Any Bullet Swagers Going to SHOT Show?

[ricklaut]

NSSF just confirmed my credentials... if any of you are going, it would be good to put a face with the name!

I have to work my FT job (I live in Vegas), so not completely sure yet which days / times I'll be there - but most likely afternoons.

[BT Sniper]

Soon! Not this year but Soon!

BT

[Theditchman]

I am going to London in Feb so I cant go this year but would love to go next year....maybe we can put together a party and get a discount hotel for then

[303british.com]

A few suggestions for attendees, especially the first timers.

Make absolutely sure that you have good walking shoes! Two pairs would be best, so that you can rotate them. It's expensive to eat there. Keep munchies in your room for breakfast and at night.

Be prepared to wait. The place is packed. The waiting times/people numbers rose dramatically after the LE/Tactical component was added a few years back. People that aren't actually in the business are getting access and it's created more problems.

As much as you'd like to look at everything, that won't happen. Target what you absolutely must see. Take the floor plan and identify the booths that you need to get to. Get to them first. Sight see and brochure shop in the afternoon.

If you are after general information, go to the media centre. This is where the catalogs, brochures, DVDs, etc. are located. Bring a backpack if you intend on collecting information! It's best to do this AFTER you've been to the booths, unless you want to carry 100 lb. of paper around. You can also get put on mailing lists here. Be aware of what you're signing up for! I swear they sell the lists from these shows.

If this is your first time, good luck.

[contender1]

I'll be there all 4 days.
I'm just trying to learn about swaging, so I'm a newbie there. I start my show at the Ruger booth. After that, I have several other vendors I need to see.

[303british.com]

I don't recall ever seeing anything about swaging specifically at the SHOT Show. It doesn't mean there you won't find a booth about it, but it's unlikely. Granted, I wasn't there specifically looking for swaging/bullet making, but would have stopped for a look had I noticed it. A quick look at the floor plan shows no companies with related equipment.

It's a trade show with emphasis on marketing finished shooting and hunting products. The last few years, LE and tactical stuff has appeared. The closest you might get is Cor Bon.

[BLASTER62]

I went in 2011 Dave Corbin went to the show didn't have a booth, Lyman & other die people were there. Just like 303 said no swage guys there, Pacific Tool & a couple other reamer guys were there.

[ricklaut]

A few suggestions for attendees, especially the first timers.

Make absolutely sure that you have good walking shoes! Two pairs would be best, so that you can rotate them. It's expensive to eat there. Keep munchies in your room for breakfast and at night.

Be prepared to wait. The place is packed. The waiting times/people numbers rose dramatically after the LE/Tactical component was added a few years back. People that aren't actually in the business are getting access and it's created more problems.

As much as you'd like to look at everything, that won't happen. Target what you absolutely must see. Take the floor plan and identify the booths that you need to get to. Get to them first. Sight see and brochure shop in the afternoon.

If you are after general information, go to the media centre. This is where the catalogs, brochures, DVDs, etc. are located. Bring a backpack if you intend on collecting information! It's best to do this AFTER you've been to the booths, unless you want to carry 100 lb. of paper around. You can also get put on mailing lists here. Be aware of what you're signing up for! I swear they sell the lists from these shows.

If this is your first time, good luck.

Absolutely spot-on advice. I get to go to lots of the conventions here in Vegas, and they are HUGE. I was able to get to SHOT 2 days last year and still didn't see 1/2 of what I wanted to see. It pays to be strategic when walking the floor - have a plan of what you want to see. If you think you have enough time to cover the whole floor (good luck!), do it planfully and keep track. It all blurs together after a while.

The reloading companies and major bullet manufacturers were there - spent time looking at the new offerings from RCBS, Nosler, Hornady, etc last year. But specific to swaging... no, I don't expect to see that niche represented (hadn't looked at the exhibitor list yet though).

[ReloaderFred]

I've been attending on a regular basis since 1991. This year's show has 12.5 miles of aisles, so good walking shoes are a necessity, and since they won't let the Medi-Rub people in anymore (they sell the foot and shoulder vibrators), there's no place to relieve your aching feet, though they have added tables and chairs to the main auditorium for having lunch.

The show is 4 days, and it takes about 3 days to see the whole thing, and that's moving all the time. We just start on one side of an auditorium and start working up and down the aisles. You'll be amazed at what you find in some of the smaller booths, so it's a shame to miss them. A lot of names that are common in the industry are really one or two man shops, and sometimes in a garage, but the products are first class, and you get to talk to the guy who actually makes them.

