By Michael A. Black | Contributing Writer
Editor’s Note: Mike Black’s annual review of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show has become something of a tradition. Here is the first of two segments in his report from Las Vegas.
As the nation gets ready to celebrate its 250th birthday, the 2026 SHOT Show celebrated a milestone as well—it was the show’s 47th anniversary.
Each year the show is sponsored by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) at the Venetian Expo Center and Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The massive industrial trade show ran from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23. It’s the gathering place for the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry featuring manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, publishers and non-profit organizations. Scores of industry professionals attend to view the latest in firearms, ammunition and outdoor equipment.
The industry’s unwavering support for the Second Amendment is constantly on display, and politicians from various states are also in attendance. This year’s show was one of the biggest in the trade show’s history, with more than 2,857 exhibitors from 126 countries and all 50 states spread over 13.6 miles of aisles. When one compares these amazing numbers with the 290 exhibitors at the first SHOT Show in St. Louis, Missouri back in 1979, and it’s obvious how much the industry has grown.
Virtually every segment of the firearm’s industry, and then some, was represented. For example, there are lots of hearing protection products, including the ones from Magna Lens (www.magnalens.com). Using magnetic attachments to connect eyewear to the wearer’s ear muffs, this allows for a more secure seal to protect the shooter’s ear from injurious decibels that could seep in between the sealing ear muff due to the intrusion of the protective eyewear frame. Magna Lens offers a variety of ear muffs and lenses, the magnetic device can be fitted on any earmuff the shooter already has. It also offers conversion kits for existing muffs. MSRP is $110 for both eye wear and earmuffs, $10 for an adapter kit.
The Law Enforcement section is the fastest-growing segment of the show. It includes the latest equipment for law enforcement professional and military members. This section was started more than 20 years ago and now covers more than 170,000 square feet of exhibits.
The SHOT Show not only provides a showcase for new and established firearm companies, it also allows for industry professionals to network and see the latest products and developments in the field. Numerous political figures were also on hand to participate in interviews and panels, including the attorney generals from Louisiana and Missouri and the governors from several states.
The SHOT Show is educational as well, offering a variety of classes covering the latest news and trends on the business side of firearms along with as a variety of educational programs for business owners and law enforcement. There are many booths where attendees can handle the latest firearms and other equipment and talk with professionals in the firearms industry. As always, no personal firearms are allowed in the show, and for safety purposes, every firearm in the event is inspected prior to the opening and tagged by Las Vegas Metro to ensure that none of them has a firing pin. For gun lovers, law enforcement officers, and industry professionals, it’s four days of pure bliss.
As always, the SHOT Show University offered an outstanding array of classes each day in business management and law enforcement. Some of these in the business section were “Mastering Media Relations: Tips and Tricks From a Former Broadcaster ,” “How Hackers Really Hack and How To Best Defend ,” and “Smarter Marketing for Regulated Brands: Storytelling Strategy and the Power of AI;” The Law Enforcement Education Program had a number of interesting classes as well including, “Next Generation Force Protection: Hearable, Biometric Intelligence and Integrated Tactical Systems at the Edge ,” “How to create a Tactical Training Area Without Spending a Fortune,” and once again, a subject that is near and dear to my heart, “Police Suicide: the Threshold of Pain.”
My ex-partner on the police department took his own life. I believe I was most likely the last person to talk with him and I missed all the signs. The NSSF had a booth dedicated to suicide prevention, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs had one also. In addition to having offices around the country, their traveling RV bus also makes the rounds to more remote locations to provide counseling for veterans regardless of discharge character and without the need to enroll in VA health care or have a service connected disability. The Veteran Crisis Line is 988 – Option 1, or Text 838255.
Although the show officially began on Tuesday as usual, industry professionals and members of the media had an opportunity to attend a special day of shooting on Monday, Jan. 19 at Boulder Range in Boulder City. Various firing stations were set up along the long range and attendees were able to shoot some of the newest weapons as well as a lot of old stand-bys. Industry Day at the Range (Formerly called Media Day at the Range) is always held on the Monday prior to the first day of the SHOT Show.
Staccato Arms hosted a separate range experience at in Pahrump, Nevada, where they have their own range for holding seminars and training classes throughout the year. The free event was a great success that had approximately 3000 people in attendance. Over 100,000 rounds were expended. There was a shuttle service to this site from the Venetian, and this event was open to the general public. Prior registration and a waiver of liability were required. Unfortunately, due to my recent surgery and some other health problems, I was unable to attend either of the range events, but next year I hope to get to one or both of them.
