NRA Annual Meeting: My Thoughts on the Indianapolis 2023 Event

I semi-regularly attend the NRA’s annual meeting (NRAAM) and I highly recommend attending at least once if you have not yet done so. My attendance is usually motivated by other travel, proximity, and location preferences. As NRAAM 2023 was back in my de facto hometown of Indianapolis, IN, attendance was a given.

NRA Annual Meeting
The NRA’s Annual Meeting returned to Indianapolis this year bringing 14 acres of guns and Second Amendment manufacturers, gear, discussions, and presentations.

For those new to the event, it is free to NRA members (with plenty of opportunities to join or upgrade your membership). NRAAM is spread over three full days. The event features approximately 14 acres of manufacturers large and small, organizations, and collector societies in the exhibitor halls. Exhibitors cannot directly sell ammo or guns, but all other gear is available to buy. In addition, there are major speakers, including celebrity appearances, informational sessions, training, auctions, NRA members meetings, fund-raising events, and other seminars.

Politics: The ‘Elephant’ in the Room

I am a relatively firm supporter of the NRA. I also recognize that there are many who, with good reason, criticize the organization. Additionally, insolvency rumors continue to dog the NRA and have continued to do so for the past few years.

Do I agree with the leadership of the NRA on all things? No. Do I wish they would focus more on fighting every legal and legislative Second Amendment battle? Yes. Do I wish their messaging, training, and worldview were a closer match to what I see as the current reality of carrying, gun ownership, and gun owners? Give me a ‘Hell Yes!”

However, I also recognize that the NRA mainly works legislatively and politically. In my opinion, it helps more than it hinders. Additionally, I strongly support other legislative, public awareness, and legal organizations also fighting for expanded civilian carry across the U.S. In other words, from my perception the NRA has flaws, but I also do not currently see any organization with the pure political influence of the NRA, nor do I expect to in the near future.

Prior to the event, the Indianapolis press focused on the need for police presence. There were worries about confrontations and thefts, expectations of large anti-gun crowds, and on Friday when Donald Trump was attending, anti-Trump protests. As the event unfolded none of these predictions appeared supported. The overall police presence was relatively light, unofficially there were few reports of vehicle break-ins,
and though there were a few protestors, there were no major issues or disruptions. Photos of the “protests” featured on local and national news showed about 20 people in total across the street from one of the many entrances to the conference center.

Exhibitor Hall, Seminars, and Events

For many, 600,000+ square feet of exhibitors are the main attraction of the NRAAM. Booths ranged from a single table advertising a single product or service to large displays from the likes of Glock, Sig Sauer, SAR, and Beretta. Smith and Wesson did not have a presence at the show, other than the S&W Collector Association; due to the size of the organization, their absence was more noticeable.

Every year I look forward to checking out new guns, products, and equipment. Most companies still debut many of the year’s newest releases at SHOT Show in January, but there are always a few more releases by the time of the NRAAM. It is nice to see all the year’s products being shown to an open audience.

Glock was still focused on their new performance trigger, Gen 5 10mm offerings, and the Glock 47 MOS. Henry Repeating Arms had their new double-action / single-action revolvers available to test. I was generally happy with the revolver’s overall look and function but with the current suggested retail am not 100% sure who their target market is. Challenge Targets continued to lure me into purchasing their mobile turning target systems. NEXCAM offered a product to allow relaxed seated shooting that, as I age, becomes more and more attractive. I also highly recommend LabRadar if you are interested in doing your own ballistics tests. It is more expensive than other chronometers on the market but is well worth the investment.

NRAAM 2023 new products
Every year at NRAAM one of the main attractions is checking out all the exhibitors to see what the latest releases are.

