Webitorial - The 2011 British Shooting Show

Wow- at last - UK shooters have a Show we can be proud of. After a shaky start in 2009, the 2010 Show
trebled in size but really took-off big-time this year with well over 300 exhibitors plus support from most of
the UK shooting organisations. Sponsored by Blaze Publishing, the Show continues to go from strength
to strength and brings together all the diverse shooting disciplines under one roof.

The only complaints I heard last year were over the long queues to actually get in and from a few
ill-equipped visitors who found themselves with muddy feet. Even organiser John Bertrand can’t control
the weather but this year, those muddy trudges between halls were covered and an 8.30am start time
eliminated the queuing – job sorted!

Last year, we carried a report on the Show in our March issue but this year there was just too much so,
a Show Supplement seemed like the best plan. Hope you like it and maybe you will find a pic of yourself
but, if you didn’t make it to the Show, our supplement will hopefully give you a flavour of what you missed.

Vince Carl & Yvonne

Carl - carl@targetshooter.co.uk and Vince - vinceb@targetshooter.co.uk and Yvonne - admin@target-

shooter.co.uk
Copyright © Trinity Digital Publishing Ltd
The British Shooting Show – 26-27th February also hosting the 50 cal. Club (I would say they
2011 generated more interest than anyone else!), the
lever-action and long-barrel pistol guys, rimfire
We at Target Shooter have always enthusiastically and centrefire benchrest, F Class and Diggle
supported the Show and this year, we were Ranges. We also ran reloading demonstrations
invited to run a target shooting display area, and answered (or at least tried to) all your
which we did, with the help of Diggle Ranges shooting and ballistic queries.
and the guys and gals from many of our rifle
shooting Associations. We were overwhelmed The stand was well-manned so, for a couple
by your response and it was just great to meet of hours on the Sunday, I got the chance to
so many shooting enthusiasts. have a quick look around. I must confess, I
never got round to the gun-dogs, the outdoor
In addition to the magazine, our stand was shotgun range, the fishing stuff and all the other

Our stand was massive – this is the left-hand side and below, the right-hand section
 Company, right next door to the
Target Shooter stand. Proprietor
Gavin Haywood had some great
goodies for the accuracy nut.

First off, his new ‘Impala’ action.

Basically a Remmy clone but,
this action really is THE best of
the Remmy clones I’ve yet seen
– on either side of the pond! Fit
and finish is second to none and
in addition, he does a titanium
version! This just has to be held
to be believed – it’s so light and
the bolt to body fit is beautiful!
Honestly, I’ve never seen better.
www.anglocustomrifle.co.uk

Gavin also had plenty of other

Jim Smith & the Gallery Rifle guys had a great display goodies – like carbon-wrapped
and a lot of interest barrels – again ultra-light and
stuff that we get at every show and instead I carbon fibre stocks, both beautifully
concentrated on what would be of interest to the executed. There were some really interesting
target shooter and accuracy nut. There was a tactical and target rifles on the stand, including
surprising amount. a manually-operated version of the FN FAL SLR
– the British Army’s preferred rifle prior to the
First off, let’s visit the Anglo Custom Rifle SA80. These are new, legal, s1 rifles and Gavin

To introduce our selves we are the United Kingdom Association of

Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting. By that we mean "True
Benchrest Shooting". The Association is recognised by rimfire
shooters across in the UK, with partners across Europe and the rest of
the world, as the presentative body that promotes rimfire and air rifle
benchrest across this country and with other partners in European and
World events.
Visit our website for news about national and international
competitions that all can ‘have a go at’. From novice to champion
shooter, everyone is welcome
www.benchrest22.org
has all the Home Office paper-work to prove it!
There were several other bits and bobs I could
tell you about but we need to move on..........

Right next door were Desert Tactical Arms

showcasing their superb military bull-pup rifle.

