NRA Carry Guard Expo 2018 Preview

We like to go to all the bigger shows: NRAAM, SHOT Show, USCCA's Concealed Carry Expo, and of course, the latest one, NRA's Carry Guard Expo. This year, the show will be in Richmond, Virginia. And unlike conferences like NSSF's SHOT Show, this one is open to the public. Of course the NRA encourages membership to their organization, but it isn't necessary to go.

While this will be my first NRA Carry Guard Expo, I'm a seasoned veteran when it comes to these large gun conferences and can tell you that there's almost no better place to be during the weekend of September 14-16. Here are the dates/times of the show:

Friday, September 14	10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 15	10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 16	10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Why go to an event like this? Well, for one, you may run into us, or any of the other gun personalities out there. You may be surprised at who you run into on the show floor. Who knows, you may even stumble upon Riley and Jacob recording a live Concealed Carry Podcast episode. It has happened to us before, and it's always a good time when someone puts 2 and 2 together when they realize who we are. Here is a podcast we recorded after last year's show:

Another benefit of going to a show like this is having the chance to get in front of actual representatives of actual companies. If you've been having a burning question about that latest gun or holster and havne't been able to figure out an answer, you can go straight to the source with an employee. Who all is gonna be there this year? Here are just a few of the gun companies:

• FNH
• S&W
• Remington
• Ruger
• Beretta
• Hi-Point
• Springfield Armory
• Heckler Koch

And way more than I'd have time to list right now. Here's the cool part, they actually bring their guns with them to these events so people can get their hands on them and ask company reps those important questions you may have. Here are some of Riley's favorite products from last year.

Of course, one of the best benefits of going to this event are the classes you can take, many of them free, some of them not so free. You can find a comprehensive list of the free workshops and seminars, here.

How much does this cost to attend? General admission is $30, NRA members pay $20, NRA Life members pay $10, and Carry Guard members pay $0. If you're interested in learning more about the venue, hotels, the area, or anything else, make sure you visit the NRA Carry Guard Expo Website.

Which shows have you gone to in the past? Will you be going to this one? Let me know in the comments below.