GAMO C-15 BLOWBACK - Great fun

Gamo’s extensive range of airguns covers most disciplines, and many are aimed at the general purpose/fun sector of the market. On test here is one of its CO2-powered offerings, and with a current RRP just under the £100 mark, it definitely ticks the box for value for money.

C-15 Blowback

Open up the cardboard box and first impressions are very favourable, as the C-15 Blowback is an attractive little pistol. At a little over 6” in length, it’s super-compact, yet with plenty of metal used in its construction, and a weight of 1.6 lbs, it feels authentic in the hand. Black polymer is used for the frame, and this contrasts nicely with the matte black metal of the top slide assembly and the base of the grip, adding to that ‘authentic’ feel. Added sensation comes with the ‘blowback’ feature, which for those unfamiliar, involves the metal top slide moving back and forth as the shot cycle takes place, a feature which we’ll come back to later.

The C15 Blowback is a semi-automatic CO2-powered pistol, designed to shoot either pellets or 4.5mm BBs. My views on BBs are well known, but the fact that this model can take either route is why it made it to my test range. So, forget the BB side of things, but I still recommend using safety glasses for close-range work, as the relatively low power can still create the odd ricochet, even with pellets.

Readying process

To prepare the C-15 pistol for action, one 12-gram CO2 capsule powers it, stowed inside the grip. Access is easy, with the metal base of the grip a simple pressure fit. Pull this down and off, and the CO2 chamber and tensioner can now be seen. Ensure the tensioner has been slackened off, insert a capsule neck first into the chamber, and quickly nip up the tensioner hand tight, so as to lose minimal gas as the capsule is pierced. We now have power.

To the left of the tensioner is the head of the double-ended stick magazine. Press the mag release button, just to the rear left of the trigger, and catch the magazine as it drops out. This is designed to hold eight shots in each end, so push pellets nose first, one at a time, into the eight-shot clips in each end, until all 16 shots are ready. Slide the magazine back into its channel until it clicks into place, then snap the capsule door back into position. We’re now ready!

Fast fire

On the range, it was time to set up a sizeable target to see how the C-15 Blowback performed. The trigger is double action, and as you pull through, I have to say the effort required is fairly minimal. For those who haven’t experienced ‘blowback’ on a pistol, the firing sensation is quite something. This may be low-powered CO2, yet once that slide starts to rapidly fly back and forth, and spent gas fills the air, it’s hard not to smile. There’s a significant kick and jolt as that movement takes place too, so as you would expect, the emphasis is on the shooting experience rather than raw accuracy.

Over my 10-yard range, and firing semi-rested to allow for the ‘blowback’ movement, groups of around 3” were the norm. It did shoot around 1.5” to the left, but I simply aimed off accordingly, and it all worked well. The open sights are nice and clearly marked, and the white dots make for a precise sight picture. They are non-adjustable, but in the speed of the moment, with that super-fast firing cycle, they only need to be a guide.

Blat away all eight shots in quick succession, press the release, drop and catch the magazine, spin it around to re-insert, and another eight shots are at your fingertips. It’s just enormous fun, and airgun shooting arguably at its purest. That sweet trigger really adds something, a combination of the broad metal blade itself and a pleasingly light final release. Interestingly, after the first shot, the hammer stays back, and when residual power over the course of the session drops significantly, the hammer then drops forward.

Shot count

On test, I managed three stick magazines’ worth (3 x 16 shots), before the hammer clicked forwards and the shots began to sound raspy, always an indication of low power with CO2. So, 48 shots as a rough guide, per capsule, which I reckon is about par for the course. As for velocity and energy levels, the statistics aren’t quite so relevant with this type of pistol. But for the record, and using QYS domed pellets, initial velocity showed as 323 fps over the chronograph, dropping to around 282 after the first 16 shots. It stayed around the same 291/281 fps when tested after the next 16 shots, before dropping to 217 after 48 shots. It quickly tailed off after that. A good rule of thumb is to switch to a brand-new CO2 capsule when you can hear the shot is raspy, and then you can avoid being caught out with a low-powered shot and a pellet lodged in the barrel. Stick to that, and the sheer fun of CO2 can be appreciated for what it is.

Verdict

This C-15 Blowback is simply great fun. The blowback system works brilliantly, and the sensation really adds to any plinking session. Add to that the slickness of operation, from both the magazine system and trigger, and it’s an easy recommendation. In short, £99 very well spent.

Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this pistol.