This is an American-built rifle intended for

professional use. I’d already heard wild claims
for its accuracy potential but, when I saw the rifle
stripped, I can believe those claims. The rifle
uses a heavy barrel clamped in a ‘barrel block’
over about five-inches of its length. There is no
‘receiver’ in the conventional sense and it uses
a barrel-stub – similar to the Unique Alpine - for
the bolt lock-up and the stubby bolt is guided
by a polymer sleeve in the butt. Bull-pups often
have a ‘trigger-issue’ but this one was really Target Shooter scribe Chris Parkin with
crisp. All in all, a very innovative design. the Anglo Custom Rifle’s fully moderated,
carbon-fibre stocked rifle built on the Impala
In fact, this is just about the best supported
action

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barrel I’ve ever seen on a rifle, outside of custom to the 338 Lapua Magnum) and barrel-lengths.
1000 yard benchguns and, if you love that If they don’t have your calibre, it would be no
military look, you will love this rifle! Needless to more difficult to re-barrel than a conventional
say it’s available in a variety of calibres (right up rifle. I could write a couple of thousand words
 www.FoxFirearmsUK.com
Tel: 0161 430 8278 or 07941 958464
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Buckmark Long Pistol with Lightweight Barrel £714.00 and Fox Red Dot sight £40.00.
Available from Westlake Engineering
Tel. 01722 782432 ags.westlake@virgin.net
on it but I’ll wait – until we get one to test for League) this latest version goes one better - with
Target Shooter readers. Meanwhile, see www. improved turrets and reticle.
deserttacticalarms.com
Naturally, I wanted the scope for a test but John
Right opposite the Target Shooter stand was says it’s the only one in existence and he has to
Aimfield Sports – retailers of the best drag-bag take it to Sightron for the IWA Show in Germany
and shooting mat in the world and of course, in two weeks time. We will get them here later in
Sightron scopes. the year and the good news is they are still under
£900! If you want a new, long-range scope, trust
Proprietor John Dean was able to show us the me, it’s worth hanging on for this one. www.
very latest version 8-32 Sightron scope. The aimfieldsports.com
8-32 Sightron is already the choice of many F
Class and tactical shooters but, in response to Next to Aimfield Sports, Brock & Norris had a
shooters requests, (John shoots in the F Class very busy and well-stocked stand with a ton of

The new turrets don’t need a dust-cap and

are ‘grippier’ - for our cold, wet hands! A
stadia-type reticle is now offered as well
 Mike Norris with his Help for Heros rifle

bullets and powders. half a dozen!

In addition to a display of their rifles, they were

also raffling a custom rifle built on a Stiller action
for the Help for Heros charity – a fine gesture
guys. E-mail brocknnorriss@aol.com

Just lower down the hall we had a real

eye-opener. My all time favourite pistol is the
Colt 1911 and when the Government robbed
us in 1995, giving-up my 1911 was my biggest
loss. I couldn’t believe it when, on the Tunnel
Target Sports Centre stand I saw not one but
 The Tunnel’s innovative 1911 semi-auto
rimfire pistols

OK, there’s a catch – yes, this is a semi-auto 22 ‘wrist-brace’ on the rear. Yes it does detract from
rimfire but, to make it legal in the nanny UK it the ‘real thing’ but it still looks superb and it’s still
must have a minimum 12 inch barrel. The guys a semi-auto 1911and I want one! I really hope
at the Tunnel get around this by fitting what looks these catch on and bring back some sort of
Open like aAdsilencer
Season 23/4/10 on the muzzle
14:58 Page 1 and of course, that practical pistol shooting. Maybe they will loan us

