No Show Is Better Than SHOT Show: The Best Firearms Event Of The Year

The annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade) Show is the event of the year for those in the firearms and outdoor industries. From suppliers to buyers, law enforcement to military, and social media influencers to traditional media, everyone comes together at the beginning of the year to check out the newest products. 

The show, sponsored by the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation), brings tens of thousands of individuals together over a few days through networking events, classes, an exclusive range day in the desert, and, of course, the show floor itself.

Smith & Wesson’s booth is one of the larger booths at the show. This was only a tiny portion of the booth.

Today, we’ll have a little history lesson, provide insight into the event’s magnitude, and share some helpful tips if you plan to attend. 

So, without further ado…

History

The first annual SHOT Show, held in 1979 in St. Louis, hosted 290 exhibitors over a 5,200-square-foot space. That is an incredible number of people in such a small space, considering there were attendees in addition to those 290 exhibitors. 

Each year, the show’s location rotated between popular cities such as Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. However, from 2010 on, it has remained in Las Vegas, where it’s contracted to stay until 2027. My guess is that we’ll see it stay there long after 2027.

One of the outdoor networking events at Caesars Forum.

Facts & Figures

Unless you’ve attended, it’s hard to comprehend the magnitude of the event, but here are some interesting facts and figures to help: 

• Over 2,700 exhibitors will be at the 2025 SHOT Show
• The 2024 SHOT Show saw more than 55,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 119 countries
• There will be 13.9 miles of aisles (remember this when you get to the What To Bring section) throughout the 820,000 square feet of exhibit space for the 2025 show
• The show typically brings more than $88 million in non-gambling revenue to the Vegas economy

You see? It’s quite the trade show! In fact, it’s the 5th largest trade show in Vegas and the 8th largest in the United States.

What To Expect

It will come as no surprise, but you should expect highly packed days of nothing but learning about and checking out guns, gear, and accessories. It literally takes multiple days to see most of what the show has to offer, and you’ll still probably miss quite a bit.

Guns, guns, and more guns!

Many manufacturers plan their entire year around the release of brand-new products introduced at the show. You’ll not only get the first look at products but oftentimes a chance to test them hands-on, whether at the range or booth, depending on the product.

Typical companies you’ll catch out in the desert at Industry Day At The Range.

You’ll likely also see your favorite YouTubers and influencers walking the floor or hosting meet-and-greets. I’ll say it now: You’re not too cool to ask Garand Thumb or Colion Noir for a picture. Many of us watch their videos all the time, and I’ll be the first to say how cool it was to meet them in person.

Colion was hanging out at the Daniel Defense booth, so I figured I’d grab a picture.

Be ready to walk a lot, talk a lot, and wind up with a ton of free stuff. Who doesn’t love free swag?

What To Bring

Most of what you bring on any other ordinary trip applies here, but after attending several SHOT shows, I’ve compiled a list of must-have items you’ll want to consider!

1. Backpack—This backpack will not only let you carry all of your EDC essentials, but you’ll also be getting A LOT of free swag. From shirts to patches to actual products, you’ll be shocked at how much free stuff you’ll accumulate. 
2. Comfortable Shoes—My first year attending SHOT, I went alone and had meeting after meeting scheduled. I “dressed to impress,” as they say, which included dress shoes. Let’s just say I quickly learned that was a terrible idea. For the next several shows, it’s been athletic shoes, and it will continue to be! 
3. Phone Charger—Cell reception is often spotty, so your phone will drain quicker than normal. Add to that all the photos you’ll be taking, and the battery doesn’t stand a chance. Bring a charger or charging bank.
4. Business Cards—Believe it or not, people still exchange physical business cards! Sure, you can have your digital cards ready to send, but many folks still seem to enjoy the old-fashioned card exchange.

Is It Worth Attending?

You may be asking yourself if the expense, traveling time (if you’re not local to Vegas), and the long days are worth it. My answer is a resounding yes! 

A lot of being in this industry comes down to who you know, and there is no better event than SHOT to make connections. Even if you have no interest in making connections, the awesome guns and gear will make you feel like a kid in a candy store.

I’ll take three, please.

Whether you’re a buyer, supplier, law enforcement, military, or media, do yourself a favor and make it to SHOT Show one of these years!

Ryan Domke

Ryan Domke is a firearms enthusiast at heart who has worked with some of the largest manufacturers in the firearms industry, gaining knowledge and expertise he enjoys sharing with the 2A community. He has contributed to numerous reputable publications, including The Mag Shack, Springfield's "The Armory Life," Smith & Wesson's "The S&W Bench," and many others. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors.

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