your thoughts on the socom extreme .177

[blaqheart]

hi guys, does anyone have anyone have any experience with the socom extreme  .177 ?.The local gunsmith tells me it hits hard and it is extremely accurate, i intended to purchase the whisper deluxe .177,  now I cannot decide.I intend to use the rifle for small game hunting. 

[SAADE]

What's your budget $$ ? There are many better rifles out there for hunting. Glad you came here to ask... "local gunsmiths" usually know very little about airguns, and most of the Gamo guns need a lot of help in the trigger dept. and elsewhere.

[RatRacer]

You could get a just as good a performer with far more mfg and aftermarket support for the money they want for that, and that includes a lesser $ gun + a tune and trigger upgrade. Also, I'd recommend a .22, if small game hunting is to be the primary function.
Gamo requires you send in your rifle for fixing, will not sell you parts, and there's no gaurantee they will fix the issue you send it in for to begin with. A few aftermarket generic internals, trigger and tuning is all that's really available to upgrade a Gamo, unless you know somebody who will make custom parts for you.

[Nathan]

https://www.pyramydair.com/video-details/gamo-socom-extreme-air-rifle-agr-episode-66/239



I would suggest if that's the gun you want, get a .22 if you can, it will better utilize the powerplant. As people have said, not a lot of factory support for Gamo (parts) and be prepared to add a aftermarket trigger upgrade.

Nathan

[blaqheart]

In Trinidad .22 air rifles require a fire arm licences which is very difficult to get.  So being stuck with .177 options it limits my choices, there are a lot of gamo, rws, crossman, hatsan and beeman models available though.  My price range is $400usd. 

[RatRacer]

Apologies. Thought the WI was Wisconsin, not West Indies.

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

hi guys, does anyone have anyone have any experience with the socom extreme  .177 ?.The local gunsmith tells me it hits hard and it is extremely accurate, i intended to purchase the whisper deluxe .177,  now I cannot decide.I intend to use the rifle for small game hunting.

*****************************************************************
 All of the Gamos advertised at 1000-1200fps use the same powerplant. The only differences between them is their outer wardrobe. And price.

 As others have said customer service from Gamo, USA is basically non-existent. The Crosman breakbarrels are a Chinese built clone of the Gamo powerplant that is actually more sturdily built and Crosman customer service, parts prices and shipping and handling are legendary for customer friendliness. I can rebuilt the internals of a Gamo using parts from the Crosman clone for under $10 for seals and spring, get them quickly and only pay $4 for S&H.

 Take the accuracy comment from your gunsmith with a grain of salt-----er---make that a box of salt. Some are accurate and some not---exactly as with the Chinese built Crosmans.

 I suggest a refurbished Crosman Quest from Airgun Depot or some other internet source selling refurbs. At @ $70 + S&H it's a good gamble IMO. I recently bought one of the Benjamin Titan NP SS from them and I am beyond impressed at the condition, accuracy & $115 + S&H cost. Your mileage may vary!!!   Tom

[blaqheart]

thanks tom, how does the trail np xl measure up?.

[Lambchops]

Magnum air rifles are not always better! Especially in .177 where they're hard to learn and master. If i'm not mistaken, don't you have a .177 Hatsan Mod 125? How is that working out?

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

thanks tom, how does the trail np xl measure up?.

I can't comment since I've never seen one.  Tom

[blaqheart]

its a great rifle for hunting, but you're right after cocking that 100 times or so my arm fades.That's why i  was considering the whisper.My 125 gets the job done it took me some time to get to "know " it,  h&n barracuda suits it best, I get aprox 1/2 inch groups at 20 yds .I still have issues with its recoil but is hits hard last sunday i got a 37 lb paca , possums and raccoons don't pose a problem those 10.65 grn pellets crack their skulls.A buddy carried me to hunt mountain dove, it was fun for a while, but i eventually put my 125 back in the van and use his whisper csi it shot smooth and cocking it was easy.I like the idea of having a fun gun, its puzzling however that a 1000 fps  rifle would be so easy to cock. do the crosman follow this trend?.

[Lambchops]

its a great rifle for hunting, but you're right after cocking that 100 times or so my arm fades.That's why i  was considering the whisper.My 125 gets the job done it took me some time to get to "know " it,  h&n barracuda suits it best, I get aprox 1/2 inch groups at 20 yds .I still have issues with its recoil but is hits hard last sunday i got a 37 lb paca , possums and raccoons don't pose a problem those 10.65 grn pellets crack their skulls.A buddy carried me to hunt mountain dove, it was fun for a while, but i eventually put my 125 back in the van and use his whisper csi it shot smooth and cocking it was easy.I like the idea of having a fun gun, its puzzling however that a 1000 fps  rifle would be so easy to cock. do the crosman follow this trend?.

Well it sounds like you've learned your Mod 125 pretty well. As long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters. Congrats on those huge monsters you've taken with it.

[blaqheart]

thanks man i still have a lot to learn,hopefully the stuff i learn from you guys will allow me to understand the rifle mechanics and prevent me from making a bogus purchase ............its been my experience (even though mine is limited) that the rifle shops tecs always  recommend their most expensive rifles, even tough it does not suit your needs. ps i have learnt that the socom extreme takes about 60 lb to cock it, something the gunsmith neglected to tell me when he recommended it as an all day shooter.thanks again.

[shadow]

If you have your heart set on it then go with the .22. I've tuned the .177'sfor customers  and even heavy lead is well over a 1000fps. If you get a .177 that spit's lead accuratly at those speed's then good deal. I have the origonal extreme which is the Gamo Hunter 1250 Royal in .22. She's my go to hammer for Bandit's, C-rat's and working on dropping a Fox and Yote. Ed

[blaqheart]

I took Tom's advice and i checked out some crosman rifles.The titan looked sweet but i fell in love with the nitro venom, it has a beautiful wood stock,it is easy to cock,the pistol grip suits my hands and its light,at least compared with hatsan 125.I bought it !!! got to shoot 5 pellets at the shop's range, its raining here so no more shooting for me today.I cant wait for tomorrow to see what she can do.