Umarex Airguns was at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally’s All New GUNFEST in August 2022

[Ezana4CE]

This is my first time seeing anything about this. Umarex USA set up at a three-day event at the Buffalo Chip Shooting Range during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2022 to show case airguns along side firearms and firearm ammunition. Here’s an excerpt concerning GUNFEST from the HAM article linked below:

“It gives visitors the opportunity to watch demonstrations and test out the latest firearm products, ammunition, accessories and more in a safe and controlled environment. The event is free and open to the public. In addition, airguns also will be part of GUNFEST! That’s courtesy of Umarex USA.” Umarex appears to have been the only major airgun sponsor, if not the only airgun sponsor.

Umarex Airguns At Sturgis Motorcycle Rally GUNFEST

The 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally GUNFEST is a new innovation at the long-running bikers’ event. This year the rally runs from August 5 - 14.

hardairmagazine.com

For more information about GUNFEST click this link. https://targetprograms.net/

When I looked up the event I read in another article that “Umarex had the largest selection of products for everyone to shoot…” Source of quote https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/releases/39721636-bb0e-49bd-9751-73e651011509

 

[SteveP-52]

Considering the rash of stories I've read about how lousy it can be, Umarex might be better served working on their Customer Service versus hyping the guns they sell trying to drum up more business.
Took me 5 emails to finally get it through one guy's head all I wanted to find out was whether their ReAxis gas rams used air or nitrogen. He just kept going and going and going about the warranty if I was having issues and when I did finally get it to sink in what I was hoping to find out, got told "well, that's proprietary information we don't share with our customers.".
My last reply was "No clue why it needs to be a big secret, but if your lousy service treats every customer this way, I can see why many are going to other brands".

 

[Sqwirl57]

So its probably safe to say they were pushing their guns as a viable defense system for felons. Obviously I don't know that for a fact but I really can't imagine many other talking points here. Companies like Umarex are going to shoot themselves (and us) in the foot if they keep pulling stuff like this.

 

[TMH]

So its probably safe to say they were pushing their guns as a viable defense system for felons. Obviously I don't know that for a fact but I really can't imagine many other talking points here. Companies like Umarex are going to shoot themselves (and us) in the foot if they keep pulling stuff like this.

Or, perhaps, not in the least.

Motorcycles and shooting seem to have gone together for a very long time. I have ridden nearly as long as I have shot. Never had a Harley (current stable 2 KTM's and a Ducati, all dual sport biased).

This thing at Sturgis (never been myself) seems to be a regular event, since shooting is already popular with riders. Can't really see how adding air guns to the existing firearms program can be bad.

 

[Sqwirl57]

Or, perhaps, not in the least.

Motorcycles and shooting seem to have gone together for a very long time. I have ridden nearly as long as I have shot. Never had a Harley (current stable 2 KTM's and a Ducati, all dual sport biased).

This thing at Sturgis (never been myself) seems to be a regular event, since shooting is already popular with riders. Can't really see how adding air guns to the existing firearms program can be bad.

Its Umarex... they've been pushing home defense guns quite a bit lately. I'm simply making a small leap in reasoning as to what was going on there.

 

[TMH]

Its Umarex... they've been pushing home defense guns quite a bit lately. I'm simply making a small leap in reasoning as to what was going on there.

You are correct - their defense and 'train for engagement' products.

OTOH some of their less than lethal stuff (pepperballs (where legal of course)) could be useful for any motorcyclist, whether touring the highways or the back country, felon or not...

 

[Ezana4CE]

I was completely unaware of the claim that Umarex has been pushing their airgun products for anything other than hunting.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Vidwize Nice photo!

 

[Westypete]

Well put, Vidwize!

 

[Keyman62421]

They have to find a market somewhere.

 

[Fatmike]

Benjamin airguns had a setup at the rally also. Nothing nefarious going on just a place to showcase products to a large audience.

 

[mikegrealtor]

Was at Sturgis for the first-time last year and missed it this year unfortunately. I did not see anything about firearm events in any of the cites or towns I went, and I put 2K + miles on last year. I am wondering is this a first for the rally this past year? I would have really enjoyed seeing an even like this. Especially because I like guns and really like air guns to have both would be awesome. Maybe some of the other more desirable air gun manufactures will have stuff like this is the future. Just have more events and more and more people get involved in the air gun Hobbie. Air guns have come a very long way. Plus, they are just really fun to shoot.