Pennsylvania-based gun maker IWI US announced that the new Masada optics-ready pistol will ship out to stores starting Wednesday.

“This is our first entry into the striker-fired pistol market and we are very pleased with the results,” said Jeremy Gresham, IWI US director of sales and marketing. Priced at $480, Gresham called the Masada “a serious contender for civilian and government customers.”

According to the company, the IWI US Masada was developed under modern battlefield requirements and the gun’s features were selected based on input from military, law enforcement, and shooters.

By the numbers, the Masada, chambered in 9mm, is equipped with 4.1-inch cold-hammer forged barrel with a 1-in-10-inch right-hand twist. With an overall length of 7.4 inches, the handgun weighs in at 1.43 pounds. And, it comes with either a 10- or 17-round magazine.

The gun features ambidextrous controls, multiple interchangeable back-straps, a low-bore axis for reduced felt recoil, and a built-in trigger safety set with a 6-pound pull.

Making it more competitive, the Masada is out-of-the-box optics ready and includes interchangeable mounting plates for the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, Sig Sauer Romeo 01, and Vortex Venom.

Additionally, the frame is built from high-strength, impact resistant fiberglass reinforced polymers and uses a modular, serialized trigger mechanism housing group.