As 2024 draws to a close, we take stock of a year that has been both challenging and transformative for the shooting sports community. In this roundup, we’ll explore key trends, industry shake-ups, and our team’s standout product picks—highlighting the guns and accessories that impressed us the most.
Quick Jump To:
The Industry in 2024: A Year in Review
Licensing Fears and the Lead Ban
2024 started with widespread concern over potential licensing restrictions and the looming lead ban. The latter posed significant challenges for many manufacturers whose products were not ready for a post-lead world. Fortunately, the final ruling included practical exceptions for the airgun industry, sparing it from immediate upheaval.
On the political front, fears of sweeping restrictions or outright bans on shooting sports proved unfounded. Instead, new initiatives aimed at supporting legal shooting activities and redirecting licensing revenue toward crime prevention provided some much-needed reassurance. That said, vigilance remains necessary as we navigate this evolving regulatory landscape.
Social Media Causing a Shift in Distribution Dynamics
This year saw the Social media Singularity crushing many of the industry's brands' reach as such many brands have begun reevaluating their distribution strategies. Exclusive distribution agreements, once seen as a path to stability, faltered for some brands due to stagnation or insufficient resources. Others benefited from diversifying their networks, allowing them to adapt to market demands more effectively.
While some brands thrived, others struggled to find footing in an increasingly competitive market. Whether moving to monopolization or embracing broader distribution to try to increase reach is a good idea or not, the long-term impact of these shifts remains uncertain.
Key Trends of 2024 We Have Seen
1. The Evolution of Optics
With 1-inch scopes now largely relegated to budget options, 30mm and 34mm tubes dominate the market, offering superior performance and simplifying choices for shooters. Now might be the time to upgrade whilst the 1" tube optics still have some value on eBay.
2. Dovetail’s Decline
The dovetail rail is increasingly seen as outdated, with Picatinny emerging as the preferred standard in multiple cases both in buying practises and practicality. Multiple polls and heated debates solidify the move to Picatinny over the confusing and problematic Dovetail. As such conversion rails to move from the old dovetail have become bestsellers as shooters adapt their setups to this more versatile system.
3. The Rise of 4.5mm (.177) Caliber
This year has seen a shift in both consumer and retail preferences toward the smaller 4.5mm (.177) calibre air rifle, driven by better-informed buyers seeking the flatter trajectories and versatility needed for sub-16J airguns, especially at distances over 40m.
4. Brand Exploration Over Loyalty
Consumers are moving beyond legacy brands, exploring innovative newcomers like Reximex, AGT and EPIC Airguns, which have made waves with their cutting-edge designs and impressive performance.
5. Long-Term Investments in Equipment
Consumers are prioritizing reliability and performance, driving sales of compressors and air tanks over cheaper, less dependable options.
What We’ve Seen and Accomplished in 2024
This year has been a whirlwind for us as both a retailer and distributor. We’ve faced our share of challenges but also celebrated milestones that reflect our adaptability and commitment to the industry.
Challenges We Faced
Uncertainty in the Market: The fear surrounding licensing changes and the lead ban created a slow start to the year. Ensuring our stock and advice aligned with potential regulatory changes was no small feat.
Supply Chain Adjustments: With brands reevaluating their distribution partnerships, we had to remain flexible to maintain strong relationships with suppliers and adapt to shifting market demands.
Evolving Consumer Preferences: Catering to a new generation of shooters required us to stay ahead of trends and ensure our product offerings matched the needs of modern enthusiasts.
Our Wins
Expanding Partnerships: We’ve strengthened collaborations with leading brands such as AGT, KalibrGun, and Vector Optics, ensuring we offer the best products on the market.
Demand for EPIC Airguns: EPIC airguns have seen a dramatic rise in popularity across both private sales and wholesale requests. This brand has gone from being a newcomer to an industry runner, now more accessible than ever as more retailers stock their exceptional products.
Supporting Clubs and Communities: Our partnership program for shooting clubs has grown, allowing us to support grassroots initiatives and foster the sport’s growth among younger generations.
Modernising Services: From improving product availability to streamlining customer support, we’ve worked hard to meet the demands of a changing market.
The Vector Air Staff Picks of 2024
After a year of monthly picks, our team has chosen the standout products that left a lasting impression. These are the items we’d choose with our own money—and many of us already have.
Our Picks for Accessory of the Year
DNT Thermnight Scope
DNT has truly shaken up the thermal optics market with their Thermnight multispectral scope. Combining thermal imaging with night vision, this scope offers the versatility shooters need for both day and night operations. Tee, in particular, has been impressed by the dual functionality, and Craig is considering this upgrade for his long-range pest control kit. The built-in laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator are the cherry on top. As the market moves toward multifunctional, all-in-one solutions, this scope represents a giant leap forward.