Tuesday morning the SHOT Show officially began. Once again, the array of exhibits was spread over five levels in the Venetian and a separate section in Caesar’s Forum across the street. The free SHOT DAILY magazines, containing a variety of informative articles, were passed out each morning. I was forced to rent an electric cart to make my way through the heavily populated aisles, but finding specific exhibits was made easier by an available app on your smart phone. Paper maps were also provided for the over-forty crowd, and helpful staff in green shirts gave out directions to the desired booth location. Free, heavy-duty red tote bags were readily available, courtesy of SARSILMAZ, a Turkish company that is the official supplier of the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish Police.
And speaking of things international, although the Caracal USA (www.caracalusa.com) weapons are produced in Idaho, the company is based in the United Arab Emirates, which is responsible for the unique design of their pistols. All of their handguns are 9mm and their latest is the Enhanced F Quick Sight series. Caracal has a patented “Quick Sight” feature that places the rear sight on the slide directly in front of the ejection port. This allows for immediate and fast target acquisition. The ergonomically designed grip makes it easy to hold, and reduces felt recoil with a removable barrel thread protector to allow a silencer to be attached to the threaded end.
The slide length is 7 inches, with a barrel length of 4.1 inches. This polymer, striker-fired pistol weighs 1.7 pounds and has a short double action trigger with a pull of 4.5 pounds. The magazine capacity is 18 + 1, or 10 + 1, and the magazine release is ambidextrous. As stated previously, the Enhanced F suppression-ready model comes with a threaded barrel and suppressor-high sights. The MSRP is $549.00, or $679.00 with mounted tritium night sights.
As previously stated, Staccato (www.staccato2011.com) now has its own range just outside of Las Vegas in Pahrump, Nevada and conducts training courses there year-round. Their primary range is in Florence, Texas where they also hold training seminars. Their guns are extremely popular with law enforcement. One of the company’s primary goals was to develop pistols for law enforcement. The Texas Rangers, as well as over 1,400 other law enforcement agencies, have adopted the Staccato as their duty sidearm. Part of this appeal is due to the smooth, ball-bearing feel of racking back the slide on the pistol. The standard bearer, the Staccato XC has a handsome, steel-frame This S/A 9mm has a 2.5 lb trigger pull and a 17+1 round capacity. The front sight is fixed onto the front portion of the barrel and doesn’t cycle back with the slide, which allows for the shooter to maintain better target acquisition with less recoil and muzzle rise. The MSRP is $4299.00.
The Staccato C4X is their newest pistol in size variation and is totally ambidextrous. It has a steel frame with relief cuts built in for better finger gripping power, and compensator built onto the front of the frame. The rear sight has also been moved to just behind the ejection port for easy fitting for a red dot sight. In the regular sized models, the rear sight is still at the rear end of the slide. It will offer a 16+1 round capacity and weigh-in at 26 oz due to its aluminum frame. The MSRP is $3499.00.
Smith & Wesson (www.smith-wesson.com) introduced their line of polymer pistols in 2005 and has been enhancing and expanding the line each year spotlighting a different model. This time the company was particularly proud of introducing their new M&P 2.0 Performance Model. The optic-ready, full size 9mm sports a stainless steel frame that has enhanced serrations to provide a better grip for the shooter. It also has enhanced texture to allow for a more secure grip. Weighing 34.5 ounces, the gun is 8.25 inches long, and has a 5 inch ported barrel to reduce recoil. It’s part of the new M&P Metal HD Series. The MSRP is $1,299.00.
Of course anytime I go by Smith & Wesson, I always check out their fine array of revolvers, like the Model 10, chambered in .38 caliber. One can’t help marvel at the elegant simplicity of the design, which harkens back to a simpler time. No Picatinny rail, no external safety, no red dot optic… it has served law enforcement and military shooters well since first being introduced in 1899. It’s been in varying degrees of production for more than 125 years. My uncle gave me one of these revolvers when I first entered law enforcement. The double/single action revolver has a cylinder capacity of 6 rounds, with a 4 inch barrel and empty weight of 34.6 ounces. The trigger pull is a smooth 8 lbs for double action and 2 lbs for single. The sights are equally simple: a groove in the top strap and a half-moon blade on the front of the barrel. The MSRP is $979.00.
And of course, thinking back to the good old days, I could hardly pass up a chance to pose for a picture with Dirty Harry’s weapon of choice, the .44 Magnum. The Model 629 Mountain Gun .44 Magnum comes close. Six inches in height and weighing in at 45.6 ounces, the six-shot revolver has a 10 lb double action trigger pull. So you gotta ask yourself one question: Do you feel lucky?
Michael A. Black is a freelance writer and regular contributor to GunMag.Com. His latest novel, a western, is Retribution Trail, A Bass Reeves Western, available in paperback from Genius Publishing and in hardcover large print from Thorndike Press.
