GAMO makes quality airguns. Its P-430, although on the lower end of the pay scale, is no exception. It comes in a clear clam packaging ready for beginners or avid backyard air gun enthusiasts alike. When I cut the packaging around the pistol and started reading the directions, I worried that maybe this would be a tough review. The airgun was very lightweight, and the molded fit, although very comfortable in my hand, seemed more “mass production” than I was used to from GAMO. I soon found out that my first impression was way off: I was not going to be disappointed at all.
The directions were thorough, but simple and easy to understand, which made getting to the range and doing the fun part of this job much faster. After reading the directions, I removed the backstrap off the gun and took a look at the area where the 12 gram CO2 goes. The backstrap fits very snugly and I was pleasantly surprised how well made the fit was to the pistol.
Next, I pushed the magazine release button and examined the two ends that each hold eight pellets or BBs. The magazine fell out smoothly, and the release worked flawlessly. In fact, I noticed if I was not careful, I could bump that release and drop the mag without realizing it.
The safety is located in front of the trigger and above it, with a very positive red crossbolt feature. It is easy to manipulate and easy to reach. This is a full-sized handgun so it could be used for training purposes if you have an older teenager or new pistol shooter.
I went ahead and loaded the magazine with pellets and then put a CO2 cartridge in the pistol and fired at a can I had set up. The trigger has a long travel, but is not grating or difficult to pull. For what some may call an "entry-level" air pistol or maybe a step up from that, the trigger is actually pretty reasonable. I used a trigger pull gauge and found it averaged at just under 8 lbs. of effort to break the trigger.
The sights are fixed and square notched. I like square notched sights, but I will admit that with both being black it would have been nice if there were some fiber optic or even a splash of green or orange on the front sight. Some paint can fix that easily enough; I plan on doing that soon.
Upon firing at the heavy-duty vegetable can, I found that I was hitting it every time at about 14 yards offhand. The can was jumping all over the wood lot and I was having a ball making it dance. The pellets mostly dented the can heavily, but a few pellets went through. Keep in mind that GAMO recommends using flat nosed or low domed pellets and not any pointed pellets like the GAMO Redfire pellets that many would use for hunting and penetrating targets. Pointed pellets may jam and/or damage the magazine, so take note!
The pistol was shot at a target to get an idea what it could group, accuracy-wise. I managed just under 2" groups shooting off the hood of the truck with a rest at 14 yards with pellets. When I shot BBs, the accuracy was not nearly as good, but still fine for shooting cans or taking out mice up close.
During my testing of the pistol, I noted that I normally got five full magazines from one CO2 cartridge. That equates to approximately 80 shots per CO2. I find that very acceptable... and keep in mind that I got a bit enthusiastic when shooting the can, and was busy firing quickly, which cuts down on the number of shots the CO2 will deliver vs. taking slow and steady shots.
Specifications
Dimensions 11" long x 1.41" wide x 8" tall
Action: Single/Double
Caliber: .177 pellets or BBs
Magazine: fed with 8 shots on the top and 8 on the bottom in a rotary style
Velocity: Up to 495 feet per second (fps) with alloy pellets
Backyard energy rating: punches through soda cans and some vegetable cans
Power: 1 CO2 cartridge 12 gram
Barrel –smooth bore
Safety—manual crossbolt located above the trigger
Trigger pull—just under 8 lbs
Has a tactical rail for accessories
Weight: just under a pound
So what is my final impression of this air pistol? For a CO2-powered air pistol costing under $50 retail, this is a steal. Whether you are backyard plinking, basement plinking (with the proper BB or pellet trap), or taking out rodents, this is a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy some shooting.
Personally, I have a mouse problem in some of my walk-in quail coops and chicken coops where the cats cannot help much. Sometimes even in the barn the cats are not getting all the mice, and shooting a .22 rifle or pistol or even a .410 is out of the question due to the damage it could cause.
This air pistol is going to be a lot of fun checking on the mouse problem in those areas. I suspect my wife is going to want to know why I am taking field trips at night to the quail coop over the next few weeks until the snakes come back out to eat the mice. Who knows, she may join me in some field trips with a tactical light on this pistol! I think this gun is going to be a load of fun on the farm hunting mice or on a Sunday afternoon after church making cans dance around as we leisurely sit around on the porch. MSRP $48.90; GAMOUSA.com.
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