SHOT Show Celebrates Industry Strength and Momentum

Jan 27, 2025
All photos courtesy NSSF.

LAS VEGAS — The 47th annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show®), owned and operated by NSSF® — The Firearm Industry Trade Association — concluded today, leaving attendees inspired by four days of energy, innovation and community. Featuring record-breaking exhibit space, a historic number of exhibitors, dynamic educational sessions and groundbreaking product launches, the 2025 SHOT Show reaffirmed its status as the industry’s largest and most impactful event of the year.

This year’s event welcomed more than 54,000 industry professionals to the expanded show floors at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, spanning more than 14 miles of exhibits. Over 2,850 exhibitors represented every corner of the shooting, hunting and outdoor sectors, as well as the law enforcement and security industries.

“The 2025 SHOT Show was a game-changer,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. “From the groundbreaking products on display to the strong sense of community throughout the show floor, this year’s event set a new standard. It’s not just a trade show — it’s a celebration of the innovation, passion and resilience that define our industry. We’re incredibly proud of what we accomplished together this year and are already looking forward to next year.”

The SHOT Show’s impact extends far beyond the show floor. The revenue generated supports NSSF’s mission to advocate, educate and communicate on behalf of the industry. It helps to fund critical initiatives like Project ChildSafe®, Operation Secure Store®, mentoring programs like +ONE® and government relations efforts to safeguard the industry and the rights of firearm owners.

“By attending or exhibiting at the SHOT Show, you’re not just participating in an event — you’re investing in the future of our industry, ensuring safety, access and opportunity for generations to come,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “We are deeply grateful for the support of everyone who makes this possible.”

 

Sentiments from the Show Floor

"SHOT Show now more than ever is the go-to event for businesses in the firearm industry. From innovation to collaboration, SHOT Show continues to deliver,” said Adam Ruonala, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Century Arms and Canik USA.

“The volume of industry interest we received over the last four days was incredible. A big thank you to the SHOT staff for all the assistance in making our debut, a successful entry into the marketplace. We are already looking forward to planning for 2026,” said Jeremy Rider, Vice President at Cross Point Gear.

"SHOT Show is more than a trade show; it's a gathering of friends from a dedicated community, all committed, like Black Rifle Coffee, to supporting and honoring those who protect our freedoms," said Mat Best, Co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company.

“What a fantastic event, bringing manufacturers, distributors and retailers together under one roof with innovation and product ideas pushing the industry into a strong future. A united front to protect and promote the Second Amendment. We are proud to be a part of this event,” said Tim Hafer, President of Hafers Guns. “Many thanks to NSSF!”

“Rost Martin had a fantastic SHOT 2025! As a relatively new company making pistols, the business generated at the show will undoubtedly launch us aggressively into the next stage of growth. Thanks to NSSF for the opportunity and hard work,” said Chris Toomer, owner and CEO, Rost Martin.

“This continues to be a pivotal point of contact for Daniel Defense. This is the center point to kick off our year. It’s exciting for us because we continue to see our peers in the industry, talk about where the market is headed and new political climates that may shift our decision-making,” said Matt Hurt, Daniel Defense National Sales Manager.

Miles Brazil, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Credova, a PublicSquare company, said, “It’s always an honor to be at SHOT Show alongside so many remarkable companies that have long defended our God-given right to bear arms. The energy and optimism following the election results are truly palpable, and we are more motivated than ever before to build the financial infrastructure that will secure the long-term success and resilience of this industry.”

“As a growing business, it's been amazing. With the Supplier Showcase, we have found a lot of new manufacturers that can really give us competitive pricing and quality products, so we're excited for the new things that we can create with those connections,” said Liztiffany Sousa, Pack’n Heat Products.

“I tell everybody it's kind of like a family reunion. We have made friends in the industry now that we've been doing things together for years. Always coming back together and trying to find ways to innovate and create some of the best experiences with their customers,” said James Sellers, Founder and CEO of Sellmark Corporation. “That’s what it’s all about and I think SHOT Show's the best way to do it.”

“It's been a great opportunity for us to deepen a lot of relationships and build a lot of new relationships,” said Ryan Voykin, Director of Sales and Marketing, Dillon Precision Products, Inc.

“SHOT Show allows me to take different classes, grab more information that we can utilize for marketing, ATF compliance, to understand some of the laws and changes coming down the pipeline so I'm aware. I can keep my staff aware and also educate our customers,” said Eddie Kimble, EDK Defensive Consultants.

