NEC Shooting Show

[cooper89]

I really don’t get the constant complaints that people aren’t getting bargains at these shows, where else can we go look at and get hands on with all manner of different kit? Certainly no local shop has what’s on show that’s for sure, yes it’s a bit of a cost to go and park etc but let’s be honest it’s hardly breaking the bank for a day out to view and handle the kit that’s on offer, not to mention meeting and speaking to a lot of very knowledgeable people. Let’s also remember these stall holders are hammered by high attendance fees so can’t afford to hand out bargains galore.


These shows should be supported by us as much as we can as I can assure you they won’t last much longer, the stall holders are the ones who will suffer badly.

Having been to the show and also been to plenty of game fairs in my time, the bss has a lot more shooting kit than any game fair

 

[Bavarianbrit]

It’s £25 but includes the normal £16.95 car parking fee at the NEC.

Its good if you want to handle and look through all the latest optics and NV and compare them side by side.

All the big names are there Swaro, Zeiss, Pulsar, HIKMicro, InfiRay, ATN, Pard, Blaser, Mauser, Sauer, Browning, Hawke, Highland Outdoors, Scott Country, Edgar Brothers.

Some show discounts 10% or 12.5% on new gear. No reloading components.

Foods expensive but then it’s the NEC. £30 for two bacon and cheeseburgers, one portion of fries and two bottles of water.

I particularly liked the new Hawke LRF binos, very good quality at a reasonable price.

Highlight of the day was chatting to a guy from NZ over lunch about everything from clay pigeon shooting, to duck hunting to tahr and wallaby hunting in NZ. Often it’s the people you meet that make these things interesting.

£25 but includes the normal £16.95 car parking fee at the NEC.
For comparison I just did the Salzburg show and it was 22 Euros reduced for me as I am an old git to 16 Euros plus 9 Euros to put the car into their multi story. A schnitzel & spuds with a glass coke cost 20 Euros.

 

[skull hooker]

I went for the first time on Friday morning. By lunchtime you couldn't move in there. Had been looking at a HikMicro SQ50 Pro and the show deal knocked £360 off, so I got one I was glad to be out when we left, well hot. Seemed well organised though.

 

[potshotpat]

I set off earlier today. Just got past Orrel going South on the M6 and my little lad brought his breakfast back up! Mission aborted. Just spent 2 hours cleaning the car. I will have to wait for the Harrogate show, but if that's as bad as last year ( No Zeiss, no Swarovski, very little ammo for sale) I'll give that a miss too.

What you need is a Spaniel, any mishaps in the car they'll have it cleaned up quick sticks.

 

[Sampo]

The one gun show I have on my wishlist is the 'SHOT Show' in the US. Maybe someday.

 

[safer]

To be fair parking was free for the Shooting Show but was not worth it. I don't think I will be going any time soon.
I hope Northern Shooting Show is better then last year.

 

[Overlay]

I was there on Saturday and had a chance to get a good look through the C50 and the DS35 to be honest I preferrred the pulsar offering real clear image and to operate, the guys on the stand allowed me to go over the settings and showed how to get the best out of it
I then went to buy one - they’ve all sold out today
Zeiss swaro and Leica all excellent products, the Leica to be honest was outstanding more so than the others
so there is some food for thought hidden as a hidden treasure in their Leica scopes

Revenant blades I found some pretty good produced blades, watch this space

For the life of me I couldn’t find the Danum stand which was one of the reasons for going I checked the locator booklet and after being shown a search bar for the latest site exhibitors (thanks to Essex Russ) I still couldn’t find them

For me seeing my local Gunshop (Ashford gunroom) with a stand and very busy big plus on that for flying the flag

overall there were stacks of rifles to drool over, there were some really reasonably priced and very good shotguns for sale stayed a few hours and enjoyed the show traffic there and back was brilliant

l did stay longer at the blaser and innomount stands that is not good for your pennies but that is normal for me BUT on arriving back home I could honestly report to my financial advisor that we could now go shopping for food as I didn’t spend a penny ( I did omit whoever that said item was out of stock) but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. Very nice day out with good company

 

[Tallguy]

I went today. My first trip to the show. I found plenty to look at, several Indy gun shops had stands and were offering show specials, disappointed by the lack of Viking Arms for Ruger and Cheshire Gun Room for Typhoon but got to handle plenty. Not much ammo wise and a few off topic stands inc a bizarre interior furnishings company but I enjoyed it overall. Worth the visit for me.

