SHOT SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
To get everyone up to speed on just how large of an event SHOT
SHOW is, let’s look at some quick facts.
• SHOT SHOW week kicks off with Industry Day at the Range in
Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club from 0830– 1730, Monday, January 22nd.
• Show floor in the Sands Convention Center opens 0830 and
closes 1730 each day from Jan 23-26.
• 630,000 net square feet of combined show floor space
• 65,000+ attendees this year
• Over 16000+ exhibitors
• Vendors and products from all 50 states and over 100 countries
are equally represented
BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR INDUSTRY DAY AT
THE RANGE
The week’s events started at 0740 HRs Monday morning as a
coach arrived out front of the hotel and escorted our team out to
Boulder City. Nestled in a stretch of beautiful desert between two
sections of the majestic snow covered Rocky Mountains, this small
town springs to life each year as the buses and teams of vendors
roll in for range day. Upon our arrival at the host sight, Boulder
Rifle & Pistol Club, we were greeted with gift bags filled with
industry swag such as bottle openers, T shirts, jackets, patches,
stickers, etc. From 0830 till 1200, this range was only open to
the few privileged members of the media that were invited to
enjoy the day. Afterwards, select FFL holders could join in the fun
until closing time at 1630. Once through the main gate, we were
officially at SHOT SHOW’s Industry Day at the Range presented by
the NSSF!
The best way to describe this first day is basically a shooter’s
dream come true! Vendors from around the world totaling over
170 manufacturers are lined up the length of the range, side
by side with their respective tents and tables displaying their
products to guests as they make their way through. The best part
is, this isn’t just a glorified open-air gun show, this is THE SHOOTING
EVENT of the year! Every vendor greets their guests as they step
up, explains the products displayed, how they function, what may
be new for this year and then offer to have everyone test shoot
each and everything possible! As soon as the first shot of the
day breaks, the event becomes a whirl wind of long range, short
range, and multiple target engagements. Over 500,000 rounds
of ammunition light up the desert onto assorted static paper,
electronic and steel targets. Booth to booth, guests travel to shoot
high powered air rifles, .22 rimfire rifles, high end competition
pistols, full auto, and suppressed; even new large caliber rifles
making their industry debut at the show!
As massive as Industry Day at the Range is, the most impressive
aspects of the whole event are the professionalism and care given
by the Range Safety Officers. This team of highly qualified RSOs
run an amazing system to keep everyone safe and happy. Helping
to coordinate all the volunteer RSOs was a local Chief Range Safety
Officer and owner of BugOut Firearms, Shaun Lord. Having met
Shaun amongst the morning rush getting to the show floor years
TUR
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