Can You Guess What’s in These 18-Wheelers?

I’ll give you a hint: The photo was from a few days ago in Las Vegas.

If you said “firearms,” you’re correct.

The photo above is from the Sands Expo and Convention Center, home to the industry-only 2018 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. Of course, in addition to firearms, SHOT Show also has everything else you can imagine having to do with shooting, hunting, law enforcement and more.

I’ve been attending the annual SHOT Show for so long that I quit counting years ago. My best guess is this is No. 20 for me, which means I’ve been to half of them.

The 2018 SHOT Show will have more than 1,600 exhibitors on the exhibit floor, and more than 2,000 total when including the Suppliers Showcase area. More than 64,000 professionals in the shooting, hunting, outdoors and law enforcement industry attended SHOT Show 2017, bringing over $88 million in non-gaming revenue to the Las Vegas economy. Image courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

SHOT Show 2018 runs January 23-26, and each day the OutdoorHub staff will bring you the latest in new gear. Stay tuned!

The SHOT Show is immense: you can walk 12.5 miles of aisles. It is critical to drink a lot of water, pack a snack, and wear comfortable shoes. There are educational seminars available for pre-registered attendees that act as productive rest stops. Image courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

One of my favorite SHOT Show events happens the day before the show floor opens. On January 22, I’ll attend the invitation-only Industry Day at the Range. This event is held at an outdoor rifle range just outside Las Vegas, it and enables writers, editors, gun shop buyers and others to test new guns and other shooting gear.

So, what single product am I looking forward to seeing the most during Range Day?

It’s not easy to choose, but if you held my feet to the fire, I’d say the new 224 Valkyrie load from Federal Premium. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this new load, and as someone who enjoys long-range shooting, but isn’t a fan of heavy recoil, this load fits me perfectly. I can’t wait to try it.

The new 224 Valkyrie is sure to turn some heads at the 2018 SHOT Show.

And judging by the Facebook post below from JJ Reich, who works for Vista Outdoor/Federal Premium, the company is shipping plenty of 224 Valkyrie to Vegas for editors like me!

Dave Maas

Dave Maas is currently a writer for OutdoorHub who has chosen not to write a short bio at this time.