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 Foxy dishes out the ‘spiel’ to punters – he
had some great rifles on offer

one for review. E-mail 1911@thetunnel.co.uk Down at the bottom end of the hall we should
have had South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies
Still in the same hall, Fox Firearms had their usual but sadly Roger Francis had to cancel at the
display of fine custom rifles and accessories. last minute due to illness but Stuart Anselm of
A superb selection, built on Stolle, GBR, Inch, Osprey Rifles jumped in at the eleventh hour,
Barnard and Turbo actions from 22 rimfire to the sharing it with the guy who is making the custom
50BMG.
A new British-made tactical action with
There isn’t a gunshop or built-in Pic rail and recoil-lug
gunsmith in the UK that
could offer you a selection
like this and Brian Fox
has all the custom kit, like
rests, bags, loading gear
etc. to back up his rifles.
www.foxfirearmsuk.
com Brian was sharing
a stand with Gillie Howe
and Brian Westlake –
both legends in British
pistol shooting.
 Custom Rißes - built on Savages, GBR, Stolle, Bat etc

Factory F Class, Benchrest & Palma Rißes from Savage Arms

Bipods from Fito Force & Sinclair

Tel : 0161 408 3555

Mob: 07861 399066

e-mail: stuart@ospreyrißes.com

URL : www.ospreyrißes.com

rifle actions for SYSS and Valkyrie rifles.
In addition to their Remmy 700 clones, there was
an interesting prototype action incorporating an
integral recoil-lug and Picatinny rail – very similar
to a Surgeon – and will be ideal for a tactical
rifle. Other actions are also planned.
Osprey Rifles are of course Savage specialists
so were displaying the latest Savage F/TR rifles
plus a ‘Palma’ version for Target Rifle and the
Plenty of bargains to be had
6.5-284 Savage, which is currently dominating
Factory benchrest in the UK. Osprey will of
course build you a rifle on any action for any
purpose. See www.ospreyrifles.com
In between all these interesting stands there
were lots of stands selling components and
some at bargain prices – I snapped this display
of powder - priced well below ‘list’ – some real
bargains here.
 The Place to
Shop at Bisley
The NSRA,
Lord Roberts Centre
Now in stock ~ the popular
Morini CM84E ISSF ‘Longarm’ Free Pistol

Price: ~ £1236.00
FAC Required

A wide range of pistols and rifles available, -

Anschütz, Walther, Morini, BSA, Air Arms,
Webley Limited, Steyr, Feinwerkbau.
Accessories from leading manufacturers Centra,
Gehmann, HPS, VFG, Walther; AHG, Knobloch,
Champion, Opticron, Hawke, BSA and many more.
Shooting Mats from Evans and HPS.
Gun Safes from Bratton Sound.
Ammunition from Eley, RWS, HPS Target Master,
SK, Lapua - including Air Gun Ammunition
Optics from Tasco, BSA, Hawke, MTC, AGS.
Clothing from Kurt Thune, Realtree, Holme,
Anschütz, Gehmann, AKAH.
We stock guns and Accessories for Field Target
and Hunter Field Target Disciplines
With many more items too numerous to mention so
come browse and ask if you don’t see what you
want. You’ll get a warm welcome, the best objective
advice, the right product at the right price with a
comprehensive after sales service.
Further information from out website
www.nsra.co.uk
Shop Tel: 01483 485510
Shop Fax: 01483 488817
E-mail: sales@nsra.co.uk
Before we move on, let’s drop in on Riflecraft. bobs. of interest to the technical-minded. www.
Riflecraft also work with many different actions riflecraft.co.uk
and were offering a great selection of custom
rifles and accessories to suit all tastes and I’d already seen pictures of Accuracy
disciplines. International’s new AX stock which was
introduced at the American Shot Show and to be
Their display included some nice tactical rigs honest, I wasn’t sure I liked it but, in ‘the flesh’ the
plus all the goodies, including stocks, scopes, rifle looked superb – bristling with Picatinny rails
powder, bullets etc. to go with them plus lots of in true military fashion, it looked great and will
components and gunsmithing stuff. I think they soon make the old stock look very ‘yesterday’.
even had a 338 Barrett on display plus a nice
cut-away Nightforce scope and other bits and Almost the whole of the barrel is shrouded in

