Where To Start

Gun Show Reviews covers the gun shows, trade shows and firearm events worth the drive. Whether this is the first show or the fiftieth, the steps below lay out how to find a good one, what to bring and what to expect once inside the doors.

Two smiling shooters holding Gun Websites GW logo patches in front of the Glock booth at SHOT Show 2015 in Las Vegas
The Gun Websites Firearms Network at SHOT Show 2015

1. Find a show near you

Start with the Gun Show Calendar and the list of Major Gun Shows in the USA. Local shows run most weekends in fairgrounds and convention halls, while the big national events, like the Wanenmacher Tulsa Arms Show, fill entire expo centers. The network calendar at Gun Calendars.com tracks 2A rallies, shoots and industry dates across the year.

Roadside billboard advertising an upcoming gun show
Shows advertise locally, but the calendar is the faster way to plan.

2. Read the reviews

The Gun Show Reviews Blog section covers shows the network has walked from end to end, with photos of the floor, the crowd and the tables. Reviews note how big a show really is, how many tables carry firearms versus knives, militaria and surplus, and whether the show is worth a long drive.

3. Know the rules before you go

Federal law applies at every show: licensed dealers run a background check on every firearm sale, just as they do in a store. State law decides the rest, including how private sales are handled. The Gun Show Laws page covers the basics, and each promoter posts its own entry rules, such as zip-tied actions and no loaded firearms on the floor.

Line of shoppers waiting outside the Tulsa Arms Show before opening
Big shows draw a line before the doors open.

4. What to bring

  • Cash, since many private tables and older vendors do not take cards
  • A valid photo ID for any purchase from a licensed dealer
  • Comfortable shoes; national shows cover acres of floor space
  • A short list of what you are looking for, plus fair prices from recent research
  • A bag or backpack for ammunition, books, knives and accessories
Knives and tools laid out on a gun show vendor table
Knives, tools, books and gear fill as many tables as firearms do.

5. Go beyond the local show

Industry events like the SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits show where the industry is heading, while the Gun Rights Policy Conference is where the 2A community plans the year ahead. The Firearm Events page lists the yearly 2A, shooting, hunting and industry events worth putting on the calendar.

Keep exploring

Gun Show Reviews is part of the Gun Websites Firearms Network and its Shooting group, alongside Tucson Shooting.com and Nevada Shooting.com.

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