Sighting in a rifle is a skill — one that takes time to develop — and one that can be made much easier with a few tools. Boresighting is the process of aligning your sight with the axis of your gun’s bore. It’s a critical first step in sighting in your scope. It creates a… Continue reading Best Laser Bore Sights: Get On Target Faster!
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 Rimfire Scopes: Small Calibers, Big Performance
If you’ve been shooting your .22LR with iron sights and wondering whether a scope is worth the investment, let me save you some time: it absolutely is. After putting more than 17 different rimfire scopes through their paces over the past few months, I can tell you that the right optic will transform your shooting… Continue reading Best Rimfire Scopes: Small Calibers, Big Performance
The Best .30-06 Rifles: A Timeless Caliber for Modern Hunters
What is the .30-06 cartridge and what keeps it one of America’s most popular hunting and competition rounds? We examine this .30-caliber military classic, explain why it has endured for over a century, and provide a selection of great “Aught Six” rifles. There’s no shortage of quality rifled chambered in this classic cartridge, so we… Continue reading The Best .30-06 Rifles: A Timeless Caliber for Modern Hunters
Best Home Defense Shotguns in 2025: Tactical vs. Traditional Picks
The Terminator series, The Fast and The Furious franchise, John Wick. What’s at the center of these movies, other than overpaid actors and scenes that rely too heavily of CGI? Pistol grip shotguns. Hollywood features them for a reason; they are damned cool. Feature films make these shotguns look good, but are they the stars… Continue reading Best Home Defense Shotguns in 2025: Tactical vs. Traditional Picks
Best Lever-Action Rifles: From Classic To Cutting-Edge
Few firearms capture the imagination quite like lever-action rifles. A Winchester 94 with a walnut stock and pistol grip was one of the iconic guns that helped win the American West. Over a century since the settling of the frontiers, these guns are still relevant, beautiful, and practical — and as of late, few types… Continue reading Best Lever-Action Rifles: From Classic To Cutting-Edge
The Best 9mm Suppressors: Let’s Get Quiet
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
The Best 300 Blackout Rifles: These Dominated Our Range Tests
Born in the early 2010s when a few unnamed military special operators needed a specialized close-combat round, the .300 AAC Blackout is no passing fad — the BLK has become one of the most popular AR cartridges around. Whether you’re hunting hogs in thick brush, defending your home, or looking for the ultimate suppressed platform,… Continue reading The Best 300 Blackout Rifles: These Dominated Our Range Tests
The Best .45 ACP Pistols
What is it about the vaunted .45 ACP cartridge that keeps it as one of America’s most self-protection and competition rounds? We examine this classic round, break down why it has survived and thrived for generation after generation, and provide a selection of great handguns that are chambered for it.
Glock 19X Review: The Crossover Champ?
Glock’s first “crossover” design that borrowed from the lineage of two proven 9mm Glock pistols, the G19X has been around for just over a half-decade and is something of an overlooked gem. We’ve got the scoop on this Coyote-colored war horse.
Best Pocket Carry Guns: True Ultra-Compact Options
With over 19 million Americans holding concealed handgun permits and millions more carrying in constitutional carry states, the pocket pistol has emerged as one of the most popular concealed carry options. But what exactly qualifies as a “pocket pistol,” and when does it make sense to carry one?