Members of the military aren’t the only ones who have to pass “fitness” tests–so do their firearms.

The U.S. military continues to invest in new weaponry technologies for the future. From new firearms technology and ammunition to vehicles and gadgets, our military routinely evaluates–and reevaluates–weapons and accessories to ensure they are using only the finest equipment.

Every year, a series of competitions and trials put firearms to the test, with the ultimate goal to determine which ones perform best.

Military gun trials bring us great new products, because they provide a stage for comparing the differences between models, revealing critical flaws, and, of course, showcasing the latest firearms technology in action.

How The U.S. Military Tests New Firearms Technology

Defense technology is constantly developing. Over the last 20 years, there have been significant advancements in technology for computers, radar, and artificial intelligence. The military conducts testing on all of their equipment, but firearms and ammo are subject to unique proving protocols.

The United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) is an entity involved in all testing and experimentation of Army equipment. In short, the ATEC is in charge of quantifying and qualifying firearms specifications to narrow them down to the most capable devices.

To achieve its missions, the U.S. Army is always taking advantage of improvements in weapons technology. These improvements are often tested via detailed simulation exercises.

If you’re wondering how detailed inspections are, just know they look at e-v-e-r–y-t-h-i-n-g.

From weapon functionality to magazines, cleaning kits, suppressors, spare parts, carrying cases, and even instruction manuals, the inspectors who examine guns are meticulous, to say the least.

Guns Just Keep Getting Better…

The U.S. military invests a significant amount of money and energy into research and development (R&D) for weapons.

Each new array of firearms seems to “outgun” the old lineup. Thanks to new discoveries in science and security stemming from defense contractors, university labs, and tech start-ups, there is a plethora of war-tech geeks out there who are dedicated to compiling research.

Their ultimate goal is to help our hardware better protect and defend.

…Even the Accessories Are High-Tech…

One of the most cutting-edge military gun trials happening now is testing out the new SMASH scope.

As of recent months, Marine Corps and Navy officials are trying this advanced scope accessory that actually calculates how shooters can best hit their targets.

The primary intent of the tool is to help marines better defend against enemies. Smart Shooter’s SMASH 2000 Optic allows troops to have higher chances of hitting their mark, especially in complicated situations.

This is a prime example of revolutionary technology, made by a private manufacturer, being considered and tested by the military.

Testing and examination of the SMASH scope are currently ongoing, so we’ll have to wait and see what comes of it. Historically, some have made it all the way through and end up becoming military staples. Many others, however, fail to leave a lasting impression.

…But Safety Is Still Priority

Gun enthusiasts seem to have some new spiffy gun technologies to nerd-out about at every turn.

Not only do these advancements increase usefulness for everyday gun owners and law enforcement officials, they are the stuff of dreams for freedom-lovers everywhere.

The efforts of organizations like the NSSF and the NRA have greatly increased the frequency and effectiveness of safety features in the industry. As a result, many gun owners would agree that hazardous scenarios are drastically minimized nowadays by the safety features being affixed to their guns.

Safety features have evolved considerably since the concept first entered the equation. Over many decades, the hardware engineering of safety apparatuses has expanded from basic grip mechanisms in the 1880s to the highly-advanced and intricate safety systems found on many firearms today.

The progression to our current firearm technologies certainly didn’t happen overnight. Firearms as we know them have had nearly every aspect of their makeup revised, refined, and enhanced many times over.

All Firearms Enthusiasts Can Benefit From Army Pistol Trials

In 2015, the United States Army and United States Air Force announced that they would be hosting the XM17 Modular Handgun System–a competition to choose a new service pistol.

Initially, these pistol trials outlined several requirements for competitors to adhere to. Submissions for consideration needed to be a 9mm pistol that had:

• Ability to be configured in both full-size and compact versions
• A miniature reflex sight
• Ambidextrous controls
• Thumb safety
• A loaded-chamber indicator
• Trigger design that blocks debris

The military handgun trials officially took place in 2016, with the winner announced at the beginning of 2017.

Out of a dozen entrants, the XM17 and XM18 candidates from SIG Sauer P320 were the chosen pistol versions. SIG Sauer beat out strong contenders from Beretta, KRISS, Smith & Wesson, and Glock.

This story of various guns battling it out to impress combat experts is a great example of how rigorous military gun trials are and how they produce excellent models for all pew pew patriots to use.

Enjoying the Fruit of Military Handgun Trial Labors

It’s no question that the military has access to much of the best in state-of-the-art combat technology. It makes sense, then, that combat experts and weapons manufacturers look to the results of military gun trials to better gauge performance metrics.

The military is keen on quality. When lives and safety are at stake, our branches of defense know that taking their time in vetting new equipment, accessories, and weapons is crucial.

Although there are many different organizations to credit, if it weren’t for military handgun trials, routine inspections, simulations, and competitions, we might not reap the same benefits of high-quality precision craftsmanship in firearms.

When you’re ready to do some firearm “testing” of your own, we’ve got you covered. Find the biggest brands–and even bigger bullets–right here at Ammo Planet.