It's that time again. 2012 is almost half way over and that means that it's time to start thinking about the next installment of the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show.The SHOT Show is described as
"the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports and hunting industries." and
the world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, camping and related products and services. SHOT brings in attendees from all over the US and from more than 100 countries around the globe. The
National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a firearms industry trade association formed in 1961, is responsible for bringing this valuable resource to the industry. NSSF's mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports and their membership includes more than 6,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers.
The Big ShowSHOT is the largest trade show of its kind in the world and the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, a city of trade shows, and the 2012 SHOT Show did not disappoint. The 2012 show set an overall attendance record of more than 61,000, setting records for buyers at 36,383 and media at 2,466. Despite show organizers intentionally scaling down the the show to better accommodate attendees show site, roughly 1,600 exhibitors filled booth space covering 630,000 net square feet.
Come on DownAttendance to the SHOT Show is restricted to those in the shooting, hunting and outdoor trade and commercial buyers and sellers of military, law enforcement and tactical products and services (and you must be able to
prove it). No attendees under age 16 will be admitted. Be sure to read the additional
attendance rules before heading out to the show.
If you're not a member of the trades but you would like to attend, ask around among your friends who are in the industry. Depending on the type of registration package purchased, many exhibitors and attendees may have "guest passes" available.
The 2013 show runs from Januay 15-18, 2013 at the
Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Show hours are as follows:
Tuesday, January 15 | | 8:30am-5:30pm |
Wednesday, January 16 | | 8:30am-5:30pm |
Thursday, January 17 | | 8:30am-5:30pm |
Friday, January 18 | | 8:30am-4:00pm |
More InformationFor more information and updates, be sure to keep an eye on this thread as well as the
SHOT Show website and the
SHOT Show blog.
Have you been to the SHOT Show before?If you've been to the SHOT Show before, let us know how it was by posting in this thread. Share your experience and let us know who and what you saw, what impressed you, what didn't impress you and more!
Video: How to Get the Most out of Your Attendance at SHOT Show
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-roaJuTpEE[/youtube]
Don't miss:
Best of SHOT Show 2012SHOT Show 2012 GunLink Forum ThreadGunLink Blog SHOT Show 2012 Posts