On with the show

The British Shooting Show was well attended on 14-16 February by shooting enthusiasts from around the world. Tens of thousands of people turned up for the biggest show ever, which became a three-day event in 2014. Being a customer-friendly fayre, and the first major one in Europe, the show traditionally sees a number of new products launched and this year did not disappoint.

Caesar Guerini’s stand had a constant buzz with the launch of the Invictus and a new ladies gun. Top shots Richard and Tanya Faulds were on hand all weekend showing off the beautiful new products.

Blaser Sporting Ltd attended the British Shooting Show for the first time since forming its own distribution company, and Robert Sajitz was pleased with the busy results. The range of F3s – Comp Sport, Super Sport, Super Trap and Professional – were on display and buyers benefited from the laser-assisted try-gun, ensuring any bought shotguns were correctly fitted.

Though My Clay Shooting Record has been online for a few months, Phil Coley told Clay Shooting that the British Shooting Show was the tool’s official launch. There was also a number of DVDs on sale featuring the country’s best shooters, as well as the announcement that a second Dave Beardsmore DVD is on the way.

The Ear Plug Company displayed the latest product to hit the shooting scene from hearing protection pioneers Puretone. The CENS Mino was exhibited on a number of other stands including Ultimate Hearing Protection.

GMK displayed the new Beretta and Benelli Raffaello, both of which proved popular over the weekend with a huge number of visitors feeling and aiming the top shotguns.

John Jeffries at High Pheasants launched a new product called the Eyemaster, which helps shooters with cross-dominance problems. The adjustable piece clips on to the side of the barrels and allows shooters to look straight ahead with their master eye, without getting distracted by the barrels.

Highland Outdoors exhibited a new range to the company called Armsan. Made up of a selection of semi-automatics, these shotguns are an exciting venture for the firearms distributor that should add to Highland Outdoors’ impressive collection.

Big news for Sunglasses for Sport as it takes on two new products for 2014 in Wrapz and Wiley X. With the former being one of the more comfortable eyewear products on the market, and the latter boasting armed forces to its list of clients.

ATA showed off a new SP Alloy Series weighing just 6.2lb for younger guns, with a choice of barrel length and alloy receiver colour.

Browning and Winchester enjoyed a host of new shotguns, and the Select Sport stood out with its grey laminate-wood finish. With only a few hundred made, shooters will have to be quick to pick them up in 2014.

Amber Hill attended the RUAG stand to discuss her recent success in Doha. She came fifth in her first major competition with her new Perazzi MX2000/8, but the real talk on the stand was about the new MXS. Featuring many of the same characteristics as the brand’s high-end products, it stands out with a new locking system and slightly less hand finishing, which reduces the price.

Longthorne Gunmakers continued to attract visitors with its single-piece barrel system, but the company’s main news is its decision to move from Preston to Bracknall, the Silicone Valley of gunmaking and production in the UK, with a larger premises and additional machines.

Olympic Trap shot Aaron Heading was on the Castellani stand with a new set of C-Mask glasses, featuring Zeiss lenses, and a new London shooting vest with contemporary Italian styling.

With so much more on display, there will be a full rundown of new product information in the next edition of Clay Shooting and footage of the fayre on tonight’s episode of the Shooting Show TV – tune into www.theshootingshow.tv from 7.30pm.