The legendary Gamo Hunter 1250 air rifle is designed for hunting. This is a very powerful weapon, part of the group of spring-piston rifles. The Gamo Hunter 1250 fires aimed shots at a range of up to 100 m, although it can hit the target at a greater distance. Due to its extraordinary power in some countries, this weapon has received the name "Hurricane".
A few words about the manufacturer
Gamo, the world-famous company that arose in Spain, has more than 50 years of history as a manufacturer of airguns: bullets, rifles and pistols. In 1961, the company’s pilot air gun was launched on the Spanish market and immediately became popular with consumers due to its superior quality. The first steps of the company were aimed at creating the production of air rifles from guaranteed interchangeable parts.
Since 1963, deliveries of the company's products to the UK began. Then Gamo became a participant in international exhibitions. By 1970, the company's products were already supplied to 40 countries. In 1980, business relations began with similar enterprises in the United States, and in 1995 Gamo USA was founded.
Since 2013, 100% of the company’s shares have been owned by the New York-based investment fund Brookman, Rosser, Cheryl and Co. ° (B, R, S).
The subject of our review - the powerful Gamo Hunter 1250 air rifle - has been supplied to the world market since the beginning of 2000.
Feature List
This single-shot rifle is charged with a barrel fracture and combines tremendous power and high accuracy. It is designed for shooting with lead bullets of 4.5 / 5.5 mm caliber. The bullet speed is 381 m / s (in the open version), and the power of the shot is 36.3 J (in the open version). The number 1250 in the name refers to the English FPS unit of speed (1250 feet per second).
It is important to note that the rifle is delivered to Russia in a weakened version with a power of 7.5 J and a bullet speed of V 0 = 175 m / s. In order to return the full Gamo Hunter 1250 characteristics, you need to drill a bypass hole (remember the ban on the possession of such powerful weapons - it is criminally punishable).
The clamping force is 26.5 kg (in both versions). Weight is 4.1 kg. The total length is 123 cm, and the barrel length is 400 mm.
Who should use such an air rifle
Of course, its power is impressive, but not everyone can run through the woods with a four-kilogram rifle. But if you already know what the Diana 54 Airking rifle is, then you will have something to compare. In any case, this weapon is intended for an experienced and powerful user. The fact that the rifle is suitable for a large shooter is also confirmed by the fact that from the middle of the butt plate to the trigger is already 37 cm.
The recoil after the shot is such that if you have weak shoulders, it is better not to try to cope with the Gamo Hunter 1250. The rubber recoil pad on the butt, which is designed to reduce recoil, will not help. In short, it’s better not to take such a rifle into weak hands - you won’t get any accuracy in the battle, although the weapon itself has nothing to do with it.
But if you have already run a couple of years of urgent service with SVD, then the Gamo Hunter 1250 is made for you as ordered. Consider the individual options in more detail.
Butt
It is made of wood, and if it were plastic, it would mean an absolute disaster for this rifle. The plastic butt of the 1250th would not last long, so it is made in the classic Monte Carlo style from impregnated beech (walnut in versions for the American market) and equipped with a rubber butt pad.
In order not to slide the palm of the hand on the handle, lining made of fish skin is made on both sides of it. The same pads are available on the forend.
Trunk
Steel barrel 45 cm long has 12 grooves. It ends with a cylindrical muzzle with a diameter of 33 mm, which helps to somewhat drown out the sound of a shot. Although at maximum bullet speed in the full version, it is guaranteed to overcome the sound barrier, and the cotton turns out to be noticeably loud. A muzzle equipped with a fly-bolt can be easily removed if desired.
The barrel is very firmly screwed in and secured with pins in the barrel clutch. The latter is inserted without play in the “horns” of the rifle’s air cylinder. The quality of the metal prevents the risk of backlash in the future.
Whole and sight
The aiming strip (rear sight) has a combined plastic-metal construction and can be adjusted horizontally and vertically. It is also permissible to mount an optical sight on a rifle. To do this, a dovetail attachment unit is welded to the barrel clutch.
The telescopic sight must be selected according to the principle of the strength of its design, since with a strong recoil a considerable load acts on it. Usually when installing it, the muzzle is removed.
How to reduce recoil in the Gamo Hunter 1250
A gas spring instead of a twisted one will achieve this. It is a cylinder with a rod filled with inert gas. If a coil spring during a shot always generates an oscillatory process, as a result of which there is a so-called double recoil, which throws the barrel to the side and reduces accuracy, then the gas spring provides a single, shorter and softer recoil.
Today, such springs are manufactured by the factory and are widely offered in the market of airguns. Installing it in the Gamo Hunter 1250 really improves the characteristics of the rifle: it reduces recoil and increases the accuracy of fire.
What powerful air rifles are the most popular in our market?
Among the most common models are the Gamo Hunter 1250 and Hatsan 125 (manufactured in Turkey, shown in the photo below).
Both of them belong to powerful long rifles designed for tall users. By the power of the shot they are almost the same. Both manufacturers, both Spanish and Turkish, declare the ability of their products to hit feathered targets at distances of up to one hundred and fifty meters (with an aimless shot). It is possible to aim from both rifles, as already noted above, at targets at a distance of up to 100 m. And here the character of the “Turkish woman” begins to appear in comparison with the “Spanish woman”.
Her return is such that many owners using optics have a characteristic trauma in the form of a broken right eyebrow. The barrel during recoil performs a complex movement back and forth (in this sequence!).
What is the reason for such a crazy return? The fact is that the “Turkish woman” has a very large volume of the compressor cylinder, so that when air is compressed, significant energy accumulates in it, which is transmitted to the bullet on the one hand by a shot, and on the other hand, it gives rise to a recoil pulse directed opposite to the bullet pulse (energy conservation law, there's nothing to be done).
The only way to get rid of such a return is to replace the usual twisted spring with a gas one. Despite all the apparent difficulties, this really helps to cope with the return of both Hatsan and Gamo, and also significantly improves the accuracy of fire.
