Welcome to 2026 (Please Keep Your Wallets Inside the Ride)

We’ve officially crossed into 2026, and while the calendar has changed, the mood across the shooting world definitely has as well.

The biggest shift we’ve noticed is in buying behaviour. Shooters are still buying, but they’re thinking harder about it. There’s a persistent background noise of global uncertainty, rising costs, political nonsense, and the general feeling that someone important might press the wrong button at any moment. No naming names.

As a result, high-ticket items are moving slower, while budget and mid-range products are absolutely flying.

The success of the Snowpeak AP900 sums this up perfectly. It has encouraged a lot of shooters to finally let go of the idea that everything needs to be flawless, premium, or borderline jewellery. “Fit for purpose” is no longer code for " I won't compromise" when the product genuinely performs at such a low price. Sensible money spent well is winning.

January Pressure and the British Shooting Show

January also means one thing internally. Stress.

We’re deep into preparation for the British Shooting Show, the largest event in the UK shooting calendar. This year we’re changing things up. Instead of taking our usual wide spread of products, we’re bringing a tighter selection with genuinely sharp pricing.

If you’re heading to the show and haven’t booked tickets yet, now would be a good time.

https://shootingshow.co.uk/

Trade Growth and New Names

Our trade portal has seen a big increase in uptake, with more shops across England now stocking brands we import and distribute, including AGT, EPIC, KalibrGun, APOLLO and Vector Optics. If your local shop isn’t stocking them, feel free to point them in our direction.

We’ve also become a UK retailer for BuckRail from Texas. Terry, who runs BuckRail, is an excellent designer and engineer producing SLS manufactured airgun accessories and components. We’re currently trialling a smaller range, but if there’s something you think we should bring in, take a look at his site and let us know in the comments.

https://buck-rail.com/

Kits Are Out. Packages Are In.

Behind the scenes, we’ve reworked our bundles and rebranded them as Packages. Not exactly revolutionary, but it solves a real problem.

With manufacturers and retailers all throwing around the word “kit” and bundling in questionable scopes, we wanted clear separation. Our Packages focus on value, not cheapness. Every package includes a proper padded gun bag, not a flimsy slip, and we offer scope options from budget to premium because “free” scopes are often a waste of everyone’s time.

Looking Ahead

So while this isn’t the first blog of 2026, it does feel like the point where the year properly takes shape. Buying habits are shifting, expectations are changing, and value is being judged far more harshly than it was a couple of years ago.

For us, that means staying focused on products that actually make sense, supporting brands that deliver real performance, and continuing to refine how we bundle and present gear so customers get value rather than filler.

There’s plenty coming over the next few months, from the British Shooting Show to new imports, expanded trade partnerships, and more staff picks. If 2026 is going to be unpredictable, we may as well make sure the gear you’re buying isn’t.

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