After testing several Gamo air rifles, including the three for this review, the Whisper Fusion, Swarm Fusion, and Varmint Air Rifle remain the top three choices for the typical shooter.
While each of Gamo’s air rifles are among the highest quality on the market, these three specific model stand out among the rest due to their power, ergonomics, and their ability to be used for hunting just as easily as they can be used for target shooting.
If you’re currently in the market for an air rifle or are considering buying one, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll talk about what makes Gamo a top manufacturer of air rifles, the benefits of owning an air rifle in the first place, and then these three models of Gamo rifles and their unique pros and cons.
Unpack This Article's Arsenal
Get Great Guns And Ammo Deals!
SAFEST NEWSLETTER - WE WILL NEVER SELL YOUR EMAIL
No Spam - No Selling Your Email
Why Buy a Gamo Air Rifle?
Gamo produces high-quality air-powered rifles in addition to air pistol, pellets/ammunition, and optics for air rifles and sell their products in over ninety different countries across the globe. Several of their products are patented, which speaks to their innovation and quality.
Gamo is a Spanish company and has been producing air rifles since 1961. They were originally founded in the late 1880s and produced air pellets for several decades, before getting into the air rifle business, which they have been known for ever since.
An added benefit of Gamo is how they are one of the most environmentally friendly air gun manufacturers, and they run a green manufacturing facility.
What are the Benefits of Owning An Air Rifle?
You might be wondering about the benefits of owning an air rifle in comparison to actual firearms. The truth is that a quality air rifle will make a noteworthy addition to any gun collection.
There are many advantages to owning an air rifle, each of which makes it an excellent choice for a homestead or survival rifle.
An Air Rifle is Quiet
One of the biggest advantages of owning an air rifle is how quiet it is. If you have neighbors in close vicinity, you can go hunting or target shooting with your air rifle, knowing that you won’t be disturbing anybody.
During hunting, in particular, there will be no loud noise that makes wild game alert to your presence should you miss with your first shot.
Air Rifles are Easy to Shoot
Another advantage of air rifles is how easy they are to shoot. There is virtually no recoil whatsoever, so people of any age or height will be able to safely and accurately shoot an air rifle.
You Can Hunt Small Game With an Air Rifle
Certain types of air rifles with enough power are also suitable for hunting small game. You will be able to drop rabbits or squirrels with only one shot.
Pellet rifles, in particular, are quite accurate thanks to their quality build and excellent iron sights, and with the addition of a good scope, you’ll be able to bring down the small game at distances up to fifty yards.
Air Rifles are Affordable
Air rifles are also incredibly affordable to buy and shoot in comparison to firearms.
How Much is an Air Rifle?
Most quality air rifles can be purchased for less than $200, and the ammunition is also very plentiful and reasonable.
Air Rifles are Legal to Own
Finally, air rifles are fully legal to own and fire in almost all areas. This is because they are not classified as firearms, and therefore there are no licenses required or restrictions for you to follow when owning one. However, there are some areas where they are illegal.
Is an Air Rifle Legal to Hunt within My State?
If you want to know if an air rifle is legal to hunt with in your area you can check air rifle laws in your state.
The Top 3 Best Gamo Air Rifles
Now that we have learned about what makes Gamo one of the best air rifle manufacturers on the market and the specific benefits of owning an air rifle, let’s dive into the top three best Gamo air rifles that you can buy:
| Product | Rating | Price | Where To Buy |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Gamo Whisper Fusion Air Rifle | 9.7 | $$ |  |
 | Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X Gen2 Multi-Shot | 9.5 | $$ | |
 | Gamo Varmint Air Rifle | 9.4 | $ | |
1. TOP PICK: GAMO WHISPER FUSION AIR RIFLE
Gamo is a brand well known for its quality, and the Whisper Fusion Air rifle is a model that exceeds the high bar Gamo has set. That’s why it’s our top pick for a Gamo air rifle.
Chambered for the .177 caliber round, the Whisper Fusion Air Rifle is an excellent choice for both small game hunting and target shooting. The total weight of the rile is eight pounds, while the length comes out to 43 inches.
And if you prefer a more powerful air rifle, a .22 caliber model of the same rifle is available to purchase as well.
The Gamo Whisper Fusion Air Rifle delivers a total velocity of 1400 feet per second, which is a significant improvement over many other models of air rifles, which often will not even exceed 1,000 FPS.
Gamo Air Rifle Noise Dampening
The Whisper Fusion air rifle also comes installed with a noise-dampening technology to ensure that your neighbors will never hear anything. While the Whisper Fusion is not one hundred percent quiet or even as quiet as the sound of a whisper (despite the name), it’s still very quiet.
