The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I had loot to blow and wound up not spending a dime! that says it all. Walking around the show all I could think of was how I was going to get the car out of that bloody field!

Could not get anywhere near any of the stands for advice or to make a purchase and the choke points were on the verge of being bloody dangerous.

I took my dad and my brother (both avid shooters) and wound up walking a mile or two through mud just to get into the place. With my dads old knee replacement opp playing him up by the end of the trudge then to be pushed around at the choke points didn't bode well.

Did they underestimate the attendance or did the threat of bad weather on the Sunday cause too many people to plumb for the Saturday causing the issue or was it just the organizers could not organize a p*** up....

Prices were not great also. I got the feeling that most traders had a 'chat' before hand about the prices as most were exactly the same?

MikeyB

Just had a thought, the oranisers of this are not related to the tango's who organised Bisley Live are they?

My experience as a first timer to the show (so no comparisons to previous venues). Got there early straight in parked really close compared to the comments of some I was about a couple of minutes walk, Queued for about 20 mins before the doors opened and then in and looking around. Lots of good stuff to look at not many bargains around :( I did join the NRA, and managed to pick up two mags for my 522 (£40 each, not as cheap as I have seen them on-line in some places but all the on-line sellers were out apart from one who was selling them for £50 each so a little saving for me there) picked up some cci mini mags to. Drooled over the STG 44 think I may have to put in a variation so I can get one so nice. Drooled over the Winchester collection and fondled a Henry Big Boy in .357 (have a slot on my ticket for one but was under strict no new rifles orders from swmbo) so pretty. Poked around the airgun hall and airsoft show when it got really mental in the main halls. Personally I don't have anything against them its their hobby and past time so fair play to them as long as they are not harming anyone. Got my two mutts some lovely treats from the gundog stalls, the loverly ladies there even chucked in a few extra treats for them after I showed them pics of my two BSD's. Met ovenpaa, Chrystal, eagernoskills & toffewrapper. Bought some of ENS new cleaner. Going to be using it on my No4 Mk2 and my R93 looking forward to seeing what comes out of them both as I currently use wipeout. Spent most of the day there leaving at 15:30 no queues in and no queues out. Enjoyed myself got to look at plenty of potential purchases seeing them on person before shopping around for them. Funniest part of the day for me was the clay pigeon archery, shooting a cheap jelly bow vs my normal hoyt eclipse great laugh made me want to try it using my regular bow.

Anyway at least if I got nothing else out of the day I met a bunch of folks put faces to names and I joined the NRA.

We arrived early and, knowing from experience (National Agricultural Show) that the organisers at Stoneleigh couldn't organise a c o c k up in a brothel, decided to take the back road and approach the entrance stealthily. We arrived at the cross roads opposite the main gateway to see two lines of traffic tailing back further than the eye could see in both directions along the main road. We later found out one of the tailbacks was over 6 miles long. We just eased across the crossroads in our badgermobile and drove straight in through the main entrance, then parked on some coned off hardstanding 100 m from the gate ready for a quick exit.

The queues to get into the exhibition hall were stupidly bad - two Brummopithicene eejits in yellow tabards on duty to check thousands of tickets and a series of choke points at the entrance / exit that would have any fire service inspector incandescent with rage.

That aside, and not mentioning the food as we have learned lessons there too and now take our own, the show wasn't bad. Lots of nice shiny things on display, plenty of nice oomans to talk to - we met ovenpaa, Chrystal, eagernoskills - and loads of Walter Mitties to laugh at (pretty blond boys with tinted hair and and pink HK5s slung across flak jackets isn't quite how we remember service life to be)

Well we arrived early, drove straight in and parked on a hard standing 100 yards from the door, brilliant!

Got to the door straight in no problems, had a chat with a friend who had a stand for about 30 mins turned round and bloody hell where did all these people come from and it went down hill from there.

Managed to tap Christel on the shoulder and say hello but no chance for a chat as the people I was with had been herded into a corner bye the slow but constant moving river of really pi**ed off people.

Tried to call Terry, failed completely, phone would not work.

Got pushed past Dolphin arms at speed.

Managed to stop at Andy Allwoods for a nano second but got the impression he was really unhappy.

So returned to my friends stand, a purveyor of fine English shotguns, he told me he had done more business on Friday before opening than he had done yesterday.

Left to come home and could not believe the mess in the car parks, and whats with seriously disabled people walking and being pushed miles through mud to get in, just not on!

OH and another thing the master race lookalikes in full camo gear with fart soft weapons strung round their necks need sorting out.

All in all a crap day.

However I must say the lady selling the leather cream and cleaning your shoes for you was very nice, lovely smile great attitude so all I bought was a pot of leather cream and a jar of Mapel syrup from HPS.

There certainly was an element of price fixing going on...
Saw one stall early on selling accessories at what turned out to be really good prices, we decided rather than cart stuff around all day we'd pop back before leaving as they were close to entrance, low and behold upon returning prices had shot up to same as others in show.

I see from the program that its back there next year on the 15-16 feb, I think I shall save the money for the 10 gallons of super unleaded required and entrance fee and put it towards delivery charges for internet/mail order purchases.

I was there Saturday. I left home at 05.00 and arrived at 07.05. I had pre booked a ticket and explained that I am disabled so received a large green
badge to display in my car. I am not complaining but the guy directing cars needs glasses as he could not see this card and was going to direct me onto
a field. Assembling a disability scooter in the pouring rain onto a muddy field, then getting soaking wet trousers is no laughing matter so after a word or two I was then directed to a space near the entrance. The other surprising thing was about midday I decided to get some thing to eat so asked for a sausage bun and coffee. Good choice as they had run out of eggs,on the first day. Bought a tele sight and offered a price, which it was accepted.
I enjoyed the show and would certainly go again.

I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed with a lot of posts in this topic, considering shooters are often societal outcasts, I'd have thought you'd have had more respect for others hobbies.

The airsofters weren't there walting, they were there at the British Airsoft Show, there was a skirmish arena set up for them; therefore they were in their kit. I didn't see a single one of them claiming to be anything else.

It's also a bit rich coming from the flatcap-tweed brigade.

BaconButty wrote:I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed with a lot of posts in this topic, considering shooters are often societal outcasts, I'd have thought you'd have had more respect for others hobbies.

The airsofters weren't there walting, they were there at the British Airsoft Show, there was a skirmish arena set up for them; therefore they were in their kit. I didn't see a single one of them claiming to be anything else.

It's also a bit rich coming from the flatcap-tweed brigade.

Agreed, OK, so it's not for me, but I've nothing against Airsoft or those who take part.