Jump to content

Anyone been to NRA Conventions?


Recommended Posts

I'm going to Dallas in May for the Annual NRA Convention.  I read elsewhere that even though the Convention dates are Fri, Sat, & Sun, the exhibit hall is open on Wed & Thur also.  Is this correct?  I couldn't find any info on the NRA website that confirmed this.  If so, it would be wise to go on those days to avoid the weekend crowds.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Link to comment
  • Replies 17
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Dunno the answer, but I\m envious!  I went to the one in Nashville a while back and i stayed most all day...wanted to go more than one day but couldn't with my schedule.  One day doesn't do it justice.  I attended no meetings or seminars, just visited the vendor areas and was absolutely overwhelmed.  I got there early not long after doors opened so I got to a few before the crowds but once it got crowded it was hard to move.  You've definitely got the right idea by trying to do it on other than peak days!  Let us know how that works out.  If they ever have another one fairly near me, I will go again.   Good luck with it.

Link to comment

I doubt it is open to anyone other than vendors on Thursday, since they won't have the admissions mechanism set up until Friday.  But calling and asking is a good idea.

I've been to NRA conventions in Nashville and Charlotte, and both were well worthwhile.  Both required two days to get through all the exhibits.  

Cheers,

Whisper

Link to comment

I attended the last three in Nashville, Louisville, and Atlanta. The exhibit hall opens on Friday. The exhibitors are still setting up on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is generally a slow day, especially in the morning. Saturday is a zoo. Sunday is in between and its when exhibitors start handing out more free swag so they don't have to pack it back up and ship it home.

Link to comment
I attended the last three in Nashville, Louisville, and Atlanta. The exhibit hall opens on Friday. The exhibitors are still setting up on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is generally a slow day, especially in the morning. Saturday is a zoo. Sunday is in between and its when exhibitors start handing out more free swag so they don't have to pack it back up and ship it home.

Exactly, I too have been to the last three. I helped set up the Colt Collector booth in Nashville. That was all day Thursday. Forklifts and mania abound on Thursday.

Exhibits open Friday-Sunday. It will take two days to go through them pending how often you stop.

I’ll miss this year, but I’ll be back next year.

Take lots of cash as their are great deals to be had from the vendors. You can’t purchase guns, but you can order them.

 

Link to comment

I have been to the last three. The NRA Annual Meeting is open to attendees Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That's it. www.nraam.org has all the information you need.

  • Pre-register online and let them send you the registration package by mail. That way you do not need to wait in line at the registration desk in the convention center.
  • Saturday is the busiest day for the exhibition and you almost can't make your way through the crowds.
  • On Friday, the exhibition is quite empty as many people attend the Leadership Forum.
  • On Sunday, many booth give-aways and deals are already gone.
  • Most celebrities (Miculek, R. Lee Ermey, etc.) are typically there on Friday and Saturday.
  • It will typically take you two days to explore the exhibition floor.
  • Have good walking shoes, as you will walk several miles a day.
  • Take a backpack with you for a small snack and soft drink, and for picking up catalogs, give-aways and anything you buy. 
  • Carry your firearm!

The NRA Annual Meeting is still in Dallas, despite the statements made by Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway. There will be protests. I am not sure how many people will show up for them though. In the past, anti-gun protests were rather tiny. There may also be some protesting in the convention center by NRA members against the NRA Leadership (see the shirt below).

I still haven't decided yet if I am going or not and how. The NRA is pissing me off lately and I have seen the exhibition floor now for the last three years. It may be entertaining though if there is any significant protest.

Will President Trump speak this year? LOL

NRA-Not-Really-Activists_T-shirt-Black_M

Link to comment
On 3/1/2018 at 6:48 PM, scooter said:

I have been to the last three. The NRA Annual Meeting is open to attendees Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That's it. www.nraam.org has all the information you need.

  • Pre-register online and let them send you the registration package by mail. That way you do not need to wait in line at the registration desk in the convention center.
  • Saturday is the busiest day for the exhibition and you almost can't make your way through the crowds.
  • On Friday, the exhibition is quite empty as many people attend the Leadership Forum.
  • On Sunday, many booth give-aways and deals are already gone.
  • Most celebrities (Miculek, R. Lee Ermey, etc.) are typically there on Friday and Saturday.
  • It will typically take you two days to explore the exhibition floor.
  • Have good walking shoes, as you will walk several miles a day.
  • Take a backpack with you for a small snack and soft drink, and for picking up catalogs, give-aways and anything you buy. 
  • Carry your firearm!

The NRA Annual Meeting is still in Dallas, despite the statements made by Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway. There will be protests. I am not sure how many people will show up for them though. In the past, anti-gun protests were rather tiny. There may also be some protesting in the convention center by NRA members against the NRA Leadership (see the shirt below).

I still haven't decided yet if I am going or not and how. The NRA is pissing me off lately and I have seen the exhibition floor now for the last three years. It may be entertaining though if there is any significant protest.

Will President Trump speak this year? LOL

NRA-Not-Really-Activists_T-shirt-Black_M

I agree with everything except going for two days. I have gone for the last 4 years and you just can't see everything in two days. Go for three days, see everything, make notes of the things you want to see again, and where they are, and take your time. You will never see as many manufacturers reps in one place. I wouldn't miss it. I save up all my stupid questions all year long and ask the people that actually design the products. Here's one I asked Siearra, " If you were hunting in Tennessee for deer what bullet would you use " Didn't take the engineer from Siearra three seconds to answer, " Pro hunter 150gr ". Oh, boy was he right!

Link to comment

I can easily do the exhibit hall in a day, day and a half. Mostly because I've been 3 times in a row and there's very little new stuff each time.

If you get tickets for the NRA-ILA session, that will take a big chunk of the day and it will then definitely take two days to get through it all. That's skipping all the seminars.

If you want to do the NRA-ILA, exhibit hall, AND some seminars, you'll probably need 3 days.

Link to comment

A huge THANK YOU to everyone.  We are going to go Friday & Saturday, and Sunday if we can't get our fill after 2 days.  I did visit the NRA website before I posted, but I had heard "rumors" that Thursday was doable.  Glad to know the facts about that not being the case.  Can't wait to get out there for a few days.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

TRADING POST NOTICE

Before engaging in any transaction of goods or services on TGO, all parties involved must know and follow the local, state and Federal laws regarding those transactions.

TGO makes no claims, guarantees or assurances regarding any such transactions.

THE FINE PRINT

Tennessee Gun Owners (TNGunOwners.com) is the premier Community and Discussion Forum for gun owners, firearm enthusiasts, sportsmen and Second Amendment proponents in the state of Tennessee and surrounding region.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is a presentation of Enthusiast Productions. The TGO state flag logo and the TGO tri-hole "icon" logo are trademarks of Tennessee Gun Owners. The TGO logos and all content presented on this site may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission. The opinions expressed on TGO are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the site's owners or staff.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is not a lobbying organization and has no affiliation with any lobbying organizations.  Beware of scammers using the Tennessee Gun Owners name, purporting to be Pro-2A lobbying organizations!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to the following.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines
 
We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.