Your post may have been meant as a joke, but if you really want to do some good, tell us about the great time you had and what you saw.

Mr. Murphy:
First, may I suggest you consider therapy. The experience may be able to help recover what is left of your sense of humour. Not to mention civility.

Apparently you have misinterpreted my admittedly jaundiced assessment of prevailing weather conditions for these events.

For that, I apologise to God and the science of meteorology.

I also had no hand in the conflict of dates involved, but under the circumstances, I was glad I went to EPIC. And... I would have enjoyed going to both. But not so much Vintagers in a driving Maryland torrent.

Still, I have no idea what kind of "failed business venture" you are referring to, so I shall refrain from offhandedly characterising you as an "idiot" as you have me.

To add perspective, I have attended many Vintagers events, plan on attending more, and wish Ray P. and his organisation only the best in future. Along with good weather.

Respectfully, Kensal

I deleted the sharp comments from my post, but I still think the decisions made by the EPIC organizers were a slap in the face to those who wished to attend both events and they did a disservice to vendors at both events by thinning the gate, again at both events.

Bill I could not agree with you more....What they did was divide the SxS community . The good news is the Epic event did not draw a tenth of the people that their press releases said so maybe they can fade into the sunset along with there lead shot ban...:cuss:

Gentlemen:
If there is anything that will do disservice to the SxS community -- and help seal the fate of shooting sports as a whole -- it is lack of foresight, deference... and rejection of our sport by responsible individuals.

I have no idea why EPIC was created or scheduled to take place on the same weekend as Vintagers. But I doubt if there was any mendacity involved. What's more, I could also give a fig about the steel shot issue.

What does trouble me is negativity that has been prevalent on this board -- and others -- regarding alleged plots, hidden agendas, resentment and jealously surrounding EPIC v. Vintagers.

These concocted controversies and unfounded accusations only serve to demean BOTH events. And in the end, perhaps result in our collective loss.

In my view, it is prudent to encourage and support both events. That includes a respectful entreaty to EPIC so mavens of the double gun can attend BOTH -- not one or the other. Steel shot? Whining about that restriction gains nothing. EPIC was much more than shooting. But I understand that next year's even may be adjusted to allow lead shot. Why not support such an effort rather than complain and foster contentiousness?

As I've said, I now relish BOTH Vintagers and EPIC. And the latter has great potential for the future.

To wish EPIC ill fortune at this point is simply childish.

Why not think constructively and have them both?

Best, Kensal

"I have no idea why EPIC was created or scheduled to take place on the same weekend as Vintagers. But I doubt if there was any mendacity involved. What's more, I could also give a fig about the steel shot issue."

Well Kensal I do give a "fig" about steel shot (if you understood vintage guns you would understand) :cuss: Also interesting to see you have only six posts on this board and they are all about this shoot..:shock: Are you the same person that posted on DoubleGunShop about how great this show was...? Just wondering :corn:

Eric

Kensal, I don't understand how you can preach to the rest of us and accuse us of disparaging the motives of the EPIC promoters when we did no such thing. If you want to preach about negative rhetoric, reread your original post. I expect you may choose to rewrite your most recent post after rereading it, but several of us may hit the print button before you can edit. We are supporting both events. Please don't accuse posters in general with negativity when there has been absolutely none except concerning the ridiculous lead shot prohibition. In addition, no one has accused the EPIC promotors of any devious intent, just very poor planning. They just didn't have a clue. Your use of the word "mendacity" is a poor choice. I'm sure you really meant to say that our posters suspect devious intent. Mendacity is fooling with the truth, not devious intent. We suspect no devious intent from the EPIC promoters.

Dear Eric & Bill:
I attended EPIC and was impressed. That's all. I have attended Vintagers, as well. That is equally impressive. I can't see what all the bile is about. Except possibly for Eric. He seems to like cartoons.
And Mr. Murphy... you have no grounds to critique anyone's prose. Your original post proves as much.
This will be my last post on this topic.

Best, Kensal

The only conflict between EPIC and the Vintage Cup was with the vendors. Anyone interested in shooting real shotguns was at Pintail Point shooting lead. I expect the folks at EPIC had plenty opportunity to shoot one of those new blue Berettas, and that's ok if that trips your trigger. EPIC was probably as much about selling real estate as anything else and that is a shaky foundation on which to build interest in shooting. Next year I hear Ray P will take his Vintage Cup back to NY State. I'll bet those vendors who were at EPIC will be back with the Vintagers in 2012.

Actually, the Vintagers will be back at Addieville, New Hampshire, where it all began. Whatever the situation with weather or scheduling, all who attend will have a good time. Hopefully, some of us will also have a good time at EPIC Game Fair ll, on a different weekend.