We’ve talked about the Rock Island Auction for the sale of the only surviving “BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster” wielded by Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars: A New Hope in past weeks. Crafted from a C96 “Broomhandle” Mauser by Bapty prop house in the UK, Rock Island acquired it and marketed it logically–… Continue reading Highest price for a Blaster, ever
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).
Remington promises a New(er) Rifle
Back in 2020, the lumbering jumbo jet that was Remington Outdoors burned in hard after running out of gas, and, following a federal bankruptcy hearing, the highest bidders salvaged its singed remains. While Federal got its ammo business, Ruger came away with Marlin, Franklin Armory (for some reason) bought Bushmaster, and Palmetto took several lesser-known… Continue reading Remington promises a New(er) Rifle
Magpul DAKA Review
Magpul has made a serious name amongst firearms fans due to the quality of its products and the innovative ways they solve everyday challenges. Their series of buttstocks are standard on hundreds if not thousands of AR builds, and their M-Lok rail system is an industry-standard. Magpul doesn’t stand still, and their DAKA gear is… Continue reading Magpul DAKA Review
New S&W Legend 350 Wheelgun
For the past few years, Smith & Wesson has been debuting these almost comically large “X-frame” revolvers chambered in massive calibers that make .357 and .44 Magnums look like popguns. These guns include the Model 460 (so named as it is in .460 S&W Mag) and the Model 500 (.500 S&W Mag). Well, the company… Continue reading New S&W Legend 350 Wheelgun
Smith & Wesson Talks Smack on Second Amendment
Called before Congress to take a no-win public beating from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney– who is locked in a “cage match” of a reelection campaign– Smith & Wesson declined and let Daniel Defense and Ruger take a spin in the barrel (both of which had the memes to show for it). This resulted in Maloney calling… Continue reading Smith & Wesson Talks Smack on Second Amendment
Glock 22 Review
The Glock 22 (along with its siblings, the compact G23 and subcompact G27) are Glock’s .40 Auto pistols and have been incredibly popular with law enforcement across the US for decades. They offer up pistols chambered in the larger LE-focused cartridge while being identical in size to the 9mm G17, Glock 19, and G26 pistol… Continue reading Glock 22 Review
New CZ 457 VPT MTR
CZ-USA is bringing a new precision rifle shooting rimfire trainer to this side of the Atlantic where PRS shooting is booming. The company already has a Varmint Precision Trainer of their bolt-action model 457 rifle, the 457 VPT. They also have a 457 Match Target Rifle which has a chamber cut to the tightest specification… Continue reading New CZ 457 VPT MTR
Tisas announces new Tank Commander 1911
SDS Imports has been bringing in a Commander-sized M1911A1 variant from Tisas in Turkey dubbed the Tanker for the past couple of years. That basic black Cerakoted .45ACP runs a GI-style hammer on a forged slide with a 4.25-inch stainless barrel and a full-sized frame complete with a flat mainspring housing, Series 70 internals, and… Continue reading Tisas announces new Tank Commander 1911
Shotgun & Ammo Imports Way Down
The NSSF tracks and reports monthly gun, ammo, optics, and hunting knife imports from overseas by crunching data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. This data runs a couple of months behind because, well, the government runs a couple of months behind. However, by comparing the most recent figures– those from April 2022– with the… Continue reading Shotgun & Ammo Imports Way Down
Florida School Cops Now Wearing KelTecs
A somewhat bellicose Florida lawman, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, publicly announced his school resource officers will be more “tactical” in both uniform and equipment this upcoming school year to include carrying Kel-Tec SUB2000 carbines with them. A video released by Ivey’s office shows the folding carbines worn across deputies’ plate carriers in stowed condition.… Continue reading Florida School Cops Now Wearing KelTecs