I’m just back from the GAMO sponsored Squirrel Master Classic at the Southern Sportsmans Lodge near Montgomery, Alabama. This is the largest small game event in the country, well, the world for that matter. Outdoor celebrities are teamed with 4H shooters, outdoor media, squirrel dogs and their handlers. We take off in the Alabama woods and creek bottoms and whoever comes back with the most squirrels wins. It was a great time, great people, great dogs, great food…..but very tiring! Running through the Alabama brush keeping with these guys and girls and squirrel dogs has me whipped!
All that being said we got to handle and shoot the new GAMO Swarm Magnum Viper G3i .22 caliber pellet rifle. This is a slick addition to the growing Gamo line of air guns. A different and improved stock from the Swarm Magnum, handles really nice, slightly less velocity but easier to cock the break barreled action (great for the youth hunters).
Gamo Air Rifles sponsored the event and supplied all the hunters with a Gamo Swarm Magnum Viper G3i pellet rifle. The Swarm Magnum Viper is a ten shot break barrel air rifle and the 10X Quick Shot magazine allows the shooter to load ten pellets in the magazine, insert it into the rifle and fire ten quick shots before you have to reload. Believe me, we needed those quick second and third shots on this hunt as these squirrels had their running shoes on. Once they started running in the treetops, sometimes with spectacular leaps from tree to tree, you had to be quick or you came up empty handed.
The Gamo folks letting us use this new Swarm Magnum Viper G3i were giving us a chance try out this offering before they hit the shelves later this year. I think everyone loved this little air rifle, accurate, plenty of power for taking small game, and it was easy to cock the break barreled action. That made it nice with so many young hunters in the mix. GAMO’s industry changing Swarm 10X Technology, now in its third generation, is featured in the new-for-2023 Swarm Viper Gen3i high-velocity adult precision air rifle. Swarm 10X Technology brought multi-shot ability to break barrel air rifles with its 10-shot magazine. This revolutionary technology combines with a new handsome automotive grade synthetic stock with rubber grips and checkering positioned at strategic locations. The softer rubber insets create a smoother buttstock for the cheek and secure, comfortable grips for both hands.
Available in both .177 and .22 calibers, the new Viper Gen3i produces the high velocities expected from GAMO, and features Whisper Maxxim Noise Dampening Technology and a metal-jacketed steel barrel. An IGT Gas Piston powerplant, 2-stage CAT trigger and a Recoil Reducing Rail round out the package. Every Swarm Viper Gen3i comes with a 3-9 X 40 GAMO scope. www.gamousa.com
