The NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits open Friday, April 14, and run until April 16 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. This year, as always, manufacturers are showcasing their products, eager to meet members and answer all their questions.
Bill Yerby, general manager and vice president of sales and marketing for Meprolight U.S.A, pretty much sums up how most companies feel about the gathering. “NRAAM is a fun event to work, and we look forward to it each year,” he said. “The members are great, and it is always good to see old friends and make new ones.”
Of course, a gathering of tens of thousands of enthusiasts also presents an unusual opportunity for firms to garner direct feedback from consumers and educate them about their products. “The NRA Annual Meeting is always an awesome opportunity for prospective and current customers to see our entire line of firearms” stated Jeremy Selting, vice president of sales and marketing at Patriot Ordnance Firearms-USA. “Our products speak for themselves and there is nothing better than being able to see customers truly appreciate all that sets POF apart from other firearms manufacturers.”
There will also be plenty of new products for 2023 on hand. Rock Island Arms, for example, will be giving enthusiasts a chance to see and handle the company’s new trio, the RIA 5.0, the BBR3.10 9mm and the TM22 Feather. “We couldn’t be more excited to show off these top-of-the-line firearms to all our fans,” said Martin Tuason, president and CEO of Rock Island Arms. “I think they’ll find we have a lot of surprises in store at this year’s conference, along with some exciting things to look forward to down the line.”
Attendees can also stop by the Athlon Optics to see the firm’s new Heras SPR Line and its Talos BTR Gen2 1-4x24 mm SFP. There will be plenty of other new products from dozens of other manufacturers unveiled at the show, as well.
The list of celebrity sightings, more accurately scheduled visits, is a long one but includes YouTube phenomena Scott from Kentucky Ballistics. He will be at the Kahr Firearms Group booth on Saturday, April 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. Kentucky Ballistics is a hugely popular YouTube channel, with more than 3 million subscribers.
There’s no shortage of things to experience and do at the show, as well, but make sure you stop by Mike’s Muffler Shop themed experience at the Dead Air Silencers booth. It pays homage to not only the legendary racetrack in Indianapolis, but also gives visitors a rare view into the mechanical background of Mike Pappas with various parts of the booth reflecting his passion for everything horsepower.
Shifting gears, pun intended, nearly all of the industry’s finest can be found somewhere on the 14 acres of display/booth space.
They include Browning, Bond Arms, Buck Knives, Bushnell, Christensen Arms, Colts Manufacturing, Daniel Defense, Faxon, Fiocchi, FN America, Heckler & Koch, Hi Point, Hornady, Mossberg, SnapSafe, Springfield Armory, SIG Sauer, Springfield Armory, Wilson Combat, and too many more to mention. Visit the exhibitor list here to make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to meet your favorite company’s team.
And don’t forget to check out all the special events, speeches, meetings and seminars scheduled throughout the weekend. Visit the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits website for full details. See you there.
