Shot Show 2026 delivered
Walking into Shot Show 2026 at the Venetian Expo, you could feel it, this wasn’t just another trade show. This was the biggest Shot Show ever, packed wall-to-wall with cutting-edge firearms, precision components, and manufacturing tech that’s going to shape the next few years of the industry.
For the 360 Precision team, Shot Show 2026 wasn’t about wandering the aisles with our phones out. We came with a plan. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to the Supplier Showcase, where we connected with vendors showing the latest in precision manufacturing machinery, advanced coatings, CNC technology, and the components that make our work possible. The rest of the week? Pure exploration, interviewing industry leaders, getting hands-on with groundbreaking products, and yeah, hitting some classic Vegas spots to decompress after long days on the floor.
NRA Booth: Talking Precision with the Industry
One of the highlights was getting interviewed at the NRA booth. We talked about what makes 360 Precision different, our commitment to building high-end custom semi-auto rifles that don’t compromise on accuracy. Coming from a precision rifle shooting background (PRS competitions, specifically), we knew that when we moved into manufacturing gas guns, they had to perform at the same level as our bolt guns.
Our Evolution rifles come with a 3/4 MOA guarantee. Not marketing speak, actual, tested performance. Every rifle gets fired with factory ammunition, and we include the laminated target with the box so you can see exactly what yours did on the range. That’s the kind of transparency customers deserve when they’re investing in precision.
We also talked about our competition-level rifle with its patented toolless weight system. Drop or add two pounds on the fly without tools, perfect for those gas gun matches where every ounce counts. It’s the kind of innovation that comes from actually competing and knowing what shooters need.
MDT: Game-Changing Chassis and Bipods
Over at the MDT booth, Francis walked us through some serious innovations. The standout was the DRT chassis, a magnesium core hybrid system that weighs just 3.1 pounds with the rail, or 2.7 without. What makes it special isn’t just the weight though. MDT designed it specifically for night hunters and backcountry guys who need to run thermals and maintain precision on tripods without flex or shift.
The wild part? This thing was just a concept during the drive to Shot Show one year ago. From napkin sketch to production-ready in twelve months. That’s the kind of rapid innovation happening in this industry right now.
MDT also showed off their Gen 3 Skypod bipod, which addressed every complaint shooters had with earlier versions. Bigger controls, 80% stronger detent pins, a lock feature so it doesn’t telescope open in your pack, and best of all, they removed the pan function. Why? Because even with a locked Arca rail, any pan movement during recoil affects precision. MDT is serious about making sure their gear helps you put rounds on target, not introduces variables.
The Supplier Showcase: Where Innovation Happens
Monday and Tuesday at Shot Show 2026 were all about the Supplier Showcase. This is where manufacturers like us find the next generation of tools and components. Advanced coatings that extend barrel life. CNC machines with tolerances that would’ve been impossible five years ago. Manufacturing processes that let us push precision further while keeping costs reasonable.
Every rifle we build at 360 Precision gets inspected on our Zeiss CMM machine. Every component, every measurement verified before it goes into a build. That level of quality control only works when you have the right suppliers and the right equipment. Shot Show 2026 gave us the chance to scout what’s coming next and make connections that’ll show up in our products over the next year.
America’s Rifle Challenge: Getting People Shooting
During our NRA booth interview, we talked about America’s Rifle Challenge and why it matters. We’ve all met that person, bought an AR, took it to the range once, got a zero, and now it lives in the safe. The pilot we had dinner with a month before Shot Show? Same story. Brand new rifle, didn’t know what to do with it after that first range trip.
That’s exactly what America’s Rifle Challenge fixes. It gives new shooters a way to actually use their rifles competitively without needing thousands of dollars in gear or years of experience. Competition shooting changed how we think about firearms, it makes you better, faster. Getting more people into that world? That’s something we’re excited to support.
Four Days That Make a Difference
Shot Show 2026 ran from January 20th to 23rd across the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. Four days of nonstop movement, supplier meetings in the morning, product demos in the afternoon, interviews whenever we could squeeze them in, and yeah, some well-earned Vegas nights to unwind. By the time we flew back to Pennsylvania, we were exhausted.
But also fired up. The innovations we saw, the connections we made, the technology that’s about to hit the market, it all translates into what we’re building at 360 Precision. We’re back in the shop now, putting everything we learned into action. Expect to see some exciting new products rolling out soon.
Thanks for following along with our Shot Show 2026 coverage. We hope this gave you a real insider look at what happens when the entire firearms industry shows up in Vegas for four days. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got rifles to build.