I also made sure to stop by the Glock and USCCA booths. Both were handing out copies of their newest print magazines (Concealed Carry and The GLOCK Annual respectively) and I have articles written in both. While at the Glock booth, I continued my tradition of picking up their Glock-specific NRAAM T-shirt and briefly met with Shane Coley and Ashley Rheuark from the Team Glock shooting team. I also checked in with Indy Arms’ (where I am the training director) regional Glock rep who was working at one of the display stations. Though not as prevalent as in NRAAMs of the past, many of the exhibitors did have free items ranging from hats (Hornady), to morale patches (Glock & Dan Wesson), to hat pins (Colt), to print magazines (USCCA).

NRAAM 2023 - Joel T. Nadler
It is always neat to see your name in products that companies are giving away to attendees.

Beyond just makers of guns and gear, there was a section of historical collector associations with rare and historic guns on display as well as other interesting pieces of pop culture history. In addition to a few interesting vehicles such as tactical transports, tractors, and a Second Amendment Corvette there was also the police car from “Adam-12” and a motorcycle from the show “CHiPs.”

Historical displays included firearms from Smith and Wesson, Remington, a display on Arming Scotland, and the guns of Poland. Additionally, there were displays of World War II history and arms and very rare firearms including a one-of-a-kind single-action revolver that recently sold for $100,000.

NRAAM 2023 displays of cool cars, historic guns and weapons
Cool cars and historic guns and weapons. The exhibitor hall is not just about new guns and gear.

I missed most of the celebrity appearances though I spotted many well know names in the gun world (trainers, competitive shooters, and company owners/designers) as I walked the halls. I did get to talk with the Williams sisters from Colt’s competitive shooting team (Jalise and Justine). They were both very gracious and signed photos for my wife and fellow GunMagWarhouse Blog writer, Meghan Lowery.

I also attended a few seminars that ranged from gun history to mindset and concealed carry. Most of these I attended with a focus on how the material was taught compared to needing the information. Being exposed to other teaching methods or concepts explained differently always helps bolster my own teaching methods—either by incorporation or avoidance of the technique! I will also admit each seminar also gave me an excuse to sit for a while, as 14 acres will rack up your step count. The seminars I attended were nicely focused and provided great information, especially to anyone considering carrying or carrying more often.

In my efforts to add one hat to my collection each time I visit NRAMM, I also checked out the NRA store. They also had the newest NRA Guitar available. As I was left unsupervised, I added it to my NRA guitar collection. (Note: if you have the NRA U.S. flag electric guitar signed by Ted Nugent and it needs a new home, reach out to me.)

Celebrity items and events at 2023 NRAAM
Competitive shooters and other recognizable names were available at various times signing autographs at various booths throughout the show.

Conclusion

I tend toward the extroverted side, and I let this side of myself fully out at NRAAM. I politely asked to join groups at each meal and met some great folks at each of my lunch breaks in the convention center, meeting, and sharing food, thoughts, and stories with people from West Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Of course, as I run competitions, compete, and coordinate training at Indy Arms I also ran into quite a few people I know from these activities during the show, often helping them find specific booths they were looking for. Though I reached out to many people I have so far only interacted with online, only one of those planned meet-ups materialized. I did enjoy meeting up with Mitch from Hang Fire TV. He regaled me with his extensive revolver knowledge and horror stories of being a trainer and gun owner in New York State. I shuddered every time he mentioned 10-round magazine limits.

Overall, I enjoyed the show and highly recommend NRA members attend when possible. At the very minimum, go at least once to experience all that is offered. I was happy to see a little more diversity in the attendees compared to the last time NRAAM was in Indianapolis in 2019. Still, it is nowhere near the diversity in current owners or even NRA membership. I am already looking forward to the meeting at next year’s event.

Joel Nadler is the Training Director at Indy Arms Company in Indianapolis and co-owner of Tactical Training Associates.  He writes for several gun-focused publications and is an avid supporter of the right to self-sufficiency, including self-defense. Formerly a full professor, he has a Ph.D. in Psychology and now works as a senior consultant living on a horse ranch in rural Indiana.  Feel free to follow him on Instagram @TacticalPhD.

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