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Smith and Wesson lovers in the North Carolina Highway Patrol you will be getting new duty weapons

Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 157-year old firearms maker, announced today that the North Carolina Highway Patrol has chosen to equip all of its officers with Smith & Wesson Military & Police (M&P) Series pistols and with M&P Series tactical rifles. The M&P357 pistols and M&P15 tactical rifles will be issued respectively as the primary duty firearms and standard issue patrol rifles.

M&P357 Polymer Pistols
The North Carolina Highway Patrol has purchased 1,840 Smith & Wesson M&P357 polymer pistols chambered in .357 SIG. The new duty sidearm will replace non-Smith & Wesson pistols that were previously issued by the department. The M&P pistol’s reliability, ambidextrous operating controls and three interchangeable palm swell grip sizes were noted by officials within the agency as key reasons for the selection of the new duty sidearm. The North Carolina Highway Patrol added that the polymer pistol’s accuracy, reliability during testing and ability to disassemble the firearm without pressing the trigger were all primary factors in their decision-making process.

Colonel Randy Glover, Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, said, “The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is confident that the M&P357 will prove to be a reliable service weapon for our officers.”

M&P15 Tactical Rifles
The agency has also purchased 300 M&P15 tactical rifles. The semi-automatic rifles will be issued to select officers upon the completion of a certification course. While reviewing new options for patrol rifles, the North Carolina Highway Patrol compared the M&P15 against other competitive rifles. After an extensive evaluation process, the M&P15 was acknowledged for its accuracy, ability to perform in diverse field applications as well as for the training and support services offered by Smith & Wesson.

During the last fiscal year, the Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol Series and Tactical Rifle Series experienced significant growth. To date, 570 domestic law enforcement agencies have adopted or approved the M&P for duty use while 251 domestic law enforcement agencies have approved or adopted the M&P15 rifle. Currently, the company offers over five different configurations of the M&P pistol, incorporating four caliber options. The M&P Rifle Series has also continued to evolve and is today offered in 16 variants. The enhanced design and flexibility of each M&P firearm has played a crucial role in the popularity of the M&P Series, as well as its ability to adapt to a wide variety of applications and requirements.