February Staff Picks: Post-BSS 2026 - What We Loved After the Chaos
- Vector Air
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
Staff Picks Post-BSS 2026
The British Shooting Show is always a three-day crash course in gear. The pace is brutal, the questions relentless, and the products put through every test you can imagine.
Once the dust settles, though, we can look back with clearer heads and a slightly more informed perspective… ish.
Here’s what caught our team’s attention once the pressure of the show lifted.
Karl’s Pick - OwlSet ARGON ES 1.2X10 Nano Thermal Imaging Camera (VEOT-MC07)
Karl’s show was chaotic—running like an ARGOS employee, ferrying scopes and gun bags from the store lockup in the depths of the NEC to keep our stand stocked. Somewhere between all that, he managed to sneak in a bite to eat.
Despite the madness, his pick was clear: the OwlSet Thermal NANO, paired with the Picatinny mount. These hit the stand Saturday and were gone within hours. Between demoing units for visitors and sneaking glances himself, Karl confirmed what we’d suspected: this little thermal is a genuine multi-use tool. Pest control, quick ratting sessions up to 25m, or just showing off to friends—it does it all. Affordable, compact, and fun.
Tee’s Pick - AGT MANUL PCP Black Cherry Cerakote Edition Air Pistol
Tee’s pick was loud, proud, and very sarcastic—“what do you F***ing think?”—but also very personal. She influenced AGT to produce this Black Cherry Cerakote edition of the Manul and even owns one herself (Lucky #13 in the UK).
At the show, Tee was often at the front of the display, grinning like she knew a secret, introducing new buyers to the very model she helped inspire. Don’t like cherry? There are also Bronze and Green editions to choose from. A stylish and capable PCP pistol that has earned a fanbase for a reason.
Craig’s Pick - OwlSet ARGON ES 1.2X10 Thermal Imaging Monocular (VEOT-MC06)
Craig would have taken the NANO if Karl hadn’t beaten him to it, but the ARGON ES Monocular is a perfectly sensible alternative. Ideal for pest control or hunting sessions, it’s compact, lightweight, and surprisingly affordable compared to the professional thermals Craig typically uses.
It’s a practical backup to his higher-end gear (HIK, DNT, Night Pearl), but still a product he genuinely enjoys testing and using in the field. Function over flash, and the price certainly doesn’t hurt.
Luke’s Pick - EPIC VISION Micron PCP Air Rifle (EPV300ALU)
Luke spent the show on the range, tutoring visitors and demoing rifles, which meant he probably handled the EPIC VISION rifle more than anyone else on the planet outside of the factory. Despite his usual scepticism, he was genuinely impressed.
His pick? The 300 ALU. Why? It’s essentially an EPIC TWO LITE… but more. Lightweight (under 2.5kg), compact, and with ~100 shots on a 250 BAR fill—perfect for a house with a 9-month-old and for shooters who want high performance without a massive footprint.
For Luke, this was the ideal blend of practicality, stealth, and raw capability. And yes, he has ideas about a 4.5mm one with ARCA rail setup for future builds if anyone at EPIC is reading…
Why These Picks Matter
These aren’t just personal favourites—they’re based on handling, testing, and live feedback over three intense show days. Each product has passed real-world stress testing, from visitor demos to range sessions, crash handling, and repeated fills.
We share these picks to give you insight into what our team trusts, enjoys, and would spend their own money on.
What do you think of the picks, and what should we be looking at next? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Which do you think is the best pick?
Karl’s Pick - OwlSet ARGON Nano
Tee’s Pick - AGT MANUL Black Cherry
Craig’s Pick - OwlSet ARGON ES
Luke’s Pick - EPIC VISION Micron
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