U.S.A. – At the long-range section of Industry Day at the Range near Boulder City, Nevada, a range officer told this correspondent all the rifles were fitted with suppressors but one or maybe two. Besides the long-range section, silencers/suppressors were common throughout the booths.
At the Industry Day at the Range for SHOT Show 2026, the weather was wonderful for the first time in four years. There was no wind in the morning, a clear sky, and the temperature was about 50 degrees to start. Last year was windy, dusty, and cold.
The noise at the show seemed lower than usual. Silencers/suppressors were abundant. Attendance, perhaps even exhibitors, seemed a bit lower than previously. This was the year of the suppressor. The Henry booth had several models with suppressors mounted, in .357 magnum, 9mm, .22, and .45-70. A suppressor and a lever gun in .357 magnum is a nice combination. For traditionalists, remember President Theodore Roosevelt liked suppressors and had them on a couple of his lever guns.
There were many suppressor manufacturers at the range. Carbon Research deserves a mention for their very lightweight and effective silencers. Their suppressors/silencers are made with a minimum of metal to protect the carbon fiber from abrasion.
Another manufacturer was Wraith Metalworks. They make a suppressor kit which can be used on calibers from .458 Winchester Magnum on down. Their top-of-the-line kit costs about 1700 dollars, and is on one tax stamp. The kits have many different baffles, all are 3D-printed in amazing detail, made from inconel or titanium. They can all be taken apart for cleaning.
Ambient Arms had a booth again this year. They are known for suppressors that run at much lower temperatures than most.
HUXWRX Safety Co. had a booth on the line to demonstrate their suppressors. They are designed with the operator’s safety in mind.
By my estimate, almost half the firearms on the line at Industry Day at the Range were equipped with suppressors. There were many other items of interest. With the elimination of the $200 tax on silencers/suppressors, it is difficult to know how the market for silencers/suppressors will develop. The demand will likely increase immediately. Producers will probably manufacture silencers/suppressors as fast as they can for a considerable period of time. When costs are lowered, demand will increase. Increased demand will bring in more competition. It seems likely that more production of inexpensive silencers will enter the market. The $200 tax has favored the high end. The overall number of legal silencers in the United States will increase exponentially. Prediction: silencers will be removed from the National Firearms Act. Exactly when is unknown.
One of the other attention grabbers at Industry Day at the Range was a Boston Dynamics “dog-like” robot/drone called “Spot”. It was at the Flymotion and EBAD booth.
One of the representatives was willing to answer a couple of questions about “Spot”. “Spot” has a top speed of about three miles per hour. The current battery life is about 90 minutes. The device is not autonomous. It takes an operator to control it. It appears to be a very useful piece of gear in numerous situations.
It is not the Terminator. It allows operators to handle many dangerous situations more safely.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
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