Phoenix meeting 2016

[GeeRam]

Going back to my club, the .22 plastic imitation military rifle accounts for most of the new shooters activity. Most of them come down regularly and practise missing until they can do it every time.

We've only got one probie that falls into that category, but a few us are trying to teach him the ways of proper old stuff. We took him to Phoenix on Sat for a walk around the trade stalls, and every time he said something positive about something plastic, we said, you don't want that you want this.....& shoved something made of steel and an old tree into his hand instead

[majordisorder]

We had our first experience exhibiting at The Phoenix this year. I thought it was very good value for money and very well organised and I'd do it again in an instant! Compared with the BSS it's a no brainer. The only downside for us was no café to grab something quick to eat. The Pavilion accommodation overlooking our stand was clean and reasonably priced too.

Roll on the next "trade fair" at Bisley!!!

[saddler]

If I'd had enough notice of the change in ownership of the Pavilion I'd have had a stall there for the Phoenix.
Will look into taking up space at the Trafalgar instead...

I think the trade show was pretty poor, 1.5 hours driving there and just under 2.5 hours driving back (M25). I am not sure its worth the effort...

Que? What "effort" was that then??

[polemass]

We need this trade show-I met Scot from CCA and his rifles there for the first time-what a eye opener.Also Alan Westlake,too -now he had new selection stainless steel AlfaProj MLR,incl.2" snub nose...nothing on his web side mentioning about it.And you will ALWAYS find something special for yourself-be it 5£ charger clips only...I know the person who has a Mauser collection and every year I come with the question-is this wz.29 for sale now?..the answer is always "no" but I will try next year too...The bar and hot food+toilets inside is a MUST,like it was in previous years.I they realy want Pavilion for offices,so the only solution is to erect a tent every year-it is not mega money,can be done!

[zanes]

If anyone has photos of the trade show at the old (pistol days) AD meets I'd love to see them- well before my time.

[Chapuis]

No it will never be the same as pre 1997.

The diminishment of the trade side is reflection of the diminishment of the shooting market, it is fraction of what it was. Pistol shooters shot a lot of rounds and there was a healthy market for consumables and reloading kit. The high volume shooting emporiums can offer prices on such things that most medium to small traders cannot so they have that part of the market cornered and have no need of the hassle and extra cost of a weekend a Bisley especially when there is Stoneleigh for them to strut their corporate stuff.

As a market place shooting is just too small in the uk and I'm not talking about the airgun, shotgun and field shooters who have no direct association with Bisley or the Phoenix competition profile, that is where the "big" shooting money is, relatively speaking, and those suppliers are unlikely to see the Phoenix as a place to trade or do product placement.

Nicely summed up Dromia.
Personally I would say that the market hasn't diminished but has changed completely. Shooters are now spending far more money in other sectors of the market. Sporting rifle shooters in particular are prepared to spend far more on rifles and scopes than ever before.

[RobB]

Does anyone know if/when the Phoenix results are published on the web?


Sent from my boing using "An application"

[Chapuis]

If anyone has photos of the trade show at the old (pistol days) AD meets I'd love to see them- well before my time.

I wish I had photographs Zane but I don't unfortunately. Perhaps it's better that I don't because it would only upset me as to what we lost.

I can tell you though that usually there would be three large marquees set out in a triangle pattern on the lawn at the rear of Fultons. These would be packed with traders, possibly 20-25 or more in each. In addition the pavilion would be full of traders plus there would be at least 3 other display caravans and tents solely occupied by Viking Arms, Edgar Brothers and Parker Hale.
There would also be a number of smaller tents/stands usually occupied by individual traders, service charities or magazine publishers. An excellant German catering firm also attended for a number of years and they also erected a marquee from which they sold bratwurst and liverwurst sausages rolls and sandwiches.

Attendance was so great that parked cars usually occupied most of the grassed areas both sides of the main drive up to the NRA buildings, and all the camp sites were full. The atmosphere on camp was electric, it could only be described as buzzing and we looked forward to being involved every year despite what was usually typical bank holiday weather.

I know that I may be dreaming slightly but wouldn't it be nice if we could get it back to that sort of situation.

[the running man]

If anyone has photos of the trade show at the old (pistol days) AD meets I'd love to see them- well before my time.

I wish I had photographs Zane but I don't unfortunately. Perhaps it's better that I don't because it would only upset me as to what we lost.

I can tell you though that usually there would be three large marquees set out in a triangle pattern on the lawn at the rear of Fultons. These would be packed with traders, possibly 20-25 or more in each. In addition the pavilion would be full of traders plus there would be at least 3 other display caravans and tents solely occupied by Viking Arms, Edgar Brothers and Parker Hale.
There would also be a number of smaller tents/stands usually occupied by individual traders, service charities or magazine publishers. An excellant German catering firm also attended for a number of years and they also erected a marquee from which they sold bratwurst and liverwurst sausages rolls and sandwiches.

Attendance was so great that parked cars usually occupied most of the grassed areas both sides of the main drive up to the NRA buildings, and all the camp sites were full. The atmosphere on camp was electric, it could only be described as buzzing and we looked forward to being involved every year despite what was usually typical bank holiday weather.

I know that I may be dreaming slightly but wouldn't it be nice if we could get it back to that sort of situation.

Wouldent it.......

[mag41uk]

I have got some video of me shooting bowling pins with my 10mm Colt Delta Elite.
I have a feeling I may have some photos of Mr Miculek doing his trick shooting show.
Time for a rummage through many boxes of photos!
I have some old Guns Review mags from pre 97 that may have some photos in.