I went to Shot Show 2026 for the first time. It was overwhelming, exciting, and I came home with the flu. Here’s what to expect if you’re thinking about going.
Shot Show is not like any other trade show I’ve been to. I’ve done IWA in Nuremberg, which gives you some sense of scale for a large industry event. Shot Show made all of that feel quaint.
Getting There: The UK to Vegas Pipeline
Two flights. Heathrow to Dublin, then Dublin to Vegas. It sounds like an odd route but it was the cheapest option, and it wasn’t too bad once you’re in the air.
The most surprising part was the border crossing. Normally, flying into the US from the UK means queueing at Border Force when you land. Not this time. Pre-clearance in Dublin meant we walked off the plane in Vegas and that was it. No queue. No drama. For anyone who’s done the Vegas entry shuffle before, that alone feels like a win.
Thanks to the guys from Mag Load who helped make the trip viable. I wouldn’t have gone without them.
The Supply Showcase: Start Here
Shot Show runs Tuesday to Friday. But on Monday there is the Supply Showcase, which most people skip, and that’s a mistake.
The Supply Showcase is not about consumer products. It’s about the suppliers behind those products: textile manufacturers, machining companies, material suppliers. The people who make the Cordura that ends up in your vest, or the aluminium billet that becomes an optic mount. Without them, nothing else at Shot Show exists.
If you’re a retailer, a product developer, or someone with an idea you want to manufacture, the Supply Showcase is genuinely valuable. It probably deserves more attention than it gets.
The Scale of Shot Show
Shot Show spans the Venetian convention spaces on two levels and connects via a bridge to Caesar’s Palace. That bridge, by the way, is something to see. They’ve been building it for years just to connect the two venues for this show.
How does it compare to IWA? Honestly, it’s difficult to say with certainty. What I can say is that a single hall at Shot Show felt bigger than two or three IWA halls combined. Whether it’s cumulatively larger is harder to judge, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. You’ll have to go and decide for yourself.
One thing I wasn’t expecting was the law enforcement section. It’s in a separate area and carries a very different atmosphere. I felt out of place at first, but there are consumer-relevant brands in there too. It just takes a moment to realise you’re allowed to be there.
What I Covered: Day by Day
Day One: Airsoft and Training Tech
Day one I was focused on airsoft and training technology, which is where I started out and still care about.
Ace VR was first. I’ve been using their virtual shooting system for over a year. It runs on the Meta Quest 3 and it’s genuinely good training, especially for keeping handgun skills sharp when range time is limited. Seeing Gusty Max Michels setting benchmark scores at the booth was a nice touch.
PTS had some interesting announcements. Their MAWL replica is worth knowing about: the real firearm MAWL is a $2,500 laser aiming module that’s become popular in competition and tactical circles. PTS have licensed it for airsoft at around $300, which makes it accessible for training purposes without the import complications. They’re also working on a Honey Badger and a Lux Raider kit for the SIG 320.
Mantis had their Titan X on show, which is a significant update to the Mantis X system. Rather than a module you attach to a firearm, it’s now built into a standalone laser pistol. That means you don’t need to use your own firearm for dry fire sessions at all. The magazine system for simulating reloads is a useful addition that the older systems lacked.
Nitecore had a lot of headlamps and EDC torches. The standout for me was a power bank that works in sub-zero temperatures. If you’ve ever had your phone die at an outdoor shoot in January, you’ll understand why that matters.
Ammo Up was a discovery I wasn’t expecting. They make brass collection rollers for range floors. Not aimed at individual shooters, more at ranges. They can ship to the UK and have an EU distributor. The only gap in their lineup: they can’t currently pick up .22 brass, which is arguably the most common calibre on UK ranges. Something for them to work on.
Evike also deserves a mention here. Similar to PTS, they license and produce their own airsoft products, and they’ve been expanding that range significantly over the past couple of years.
Day Two: Optics and More Optics
Dot USA are the third manufacturer to create a holographic sight, after EOTech and Vortex. The sight height is currently over two inches, which is an issue for some mounting setups, but they’re working on lower-profile versions. They’re also producing mounts and a laser module, which shows ambition beyond a single product category.
