can reach out further.

My two concerns about them are as follows:

1. The lack of customers service from the people that sell the Airmax, thier failure to respond to even the simplest question. ( I know because I bought a CP1 a while back and they have yet to respond despite my emails).
2. The price of a spare magazine for the Urban, although I have been using a single shot for several years now but a multi shot would be nice.

The Airmax is under $200.00 and the Urban is $ 269.00 at both Wally World and Amazon.

I am looking at either in a .22.

What would be the advantages of one over the other? The price different is not a concern  so give me some valuable arguments for and against each gun please.
It seems the Gamo Urban is a much better gun out of the box unless I am missing something.
 

[Rob M]

I think the gamo being silent from the factory is nice.. the gamo is likely more accurate also right out the box with no work .,.. But , an a Airmax plinkster owner, I like the product line.

[riverboats]

I can't compare since I don't own an airmax.

I like my Urban, the biggest selling feature to me was its weight and its very quiet.

I will address your concern about the magazine costs. They are expensive and like you I don't really care if I have a repeater, I single load my 2240 all day and its automatic to me. The thing about the urban is it is pretty much impossible to load it single shot, it doesn't come with a single shot tray and I can't find a single shot tray for sale.

I'm fine with the single magazine that came with it, but if it breaks or I lose it, I can't shoot the gun till I find another one. I wish I had the skills to make a single shot tray .

[avator]

Is your CP1 .177 or .22?
The mags work with both guns if they are the same caliber.
I was all about the Gamo Urban until I got the CP1 with 2 mags. Then it made sense to me to get the AMV in .177. Now I have 2 guns and 3 mags that work in both. I have a SynRod in .22 with 4 mags. It's just a bit heavy for woods work.

[farmerjoe99]

I personally would go with the Gamo urban, for its BSA barrel, and breech plus there is tons of info out there for BSA rifles
most of which still apply to the urban, for a single shot tray: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/bsa-single-shot-adapter-177-cal-fits-r-10-scorpion-ultra?a=3910=d84be11f4bc8366daa6a2b3a29c3f2a8

I've used it on my BSA scorpion works great. That said I'm curious to try an airmax but I see it more as a utility rifle,
while I'd be much more confident about the bsa for build quality but many of the reports on SPA rifles and pistol are very good so its a tough choice.

[riverboats]

. 22 single shot tray has been unavailable for a while. Any idea where else to find one, all my searches ended up in dead ends.

[avator]

Shouldn't be too hard to make one out of ... say... a rubber eraser? Make it so it fits a bit snug so it don't slip out.

[farmerjoe99]

ahh sorry forgot for a minute you need a .22 , well you could probably drill out the .177 or contact
someone to make a custom one but that would probably be about as a much or more than a spare mag.

[Edtampa]

I personally would go with the Gamo urban, for its BSA barrel, and breech plus there is tons of info out there for BSA rifles
most of which still apply to the urban, for a single shot tray: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/bsa-single-shot-adapter-177-cal-fits-r-10-scorpion-ultra?a=3910=d84be11f4bc8366daa6a2b3a29c3f2a8

I've used it on my BSA scorpion works great. That said I'm curious to try an airmax but I see it more as a utility rifle,
while I'd be much more confident about the bsa for build quality but many of the reports on SPA rifles and pistol are very good so its a tough choice.

That was my thought because of the BSA connection and the hammer forged barrel.

"I like my Urban, the biggest selling feature to me was its weight and its very quiet"

That is a big deal for me as well.

[Talan]

Have been shooting my wife's Urban and I will admit, it is a very accurate rifle.  The 10 shot clip is really nice also.  As to being light; it weighs a little bit more than my Disco.  The built in modulator works pretty good and it's power is easily adjustable.  I was so impressed I ordered one for myself.  Sorry, I don't know anything about the Airmax

[Wayne52]

The Varmint has good power right out of the box, here's a string I did yesterday morning, I could have started with a lower fill pressure but I started a 200bar which is max.  2700psi would be a better start for the string.

[Edtampa]

Have been shooting my wife's Urban and I will admit, it is a very accurate rifle.  The 10 shot clip is really nice also.  As to being light; it weighs a little bit more than my Disco.  The built in modulator works pretty good and it's power is easily adjustable.  I was so impressed I ordered one for myself.  Sorry, I don't know anything about the Airmax

How does it shoulder compared to the Disco? With it a few inches shorter and the "pistol" type grip I would think you wouldn't notice the weight as in a Disco with a scope. 

[.]

Ed,

Like most of us, I have also been looking at the Urban and Airmax rifles, comparing and pricing. I have had the Gamo in and out of carts for months, it seems, ha ha..

The Spa guns I just noticed a few weeks ago, and like you, I was worried about getting them from Mrodair.

I think they are likely both great values, for differing reasons.

If it were my first PCP, I would have grabbed the Urban and ran with it, it has everything I like in a PCP, except cheap magazines. Ok, so  hey, so we have to buy ONE extra mag, and hope for a price break another day, right? We are done at $319, and out shooting with grins from ear to ear..

But, since it is not my first, PCP, I already have guns that do what the Urban does, but in .25, and with more power...

