Smith & Wesson is continuing to claw at the air with new products for 2023 by producing a 9mm pistol caliber carbine. As sort of a no-brainer, it is based on their M&P9 pistol but with a longer 16-inch barrel. Of interest, the carbine, dubbed the FPC, has a left-folding barrel assembly that roughly drops… Continue reading S&W Introduces Folding 9mm Carbine, the FPC
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).
SilencerCo Will Paint Your Old Can (or New One)
Utah-based SilencerCo announced something that would seem to be a no-brainer when it comes to suppressor makers: a Custom Paint Project. The concept is simple, with the company’s Cerakote-certified team able to refinish suppressors in one of five different colors for the cost of $89. Ideally, if you have a can that is going back… Continue reading SilencerCo Will Paint Your Old Can (or New One)
Beretta Channels King Tut for One-of-a-Kind Shotgun
One thing that Beretta does really well is make unique exhibition-grade shotguns and their latest was presented at the Safari Club International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee last week. No word on the price, which is surely in the mid-six figure range, but it was created to mark the 100th Anniversary of the discovery of King… Continue reading Beretta Channels King Tut for One-of-a-Kind Shotgun
Wilson Combat Debuts 16 Models of Customized P365s
Bill Wilson loves to take good platforms and make them better. He’s done it with the 1911, Glock, the P320, and the Beretta 92. His latest effort is a team-up with Sig Sauer to take their basic fire control units and some small parts for the P365 and make them into something superb– the WCP365.… Continue reading Wilson Combat Debuts 16 Models of Customized P365s
NYPD Taps Sako for Precision Rifle Needs
Beretta-owned Finnish rifle maker Sako announced last week they are delivering an unspecified quantity of their top-shelf TRG M10 multi-caliber sniper systems to the New York Police Department’s elite response them, the Emergency Service Unit. A bolt-action rifle with a fully adjustable right-folding stock, the TRG M10 is produced in .308 Winchester, .300 Win Mag,… Continue reading NYPD Taps Sako for Precision Rifle Needs
New from Daniel Defense: RIII URGs
Daniel Defense debuted their RIII rail system last year. If you know anything about Daniel, you know that they kind of invented the quad rail game, then matured that concept to the RISII series, the latter developed for SOCOM. The RIII s modeled after the now extensively proven RIS II but runs M-LOK slots which… Continue reading New from Daniel Defense: RIII URGs
Top Handgun Safes: Portable, Multi Gun & Quick Access Picks
Storing handguns in a pistol safe is a best practice for any gun owner who owns a handgun, and gun owners have a universal responsibility to prevent our firearms from causing injury or harm. A critical piece of this puzzle is ensuring our guns are safely stored when not in use. The meaning of “safely… Continue reading Top Handgun Safes: Portable, Multi Gun & Quick Access Picks
Best Ankle Holsters: Add CCW Versatility
An ankle carry holster lets you carry a gun or backup weapon on your lower leg while keeping your upper torso unencumbered from larger, bulkier holsters. These holsters are designed to make it nearly impossible for people to detect (or print) your firearm, are small, stable, and do their job without jostling or discomfort. We… Continue reading Best Ankle Holsters: Add CCW Versatility
More on the Henry Homesteader 9mm PCC
With styling similar to the Prohibition-classic Winchester Model 1907, Henry’s Homesteader 9mm carbine was a sleeper hit at SHOT Show, where it soft-launched last month. Officially shipping now, we got to admit this new blowback-action PCC is interesting and Henry uses an innovative magazine well that has adapters to make it work with Glock, SIG… Continue reading More on the Henry Homesteader 9mm PCC
Pythons in the News
Besides the new 3-inch Colt Python quietly released late last year by the now-CZ-owned gunmaker ($1499 MSRP, available in stainless only) but finally shipping this month, Lipsey’s also has a very upscale version that features premier-grade engravings by Tyler Gun Works and elkhorn stag grips. The ask on the TGW model is $2,400. In other… Continue reading Pythons in the News