2026 SHOT SHOW releases

[Ganderzone]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

If that Benelli rep was a gorgeous Italian woman, no one would care about the ignorance.

 

[Escalante11]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

True but I think the Benelli guy that botched things on the Backfire video is a "Senior Product Manager" at Benelli. That is highly concerning if that guy is who is leading product development decisions to say the least.

 

[bnewt3]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

nothing about that guy's pitch said "specialist" in anything related to firearms.

 

[Ganderzone]

If you only knew how many "important" people in this space have very little to no clue you would be mind blown. I got a first hand experience with Trijicon and it truly saddened me, it's pretty wide spread in the industry. Corporate mentality is a cancer.

 

[dårlig jeger]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

I've gotta go back and kick my high-school councilor in the nuts.

If Id have known there was a job in Vegas doing drugs, banging hookers, and talking about guns, I'd have made some different choices.

 

[gtriple]

Haven't had time to watch the video but sounds like we need to, just to see that guy lol.

You should. It is absolutely the worst possible sales pitch I've ever seen.

 

[Fred@Exterra]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

Dude, we took a magician that the CEO met in a bar to the ATA and SHOT Show one year. I thought the CEO was crazy, but that guy was amazing. Didn’t know shit about archery or guns, but we were super entertained in the booth. I think we gave him $500 and per diem. Might have been the funnest show year ever.


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[Ganderzone]

Dude, we took a magician that the CEO met in a bar to the ATA and SHOT Show one year. I thought the CEO was crazy, but that guy was amazing. Didn’t know shit about archery or guns, but we were super entertained in the booth. I think we gave him $500 and per diem. Might have been the funnest show year ever.


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I still prefer the hot chicks! The best part of any show is after the floor closes, partying on another level

 

[nm.otter]

I've gotta go back and kick my high-school councilor in the nuts.

If Id have known there was a job in Vegas doing drugs, banging hookers, and talking about guns, I'd have made some different choices.

That's hilarious.

My version (after moving to NM and working on a project with NM Tech): If I'd known I could have gone to college and gotten a degree in blowing stuff up...

 

[benconfused]

True but I think the Benelli guy that botched things on the Backfire video is a "Senior Product Manager" at Benelli. That is highly concerning if that guy is who is leading product development decisions to say the least.

Yeah this ain't hard guys, we all have social media. His badge has his name: Bret. Quick lookup on LinkedIn and he's a Sr Product Manager employed by Benelli for 7 years.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-maffett-62999623/

 

[SikaHuntaa]

What did Kimber release in their rifles? Backfire skimmed over it real quick and I can't access the Kimber website for whatever reason

 

[gretch6364]

Someone said this in another thread, but the cost of these electro optics is off putting, especially when they can quickly be obsolete by the next greatest thing in a year.

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Just because something better comes out, doesn't mean they will be obsolete. Are your non-electro optics obsolete?

Also...if we take a minute and think about what these things can do...and then think back 20 years....the tech is pretty insane.

 

[Stocky]

What did Kimber release in their rifles? Backfire skimmed over it real quick and I can't access the Kimber website for whatever reason

Thread 'New Kimber Mountain Ascent'

Jun 26, 2025

Different stock, looks nice, but no 6 Creed/223/ARCs...

https://www.kimberamerica.com/mtn-ascent-peak

• PistolPete
• Replies: 33
• Forum: Firearms

Its a new mountain ascent with a fugly stock but with a floorplate. Searching new kimber mountain ascent on Google should provide some info not from the kimbee website which has seemed to block NZ

 

[UnckleBob]

Franklin Armory introduces a new action and rifle with total round control, hybrid of a CRF and new design:

For that price, it should come with someone to carry it for owners while they are hunting.

 

[UnckleBob]

Something a lot of you guys are not aware of about the gun industry. Gun companies will frequently hire a third party marketing company who specializes in firearms/outdoor marketing and they provide the reps for these shows. Their job is to look pretty and do their pitch and that's where it ends. Sad but true.

At the NRA show a few years ago, I went to the Weatherby booth to ask if the new 307 action could take pre-fit barrels. The ladies there (mediocre at best) looked at me like I had asked the them for the square root of 1,387,333.

She was literally standing next to a builders action and had no idea what they were for.

 

[blue_ridge]

Just because something better comes out, doesn't mean they will be obsolete. Are your non-electro optics obsolete?

Also...if we take a minute and think about what these things can do...and then think back 20 years....the tech is pretty insane.

I dont want the rifle to shoot itself. I enjoy reading wind, memorizing my drops, using the reticle for holds. Everyone is different, but I draw the line at 1) the point where tech is taking over tasks I enjoy and like to improve at 2) the part where I become dependent on a device that can fail for numerous reasons.

 

[gtriple]

I dont want the rifle to shoot itself. I enjoy reading wind, memorizing my drops, using the reticle for holds. Everyone is different, but I draw the line at 1) the point where tech is taking over tasks I enjoy and like to improve at 2) the part where I become dependent on a device that can fail for numerous reasons.

So do you choose to only use iron sights since a magnified optic can fail?

Kidding of course. I’m also not a fan of aiming devices that rely on digital tech.

 

[blue_ridge]

So do you choose to only use iron sights since a magnified optic can fail?

Kidding of course. I’m also not a fan of aiming devices that rely on digital tech.

I like shooting open sights and receiver sights also. Whether with open sights or optical sights, I enjoy making the shot on my own. I also don’t want a a fishing rod that casts itself or a car that drives itself. YMMV.

 

[tim tarras]

With high mounted AR optics may be less of an issue?

The branding is lame, quite tactical timmy. "lets call it deadline and have a skull logo like dead air".

HEY!!!! tactical timmy??? That's not very nice!

For the record, I do not do any tactical stuff. In fact my wife says I have very little tact!