Vector Optics deserve a mention here. Five years ago you might have dismissed them as budget Chinese glass. That perception is harder to maintain when the IPSC Open World Champion wins with a Vector optic on his pistol. I’m not saying they’re the best in the world, but there’s clearly more to them than the price tag suggests.
Trijicon and EOTech both asked me not to film their reticles. The reason given, in both cases, was concern about Chinese industrial espionage. A bit surreal to be on the receiving end of that explanation at a trade show, but I obliged. Future videos on those brands will be limited accordingly.
Aimpoint, by contrast, told me to film whatever I needed. That was a relief. The ACRO is now available beyond Glock, which opens it up to a much wider range of pistol setups. Worth watching.
Leapers AccuShot Pro was another stand worth stopping at for anyone interested in accessible, practical optic accessories.
Maztech had an interesting heads-up display system working through an LPVO, providing telemetry and round counts via a Magpul pistol grip and PMAG integration. Still a niche product but the direction is interesting.
Day Three: Caesar’s Palace
Getting to Caesar’s Palace via the bridge between the venues felt like entering a different chapter of the show. There’s something slightly absurd about a bridge connecting two casinos for a firearms trade show, but here we are.
Shield Sights are UK-based, which makes them easy to recommend for domestic availability. They’ve been adding translucent hood options to their red dots. Whether those are actually useful or just interesting is something I’ll cover in a follow-up.
MDT make precision rifle chassis. Not something I use, but the new bipod they were showing was interesting. As bipods start appearing more in practical rifle and mini rifle competition, it’s a product category worth understanding.
Shoot Steel Global had their AR glasses on display again. They debuted last year and are still in development. The concept is straightforward: heads-up display for practical shooting showing split times and par times. The development timeline has been slower than expected, but the idea is sound.
Magpul had their DAKA organiser system expanded to work with any hard case, not just Magpul’s own. That’s a practical improvement that removes the main barrier to buying in.
Cerakote was a reminder of how much creativity exists in this industry. Some of the custom finishes on display were genuinely impressive.
Optic Guard make silicone covers for red dots – useful for storage and foul-weather shooting. Small product, practical idea.
Staccato also had a prominent booth, as you’d expect from one of the most visible pistol brands in the competition world right now.
Day Four: Final Lap
JP Enterprises were a highlight of the last day. Their JP 15-22 rimfire rifle looks well-suited to the UK market: light, clean lines, and from a brand with serious competition credentials. The JP AR-X, a precision .22 that’s apparently outperforming bolt-action variants in testing, is the kind of thing that sounds improbable until you start looking at the data.
Holosun are adding integrated lasers to their optics. Useful or gimmick, depending on the application.
SureFire had a solid EDC torch lineup. If you find Nitecore or Olight aren’t quite right for you, SureFire’s offerings are worth a look.
Aimpoint was a breath of fresh air after the filming restrictions elsewhere – they were happy for me to shoot whatever I needed.
Goat 15 was a late discovery. A family-run brand making miniature AR-pattern .22 rifles aimed at new and younger shooters. They’re proprietary in terms of parts, but the guns are genuinely small and looked well-made. Something that could work well for junior shooters in the UK.
A Note on the Show Floor
Spending four days on a trade show floor is tiring in a way that’s hard to explain until you’ve done it. You’re constantly walking, constantly talking, constantly evaluating. The show flu is a real thing: so many people from so many countries in the same space means your immune system will be tested. Hand sanitiser is not optional.
One other thing worth mentioning: Bass Pro. There are two Bass Pro visits in this trip. I don’t fully understand it. We’ve been to Bass Pro six or seven times across various US trips and it never gets old. There’s no equivalent in the UK and apparently that does something to the brain when you’re here. Accept it and enjoy it.
Final Thoughts
Shot Show is worth going to if you have a genuine reason to be there: you’re a brand, a retailer, a serious media person, or someone who wants a comprehensive view of where the industry is heading. As a first-timer, I found it more navigable than I expected, more interesting than I feared, and physically more demanding than I anticipated.
The individual products I saw will get their own coverage. This was the overview, the first impression, the lay of the land.
Get more hand sanitiser than you think you need.