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Shot Show versus SCI convention

Two years ago I visited the SHOT SHOW out in Las Vegas. What an amazing array of shooting related stuff (everyone should try to see this once in their life). At the end of the day I felt as though I had just visited the largest hunting and retail store ever. I talked to premium barrel makers, bullet makers, reamer manufactures, lots of gun manufacturers and anyone else I wanted to see.

I just returned from the SCI convention out in Reno Nevada. I have to tell you that I get more than twice the AHH!!! factor from SCI, than I did from the Shot Show. If your not all that into hunting, you probably won’t get a buzz from SCI. I compete in a couple of rifle events, but hunting is where it’s really at for me. While SCI doesn’t have comp. stuff, they have most of the relevant domestic gun makers, nearly all of notable optics makers. The big plus is that they have everything for hunting. Guns, Knives, clothes, the very finest taxidermy displays that you’ll find anywhere (better than in most museums). You can talk to guides and outfitters from every part of the world (which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea) but there was bird, predator and varmint hunting, deer and elk as well. And in the evening there was respectable entertainment that even the wives enjoyed.

Saturday afternoon President George W. Bush was on hand at the convention, shaking hands and taking an obvious interest the firearms and hunting establishments that were represented there. That evening 3000 of us attended a banquet where the President was the Keynote speaker for some 30 or 40 minutes (I might add, for a very reasonable ticket price).

Sure allot of working folks are put off at the idea of being around wealthy people, but it’s not strictly the upper income and a safari isn’t in the cards for most of us. There were as many North American opportunities as overseas hunting (and in case you hadn’t checked, you can take several species of African game for about the same price as some of the whitetail deer hunts that I priced). It’s for everyone whose passion is for hunting. By the way I’m not on SCI payroll; I just think that everyone who enjoys hunting would enjoy the show.

When I returned home the folks from Accurate Shooter had reported on everything from the Shot Show that would have interested me and gotten more detailed info than I ever could have.
 
I went to the Houston TX SCI show last year. I was quite bored. If your were'nt looking for a trip to Africa or a ranch to shoot pen raised elk, there wasn't anything else there. There were some $20,000.00 shotguns there to buy too.
The growth of the "canned hunt" is alarming to me.
This and "scientific breeding" are going to back fire i believe. Any animal that has had human hands on it before the hunt aint wild. When they have the animals named, it's SCI score, and the cost to shoot it, and guarantee you that animal, something ain't right. Just my opinion for what its worth.

Sorry for getting off topic. Delete if needed.
 
There is some over lap but in my opinion two completely different shows.

One is for the manufactures, distributors, dealers, sales rep groups and media.

One is for the manufactures, dealers, outftters, guides, SCI members, their guest.

Nat Lambeth
 
Yes, the national convention in Reno was open to everyone, nonmembers included.

I can't say what goes on in Houston. I've seen a couple of boths for high fence operations but out of the hundreds of wild sporting outfits, so what. What I didn't see were any tree huggers, wolf lovers or any other America haters.

Rustystud: You are right on. I guess with all of hoop-la surrounding the Shot Show, that it would be quite a spectacle. And for some maybe it is, I just wasn't feeling it.
 
They had quite a few outfitters at this years shot show.plus some great off road quads and they had hole section on clothing This years show cover just about every thing in shooting and hunting.
 
The Shot Show is not open to the public. Having said that I always find a way in...

For me I have to have a different mind set for each event; for the shot show it is the amazing array of stuff from manufactures that your local dealer(s) may not or will not carry. SCI is about the hunt and related hunting stuff. The custom gun guild is about firearms artistry. Have fun at each.
 
The SCI is not open to non-members. You must purchase a membership to attend the convention. $ 55.00 a year plus $130.00 for a 0ne day pass. Some discounts for multi-day pass.
I have attended both shows in the past and you can't beat the SCI for opulence. It's a great show to see at least once.
 

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