The firearms industry runs on a calendar of trade shows, expos and conferences. These are where manufacturers launch new products, distributors and retailers place orders, law enforcement and military buyers test gear, and the media gets its first look at what is coming.
Some are open only to the trade, like SHOT Show and the NASGW Expo. Others, like the NRA Annual Meetings and the Great American Outdoor Show, welcome the public. This page lists the major yearly industry events, past and present, with a profile page for each.
Industry Events at a Glance
| Biggest Trade Show | SHOT Show, Las Vegas, every January |
|---|---|
| Biggest Public Show | NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits, each spring |
| Oldest Event Listed | NASGW Expo, since 1954 |
| Trade Only | SHOT Show, NASGW Expo, Outdoor Retailer, FICC |
| Try Before You Buy | Anteris Alliance Try and Buy events |
Yearly Firearm Industry Events
Events still running, listed by the year they started.
| Event | Where | Started |
|---|---|---|
| NASGW Expo | Host city varies | 1954 |
| SHOT Show | Las Vegas, Nevada | 1979 |
| Modern Day Marine | Varies | 1981 |
| Blade Show | Atlanta, Georgia | 1982 |
| Outdoor Retailer | Salt Lake City and Denver | 1982 |
| NTOA Operations Conference and Trade Show | Host city varies | 1983 |
| Great American Outdoor Show | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 1995 |
| POMA Conference | Host city varies | 2005 |
| Army Navy Military Expo | Las Vegas, Nevada | 2007 |
| A Girl and A Gun National Conference | Host city varies | 2012 |
| USCCA Concealed Carry Expo | Host city varies | 2015 |
| Firearms Industry Compliance Conference | Host city varies | 2016 |
| Sports Inc Outdoor Sporting Goods Show | Host city varies | 2017 |
| TriggrCon | Wichita, Kansas (2024) | 2017 |
| Veterans Family of Brands Try and Buy | Boulder City, Nevada | 2017 |
| Anteris Alliance Try and Buy | Boulder City, Nevada | 2018 |
| Precision Rifle Expo | Blakely, Georgia | 2018 |
| NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits | Host city varies | Spring, yearly |
Past Industry Events
Shows that have ended or been folded into other events.
| Event | Where | Started |
|---|---|---|
| Big 3 East | Daytona Beach, Florida | 2007 to 2019 |
| ShockWave in the Desert | Peoria, Arizona | 2014 to 2016 |
| Texas Firearms Festival | Liberty Hill, Texas | 2014 to 2017 |
| NRA Personal Protection Expo and Carry Guard Expo | Host city varies | 2017 to 2019 |
Gun Websites Coverage, Year by Year
- SHOT Show, every year since 2005 (no show in 2021)
- NRA Annual Meeting 2009 in Phoenix and NRA Annual Meeting 2010 in Charlotte
Industry Events in Photos
Industry Events on Video
Media Day at the Range, SHOT Show 2026
NASGW Expo 2022, Today in Gun History
See the other event types on the Firearm Events page, and upcoming dates on the Gun Show Calendar.