bisley - weekend 23rd - whats happening?

[Dougan]

Crikey. I went about three years ago and it was rammed with amazing stuff. There were loads of tents outside as they'd run out of space inside.

What's changed?

Rate per day for a table took a hefty price jump...plus p*sspoor admin. meant regular allocated spots were dished out to anyone who asked...
Petrol price rises also meant that the break even point, when the stall price rise was added to it, became unrealistic, making it unfeasible to trade.

In the PISTOL AD days it was the NRA that organised show spaces on NRA space at Bisley...priced on such a way to make it affordable to anyone wishing to club together wirh a mate and run a stall to clear out the spares drawers/boxes.

Healrhy trade could be restored if the NRA offered stalls again....

Fair comment - But it'll never be like the PISTOL AD days and folk will just have to accept that... the recession (including petrol prices , as you mentioned doesn't help) - But it is a bit of a chicken and egg thing; in that folk need to come and be prepared to part with some cash to make it worthwhile for the traders.

Btw: I compared other cartridge holders there (price and quality) to the one you sold me, and was very happy...and it worked well; with me not holding everyone up in the comps while I was loading

[Dougan]

The Dutch bloke with all of the bags was always worth a visit, but then a couple of the "big" traders just brought their retail prices and "Bisley Bargains" were far and few between. And then when I saw the bloke on the veranda of the Pavillion selling Chinese penknives masquerading as Bucknoriginals

I got an excellent rifle case off 'the Dutch bloke' for £23 ( only time will tell...) - And finally found a Buckknife I wanted at the right price...I've wanted one to replace the one I lost years ago for ages, but as you say some of the traders were asking ridiculous prices (£150!) for originals...however I finally found one (boxed with all original paperwork) from a new trader who'd bought a job lot and wasn't sure how to price them...he took £40 for it...patience paid off

[ovenpaa]

The rifle cases they sell certainly last, the Viking has had hers for 5-6 years now.

[Dougan]

Oh, and for all you "shooters" it's primarily about shooting and putting rounds down range.

Counting up; between GRCF, GRSB and the Mini McQueen, I put 689 rounds down range over the three days

Thanks for the tip about wearing a hoody; though I think a helmet would have been handy! - I've really not seen a .22 chuck cases out like that before...I can see the funny side now; but at the time I threw me a bit.

[Dougan]

Ouch. Meeeeoww. I've RO'd some of these top shooters and can confirm there's some pretty hefty dickery out there.

Just like in any other walk of life though. There's some lovely people too and they're the majority.

Right from the start, as a total beginner, I've been happily surprised by the way some of the best shots are willing to chat and give advice (90% anyway) - I got some good tips from a British squad member this year that I can work on over the next months...

...though some do take it seriously (and fair enough at that level), so I try not to disturb folk while they're preparing to shoot.

[Dougan]

Just got home from Bisley and was shocked at how quiet it was compared to last year. I'll echo that the pavillion looked pretty empty, but my main whinge was the £3.50 cost of a bacon roll this morning. That's a crusty short baton with _two_ slices of bacon. For £3.50.

Anyway, FT/R 8/9/1000 was pretty empty this morning, just mean and maybe two more people shooting it, with a crew of Dutch F Open types making up the numbers.

Dougan,

Hope things went better for you this morning and you managed to make food last night! It was good to meet up for a beer and a chinwag. Next year (if there is one), we'll have to sort out something more official.

It was cool to meet you James ...I'm always up for a beer with forum members; and would definately be up for 'something more offical' next time.

After I left you, I couldn't find anyone serving food anymore - I ended up getting a curry delivery number off some nice young people at the Surrey, and had it delivered to the Pavillion...when I got there, I found that quite a few of the traders had done the same, and the bar owner kindly lent me some cutlery...

...it was a nice 'Ruby', and after I bumped into the 'Cornwall Cowboys' there who are always up for a drink...so in the end I went back to my cabin very well fed and watered...maybe just a tad 'well watered' razz

[Countryman]

I RO'd Friday to Sunday. Shot half a dozen events in between. Loved the Mini McQueens and didn't do bad for a bunny gun with a 3-9x40!

Attendance was up! Can't vouch for you TR types but the Gallery Rifle, Speed Steels and Target Shotgun was busy Friday/Saturday and the Practical Pistol match on Sunday looked fantastic!

Trade fair indeed isn't fully attended until Saturday. Midways stall left a big gap in the main hall. Odd bargain and of course no delivery. Even Fred in the NRA Armoury had VHT N140 in at £70/ kg!

I'm very pleased with my purchases and though I'm knackered I will look back fondly on Phoenix 2015

[Daryll]

Mentioning Midways / Brownells... as they were the main sponsors of the event, I expected to see a major stall with a selection of wares... but no, hardly anything apart from some "ammo cam" thing to take pictures of your target..!!

I too was a bit disappointed with the trade stands, nothing majorly new apart from actually seeing the fabled SIG226 and Glock LBP's... the SIG looked and handled very nicely, but it should for £1350... and £42 for a modified mag..
(Although I spoke to someone who bought one of the first ones.... they've had nothing but trouble with it, and its been returned 3 times now, and currently still being worked on.)

Like most of you I just stocked up on bullet heads and ammo in calibres I can't be bothered to load for...

[Dougan]

Loved the Mini McQueens and didn't do bad for a bunny gun with a 3-9x40!

I'm glad you enjoyed the Mini McQueen - It's become quite a success...according to Cornelius who invented it and runs it; including re-shoots, it was shot over 170 times over the weekend...

...I bettered my previous PB by 2 points, but still couldn't beat the South African who has now set the bar at 59 x 60!

It's a great new discipline...fun, cheap, can be fitted in between other squadded comps, and is ubber addictive

[Brookers]

Well this year was probably the quickest vist I have ever had to the Phoenix, up and back in a day, and in many ways the best. I have been at every Phoenix meeting since the start (GRID 085) and having the LBP practical there this year was fantastic.

If you missed it shame on you, some really good run and gun stages with some interesting challenges. Great weather great COf and great company.

It was good to meet a few forum members this year and was also good to see the comitment from the NRA towards the practical shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm3gslzWyo4

A certain competitor spent quite a while being photographed for the cover of the next NRA journal, very embarassing but I was told I was the best of a bad bunch, I think they were getting desperate

It was also good to see so many faces from the NRA coming down to see what we were up to and taking a real interest in the event. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Mercer and had a good chat with him about practical shooting and the NRA and the NRA's comitment to supporting shooting across the country rather than being soely focused on Bisley, more to come soon

I can't comment on the trade fair as I didn't bother, the only opportunity I had was during the lunch break and spent that laying in the sun, makes a change from sheltering from the rain.

The next NRA practical pistol match is on the 9th of August, if you have an LBP or LBR I hope to see you there

Brookers