The polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol market has been dominated by one name for over four decades: Glock. While the Austrian “plastic-fantastic” maker’s reliability and simplicity earned well-deserved respect, their reluctance to make serious innovations beyond incremental updates issued as “generations” has left the door wide open for American manufacturers to step up with something better. Enter… Continue reading Ruger RXM Review: The Modular 9mm Shaking Up the Glock Clone Market
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).
Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds
Taurus and I have, well, let’s call it history. For years, the Brazilian gunmaker occupied a niche in my gun safe—affordable alternatives that worked but never felt finished. I say this because the triggers were mushy, the finishes wore quickly, and quality control sometimes felt more like quality suggestions. So, when the Taurus GX4 showed… Continue reading Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds
Top Handguns for Home Protection: Defend Your Domain
Perhaps the most common and effective means of home protection, given purpose-driven selection and the proper training in use, is a good defensive handgun. With that in mind, let us take a look at some of the better options out there.
Top Survival Rifles: Backpacking & Emergency Preparedness Picks
The term “survival rifle” can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s a rifle of last resort, others might see it as more of a backpacking or camping firearm designed to be easily carried into, and out of, the great outdoors. Almost everyone agrees that a rifle geared toward excelling in the elements… Continue reading Top Survival Rifles: Backpacking & Emergency Preparedness Picks
Glock Barrel Upgrades: Precision Picks for Every Model
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
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.