2024 Shot Show

[madang55]

Well, I went, I saw, got sore feet wandering around looking for deals, got none. Best part of the day was a Chicken Wrap with Jalapenos for lunch. Did anyone actually pick up anything worthwhile? I would have loved an electronic powder measure (auto thingy) but no, Hornady didn't even bring any to the show. The mob that was offering was still wanting $500 for them, so not worth the effort of the entry, travel, parking and lunch.

[Oldbloke]

Tend to avoid those "shows"

You have to pay for the privilege of going shopping.

[Wapiti]

Deleted double post

[Wapiti]

Went to a Brisbane one years ago with the Mrs, had a ball, great ammo and clothing specials, our backpacks were straining.
Got to meet Cory from Aussie Reviews, and had a good yarn. And no mate, not goanna start a YouTube gun farm channel! No time.

As for travelling time, travel costs, well it's no different from going somewhere different any other time. It's a day out, a change and a chance to support the industry we'll all be screaming about if it's gone.

My complaint is it's a return plane flight away again!

[mchughcb]

I've got good prices from Geoff on woodleghs before.

[SomeoneElse]

Got to look through a whole lot of different thermal scopes/spotter. Learned:
- Resolution isn’t everything. Some 320 scopes produced a better image than some 640 scopes.
- Base magnification really needs to be considered, especially for my intended fox encounters.
- Ergonomics simply can’t be figured out looking at a webpage. Holding and trying them is probably the only way. Some buttons/dials move easily, some too easily, some too hard. Some are positioned in either good or weird locations.
- Menu navigation can be learned from a manual, but a well-thought-out menu system can actually be intuitive, not requiring a manual.
- Zoom controls vary. Some are good, some are obtuse. I guess this is a combination of my previous two points.
- Some units seem to be far more fussy with focus than others.

I spent the day pondering all these discoveries, debated re spending the $$$$ that was burning a hole in my pocket, and ended up just buying a lasagne pie and a coffee. However the entry price was worth paying, for the knowledge I came away with. I know I need to reflect more and if I decide to take the plunge, find a bricks-and-mortar shop with stock variety (or at least my shortlist) to have a final round of hands-on tests.

Someone Else.

[madang55]

Yeah, knowledge gained is good. But why would an exhibitor spend so much money without sweetening the deal? Shows ain't what they used to be.

[SomeoneElse]

Yeah, knowledge gained is good. But why would an exhibitor spend so much money without sweetening the deal? Shows ain't what they used to be.

I thought some of the deals were moderately sweet. For myself, I was weighing it all up against other expensive non-hunting interests that I’ve also got going on in my life. Some say I have too many irons in too many fires, but I see it as sequence-prioritising thing

I guess my point is that the $30 entry fee was far from a waste of money for me, event though I didn’t bring home anything in a show bag. Or alternatively, that $30 saved me from an expensive online buyers regret situation if I simply bought by spec/brand. The reputable model I was fixated on beforehand is no longer in my top-three shortlist.

Anyway,
Someone Else

[safeshot]

I attended the 'shot' show inn Perth. some years ago and it was great to see. I hoped to get a pr of Moroka.30 leather boots but they had none my size. This was a disappointment but the show was great. The organizers were to be congratulated for heading across Oz. Over 10,000 attended.
i would like to see another some day.

[Wapiti]

Next one in Qld please!

[Billo]

Tried to go to the Sydney Shot show back around 2015, parked the car and then waited almost an hr whilst they tried to cram 5000 people thru only 2 X Ray's machines at the entrance.

I gave up and went home, haven't bothered to go to any since then

[Wapiti]

Yeah the Bne one was awful too, big line-ups. We got there just after opening which we probably could've timed it better (earlier or later?) but we were a long way from Bris. But we got in and enjoyed it.
A mate and I actually took the trouble to fly to an early Sydney one, I think it was the first one, with accommodation too, hire car etc. But we were serious.

You will never get that much variation and displays of firearms in one place from a day burning petrol driving around gunshops with their different distributors and biases.

To be fair, finding a venue where you can get a permit from Weapons Licensing that has adequate security potential, one that is central to where the organisers feel is best, and one where people can park would be the main consideration.

I mean, where doesn't it suck to line up to get entry to something like this, once a year if that?