A rolling cart is the only way to carry everything. They sell them at Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. for about $25.00, and they're worth about $500.00 midway through the second day.... They fold flat for carrying when empty, but will hold a lot of "stuff". Paper is heavy, and everyone offers catalogs, flyers, etc., plus a lot of booths give away small trinkets, which also add up after awhile.

We take a small soft cooler in one of the carts and have water and sandwiches, plus a few snacks. If you buy your lunch at the show, a McDonald's type hamburger and a soft drink will run you about $20.00+, so we don't buy any food at the show. It saves the four of us about $100.00 per day by taking our own lunches.

The show opens at 8:30 AM, and runs to 5:30 PM. It's a mad rush at 8:30, but tapers off as everyone spreads out through the three auditoriums.

Use the shuttle busses provided for free by the SHOT Show from the major hotels. There is no parking at the Sands Convention Center. At least no easy parking, and it's a zoo trying to get in and out of there. You will need your entrance badge for the busses, so just wear it around your neck when you get on the bus.

Don't go with the expectation of seeing a gunshow, because it's not. It's a trade show, period. You won't be buying stuff off anyone's tables, except for some show samples at the end.

I've never seen any swaging equipment in any of the booths. It's just too expensive for the small outfits. A very small 8'x8' booth runs about $8,000 +/-.

If you're going, have a good time, we do.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[303british.com]

The shuttle buses are definitely the way to go. They were running hourly, all day.

After the show is finished, if you've never visited the area, you really should do the tourist thing - Hoover dam, the casinos, and catch a show. Most people are on a schedule, but if you're not in a rush to get home, take in the sights. Heck, you can even go to the pawn shop from that show Pawn Stars. You probably won't see anyone you know from the television though.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Nope, even numbered years is the SCI convention in LV...

[BT Sniper]

Nope, even numbered years is the SCI convention in LV...

???? what does this mean? SCI = Bad?

[hirosstorageunit]

???? what does this mean? SCI = Bad?

SCI= Safari club international

[BT Sniper]

Why would one chose not to go on the year SCI is going to be there?

BT

[gmsharps]

I'll be there all 4 days.
I'm just trying to learn about swaging, so I'm a newbie there. I start my show at the Ruger booth. After that, I have several other vendors I need to see.

When you get the show booklet check to se if J4 Jackets are listed. If they are there you never know ,Walt Berger may be there also. He has been willing to give info to get a person started.

gmsharps

[ricklaut]

When you get the show booklet check to se if J4 Jackets are listed. If they are there you never know ,Walt Berger may be there also. He has been willing to give info to get a person started.

gmsharps

I don't see J4 listed; Berger bullets is there; I didn't try to talk to anyone there - may stop back by and see if Walt is also here.

As expected, basically nothing here specifically on swaging. There are tool & die companies, the major reloading manufacturers of course... Stopped by RCBS & shared the info on the improved primer catcher on behalf of lcecil - we'll see if they contact him . Lots of boutique ammo companies trying to strike it big & get off the ground. Saw & fondled two of the three aftermarket triggers for the new mouth to feed in the safe (a Tavor bullpup), and of course too much else to list.

[ReloaderFred]

Got home from the show late last night. There were 67,000 attendees this year, setting a new record, according to the NSSF. My feet and knees are killing me, and I've got a ton of paper to sort through that I picked up at the show.

Fred

[ricklaut]

I hear you... it was busy and I'm still tired. The only reloading related things I am glad I saw are the new Hornady control center for their press (monitoring system with micro switches) and their bullet feeder for rifle bullets (demo'd on .224 bullets - worked well).

Living here in Vegas has it's benefits, though - I worked out a deal with a vendor who didn't want to pay to ship his AR500 steel targets home . Tested them hard yesterday!

[ReloaderFred]

Those weren't the Evil Roy targets were they? I saw they all had "sold" written on them... We bought some targets, but they were offering free shipping and special show prices, so we placed an order. I also ordered a 10mm top end for one of my AR's from Olympic Arms. I've been wanting one for a long time, and finally decided to go for it.

I've bought show samples in the past, but we wanted to get an early start home on Friday, so that precluded going back for the 4th day. It's also hard to park near the Sands Convention Center, unlike the old venue at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Fred

[ricklaut]

No, not the Evil Roy - but got a set 2/3 IPSC with a hostage plate, 1/2 IPSC, a dueling tree and 3 poppers. The fun part was lugging them out of the show to the truck!

Parking is always a challenge there. I go there knowing I'll spend 20 minutes trying to find a space at either the Venetian or the Palazzo and 45 minutes getting out of the garage. If it goes faster, I figure I'm ahead.