This year's NRA Show - that's shorthand for what is actually the 142nd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits - is likely to be a blow-out of epic proportions thanks to a perfect storm of political climate and location (Houston). Turnout for the NRA Show could reach a new record and break the 70,000 mark. Not bad for a three-day event, especially considering it's a smaller venue and show, based on square footage, than SHOT Show. While the floor is likely to be buzzing in the aftermath of both gun control victories and defeats, what it isn't likely to be abuzz with is new product announcements - at least not firearms. After the SHOT Show, the NRA Show has served as the secondary new product announcement venue for many manufacturers. Because there are relatively fewer announcements made at NRA, when compared to SHOT, it's a good place to stand out and make a splash. Last year Smith & Wesson introduced their M&P Shield, a compact single-stack version of their popular striker-fired polymer pistol. By all accounts it was the hit of the show and has been a rock solid seller for the company well before the massive spike in firearms sales. This year we're not likely to see a 2013 version of the M&P Shield introduction, and it's all because of that massive buying frenzy. Leading up to the NRA Show we routinely get a flurry of press releases on new products to be introduced at the show. For guns that usually involves an invite to either Jim Shepherd or Rich Grassi to attend a media day demo of the new blaster so they can report on it here in The Shooting Wire and in The Tactical Wire. While we've seen new product releases timed to coincide with the show, we haven't seen much in the way of new gun announcements. And there's a good reason for that. Right now, because of the non-stop gun buying taking place most companies are focussed on meeting demand for existing products and have their shop floors running 24/7, leaving little room (make that no room) for production of a new product. Sure, you'll see some derivative products, like a new AR-style rifle or 1911, that don't require changes in machinery or programming. A company making and selling the hell out of an AR can swiftly make changes to the gun's features to create both a new product and, more importantly, a new price point...preferably one with a higher profit margin. But the truly new products, the ones built from the ground up and not extensions of an existing product line, are likely to be absent from this year's show. Checking last week with both Jim and Rich, this seems to be the consensus. That's not to say that there aren't new products out there. On the contrary there are a number of new products from major manufacturers, some have been hinted at or teased while others have only seen the light of day in a closed environment governed by a non-disclosure agreement. These new guns are sitting on the back burner at the moment, waiting for the buying frenzy to subside. Introducing a new product in an environment where anything you can call a 'gun' will sell doesn't provide the manufacturer with a true sense of whether or not it meets the needs of consumers...or if it really is as popular as they think. Additionally, when this buying frenzy does come to an end, that will be the time when companies will want to come to market with a hot new product that stands out. Many believe the gun buying public is headed for a hangover once this is all over and the result will be a lot of used guns on the market. If that's true, and people are selling more than buying, the new, never-seen-it-before model will be the one thing in the gun case that doesn't collect dust. And that's really the contingency many manufacturers are preparing for. So what will the NRA Show have in store for us? It's hard to tell even though we're just two days away from the doors opening. There will be plenty of new accessories, but that hot new gotta-have-it-now pistol or rifle isn't likely to make an appearance. One thing is for sure, as Jim says, we'll keep you posted. - Paul Erhardt, Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network Got shooting sports news? Send us an email at info@shootingwire.com.