No matter if you are doing a new build from the ground up or are out to upgrade your Glock’s current barrel, you’ll need some guidance. Your Glock’s barrel is one of the most important components of the pistol, and there are lots of things to keep in mind before you add one to a… Continue reading Glock Barrel Upgrades: Precision Picks for Every Model
Author: Michael Crites
Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18.
During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications.
His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual.
As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY.
He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).
AK-47 Rifle Shootout: Finding the Right Kalash for You
For generations, the AK-47 was the spooky gun in grainy TASS footage of May Day parades in Red Square, or seen firing into the air, pistol gripped by random guerillas in far off lands. However, today, Mikhail Kalashnikov’s most famous invention is becoming increasingly familiar to American gun owners, and the guns themselves are likewise… Continue reading AK-47 Rifle Shootout: Finding the Right Kalash for You
A Look At The World of Micro Compact 9mm Pistols
A category of handguns that didn’t even exist before 2018, the micro compact 9mm is exploding in popularity, with almost 20 models currently in production. Let’s look at what these guns are, why they are important, and how they stack up against each other.
Best First Focal Plane Scopes: Top FFP Scopes
Are you a fan of long-range shooting? Are you constantly putting your targets out further and further? If so, then you need to start thinking about first focal plane (FFP) rife scopes. These scopes are fantastic optics for long-range rifle enthusiasts, and they’ve become far more popular in recent years. There are a lot of… Continue reading Best First Focal Plane Scopes: Top FFP Scopes
Best Truck Gun Rack: Overhead, Seat Back & Window Mounts
If you regularly travel with a firearm, you know the importance of keeping it secured. Not only to protect the gun, scope, and people inside the vehicle but also to obey local laws. Thankfully, many products can help to meet these requirements. However, some products are significantly better than others — and some designs simply… Continue reading Best Truck Gun Rack: Overhead, Seat Back & Window Mounts
Remington 870 Tactical Review: A Guide & Retrospective
The Remington 870 — the greatest selling pump-action shotgun in the history of firearms — is famous with sportsmen and has also been the gold standard for dependable and ultra-reliable tactical models for users both in and out of uniform.
Short and Mighty: The Best Bullpup Shotguns
Bullpup firearms, primarily rifles and shotguns, have emerged as transformative players in the gun industry. Distinct from traditional designs, they position the action, trigger, and chamber assemblies behind the trigger area. This simple reconfiguration leads to a significant reduction in overall size, while ensuring the barrel’s length and resulting velocity are unaltered. Essentially, they offer… Continue reading Short and Mighty: The Best Bullpup Shotguns
IWI Tavor TS12 Review
Curious about IWI’s space-age bullpup but don’t know where to start? We break down the TS12 – warts and all.
Glock 17 vs 19: A Comparison
The differences between the Glock 17 and Glock 19 are subtle but the two 9mm pistols certainly bring a different design philosophy to the user. Each Glock is engineered around specific strengths that play to its respective purpose. With that in mind, we dive into the debate over which gun is better for which kind… Continue reading Glock 17 vs 19: A Comparison
The Best 6.5 PRC Rifles
In the world of precision shooting, new cartridges continually promise to unlock previously unreachable long-range performance by pushing the limits of ballistic performance. This is especially true in the last several years. Among these, the 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is slowly becoming a popular round for big game hunting in bolt action rifles. This… Continue reading The Best 6.5 PRC Rifles