Can't comment on Charlotte, never been there. The show in Atlanta is huge, tho; and you normally have to wait in line for 15-30 minutes just to get in the door.
It's almost too big, since there are so many exhibitors that it's hard to remember where the widget you wanted to get back and get a closer look at 10 minutes ago actually was. Still, it's only 5 minutes from my house, and I usually do my parts shopping there. Also, if there's any milsurp firearm you've seen adverised in Shotgun News that you want to take a closer look at, thewre's a Tennessee based dealer who wil have multi quantities of all the latest AKs, CETMEs, FNs or what have you, at prices that are more or less equivalent to what they're advertising in the SGN. Bought a case of 7.52x39 Wolf from them at the last show for $65, tax included. You've got dealers from SC, Tenn, Ala and Fla, all coming to exhibit, so they must think it's worthwhile.
And no, Matt Eastman is not paying me to adsvertise for him
(durnit---wish he would)