The two-stage trigger is adjustable with a pull of just three and three-quarters pounds. The rifle utilizes a break barrel action, so there is no need to pump the rifle with each shot. Finally, the non-slip grip texture ensures that you will be able to keep a tight grip over the rifle even in wet or slippery conditions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent Ergonomics | Noise Dampening Technology is not the quietest on the market |
| 1400 FPS | |
| Break Barrel Action | |
| A great choice for small game hunting | |
| Very accurate |
2. RUNNER-UP: GAMO SWARM FUSION 10X GEN2 MULTI-SHOT .177 CAL AIR GUN WITH COMBO PACKS OF PELLETS
With the second generation of its Swarm Fusion Multishot Air Gun, Gamo has gone above and beyond correcting some issues in its first iteration. Firing at a muzzle velocity of 1300 FPS, and introducing some brand new tech, the Swarm Fusion 10X Multishot is a solid air rifle, whether you’re small game hunting, shooting pests, or casually plinking.
The truly revolutionary feature is its state-of-the-art horizontal magazine integration. Instead of the typical 10X mag that blocks any possibility of open sight, this new construction changes the game, allowing for optic personalization on a new level.
But with a great, shockproof, and fog proof 3-9X40 optic sight included with the mount, it’s ready to go as-is- with the new construction, it’s lightweight, compact, and more low-profile. Let’s be honest, it looks cool.
Gamo Air Rifle for Beginners
This air rifle is considerably smoother, quieter, and has less recoil, making it great for any quick work, or for young or small-statured shooters. It’s in part from the IGT Quickshot pneumatic gas piston, displaying considerably less vibration and a smoother cocking effort, that replaces the traditional spring.
And, Gamo has upgraded to Whisper Fusion noise reduction tech that is honestly one of the quietest on the market, to go along with their proprietary Recoil Reduction Rail and a 2-adjustment point CAT trigger.
All in all, this Gamo Swarm Fusion has great features for the price. Whether you’re hunting squirrels, shooting snakes or other pests, or just practicing your cluster on some old tin cans, this is a solid choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable and quiet to shoot | Some report a shaky barrel after some use |
| Easier to cock for smaller or younger people, with IGT and CAT upgrades | Reviewers say sometimes finicky with brands/types of pellets |
| Recoil reduction and noise reduction tech really ups the value |
3. BUDGET OPTION: GAMO VARMINT AIR RIFLE
Both the Whisper Fusion and the Whisper Silent Cat are excellent air rifles, but for many people, they come with one significant downside: the price tag.
If you were hoping to spend less than one hundred dollars on a quality air rifle, neither the Whisper Fusion nor Whisper Silent Cat would be within your price range.
But Gamo does produce one high-quality rifle for those on a budget in the form of the Garmin Varmint Air Rifle.
This is a .177 caliber air rifle that utilizes a single cocking, break barrel design, and a spring-piston that can deliver over 1200 FPS.
Gamo Varmint Left-Handed Air Rifle
The Varmint utilizes an all-weather stock that is designed to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed shooters, while it also ships with a shockproof 4x32mm riflescope and mounts. The scope is fully adjustable for both elevation and windage.
Some reviewers have noted, however, that the scope that ships with the Varmint can be a little difficult to sight in. They have also noted that the sights are not dialed in when the rifle ships, so you will need to spend some time sighting in the rifle.
For additional features, the Varmint comes with a fluted metal and polymer jacketed barrel that helps aid in balance. At the same time, the trigger is an adjustable two-stage trigger that’s actually superior to the Whisper Silent Cat. As with all other Gamo rifles, the Varmint ships with a one-year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-Weather Stock | Scope difficult to sight in |
| Ships with Adjustable Scope | Sights need to be sighted in |
| Fluted Metal Barrel (polymer jacketed) | |
| Adjustable Two-Stage Trigger |
Gamo Rifle Honorable Mentions
We wouldn’t have a well-rounded review of the top Gamo air rifle without including a couple of honorable mentions.
GAMO SWARM MAXXIM AIR RIFLE
This is another affordable air rifle option. It has a 10-shot break barrel so you can shoot up to ten pellets without having to stop and reload. Its velocity is an incredible 1300 feet per second with PBA platinum. It utilizes inert gas technology (IGT) and features a 2-stage adjustable custom action trigger (CAT).
The Gamo Swarm air rifle has one magazine and a whisper Maxxim feature with two noise dampening chambers for a much quieter performance. Its muzzle break design is also new and improved.
