New Guns, Gear and Ammo the Highlights at SHOT Show

It's a month away, and as this is written, jolly old St. Nick is still getting ready for his annual Christmas Eve sleigh ride.

But before the last bit of the holiday egg nog can be polished off, attention is already turning to one of the biggest events each year in the country next year, as well as one of the top events in the outdoors industry. Both will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

First up, Jan. 20 is also President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration Day. It's the second time that Trump will be sworn in as U.S. President—he was sworn in as the nation's 45th occupant of the Oval Office in 2016.

Certainly, the events on the East Coast in the nation’s capital will occupy a lot of time on the nightly news that day. But as big as Trump's inauguration is, it might not be the biggest topic of the day out West in Las Vegas. That’s because in the shadow of the golden Trump Tower in Sin City, that same day marks the annual, albeit unofficial, kickoff to the 2025 SHOT Show with the Industry Day at the Range.

Certainly, another term for Trump and what that might mean for the firearms industry specifically and the outdoors industry as a whole will be discussed by SHOT Show attendees.

Beginning in St. Louis back in 1979 and held annually ever since—including in Jan. 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a virtual online version of the SHOT Show—this year's show will mark the 46th SHOT Show. As last year’s record-sized show revealed, SHOT Show remains a big gathering place as the industry comes to kick a few tires, make purchases for the upcoming year and, in our case, report on it all. 

In regard to that last idea, we’ll assemble a large team of our Game & Fish magazine editors and digital reporters to provide wall-to-wall show coverage once again this year with all kinds of content provided in video, audio, and written form.

While not everyone attends Industry Day at the Range scheduled this time for Monday, Jan. 20, at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club east of Vegas, much of the show's media presence—including here at Game & Fish magazine and several of our Outdoor Sportsman Group sister titles—will be there as the event opens at 8:30 a.m. to media only for the morning and media/buyers in the afternoon. 

You'll need hearing protection and eye protection because there will be a figurative ton of ammunition shot in the new products provided in the shotgun, rifle and handgun sides of the industry. Last year, chilly winds on the Nevada desert floor and off-and-on rain showers much of the day did little to dampen the enthusiasm of another large crowd, which was more than willing to test-fire new guns and ammo from many of the country's big names in the firearms industry.

The 2025 SHOT Show runs Tuesday, Jan. 21, through Friday, Jan. 24, at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. It's a massive event, featuring 2,700-plus exhibitors this year on the show floor in a show that will be the largest event held at The Venetian Expo and its four levels. The show is so big that it spilled over into Caesars Forum across the street in 2022 and continues to expand with this year's anticipated show floor expanse of more than 816,000-plus net square feet.

To put that in perspective, the SHOT Show is the largest event held at The Venetian Expo and, in 2023, became the eighth-largest trade show in the nation. And the square footage noted above is enough to park hundreds of F-16 fighter jets, and the 13.9 miles of occupied aisle space is more than half of an official marathon run. All of this will draw media, exhibitors, buyers and other industry professionals from all 50 U.S. states as well as more than 119 from other countries.

The 2025 SHOT Show comes on the heels of last year's highly successful run, with the 2024 version of the SHOT Show being one of the most successful such events ever held by the NSSF. Part of that description comes from the fact that the 2024 show was the third straight year of show floor expansion, as exhibitors gobbled up more space at Caesars Forum, including a brand-new emphasis on the bowhunting market.

That emphasis came at last year's SHOT Show with the unveiling of the brand-new Archery Business Pavillion, a feature that is back again this year and even bigger than its inaugural run.

“This is our first year here; the floor traffic has been great,” said Eric Griggs, Owner and President of GAS Bowstrings, at the conclusion of last year's event. “It’s been great to see a lot of crossover folks who are thinking about adding an archery department or already have one. Everybody comes to SHOT, so having an archery-specific section provides a level of convenience. I imagine this section will really take off in years to come.”

The 2024 SHOT Show also saw some high honors awarded with Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing, receiving the NSSF's highest honor as the Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon him. The NSSF also honored 2024 Hall of Fame inductees with Don Gobel, Bob Morrison and the late outdoor writing icon Grits Gresham being enshrined. 

In short, last year’s SHOT Show was amazingly big, adding up to a total of 821,000 square feet. Add it all up, and from a show floor footprint perspective, the 2024 SHOT Show was actually the largest one ever held, according to NSSF officials.

But as big as the show's actual physical footprint was in 2024, the crush of people roaming the aisles made the show what it is for those interested in shooting, hunting, outdoor recreation and law enforcement. In fact, more than 55,400 crowded the show aisles last January and similar or even bigger numbers are expected this time around in 2025.

While there is plenty of business conducted at SHOT each year, the event also serves as a sort of party for the industry each year, as colleagues reunite for the first time in a year, share hunting stories from this past fall and provide plenty of new product coverage as we do each January here at Game & Fish magazine.

Why the look back at last year’s SHOT Show? Because it’s going to be a tough act to follow, that’s why.

"The energy on the SHOT Show floor (for last year's show) was off the charts,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, in a news release. “The feedback we’ve received from our exhibitors and attendees has been amazing, and we can’t thank them all enough for helping us make the show what it is: the greatest trade show in the world.”

Many of those in attendance agreed, actually describing that it seemed like one of the SHOT Shows of old in the pre-pandemic era.

“When we’re here, we’re able to network with our customers; we’re able to see all of our dealers. There really is no better place for us to be during this time,” said Browning's Shaundi Campbell regarding the 2024 version of the show.

"This was my first SHOT Show,” noted Jordan Zwart, president of RubLine. “It was absolutely awesome, absolutely overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Everything that you can think of, you are going to find here.”

But that was last year, and this is this year with new challenges, a stubborn economy and a change in leadership at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Still, everyone heading for Las Vegas next month is anticipating a stellar 2025 SHOT Show, maybe record-breaking yet again, and we’ll be there to cover it all. 

Much of our G&F coverage will happen during the weeklong show itself via daily content postings and news updates as our crew gets a first look at 2025 products. We’ll also continue to unpack the SHOT Show and its wealth of new products in the days and weeks following the show with deeper looks at new shotguns and rifles, along with 2025 offerings in ammunition, optics, clothing, footwear, lifestyle accessories among others.

To see what's new at the 2025 SHOT Show, visit GameandFishMag.com throughout the week as well as our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X.

While there are still a few things to do in wrapping up 2024, our crew is already excited about the big year to come in 2025. That includes the SHOT Show next month, and we can’t wait to get there, see what’s new and tell our faithful readers all about it all!

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