By David E. Petzal

For a number of years, I visited the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The show, which is held in a hideous rambling building originally intended to handle livestock, is a genuine monster. For a solid week, people in the tens of thousands come from near and far to grope sporting goods, book hunting and fishing trips, attend demonstrations, and generally see what is what.

ESS, as it will hereinafter be referred to, is put on by Reed Exhibitions. Reed is the world’s largest organizer of trade shows and the like; the firm handles 500 events in 39 countries in all phases of industry, and included among its clients are the SHOT Show. And, oh yes, Reed Exhibitions is British.

The Brits have never really understood America, and this centuries-old tradition was carried on in a manner that would have made King George III proud when Reed decided that MSRs—Modern Sporting Rifles, or ARs if you prefer—were not appropriate for the ESS and would not be present this year. (They were very much present at the SHOT Show because there, NSSF and not Reed says what will and won’t be exhibited.)

[ Read Full Post ]

By Phil Bourjaily

I heard the following story at SHOT from a friend in the industry:

A man walked into a gunstore looking for 5.56 ammo for his AR. As is not uncommon these days, the store was out.

“How about that box of ammo there? I’ll take it,” said the customer, pointing to a lone box of .416 Rigby on the nearly empty shelf.

“Do you have a .416 Rigby rifle?” asked the clerk.

“Nope,” said the man, reaching for his wallet. “I’ll take it anyway.” [ Read Full Post ]