Gamo Hunter Extreme
Gamo have a new break barrel air rifle called the Hunter Extreme. They claim it is the fastest spring air gun on earth.
Gamo Hunter Extreme .22
The .22 rifle will push a lead pellet at 950 fps. From my limited knowledge of air guns, I think this is 10-20% more power. The downside is that is take 65 lbs of effort to cock the rifle.
Specs:
Caliber: .22
Velocity: 1300 feet per second (fps) with PBA*, 950 fps with Lead
Max Energy: 32 Joules
Break Barrel: Single Cocking System
Barrel: Jacketed steel bull barrel
Cocking Effort: 65 lbs
Trigger: Second Stage adjustable
* Gamo PBA: Performance Ballistic Alloy. A lighter non-lead brand of pellets.
In a promotional video from Gamo a hunter takes down a 250 pound boar with the .177 model using the PBA pellet (being pushed at 1600 fp/s).
I am pretty skeptical about this video. I originally uploaded it to youtube to embed it on the blog but then decided to delete it. I do not think they should be encouraging kids to go pig hunting with a .177 air rifle. Especially since the video looks like a setup – a docile pig is shot at near point blank range from an elevated angle.
More info on the rifle and the video mentioned above can be had at the Hunter Extreme website.
Congrats on the new toy. I love my Gamo Varmint Hunter with GRT-III trigger upgrade. I’m really interested in getting one of the high powered .22 air rifles, so I’m eager to hear your impressions of this one.
I’m not sure why anyone would want to hunt a wild boar with something that is single shot unless you’re packing a .54 black powder slug. And even then boars can and will surprise you.
Watching the video, the pig is hit twice. First from a distance shot, maybe 25 yards. The pig is definitly realizing something isn’t right with its brain and is trying to get away. The second shot looks like the pig is exhausted by being chased by the dogs and is about to drop. The second shot then pops the critters brain through the thinner part of the skull.
I’d still go after the thing with either a rifle or shotgun than need another 2 dozen stitches closing up a leg gash.
All of this is just my own opinion.
I’ve used an old Gamo air rifle for years for basic pest control and the occasional plinking of teenagers drinking beer in the woods behind my house and being loud about it. Never thought of trying to hunt a hog with one of those tiny pellets.
I saw that video on youtube. One of the comments points out the pig moves. I agree with you about the video being a set up.
“Max Energy: 32 Joules”
Am I converting this incorrectly? 23.6 ft-lbs? That seems really low even for a air rifle – especially one you plan to shoot even a small animal with.
guy, you are right, that does seem low, that could be the PBA measurement. For 15 gr lead pellets the muzzle energy should be 30 ft/lbs or 40 joules.
Steve, it was a wise decision not to post the video. I think Gamo is overstretching its marketing campaign once again – and this causes much harm for all serious airgunners.
The video i watched shows 2 pigs being killed the first the guy has on bluegeans and a dennum shirt, the pig drops 1 shot. I use to shoot pigs to butcher on our ranch as a kid, they still kick after they are down… the pig droped like a rock.
The second pig dogs were chasing, i do agree i wouldnt go after a pig unless i had a side arm. however i did down a javalena before in self defense with 1 shot from a thompston continder 22. I do believe this rifle will put down a bore. i also believe this gun would put me down if I was shot with it..
So far i have no negative things to report with mine, it is loud, i don’t have a chronograph but the led pellets sound a lot faster through my Hunter extreme than my wifes Gamo Whisper. it’s a definite crack, sounds like a 22
P.S. almost all manufacturers stretch the Fps from what i’ve seen kinda like those fuel economy cars.
I just did a bunch of velocity tests on my Gamo Hunter Extreme .22 and the muzzle energy consistently stays in the 28-29 ft-lbs range for most lead pellets. The highest energy was with Crow Magnum at 29.97 ft-lbs (861.3 fps). The highest lead pellet velocity was 967.3 fps with 14.3gr Gamo Rocket which translates to 29.7 ft-lbs. PBA goes faster at 1154 fps but it’s lighter (9.9gr) – still the same energy – 29.26 ft-lbs.
Simba, very interesting. Thanks for posting your results.