| 
By
Chad Adams, Associate Editor, American Rifleman
Many adult shooters who have children
showing an interest in learning to shoot face training a child with
a firearm that is too big or too powerful for them. Gamo is offering
what might be the perfect solution to this problem. Its new NRA
Special-Edition “Father and Son” (not to imply mothers
and daughters can’t enjoy them also) Air Rifles are two NRA-marked
air guns offered for sale exclusively to NRA members at a special
price. In addition, the sale of these rifles directly benefits The
NRA Foundation’s Firearms & Marksmanship Training Endowment,
which promotes general gun safety along with proper handling and
care of firearms.
Both models are .177-caliber, singleshot, spring-piston
pneumatic air rifles. The adult model is based on the Gamo Nitro
17 air rifle, while the youth model is based on the Gamo Recon.
Both feature synthetic stocks, while the Nitro 17 is of a conventional
pattern and the Recon has a more modern-looking thumbhole stock.
To operate the rifles, simply break open the action
to cock the spring piston, insert a pellet into the exposed chamber
and then close the action. It’s designed to fire a normal
lead pellet at 850 fps. The Nitro 17 requires 30 pounds of cocking
pressure; the Recon, which will propel a pellet at 525 fps, requires
19 pounds. The Recon’s reduced amount of cocking force makes
it a suitable choice for younger shooters. Both rifles feature a
manual safety located forward of the trigger guard. It is quick,
easy to manipulate and promotes good gun-safety fundamentals.
Smaller shooters should also appreciate the short
length of pull built into the contemporary-looking polymer stock
of the Recon. The Recon also features a fluted 16-inch bull barrel,
two-stage trigger, ventilated recoil pad and a 4x20mm scope set
into the included mounts. The flutes, of course, are for show, and
they look good.
The Nitro 17 has a fluted 18-inch barrel; an all-weather composite
stock with rubber fore-arm inserts; a thick, ventilated recoil pad;
and a 3X-9X-40mm BSA scope.
The short length of pull of the Recon was somewhat
problematic for adult-sized shooters at the bench. The Nitro 17
exhibited more weight at the bench to dampen vibration, better handling
characteristics and a much cleaner trigger. And during the course
of testing, the characteristics of the Nitro 17 combined for better
overall groups compared to the Recon, as would be expected.
Ultimately, the NRA Special Edition Gamo Nitro
and Recon air rifles present a unique opportunity for members interested
in building the fundamentals of shooting with a youngster. To us,
that’s a philosophy that’s always on target.
 |
