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).

Delaware moves for the Big Ban

The First State is a governor’s signature away from joining the same club as California, New Jersey, and New York by enacting a statewide ban on “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines.” In all, just seven states have such bans, and the way Delaware is looking to do it is different. While most ban semi-auto rifles… Continue reading Delaware moves for the Big Ban

Dan Wesson Continues with 1911 Game

Now a year down the road from CZ’s acquisition of Colt, CZ subsidiary Dan Wesson keeps wading deeper into traditional Colt waters with two new 1911s. The new guns are mid-sized with 4-inch barrels, falling shorter than the standard Government Issue (5-inch) and Commander (4.25-inch) models but shorter than the Officer (3.5-inch) style 1911s, and… Continue reading Dan Wesson Continues with 1911 Game

CMMG Dissent Buffer-less AR

Missouri’s CMMG has announced a new AR pistol format that drops the need for a receiver extension or buffer tube. The new series, dubbed the Dissent line, will be available in 5.56, .300BLK, and 5.7x28mm, with each model sporting a 6.5-inch free-floated barrel with a 5.5-inch M-LOK handguard. Overall, this means a very compact PDW-style… Continue reading CMMG Dissent Buffer-less AR

Big 5.56 Ammo Supply Crunch (Maybe)

One of the first calibers to bounce back after the Great Ammo Shortage of 2020 was 62-grain M855 “Green tip” 5.56 NATO. The reason for this is that literal truckloads of it come from the U.S. Army’s Ammo Plant in Lake City, Missouri, which is sold surplus on the commercial market by Winchester, who runs… Continue reading Big 5.56 Ammo Supply Crunch (Maybe)