NateChrony V2 Portable Chronograph
The NateChrony Portable Chronograph made waves this year as the first truly certified portable unit to deliver consistent, reliable data in the field. Even though it comes in at an incredible price, it’s the most feature-rich and reliable portable chronograph available today. Luke, our resident tech expert, has made it his pick of the year, as it’s become indispensable for shooters seeking to understand the speed of their pellets—especially with the increasing affordability of ballistic optics like the one above.
Vector Optics Taurus Compact
The Taurus Compact made a significant impression due to its impressive optic clarity and 34mm tube, offering a perfect blend of performance and affordability. As one of the late-year arrivals, it surprised both Craig and Tee with its quality, making it a go-to recommendation for shooters seeking a lightweight, high-quality scope without breaking the bank. It’s compact yet packs a punch in terms of optical performance, making it perfect for hunting and target shooters alike.
Vector Optics Taurus GEN2
The Taurus GEN2 represents an evolution of the original Taurus scope line, now with larger turrets and a power lever fin for easier adjustments—especially when wearing gloves. Known for its exceptional clarity and large zoom range, the GEN2 version has made waves among shooters who value both versatility and precision. Karl and Luke have both highlighted its performance as a top pick for those seeking a high-quality, multi-use scope.
Our Picks for Gun of the Year
AGT Vixen
The AGT Vixen has rapidly gained a loyal following thanks to its lightweight, simple, and accurate design. Tee traded in her previous rifle for the Vixen and hasn’t stopped recommending it to anyone who has the budget for it. The Vixen’s smooth operation and precision make it one of the most impressive shooters on the market, especially for those seeking a reliable, user-friendly option.
Walther Reign M2
The Walther Reign M2 has gained serious traction in the mid-range PCP airgun category, praised for its side-lever action, regulated shot count, and Picatinny rail options. Luke and Craig both highlight the Reign M2’s versatility for various shooting styles, particularly its adaptability for left-handed shooters and its relatively light weight, making it ideal for those who need a practical and reliable airgun for both hunting and target shooting.
EPIC ONE & TWO
EPIC has been one of the standout brands of 2024, with the EPIC TWO and EPIC ONE airguns taking the market by storm. What began as a small niche brand has become an industry runner, with both private customers and wholesale orders growing exponentially. Known for their high-quality craftsmanship, EPIC’s guns offer a customizable experience with various options and accessories, making them accessible to all kinds of shooters. Whether you're looking for a conventional or bullpup design, EPIC offers a performance solution. Craig chose the EPIC TWO 300 CFB with the walnut stock as his choice and Karl chose the EPIC ONE Razorback as his. Two different beasts but ultimately with one aim, to be EPIC at what they do.
Honorable Mentions
Eagle Vision Dovetail Adapters:
With the large disdain for dovetails ringing in our ears, the Eagle Vision Dovetail to Picatinny Adapters has been a godsend allowing customers to modernise outdated mounting standards. They have also been a best seller this year thanks to the huge variety Eagle Vison offers to match your setup. If you are still on the fence about converting, don't give it another thought and do it today!
Hill Compressor:
While not a new product this year, the Hill Compressor continues to dominate the high-end compressor market due to its durability and reliability. Despite the rise of cheaper alternatives, this model stands out as a long-term investment for shooters who demand quality and performance. Our choice would be to add the Dry Pac Pro to save your gun form expensive repair costs in a few years.
KalibrGun Cricket:
This airgun is consistently praised as one of the most accurate rifles on the market, earning a strong reputation for both performance and innovation. Although it didn’t make the top spot this year, its legacy continues to impress.
Reximex Lyra:
If you had asked us last year if a small Turkish manufacturer would have been on our shortlist for products of the year we would probably given a little chortle and continued drinking our coffee. However, this little affordable platform has impressed us and has even impressed some of our most demanding customers.
Looking Ahead
As we close out 2024, the shooting sports industry finds itself at a critical juncture. Change is inevitable, but with innovation and adaptability, the future looks promising. Only providing it is willing to change.
Whether you’re a New shooter, enthusiast, Professional, Retailer, Supplier or Manufacturer; the road ahead is one of opportunity—and we’re here to navigate it with you.
---------------------------------------------------
Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments below.
---------------------------------------------------
Support this blog by buying the blog writer a coffee!
---------------------------------------------------
*Please note that some of the links may be Amazon affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission from your purchase. Affiliate links help support our blog and the valuable information we provide.
Image Use for Educational Purposes - This blog post includes images used for educational purposes, not all of which are not owned by the publisher. Efforts have been made to credit image owners/sources appropriately, and any concerns about attribution or copyright should be addressed by contacting us. These images are used solely for educational purposes within fair use guidelines, with no commercial intent. The inclusion of external images does not imply endorsement or sponsorship of our content by image owners/sources. We aim to comply with relevant copyright laws, and any questions or suggestions regarding image use or content are welcome through our contact information provided.
Comments