 

[HallyButt]

Cheers for that.The amazon chap just dropped one off ( Q E D re shows ) less than £9 , looks ideal size. Out on the Munties on Wed so will hopefully give it a go.

Good luck! One smashed into my Car Friday night so they owe me £500 In steaks!

 

[Scotty99]

The one gun show I have on my wishlist is the 'SHOT Show' in the US. Maybe someday.

My son lives in Georgia, we are going to go one year soon.

 

[Kevgun]

Well that was the worst Shooting show I have been to, Loads of stands missing, all the small traders with interesting stuff were missing, ticket price was a bit steep for the content, Just big corporate stands, It would have been ok if you wanted NV or a new air rifle, but other than that nothing to see compared to other years.

 

[enfieldspares]

Well that was the worst Shooting show I have been to, Loads of stands missing, all the small traders with interesting stuff were missing, ticket price was a bit steep for the content, Just big corporate stands, It would have been ok if you wanted NV or a new air rifle, but other than that nothing to see compared to other years.

Thank you. I didn't go, was in two minds, now glad I didn't.

 

[BenBhoy]

Went once, too many people of an ilk I'd usually avoid; utter nobs dressed like they're going to the Highlands in November, as unfit & panting as their fat labs. No ta.

 

[ivorgun2]

Not going again went with a list didnt get a thing ended up buying online as above mention like cattle redeo coulded get on to any stands unless waiting 20-30 mins

 

[Liveonce]

Not going again went with a list didnt get a thing ended up buying online as above mention like cattle redeo coulded get on to any stands unless waiting 20-30 mins

Exactly how it was at the show pre covid, so decided never to return.

Sounds like a perfect catch covid environment

 

[chriswjx]

I was there on Saturday and had a chance to get a good look through the C50 and the DS35 to be honest I preferrred the pulsar offering real clear image and to operate, the guys on the stand allowed me to go over the settings and showed how to get the best out of it
I then went to buy one - they’ve all sold out today
Zeiss swaro and Leica all excellent products, the Leica to be honest was outstanding more so than the others
so there is some food for thought hidden as a hidden treasure in their Leica scopes

Revenant blades I found some pretty good produced blades, watch this space

For the life of me I couldn’t find the Danum stand which was one of the reasons for going I checked the locator booklet and after being shown a search bar for the latest site exhibitors (thanks to Essex Russ) I still couldn’t find them

For me seeing my local Gunshop (Ashford gunroom) with a stand and very busy big plus on that for flying the flag

overall there were stacks of rifles to drool over, there were some really reasonably priced and very good shotguns for sale stayed a few hours and enjoyed the show traffic there and back was brilliant

l did stay longer at the blaser and innomount stands that is not good for your pennies but that is normal for me BUT on arriving back home I could honestly report to my financial advisor that we could now go shopping for food as I didn’t spend a penny ( I did omit whoever that said item was out of stock) but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. Very nice day out with good company

I would have been cheeky and asked if I could buy the demo unit for a discount

 

[long_range_rob]

I haven’t been since it was at Newark. I quite enjoyed it really apart from the mega expensive but distinctly below average coffee. I’m just trying to work out how to fund the S&B scopes and Swarovski spotting scopes that I now need

For those complaining about cost you want to try being an exhibitor. A major stand who shall remain nameless estimated the three days cost then north of £40k with stand, hotels, food etc.

 

[enfieldspares]

I haven’t been since it was at Newark.

I enjoyed Newark regardless of the mud and duckboards, less so Stoneleigh and although nearer was disappointed by the NEC pre-covid and now as, as others say, the independent retailers seem less and less I am glad I didn't go this weekend.

 

[long_range_rob]

I enjoyed Newark regardless of the mud and duckboards, less so Stoneleigh and although nearer was disappointed by the NEC pre-covid and now as, as others say, the independent retailers seem less and less I am glad I didn't go this weekend.

I think the reduction of independents at the show is a reflection on the reduction in their numbers nationally

 

[Overlay]

I would have been cheeky and asked if I could buy the demo unit for a discount

Doh. don’t think of that

pulsar sent me to the two suppliers on site