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The most innovative variation to emerge from Smith & Wesson's M&P series of handguns came in 2013 with the introduction of the Competition Optics Ready Equipment (C.O.R.E.), also available in the Pro Series configuration. With this development, S&W brought to market handguns that are optics-ready and competition-quality, right out of the box. Watch this "Rifleman Review" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV for a review of the Smith & Wesson M&P 9L Pro Series C.O.R.E. pistol.
For additional information about the M&P 9L Pro Series C.O.R.E. pistol, please enjoy the following article:
In 2024, former owner Gregg Ritz purchased Thompson/Center Arms. Now the company has introduced a modern take on its classic Contender/Encore concept: the ENCORE PROHunter.
While it's certainly a saturated marketplace these days, the AR-15 has never been more popular with American firearm enthusiasts, and many manufacturers are continuing to feed the need with new options loaded with new features.