We all love AI! The new stock looks great – it should be a good seller
 There were more knives and ‘edged’ weapons in evidence this year. IWA always have
a ‘Knife of the year’ award – could we introduce this at our Show?

a ‘handguard’ made up of Pic rails and all the
metal-work is black with green polymer bits.
A military-style muzzle-break completes the
job and for those who had an issue with that
‘thumbhole’ this stock should satisfy. www.
accuracyinternational.com
I heard someone say that they never strayed
from this hall – and I can believe it, my two hours
has passed so in the interest of Target Shooter
readers, we’d better go walkabout! As always,
there were lots of clothing stalls with many
displaying ‘show offers’ and I did see one or
two bargains, even treating myself to a couple
of pairs of ultra-long socks. I don’t know about
you but when I lie down to shoot I end up with a
bit of bare leg showing where my trousers have
ridden up. These knee-length socks should
solve that one!
I also noticed an increase in the number of
stalls selling ‘edged weapons’ and although
not firearms, I can’t resist a look – particularly
the hand-made stuff – some really nice knives

Big boy’s toys............

And more....................
and axes. Even Cold Steel from America had a GMK Ltd who are the UK importers for a vast
display – I usually only see them at IWA. range of stuff including RCBS, Leupold, Weaver
and Burris scopes and RUAG for Nightforce and
Moving into to the large permanent building – of course ammunition and brass.
rather than the marquees which house most
of the Show - my old mate Berni Montana of I’d didn’t have time to explore this area.........
Extreme Performance Ltd and The Gun Room
had some very interesting ‘extreme’ stuff on
display in the form of large calibre sniping/
tactical stuff.

He also had a number of ‘little used’ Sako TRG

42s in 338 Lap. Mag. complete with all the
goodies which had been used for test purposes
and are now on offer at ‘give-away’ prices.
Contact Berni if you are at all interested.

Berni’s core business is ballistics and the ........................or this one!

development of solid projectiles and again, we
were able to procure a few ‘samples’ which we
hope to test for the benefit of Target Shooter
readers. Check out www.accurateammunition.
com & www.thegunroomuk.com

Shows like the American Shot Show and IWA

are of course ‘trade only’ shows but at least our
Newark Show is for shooters. Some of the big
importers were there however – which is nice to
see and I must therefore mention Viking Arms
Ltd who import the Ruger range (see test of their I have no interest in clay shooting so I didn’t
new Ruger Mini-rifle in our march issue) and bother with that though I heard it was possible
to shoot clays on the outdoor range and of
course, there were hundreds of shotguns
for sale both new and secondhand. I had
a look at the air-rifle area – a large outdoor
range about 50 metres long but firing from
under cover - very impressive and attracting
a lot of attention.

There were several ‘have a go’ sections and

one which really caught my eye was the
‘Olympic Experience’, where youngsters
could actually shoot an Olympic discipline
– brilliant – we need more of this to get
our youngsters interested in the sport and
restore our shooting to the standards set
by Malcolm Cooper and Mick Gault.

In addition to Diggle Ranges, there were

Berni with a few of his ‘little used’ TRGs
other club stands and I couldn’t help be
impressed by North Cotes Butts Shooting
Club near Grimsby. Although tiny in
comparison to my own Range at Diggle
they have a membership of 500 and put
on some great fun shoots. These guys and
gals really know how to enjoy themselves
and if you are near and without a club,
please pay them a visit. They cater for air
The Olympic experience! Let’s hope it gets a few youngsters interested. This was just a
small section of the airgun range
rifle as well as shotgun and firearms and also the National Rifle Association, the National
have a 100 yard tunnel range.................... Smallbore Rifle Association, the British Deer
Society, the Muzzle Loaders Assoc. GB, the
Tramping round shows is exhausting work but Quigley Shooting Association, the UK Benchrest
the Newark Show was well served with food Ass., the Historic Breechloader Small Arms, the
outlets – anything from crepes to fish ‘n chips Clay Pigeon Shooting Ass. And the UK Ass. of
– and freshly cooked! Alternatively, there is a Rimfire & Air rifle Benchrest. Remember, most
proper ‘sit-down’ restaurant serving meals and of these are non-profit making organisations
alcohol all day and late into the evening. and many members will have given up their time
and spent their own money to be there. They
I’m glad to see that many of our shooting are an essential part of any shooting show and
associations were also represented, including the we acknowledge those who freely gave up their
British Association for Shooting & Conservation, time to man a stand for the weekend to promote
Norman Clark always brings a lorry-load of stuff and his stand was besieged by customers
throughout the show – I had to wait until closing time to get this shot!
 Plenty of choice and plenty of bargains from what I saw

