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
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).
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
Top AR-15 Build Kits For Your Next Project: From Basics to Ballistics
There is no more daunting goalpost in the gun community than assembling or otherwise building your own AR-15, but by keeping in mind some basic considerations and doing your homework, that goal can be easily attained This article is part of our ongoing Guide to Everything AR.
Best Shooting Tripods: Hunting & Precision Game Changers
As a hunter and provider, there is no worse feeling than knowing you just made a poor shot on an animal due to a lack of stability. As hunters, we want to make the most ethical shot possible so the animal doesn’t suffer, and that begins with a stable shooting position. That’s why many hunters… Continue reading Best Shooting Tripods: Hunting & Precision Game Changers
Top AR-15 Upper Receivers: Build Your Perfect Rifle
Arguably one of the most vital elements of the AR-15 is picking the right upper receiver group. After all, your upper provides the lock-up between the bolt and barrel, leaving you with either an accurate and dependable firearm or something that offers little more than consistent frustration. If you want to build an AR for… Continue reading Top AR-15 Upper Receivers: Build Your Perfect Rifle
Top Bergara Rifles For Long Range & Hunting: What Makes Them Special?
Bergara first appeared on the scene in the U.S. in 2013 with small batches of outrageously accurate precision rifles and has gone on to be widely adopted by competitive shooters, law enforcement, and hunters. But who’s behind these fine rifles and which of these quality rifles are for you? We dive deep into the best… Continue reading Top Bergara Rifles For Long Range & Hunting: What Makes Them Special?
Hunting & Sport: Your Guide to the Best Over-Under Shotguns
There’s something undeniably classy about swinging an over-under shotgun onto a covey of quail or a crossing clay target. Maybe it’s the satisfying thunk of the action closing, the precision of selecting which barrel fires first, or simply the timeless elegance of a well-crafted double gun. Whatever draws you to over-unders, you’re looking at one… Continue reading Hunting & Sport: Your Guide to the Best Over-Under Shotguns
The Best .300 Blackout Barrels
.300 Blackout barrels are a popular choice among firearm enthusiasts for their versatility and performance. There is a variety of 300 Blackout barrels available in different lengths, flutes, and finishes, allowing for personalization of weapon length and performance. Selecting the perfect barrel chambered in .300 AAC Blackout can be a little tricky as one has… Continue reading The Best .300 Blackout Barrels