Gamo Arrow SLT PCP Review: The Side-Lever Evolution of an Entry-Level Classic

Intro

Pre-charged pneumatic airguns often carry a reputation for steep pricing and cumbersome setups. The prior Gamo Arrow PCP challenged that dynamic, but the new Gamo Arrow SLT refines the platform significantly. Migrating away from the pull-back T-handle system of the prior Gamo Arrow PCP, this updated model incorporates an intuitive, user-friendly side-lever cocking action. By retaining the stout power plant of the prior platform inside the lightweight, compact synthetic form factor that shooters loved, the Gamo Arrow SLT delivers an approachable, ergonomic multi-shot PCP for backyard marksmanship and small-game control.

Aesthetics

The Gamo Arrow SLT keeps the nimble profile that made the prior model popular. Built with an all-weather, automotive-grade glass-filled nylon stock, it features textured stippling along the grip and forearm for off-hand control.

• Dimensions & Weight: Keeping its compact footprint, the rifle weighs roughly 5 lbs and measures just under 39 inches overall.
• Barrel & Suppression: It carries a 20-inch rifled steel barrel wrapped in Gamo’s Whisper Fusion dual-chamber sound suppression system for ultra-quiet, backyard-friendly shooting.
• Sighting Equipment: Contrasting fiber-optic open sights (fine red front post, fully adjustable green rear) come standard, alongside an 11mm dovetail rail machined into the receiver for mounting optics.
• Calibers Available: Offered in .177 and .22 calibers.

Setup and Operation

The major mechanical overhaul on the Gamo Arrow SLT is its revised cocking and feeding interaction:

• Magazine Mechanics: The rifle feeds from a spring-loaded 10-shot rotary magazine.
• Cocking Stroke: Pulling the side lever rearward retracts the internal pellet pusher. Once the pusher clears the breech block, the magazine’s internal spring tension automatically rotates the next pellet into alignment.
  

• Chambering: Pushing the side lever forward drives the pellet pusher ahead, smoothly seating the pellet into the breech and locking the action ready to fire.
• Air Reservoir & Filling: The onboard 140cc cylinder rated to 232 bar (approx. 3,365 PSI) fills via a standard quick-disconnect Foster fitting. Due to its modest reservoir volume, it remains exceptionally easy to top off with a standard manual hand pump.

• Fire Controls: Equipped with Gamo’s two-stage CAT (Custom Action Trigger) and a manual lever safety positioned inside the trigger guard directly in front of the blade.

Performance 

Chronograph testing with .22 caliber JSB Exact Jumbo 15.89-grain pellets illustrates exactly how the Gamo Arrow SLT’s unregulated valve system behaves across its pressure curve:

Metric	Core 20-Shot “Power Curve”	Full 30-Shot String
High Velocity	899 FPS	901 FPS
Low Velocity	867 FPS	812 FPS
Average Velocity	885 FPS	874 FPS
Extreme Spread (ES)	32 FPS	89 FPS
Standard Deviation (SD)	7.6 FPS	22.9 FPS
Average Muzzle Energy	~27.6 FPE	~26.9 FPE

• The 20-Shot Sweet Spot: Across the first 20 shots, the rifle produces an impressively flat unregulated string, hovering right around 27 to 28.5 foot-pounds of energy with an extreme spread of only 32 FPS and a standard deviation of 7.6 FPS.
• The Velocity Cliff: Beyond shot 20, reservoir pressure drops below the valve’s balancing point. Shots 21 through 30 show a steep decline, dropping from 882 FPS to 812 FPS (a 70 FPS drop across just 10 rounds) and pulling energy down from 27.5 FPE to 23.3 FPE.
   

Accuracy

• 25-Yard Benchmark: Testing from a bench using a rifle rest with a Hawke Vantage WA Side Focus FFP 4-16 scope mounted produced exceptional accuracy. Typical groups with the 15.89-grain JSBs cluster tightly into a single ragged hole inside the bullseye. Interestingly, the late-string velocity drop does not affect accuracy at 25 yards; the pellets continue to hit the same central cluster through all 30 shots.
• Stretching to 50 Yards: While 25-yard impacts remain unaffected, shooters will experience a noticeable shift in Point of Impact (POI) at greater distances once velocity dives after round 20. For engaging targets or pests past 25 yards, the ideal usable shot count is strictly 20 rounds to maintain a flat, predictable trajectory. Reaching out to 50 yards also requires calm conditions, quality ammunition, and solid shooter follow-through.
   

Shortcomings

• Unregulated Drop-Off: Because the platform is unregulated, the full 30-shot capacity is deceptive. Managing the core 20-shot window is critical when shooting beyond short ranges, as the final 10 shots will cause noticeable vertical drop downrange.
• Long-Range Demands: Extending to 50 yards demands strict ammo pairing and careful trajectory management, as any velocity drop past shot 20 will quickly pull impacts low.
   

Final Summary 

The Gamo Arrow SLT takes everything that made the prior Gamo Arrow PCP a hit and resolves its primary handling shortcoming. By ditching the rear pull handle for a smooth, intuitive side-lever mechanism that easily indexes the spring-loaded rotary magazine, Gamo has made rapid follow-up shots natural from the shoulder. Pairing 20 hard-hitting shots on its core power curve with ragged-hole grouping at 25 yards, the Gamo Arrow SLT remains one of the most capable and accessible entry-level PCPs on the market.

Credit: Rick Eustler – AirgunWebTV