Removing Gamo Rubber Fore-End Grips?

[Gwhite]

I tried a search, but came up empty. I have a Gamo 640 rifle and want to take the action out of the stock. The plastic stock design is/was used in a wide range of Gamo rifles, and it has a pair of rubber grips on either side of the fore-end that cover up the two forward action screws.

The grips have rubber buttons that snap into holes in the sides of the stock. The rifle is about 15 years old, and I don't want to rip the buttons off if the rubber has gotten tired/hard over time.

I was thinking of applying soapy water or silicone oil so the buttons would pop out easier.

Does anyone have any tricks for dealing quickly & cleanly with this?

Thanks!

 

[270windude]

If you want to try getting some lube there that would be ok. Otherwise just pull it fast. Get your fingers under it and yank fast. They’re stronger then they look from my experience. I’ll put them together and take them apart countless times and never had an issue. 

 

[270windude]

I’m assuming it’s a gamo shadow 640? 

 

[Gwhite]

Thanks for the quick response! I feel a bit better about yanking on it now.

Yes, I believe it is a Shadow. I got it used, and the seller just said "Gamo 640 rifle". It certainly looks like a Shadow. (I fixed a typo in the model number in my original query).

 

[270windude]

If you ever need to replace the spring and piston seal I’d recommend the E3650 spring and Tesla seal from experience. Also good candidate for a GRT trigger blade and polished sear contacts. Also it should be super easy to at least put a piston sleeve in. You’ll see a slight reduction in velocity but i found it helps tame the recoil a good deal. 

 

[Septicdeath]

A few seconds with a heat gun.

 

[Gwhite]

Excellent idea! Thanks! I may get to try this over the weekend.

 

[Gwhite]

Well, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans... I finally got around to taking the rifle apart this evening. I gently warmed up the rubber bits with a heat gun, and had no trouble pulling the handguard bits off.

From the condition of the screws, it appeared to have been taken apart by the previous owner at some point. All the screws also had threadlocker on them. That strikes me as a pretty good idea, but I was wondering if the factory did that, or it was just the last guy who was inside?

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions & have a great Holiday!