Gamo Viper Express
Industrias El Gamo S.A. · Shotgun · In Production · 2005
Also known as: Viper Express Air Shotgun
Overview
The Gamo Viper Express is a Spanish-made break-barrel air shotgun built on a spring-piston powerplant. Unlike conventional pellet rifles, its smoothbore .22-caliber barrel is designed to fire self-contained air shotshells loaded with No. 9 shot, patterning a spread of pellets for small pests and birds at close range, while an included chamber adapter also lets it shoot standard single .22-caliber pellets as a rifle. It is a single-shot design cocked by breaking the barrel, delivering roughly 725 fps with shotshells and up to 750 fps with pellets.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2495 g (88.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1105 mm (43.50") |
| Barrel Length | 457 mm (17.99") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 229 m/s (751 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 24 J (18 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 18 m (20 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Synthetic |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- .22 Air Pellet (5.5mm) · primary — also known as .22 cal pellet, 5.5mm pellet, .22 airgun, .22 air shotshell
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Break Barrel
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Break Barrel Cocking, Spring Piston Powerplant, Smoothbore Barrel, Shotshell Capable, Pellet Chamber Adapter, Bead Front Sight, 11mm Dovetail Scope Grooves, Ambidextrous Monte Carlo Stock, Ventilated Rubber Buttpad, Smooth Action Trigger
Production
Production years: 2005-present
Marketed internationally by Gamo and its US distributor as a novelty air shotgun and pellet rifle combination.
Origin
Country of origin: Spain
Notes
One of very few production air shotguns. The proprietary EXP20 shotshell holds roughly 17 grains of No. 9 shot (about 20 pellets) and produces a spread of around 12 inches at 10 yards. The barrel is smoothbore, so it is not intended for precision pellet accuracy at distance.
Background
Air shotguns are a rarity in the airgun world; the Viper Express became one of the best-known examples, marketed to pest controllers and backyard shooters who wanted a shot pattern rather than a single pellet.