A classic in a limited edition - the GAMO PT 80

The latest update is the GAMO PT 80 Dark Ltd, featuring a distinctive print on the left side of the slide and camouflaged grips in shades of grey. Fundamentally, the GAMO pistol has been in production for a remarkable 20 years. It hit the market in 2001, inspired by the alloy-bodied Beretta 8000 Cougar pistol that broke onto the market in 1994. It offered a more compact alternative to the full-size Beretta 92 pistol. Although smaller, it was originally chambered for the .40 S&W cartridge. The 9mm Para version is still the most widely used. Over time, their range has expanded to include .357 SIG and .45 ACP ammunition. Naturally, it is a breech-locked pistol. And it uses the less common rotary barrel lock.

The capacity of the double stacked magazine is determined by the ammo used and the variant of the weapon. The pistol was originally designed as an SA/DA, but over time versions have appeared that operate only in DAO mode, with a cocked hammer, different barrel lengths, different barrel materials, etc. These are distinguished by the last two numbers in the 80XX designation. Currently, these pistols are not manufactured in the parent factory in Italy, but in Turkey by a Beretta subsidiary called Stoeger Industries. And it was the updated GAMO PT 80 Dark Ltd. that I borrowed from the Balistas gun dealer in Hlučín to try out.

a revolver in disguise

As the name and logo suggest, the gun is manufactured by the Spanish company GAMO. Its foundations were laid in the 1950s by Antonio Casas from Barcelona, who started the production of air rifles. El Gamo was founded in 1959 using the head of a fallow deer in its emblem. A stylized version of that deer's head is now the logo of the current company, with the abbreviated name GAMO. The company produced long air rifles until the 1970s. It was only then that it branched out into small arms. Initially air rifles, then pellet guns and later CO2 powered ones. Very well-known are their revolvers, inspired by the Smith & Wesson model 19. The GAMO PT 80 could be considered a "revolver in disguise". This is because it has a similar magazine and the mechanism of the gun works just like a regular SA/DA revolver.

This means that the mechanism can be cocked and the magazine rotated by one chamber either by pulling the hammer or by a long trigger pull. The pistol is not equipped with a "blow back" function, but on the other hand it uses less gas per shot, so the cartridge lasts more rounds. The pistol body is very cleanly molded from impact resistant plastic. The compartment for the gas cartridge is traditionally located in the grip of the gun, covered by a removable cap. It also hides a screw that is used to tighten the cartridge onto the priming pin, located at the top of the grip. The pin is part of the sturdy body of the pressure relief valve. It can be found at the same place where the firing pin is located on real firearms.

The controls and parts placed on the body replicate the looks of the real weapon. While the magazine catch, slide catch, safety lever (on the right side) and extractor are all non-moving imitations, the disassembly lever on the left side serves to unlatch the "slide" and thus access the magazine, and the safety on the left side actually secures the pistol.

The pistol comes in a plastic case with foam inserts, corresponding to a "real" gun. Included are three magazines, an Allen wrench for sight adjustment, a clear booklet with instructions and a packing slip. It hasn't changed at all over the decades.

BETTER IN DA MODE

Due to its design, the handling of this pistol differs from the "real" version. Firstly, we move the safety to the "safe" position. The whole mechanism of the gun works even in this state, only the metal thumb of the safety (which is in front of the hammer) does not allow it to fall on the valve. Unscrew the left grip, insert the gas cartridge and tighten the screw. This pressurizes the system. Then put the grip back in. Push the disassembly lever to open the housing. It has to be held or the magazine will be ejected. When the housing is opened, the safety pin in the front of the body also slides out, preventing the trigger from being cocked and the hammer from being released unless the housing is snapped back. Remove the magazine, fill it with pellets, place it back and snap the housing shut.

Once the weapon is armed, we can fire. Pulling the hammer with your thumb or squeezing the trigger will rotate the magazine by one chamber. A squeeze will fire, and the transition between the valve and the magazine chamber is instantly sealed with a silicone spacer. Due to the design of the trigger mechanism, shooting in SA (single action) or DA (double action) mode is almost comparable. The trigger pull is longer and very smooth in DA mode, shorter in SA mode, but paradoxically the trigger pull requires more force than in DA mode. Although it is still a very nice trigger, shooting in DA mode seems subjectively better.

FIRING

If the stated muzzle velocity of 120 m/s is correct, the pellet has an energy of about 3.6 J at a mass of 0.47 g. Firing was tested with a two-handed grip at a distance of 7-8 m in DA mode. Shots missed, after adjusting the sights from the black circles. This particular weapon was capable of firing 8 magazines, or 64 shots per cartridge. The manufacturer notes that the weapon can be considered unloaded when the cartridge is expended and removed from the grip. There is also no permanent scuffing of the seal around the priming pin. Likewise, an empty or removed magazine at the end of firing is a given. Even though this is a pistol whose design dates back to the beginning of this millennium, it is still a very attractive weapon, the advantages of which are its price, its accuracy and its good sturdy workmanship.

technical data

Weight
510 g
Length
180 mm
Barrel length
100 mm
Sight base
130
Width
33 mm
Magazine capacity
10
Calibre
4,5 mm
Ammunition
Diabolo