Soo, I looked at the SPA rifles, and saw the potential for making them into something more than they are now. I love that they are super-light, and very powerful, and can be made even more powerful. I wouldn't do much of anything to an Urban but shoot it. If it broke, I would open it up and see what else could be improved while I am inside, but otherwise, I see it as a grab-n-go hunter/pester carbine with fun written all over it. I love black guns, and the stock on the Urban appeals to me. Truth is, I will likely grab one someday, but for now, the SPA guns have my attention..

I bought one in .177 and another in .22, plus two extra mags for each for $398.

Ok, so for $319 I could get one rifle and two magazines, or, for $398, get TWO rifles and SIX magazines, for just $81 more..

For me, there was only one 'best deal', and that was the SPA deal..

:-) Chickie

[Talan]

My disco and the urban shoulder very much the same.  My disco is not exactly in original condition though.  As I recall, the original stock and the one on it now still shouldered about the same also.

[Edtampa]

Ed,

Like most of us, I have also been looking at the Urban and Airmax rifles, comparing and pricing. I have had the Gamo in and out of carts for months, it seems, ha ha..

The Spa guns I just noticed a few weeks ago, and like you, I was worried about getting them from Mrodair.

I think they are likely both great values, for differing reasons.

If it were my first PCP, I would have grabbed the Urban and ran with it, it has everything I like in a PCP, except cheap magazines. Ok, so  hey, so we have to buy ONE extra mag, and hope for a price break another day, right? We are done at $319, and out shooting with grins from ear to ear..

But, since it is not my first, PCP, I already have guns that do what the Urban does, but in .25, and with more power...

Soo, I looked at the SPA rifles, and saw the potential for making them into something more than they are now. I love that they are super-light, and very powerful, and can be made even more powerful. I wouldn't do much of anything to an Urban but shoot it. If it broke, I would open it up and see what else could be improved while I am inside, but otherwise, I see it as a grab-n-go hunter/pester carbine with fun written all over it. I love black guns, and the stock on the Urban appeals to me. Truth is, I will likely grab one someday, but for now, the SPA guns have my attention..

I bought one in .177 and another in .22, plus two extra mags for each for $398.

Ok, so for $319 I could get one rifle and two magazines, or, for $398, get TWO rifles and SIX magazines, for just $81 more..

For me, there was only one 'best deal', and that was the SPA deal..

:-) Chickie

Exactly what you said IS the issue with trying to decide.......I see you have a Disco which I do as well in fact 2 of them. So how much lighter is the Varmit than the Disco in .22 and how do you think they compare?

[.]

Ed,

I just ordered my Varmints today, so I don't know, and I have never held an Urban, either, sorry...

My gut feeling is that the Varmint won't be top-heavy like the Disco, and will be a faster 'point-and-shoot' gun than the Urban. For me, the Urban seems to be a bit bulkier, though lighter than many other options, not nearly as light as the Varmint.

I can see me taking the Varmint out in a boat, canoeing, or just walking the property line with some of the posse. The Urban has a different 'black gun' vibe that I'd prefer not to deal with in some situations. I have a LOT of tactical-look guns, so having a traditional looking, smallish, un-startling, non-threatening pellet gun also makes more sense for me. I can tote these through a campground with a gaggle of kids in tow, and nobody will bat an eye, but the Urban? Hmm, maybe not so much, ha ha!!

:-) Chickie

[fxtrapper]

The thing that stands out in my mind is Made in U.K. for the Urban or made in china for the mrodair Varmints. I don't think Chinese made components can compete with English made air rifles myself especially after shooting the Urban's. With the price as close as it is I couldn't chose China over the United Kingdom.

[skorec]

I personally would go with the Gamo urban, for its BSA barrel,

Do you know more details about the .177 barrel ?
Thickness ?,  how long is ?, twist rates ?, is chocked ? , it like JSB beasts ?

Is there some air pressure regulator for URBAN ?

[titeuf007]

The thing that stands out in my mind is Made in U.K. for the Urban or made in china for the mrodair Varmints. I don't think Chinese made components can compete with English made air rifles myself especially after shooting the Urban's. With the price as close as it is I couldn't chose China over the United Kingdom.

i disagree with you
i have many pcp (fx 500,bsa bucanner se,kral arm)
i have already  in my hand a spa gun and i can say you that is better made than my bsa and my krale
fx is better for finish...spa airgun are very solid like a rock (it look like  my cz 450 finish)
the only thing i don t like is the wood which look very ugly (for spa 15 the wood is good quality but vernish is not beautiful)
their latest product is good than 1000$ gun.
their pistol with some tunes can achieve 27j

[avator]

The thing that stands out in my mind is Made in U.K. for the Urban or made in china for the mrodair Varmints. I don't think Chinese made components can compete with English made air rifles myself especially after shooting the Urban's. With the price as close as it is I couldn't chose China over the United Kingdom.

i disagree with you
i have many pcp (fx 500,bsa bucanner se,kral arm)
i have already  in my hand a spa gun and i can say you that is better made than my bsa and my krale
fx is better for finish...spa airgun are very solid like a rock (it look like  my cz 450 finish)
the only thing i don t like is the wood which look very ugly (for spa 15 the wood is good quality but vernish is not beautiful)
their latest product is good than 1000$ gun.
their pistol with some tunes can achieve 27j

WOW  !!! Those are some pretty BOLD statements.    That's gonna create some buzz around here.