our sport. acquaintances. Although dozens of you were

kind enough to say how much you like Target
Amongst all the camo and green willies, a Shooter, an equal number had never heard of
welcome bit of eye candy in the form of the us! However we handed out over 500 leaflets,
RFD-NET girls! These georgeous young ladies so hopefully the message will filter through.
were promoting the resurrection of a very useful
service which was lost to us many years ago We were also running reloading demonstrations
– the ability to order a firearm over the phone on the stand and I must have shown dozens just
or on-line and have it delivered to your door. how easy it is to reload a rifle cartridge – in about
Currently, the firearm must be delivered to your three minutes flat. Laurie Holland was there all
local gunshop who will take delivery, enter the day Sunday and shooters took the chance to
quiz Laurie on all sorts of ballistic and reloading
firearm in his register and then write said firearm
on your FAC, informing the local police force - questions which he gladly answered. We also
just as if you had bought it from him. had a few of the ‘project rifles’ that have featured
in Target Shooter on display. However, although
With RFD-NET, a ‘man with a van’ - with RFD a lot of you are extremely knowledgeable,
credentials – collects the gun from the seller amazingly many shooters have never heard of
and delivers it to the purchaser and enters it on disciplines like F Class or benchrest. This is the
the purchaser’s FAC. A very useful convenient problem when there are no longer any ‘paper’
service for both seller and buyer, for which a magazines on the bookstands covering target
small charge is made – but your local dealer shooting.
would probably charge you anyway. See www.
rfdnet.net A brilliant concept which will save Now for my own little scoop purchase. On the
both trade and customer a lot of hassle. Smith Arms stand – specialising in historic rifles,
I spotted a strange looking rimfire target rifle. It
Target Shooter’s band of three (Yvonne, Carl & was Russian in origin, probably fifty years old
Vince) were in attendance for the whole two days but the action was beautiful. It looked as if it had
and it was just great to meet old friends and new been hand-carved from a solid block of steel (it
 RFD-NET - There’s no guarantee that these girls will actually deliver your firearm!
probably had) and the bolt was a little gem. It’s
almost a collectors item and it seems a shame
to chop it up but I’m hoping that it will make a
nice little rimfire benchrest rifle project for Target
Shooter magazine. Of course, it could be a ‘pig
in a poke’ - we’ll have to wait and see!
Finally, our congratulations to Show organiser,
John Bertrand. Once again, he did a fantastic
job and, if he invites us back next year, we can
make our bit even better. By opening at 8.30am,
he neatly avoided the long queues which built
up last year - I got there at just before 8.00am
and drove straight in. By 9.30am our hall was
The Bruger
‘heaving’ but still no queues outside and it stayed
that way until mid afternoon. With the continued
support of the shooting community, the Show will
surely grow and hopefully become an essential
part of everyone’s’ year. If you missed it this year,
please support it in 2012. It’s the best thing that’s
happened to shooting in a long time.
My personal thanks to Steve Thornton, who
did so much to give our target shooting area
a professional look by providing posters and
furniture and sorting out our passes for the
weekend. Steve is a shooter but he is also a
professional photographer specialising in outdoor
photography www.stevethornton.co.uk
and he has given us access to his website
for lots more Show photographs - see this
LINK.
 THE SHOW THAT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT...
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