I’m excited to attend my first ever SHOT Show next week, owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. For those unfamiliar with SHOT, it’s the year’s largest industry trade show where new products are often announced. Shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries will be represented, amongst many others. I will also have fun meeting up with fellow Top Shot alumni from Seasons 1-4. Top Shot host Colby Donaldson will be making special appearances throughout the week.

Some stats from SHOT 2012:

The largest trade show of its kind in the world and the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, a city of trade shows, the 2012 SHOT Show set an overall attendance record of more than 61,000, including new highs for buyers at 36,383 and media at 2,466. Though show organizers deliberately reduced the size of the show to better accommodate attendees at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, still some 1,600 exhibitors filled booth space covering 630,000 net square feet. The show attracted industry professionals from all 50 states and 100 countries.

We here at The Firearm Blog will be blogging live throughout next week, excited to share all the fun and exciting stuff we see and experience. Hit us up in the comments if there are any specific things you’d like us to check out!

Chris Cheng is History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. A self-taught amateur turned pro through his Top Shot win, Cheng very much still considers himself an amateur who parachuted into this new career. He shares his thoughts and experiences from the perspective of a newbie to the shooting community. www.TopShotChris.com.