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).

Best Glock Clones: 7 Tested Picks (Plus What Glock’s Gen 6 Actually Changed)

PSA Dagger Review - Firing

A simple reality underpins the modern Glock clone market: Glock’s Gen 3 patents have expired, and American manufacturers didn’t waste any time filling the vacuum. What started as a handful of budget alternatives has grown into a serious ecosystem of purpose-built pistols that borrow Glock’s dimensional footprint (magazine compatibility, holster fit, parts interchangeability) while addressing… Continue reading Best Glock Clones: 7 Tested Picks (Plus What Glock’s Gen 6 Actually Changed)

Best 2011 Pistols: 5 Double-Stack 1911s Worth Your Money in 2026

2011 pistol range shot

The 2011 barely existed as a category in the early 1990s. What did exist was a handful of competition gunsmiths trying to solve a problem John Browning never had to think about: how do you get more than eight rounds of .45 or nine rounds of 9mm into a 1911 without ruining the grip angle… Continue reading Best 2011 Pistols: 5 Double-Stack 1911s Worth Your Money in 2026

While Washington Deregulates, Delaware’s New Dealer Rules Show the Split-Screen Future of Gun Law

Handguns for beginners -- cover

Federal gun law has always set a floor, not a ceiling. That’s been true since the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 first required a license to ship guns across state lines, and it was baked further into the system when the Gun Control Act of 1968 created the modern FFL. States were left free to… Continue reading While Washington Deregulates, Delaware’s New Dealer Rules Show the Split-Screen Future of Gun Law

Suppressors Are “Deregulated”, So Why Does Buying One Still Depend on Your Zip Code?

In 1915, a man named Herman Auerbach murdered his wife and children with a firearm fitted with one of Hiram Percy Maxim’s new silencers, and the New York papers ran with it: SILENT GUN KILLS A FAMILY OF FOUR. Maxim himself rushed to New York to demonstrate that a suppressed gunshot is still very much… Continue reading Suppressors Are “Deregulated”, So Why Does Buying One Still Depend on Your Zip Code?

Best Pistol Lights: Compact Weapon Lights & Laser Light Combos Tested

Pistol light reviews - cover image

A pistol light is only a tool; the question is what task you have in mind, what you want in one and what you’re willing to part with. Every one of the lights on this list fits someone very well. Maybe that’s you, maybe it isn’t. Not everyone is best served by a TLR-1 or… Continue reading Best Pistol Lights: Compact Weapon Lights & Laser Light Combos Tested

The Best 9mm Suppressors: Let’s Get Quiet

Banish 45 Range Test (5)

When you need to keep things quiet, be it for range etiquette, home defense needs, or tactical applications, suppressors are a must-have accessory. And there’s no better platform to suppress than 9mm firearms. Given that 9mm pistols are incredibly common these days — serving as everything from everyday carry sidearms to home defense weapons and… Continue reading The Best 9mm Suppressors: Let’s Get Quiet

Best Budget Gun Safes: Top Picks Under $500

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To create this guide, we tested multiple long gun safes and gun cabinets, researched their security features, and interviewed gun safe experts who understand what actually stops thieves—and what doesn’t survive a house fire. A critical note upfront: many gun safes are not fireproof. Budget gun safes under $500 typically lack true fire-resistant insulation. Some… Continue reading Best Budget Gun Safes: Top Picks Under $500