Daughter and I went to the Shooting Show at the NEC for the first time in a few years today. It is well worth a visit for the definite 'fun factor'. Easy to get to, easy to park, excellent shuttle bus all helped. We did not have pre-paid tickets and surprisingly seemed to get in much quicker than those who did because those with tickets had to queue whereas we paid at the counter, got a wrist band and sauntered on in. Altogether a much more professional approach to the show, mostly of trade stands but a very good mix. The airgun 'have a go' seemed to have a good range of guns to try at £3 for 10 shots but there were some free shoots available. The Umarex Boys Club stand advertising free shooting was superb, with an excellent range of reactive targets to be clobbered by CO2 power, The people running the stand deserve a medal for being there all day. Then there was a laser rifle stand to the left of the shooting area .. try and shoot 5 targets in as short a time as possible (no prizes); great fun. Bargains ... it all depends on what you were after. Air Arms had AA Field and JSB at £8 a tin (.177, 500) amongst other types but no saving on a sleeve, another stall had them at £10, but yet another had them at £8 but a request for a reduction for a sleeve of 10 tins was agreed to, nice. Met Terry D, good to see he seems fully recovered from recent ailments and had a long chat with Russ Douglas; what a superbly friendly gentleman Russ is. The new HW bullpup is interesting but at £1100 it should be. The new Sig Air gas ram was available to shoot free in 20 ftlb guise; a bit heavy but very smooth and easy to cock. SRP around £519 but at that price I can see it will have stiff opposition when it appears in 12 ftlb versions later. Food and drink was fair at prices akin to normal retail outlets; we went out of the halls to the concourse for lunch, much quieter, better seating and maybe better value than in the halls.
Overall an excellent time was had by all.
Cheers, Phil