The Target Shooting Show
I toddled down to the Target Shooting Show at Stoneleigh this weekend not quite sure what to expect. Evolved from last year’s Practical Shooting Show in Exeter, the organisers have sought to provide a focussed target show in contrast to the many Game Fairs which have largely evolved into lifestyle events. Indeed even the Great British Shooting Show is rather heavy on hunting, shotguns and companies selling wellies. They controversially ran into difficulties with their proposed sister show in the (council-owned) Liverpool Exhibition Centre who cancelled their booking because “hunting animals is bad”, though the outrage was largely catalysed by the inclusion of exhibitors selling trophy-hunting safaris (the show is now being held at Event City Manchester. Of course there is nothing wrong with hunting per se, but as a target rifle shooter it can be a bit unfulfilling to go to a show and be lost amongst rows and rows of shotguns.
Rifles!
First impressions were that there were plenty of rifles. To be clear, there was a distinct focus on “black” rifles and long-barrelled pistols. The only shotguns present in any number were semi-autos and Section 1 shotguns for UKPSA-style shooting. The Practical Shooting fraternity are in full support of this show and represent its backbone. But the NSRA also had a stand and the “Air Arms Experience” was attending whilst EMRR had brought two lanes of Olympic-grade Sius Ascor electronic targets for punters to try out. There was also a decent contingent of fullbore target rifles with the Precision Rifle League displaying some AIs and various other retailers having a good variety on display. There was also a certain amount of airsoft in attendance with Attacksense running a demo range of their electronic targets.
Small
The hall was not large, and there were just over 70 exhibitors. In some respects this was a boon, keeping the show tightly focussed. It also wasn’t too busy, which meant you got to spend some quality time talking to exhibitors - some exhibitors expressed dissatisfaction with the recent direction of the Great British Shooting Show, noting recent hikes in the cost of stands - this had particularly affected associations and retailers wanting to operate air ranges which necessarily occupy more square footage than a simple booth (but which arguably also bring far more value to the show than simple retail stands). I spoke to at least one exhibitor who will not be bothering with the NEC event this year - they had chosen to focus on this event and the Northern Shooting Show in Harrogate.
The lower cost also meant smaller dealers, gunsmiths and retailers could afford sensible floor space compared with broader events where they have been priced out, and even a few clubs had come along with the Walton Lions, Redhill Revolvers as well as the FCSA.
Target or Practical?
The show retained a practical leaning - although touting “FT, HFT and Target Sprint” in the show guide, this did not really materialise beyond the FT/HFT lanes on the Air Arms Range. One vendor does not make a discipline and I would hope that more of the industry such as Daystate and Steyr will get involved after seeing Air Arms lead the way.
Likewise “ISSF” was really pretty limited to the EMRR stand and similarly NRA disciplines like TR and F-Class were a bit thin. But then last year this was a purely Practical Shooting Show and organisers have made great progress in its evolved incarnation. It would be excellent to see the rest of the trade - Feinwerkbaus, Walther, Weirauch, RPA, etc as well as renowned specialists like Robert Nibbs, Dolphin Gun Company, Bradley Arms or Valkyrie Rifles showing their faces as well as other associations like the NRA and British Shooting.
In summary, this was a niche event with great potential. Was it worth the £15 ticket price? Borderline. That said, I was firmly there in a tyre-kicking capacity and for people with an FAC, open slots and a wallet full of cash the opportunity to lay your hands on lots of firearms in one place and get a good look at them is compelling.