Another nice old springer, Gamo Centre.

Bikeral

Bikeral

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I've always had a soft spot for underlever air guns, ever since firing the old BSA air rifles at fairgrounds, trying to win a teddy bear for the girlfriend after six pints of beer.... ah, the good old days...
So when this early 1980's underlever Gamo Centre came up I thought why not give it a punt. After a total strip down and rebuild, which I do with all second-hand airguns, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.
It's really well built, all steel barrel and cylinder, with a cast alloy frame. The grip is plastic even though it looks like wood. Loosen screws at the side and bottom and the grip is adjustable, from almost upright to quite an angle, in several locking steps. I find it ideal at two notches from full rake.
As for accuracy, mine fires a bit to the left, but the sights are fully adjustable for elevation and windage so it's not really a problem. The sightline is a massive 14 inches, longer than some rifles. If you don't like open sights there are dovetail rails cut directly into the cylinder for other options.
The only thing to watch out for is that the flip-out loading gate is quite narrow, fine for wadcutters or domed, but pointed pellets may not fit.
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they were and are great looking pistols and that on is in great condition
i have been looking for one in the states for a long time but hardly ever see them for sale
thank you for showing us
 
marflow said:
they were and are great looking pistols and that on is in great condition
i have been looking for one in the states for a long time but hardly ever see them for sale
thank you for showing us
Click to expand...
Although obviously well used, I think my example had been stored well, dirty, but covered in protective grease when I got it.
The foresight mount is dovetailed, so may have originally had a tunnel fitted. However I've seen early advertising pictures that show the Centre with and without one, so I'm not really sure if mine is missing or it was never there.
 
Well made and capable of great accuracy. I liked the pop-out loading port but I suspect it would be awkward for those with girthy (oooerrr) fingers. The multi position grip rake was a nice touch too. I recall drooling over this pistol in a Newquay sports shop around 1982.
 
A thing of nostalgic beauty!

The version I had would have been 85/86 had a plastic target style grip with an adjustable shelf. Knackered if you were left handed.
 
I have one with the hooded foresight. It is a very accurate pistol once you get used to the recoil and quite powerful, I measured mine at an average velocity of 412ft per sec on the chrono.
The only issue I found was it started to shoot high which I eventually realised was because a screw underneath the cylinder at the back end which interlocks with a slotted pin was gradually working loose so the cylinder could move on the frame.
I tried some threadlock but this did not stop it from happening so I have to keep an eye on it and tighten as necessary.
 
Always wanted a Center, ever since seeing an article in Airgun World a looooong time ago.
I owned a Falcon for a few years, and quite liked it.
I'm hoping to get to Holt's auctioneers tomorrow and pick one up that I successfully bid on in their Sealed Bid Auction.
 
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