“The show seemed really busy, it was a nice turnout and we had a steady flow through the booth. More people coming in for customer-based meetings, and they were the people we wanted to see. I’m looking forward to next year,” said Monty Deboer, Marketing Operations Manager at Hornady Mfg Company.

 

Government Officials and the Outdoor Industry

This year’s SHOT Show featured significant participation from government officials, fostering dialogue between industry and policymakers. The 4th Annual Governors’ Forum, attended by six governors, provided a platform to discuss the vital economic contributions of the firearm industry and strategies to attract firearm-related businesses to their states. The $8.9 billion industry supports more than 384,000 jobs nationwide, with a total economic impact of more than $90.1 billion. The Attorneys General Forum, now in its second year, drew strong attendance, facilitating critical discussions on regulatory issues and collaborative opportunities between state leaders and the firearm industry.

“The SHOT Show is fantastic, and each time that I come I just get amazed. It's really, really important to stand up for what we believe in – the Second Amendment. It's a big, big deal,” said Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen.

 

Event Highlights

Education sessions for firearm retailers, shooting range operators, exporters and law enforcement professionals continue to be an important segment of the SHOT Show. With SHOT University™, the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) – in partnership with American Cop – and Export Training Sessions offering in-person classes on compliance, marketing, training, exports, operations and much more.

The two-day SHOT Week Supplier Showcase, a key component of the SHOT Show, earned high praise for connecting suppliers with manufacturers and streamlining the supply chain. Over 600 OEM third-party suppliers met with manufacturers to address needs in materials, machinery, software, logistics and more.

The all-new SHOT Show eXtra Pavilion, designed to highlight emerging trends and provide first-time exhibitors with a long-awaited opportunity to join the show, stood out as a key addition to the event.

Similarly, the Archery Business Pavilion, introduced last year to meet growing interest, returned with even more exhibitors and opportunities, reinforcing the show’s commitment to showcasing innovation across all segments of the industry.

 

Honoring Industry’s Leaders

Three new industry leaders were inducted into the NSSF Hall of Fame for their contributions to NSSF, SHOT Show and the heritage of target shooting and hunting in America. The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees were Robert Delfay, Richard Hammett and Arthur Wheaton.

The prestigious Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jeff Reh, who served for four decades at Beretta USA Corp. as General Counsel and was a member of the NSSF Board of Governors for more than 20 years.

 

Commitment to Safety and Community

NSSF spotlighted its safety and outreach initiatives, including Project ChildSafe, Have a Brave Conversation and Gun Storage Check WeekTM.

A suicide prevention panel for firearm retailers showcased the firearm industry’s expanded efforts, highlighting the NSSF and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) toolkit and new initiatives by AFSP, The Armory Project and The American Legion’s Be The One program for promoting secure firearm storage, recognizing warning signs and connecting individuals to care.

NSSF’s Gun Storage Check Week initiative, promoted during the show, encouraged firearm owners and industry partners to prioritize safe storage practices. Resources are available at GunStorageCheck.org and participants are encouraged to sign up to receive a reminder and join the effort on June 1-7 and September 1-7, 2025.

 

Off-Site SHOT Week Highlights

Many official show events cluster around the four days of the SHOT Show, creating SHOT Week. Among them was the NSSF/Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Golf Classic in support of HAVA, a firearm industry-run charitable organization that helps the healing of disabled combat veterans through participation in hunting and the shooting sports.

Also, Industry Day at the RangeTM on the day before the SHOT Show gives invited media members and buyers a truly exclusive opportunity to preview and test the latest guns, gear and gadgets before anyone else in the industry. This year featured over 135 exhibitors and over 2,350 media and buyers, a record-high attendance.

 

Acknowledging Our Sponsors

This year’s SHOT Show was made possible by the incredible support of our sponsors, whose innovative contributions enhanced networking, exhibits and events for all attendees. NSSF sincerely thanks them for making this year’s show such a resounding success.

 

A Unified Industry, A Bright Future

The 2025 SHOT Show was more than a showcase of products—it was a celebration of the industry’s strength, unity and forward momentum. Attendees left inspired, motivated and better equipped to serve their customers and communities.

NSSF extends its gratitude to all exhibitors, attendees, media and partners for making the 47th annual SHOT Show an overwhelming success. Plans are already underway for the 48th SHOT Show, set to return to Las Vegas from January 20-23, 2026. For more information, visit SHOTShow.org.

 

About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.