The IGT piston replaces the spring, which results in more terminal velocity. Additionally, the custom action trigger allows you to adjust the 1st and 2nd stages of the trigger independently. So, you can tailor your trigger to be exactly as you want it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Recoil reducing rail | 10 quick shot system has reportedly failed at times |
| Durable all-weather ambidextrous stock | Harsh recoil |
| Shockwave absorber recoil pad | |
| Comes with a 3-year warranty |
GAMO 600054 URBAN
The GAMO Urban air rifle gun is made of only the highest quality materials. It is a good place to start if you are just getting into air rifles and shooting.
This GAMO air rifle is considered quiet when compared to other GAMO air rifle models. The Gamo Urban is also very lightweight and short, which makes it easier to handle – especially for beginners.
It is a .22 caliber and features thumbhole synthetic stock, a 10-shot magazine, bolt action, and a high precision hammer-forged barrel. It also features a built-in pressure gauge and quick fill port. You will also find a custom action trigger, and it has a velocity of 800 feet per second.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good accuracy | Higher price tag than expected |
| Compact and lightweight | Pricey magazines |
| Easy to handle | |
| Quiet performance |
Choosing the Best Air Rifle
When choosing the best air rifle, you need to consider what you will be using the rifle for. Some primary uses of an air rifle gun include hunting small game, target practice, and even pest control.
Air Gun vs Regular Gun
Air gun use has increased over the years because of several different factors, including the price, safety, and regulations involved. It is cheaper to buy ammo for this kind of gun than any other, which is great if your primary goal is target practice.
There are also very limited regulations placed on air rifles, so you won’t have to find yourself jumping through a bunch of hoops like you would if you were to try to purchase a regular firearm.
Air Rifle Purchase Considerations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when on the hunt for the best air rifle.
AIR Rifle Precision and Power
For competition and target shooting, you want an air rifle that offers you precision. You want to have a consistent velocity, and the power needs to relate to the muzzle velocity and how fast the ammo is being propelled. The heavier the BB, the more power you will find on impact.
Air Rifle Durability and Safety Features
These are also important considerations when choosing an air rifle. Weatherproofing and safety features are a must, especially if the rifle will be used for target practice and plinking. You also want to make sure that there is a trigger safety mechanism in place.
Air Rifle Ammunition
A Gamo air gun is great for hunters because of how affordable the ammunition is when compared to the rising costs of live ammunition. However, you still need to consider and calculate the price of the ammunition and propulsion method you use to make sure it remains an affordable option for you.
Air Rifle Accessories
Few accessories are required when using an air rifle. However, if you are a target shooter, you might want to find accessories that can help with your accuracy. Shooting glasses can also be used for additional safety when shooting in the case of a ricochet.
Air Rifle Scopes and Sights
The Gamo scope helps improve accuracy, which is ideal when you are shooting long-range distances. The scope should fit your usage, and it should also be weatherproof.
Can a Felon Own an Air Rifle?
A felon can own an air rifle depending on the state they live in. Each state has its own laws. Even though an air rifle is not considered a firearm, there are some states that prohibit felons from owning any type of gas-powered projectile mechanism. Check here to see the laws around air rifle ownership in your state.
Best Gamo Rifle – Conclusion
When it comes down to it, there are several reasons why you need to own a Gamo rifle. They are cheap to own, incredibly easy to shoot, and come with the benefit of being extremely quiet so as not to disturb your neighbors or other wild game while hunting.
If you do decide to own an air rifle, Gamo will be one of the very best manufacturers for you to buy from. Specifically, you should pay close attention to the Whisper Fusion, Whisper Silent Cat, and Varmint Air Rifles due to their quality, performance, and versatility.
Recommended Reading
Best Survival Rifle for Hunting or Defense
10 Best Lever Action Rifles Ever Built
5 Best Rimfire Rifles For Beginners
Top Bullpup Rifles for Max Power and Accuracy
3 Responses
Will. Received a Gamo Varmint equipped with a 4X32 scope recently. After replacing the included scope that would not respond to elevation adjustments and shooting in the replacement, I find that the present scope seems to wonder. It will shoot three in a good group, then scatter one way off. I’m no expert marksman, but I have shot some, and do rest the rifle fore and aft when shooting in. Have read and heard stories about such inaccuracies and some of the reasons for same. What should I change or try to make the rifle more consistent?
I have found that you need to wipe the breach face and air chamber coupling surfaces to insure they are totally free of anything that would cause a misalignment of the barrel what it is closed. I do this on every shot. It shrunk my groups from 1” @ 10meters to just over 1/4”. I also found that you need to spend the extra money for a one piece scope base and a decent scope with an adjustable objective to correct for optical parallax inconsistencies.
Hello – you mentioned the Silent Cat as one of your three selected comparisons but I don’t see anything else about it in this article?