What is the best precision rifle? Sniper and precision rifles are mostly enjoyed by target shooting enthusiasts and hunters. While you can’t get the top-of-the-line rifles utilized by special forces in the military, there are plenty of civilian rifles that are ideal for these purposes. Let’s break down some of the best sniper and precision… Continue reading The Best Sniper & Precision Rifles
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 Intros a Sniper Rifle Variant of the Galil Ace
Israel’s IWI has had a bunch of success marketing their Galil Ace model rifles around the world with at least a dozen countries having adopted them for military use in the past decade. They even signed lucrative licensing deals with countries as diverse as Chile, Ukraine, and Vietnam to make them locally. AK-based with better… Continue reading IWI Intros a Sniper Rifle Variant of the Galil Ace
Magpul has three new 9mm drums
Magpul has been killing it in the dependable 50- and 60-round drum business in the past few years. Sure, these types of mags have been around for decades, but Magpul’s actually work, so there’s that. The three newest in the collection– all priced at a “they cost what they cost” $124– are 50 rounder 9mm… Continue reading Magpul has three new 9mm drums
Noveske teases a new, possibly more affordable AR line
Going back to at least 2014, Oregon’s Noveske shop sold what they called “Chainsaw” parts, limited runs and availabilities of blemished and cosmetically imperfect receivers or handguards sold as a part. However, this week they announced a temporary retirement of the name, saying that moving forward blems would be known as the B-Line, a name… Continue reading Noveske teases a new, possibly more affordable AR line
Grant’s ‘Lost’ Revolvers up for Auction
If you have a cool million or three just lying around and some space in your gun safe, a pair of vintage Civil War-era cap-and-ball revolvers that had vanished for decades is now up for grabs. Rock Island is auctioning a matched set of engraved Remington New Army revolvers presented around 1863 to then-Major General… Continue reading Grant’s ‘Lost’ Revolvers up for Auction
The Best 7.62×39 AR Barrels
While most AR-15s are built with .223 or 5.56 barrels, an alternative is a 7.62×39 AR barrel. The 7.62×39 cartridge was developed by the Soviet Union in 1943 and used in weapons like the SKS, RPD, AK-47, and RPK. While this round is not as accurate as other cartridges, it does have its purpose in… Continue reading The Best 7.62×39 AR Barrels
Nighthawk salutes the Bootleggers and Untouchables
Nighthawk Custom continues to make the occasional showcase pistol to highlight just what they can do in their Arkansas shop. In Nighthawk fashion, their latest creation is a .45ACP M1911A1 but it is not like anything else in their catalog. The Prohibition Nighthawk Custom 1911 is a unique handgun featuring both the good and bad… Continue reading Nighthawk salutes the Bootleggers and Untouchables
Kimber, Leupold, Mission First team up for Ukrainian arms run
Kimber, with a little help from their friends, announced last week that the company is sending 220 guns to help fight the Russians. The guns include 200 R7 Mako series 9mm pistols (along with 800 spare magazines) and 20 assorted tactical bolt-action rifles in .308. Leupold equipped the rifles with Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10×40mm scopes,… Continue reading Kimber, Leupold, Mission First team up for Ukrainian arms run
Maxim’s new MKIV SD
Maxim Defense is known for their braces/short stocks and AR-ish SBRs/pistols. However, they now have a .22LR in the form of an integrally suppressed Ruger MKIV that they say runs 114 dB with subsonic ammo. This puts the Maxim quiet time special into the “no detectable first round pop” club. While not the first people… Continue reading Maxim’s new MKIV SD
Background Check Numbers in a Three-Year Low…But Still Over 3 Million
The latest FBI background check figures for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System stand at just over 3 million for March 2022. When compared to the 4.6 million seen in the same month in 2021 and the 3.7 million seen in March 2020, that’s a big drop. However, it is still the third-highest since… Continue reading Background Check Numbers in a Three-Year Low…But Still Over 3 Million