As always, the best recap is https://defense-training.com/2026-shot-show-second-day/
https://defense-training.com/quips
Photos:
Notes from 2026
I had a list of places I wanted to go, but ended up walking the show! You can see the places I fav’d in the photos of places I wanted to go!
Day1/Monday: We went to the range day and got there about 9am, went and stood in line to shoot the M107 50 bmg, some VIPs about 8 of them got in front of us. I got to shoot the M107 at 870 yards at a 3 foot target. Then the MRAD in 6.5 CM at 600 yards. And then the tripod with ar10 was super shaky at 300yards. For the MRAD I hit 4 of 4. While in line, two guys behind me were 6’9″ ish. I told them, I wanted a picture with them as I finally found someone bigger than me! They play professional football.
Then we went to Active Safety Designs, which is an FRT for about $250. They had it hooked up to a fightlite belt fed 556 ar15 and I LOVED shooting 20rds full auto style! The bushmaster full auto with 4 rds was kind of weak sauce.
The kimber 10mm was fun on the dueling tree. I don’t think I had any misses, but saw a lot of others missing. The huxwrx booth was one of my favs and I got to shoot mp5, lever 45-70, ak. The 45-70 was super soft suppressed. The ak was pretty good, but still had a lot of gas even with a flow threw. I got two sets of gloves for free, one for me and one for my lady.
The 50 bmg truck themed semi-truck was epic!
We left about 3pm and went to get our ammo from supervel. I LOVE unboxing ammo and putting it in ammo cans labeled. They look like precious jewels to me. I got 4k rds of 9mm. 1000rds of 223 and a bunch of 300 blk 200gr and a bunch of 9mm in 147 gr.
DAY2/Tuesday:
Ron and I covered most of the big 2nd floor room and all of Caesars side. I was sad to see Aero Precision had turned their booth into a couch/chair. I wanted to talk to them about their long lead times. Aaron was saying Aero is having QA issues now too. I liked seeing all the new PSA guns. The 2011 looks pretty sweet, but if its high teens, I’d rather go with the Sig p211. I pet’d 6-7 versions of the p211. The 516 gen3 or whatever it is now is sweet and the mcx line is so much lighter.
I wanted to talk to premier body armor for another vertx bag shield, but found ace link Armor and during shotshow they have a 30% off on their website (see links below). I ended up removing one side of the throw over body armor for a vehicle storage and putting it in my bag.
I pet’d a girsan 2011. IMO I’d rather pay 2x the amount and get something else.
I’m over the moon for huxwrx and really loved seeing all their products.
The Bul Armory 2011/DS is freaking awesome. LOVE them all, but they do not give NRA instructor discounts. Really the P211 is the best 2011 IMO because the P320 magazine is so over-engineered and proven. They say the p211 is 6x more reliable then the very next competitor. The OA 2311 that uses a p320 mag is the next most reliable 2011 because…OF THE MAGAZINE!
We went to tops knives and for the first time I didn’t buy a TOPS knife! That old steel eagle I bought 15 years ago for $80 is now $300! I have several I have not used.
The NRA didn’t have any cool ar15 stickers 🙁
Ruger/Marlin was really cool. The 1894 45-70 is always a dream, but so hard to justify! They really need to come out with a 2011!
I went by silencershop and told them I’ve been waiting two weeks to sign the PDF and then that night I got an email 🙂
I got my 8th spyderco badge pin.
Day3/Wednesday
Cody Firearms Museum had coupons for two free tickets to their Museum!
I went by vertx and got recommendation on a stretchy non-tactical tactical pants.
Their smallest sling bag is still too big IMO and it doesn’t have a dedicated CCW, its in the biggest pouch/zip. So I much prefer the Kelty Sling (waiting for expert voice to host the sling).
The streamlight wedge looks awesome and can fit in molle and lays flat. They have a 500 lums and 1000 lums version.
2.5 days at shotshow, so long as one of the days is the range day is about perfect for me. Maybe some day we will try the Stacoto day out at scamsight.
https://earinc.com/product/racing-raceceiver-monitors-pro-cfv
2026
p2
https://acelinkarmor.com/backpack-bulletproof-panels/backpack-armor-10×15-panel
137
Try moving to pack
p1
30% off during shotshow week
https://acelinkarmor.com/ballistic-helmet-mich-coyote-brown
240
Altamont grips ppks German
p1
$310 for TWO:
https://acelinkarmor.com/level-4-promo-set-of-2-plates
p1
https://activesafetydesigns.com/ar15/arc-fire-trigger-ambi-kit
Yes NRA instructors deal
p2
https://www.opticsplanet.com/blue-force-gear-vickers-m249-saw-sling.html
P2
https://www.opticsplanet.com/streamlight-wedge-sl-500-lumens-led-flashlight.html
25909061 kelty sling back. Guidefitter in a few months
Sea to summit coupon code 50% off or pro deal
