CZ-USA this week announced two new models of the CZ 457 bolt-action rimfire rifle oriented to left-hand users. The two new variants are a .22LR LH Varmint with a 20-inch heavy-profile barrel and an LH American model with a 24-inch light-profile barrel in either .22WMR or .22LR. Besides a 60-degree bolt and push-to-fire safety located… Continue reading CZ Goes Lefty for 457 Series
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).
Big List of Gun Manufacturers & Online Gun Stores
Below we have compiled a list of firearm manufacturers (both American and international) as well all our recommended places to buy guns online. It is not all-encompassing, however, we’re covering major brands, categories (rifles, shotgun, handguns/pistols, etc.) and retailers we think are reputable and reliable. Click on the company name or logo and it will… Continue reading Big List of Gun Manufacturers & Online Gun Stores
From the NRAAM 2022 Show Floor
While the NRA has its well-deserved cross to bear when it comes to being a lightning rod both among anti-gun types and many gun enthusiasts on the other side of the aisle, the group’s politics and practices aside, its recent Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston, aka “The NRA Convention/Show” had a lot of new… Continue reading From the NRAAM 2022 Show Floor
U.S. Grant’s Wheel Guns Worth $5 Million
As you may know, a set of Remington revolvers– serial numbers 1 and 2– presented to Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War heavyweight champion and 18th President, were recently rediscovered after falling off the grid for a couple of generations and went to auction. They were estimated to run between $1-$3 million but bidding soon… Continue reading U.S. Grant’s Wheel Guns Worth $5 Million
Beretta has a New Optics-Ready Full-Sized APX
Beretta has a lot of cool products that they just carry overseas or sell to LE/Mil channels including the AR-70/90 and the PM-12 SMG. So, when they have a big push to release a new gun and an updated edition of their Tactical Toblerone APX pistol rolls out, it is a kind of whom-whomp kind… Continue reading Beretta has a New Optics-Ready Full-Sized APX
The Best Bersa S. A. Handguns
The history of Bersa S.A. Founded in the mid-1950s by a trio of mechanical engineers – one of them formerly from Beretta – Bersa initially focused on producing parts for the now-defunct arms manufacturer Ballester–Molina. And eventually moved into producing handguns and other standard consumer firearms. The first Bersa 22 Long Rifle pistol was called… Continue reading The Best Bersa S. A. Handguns
California Under 21 Rifle Ban Struck Down
A 2-1 panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said California’s ban on most adults aged 18-to-20 being able to buy semi-auto rifles didn’t jive with the Second Amendment. Adopted in 2018 but only put into limited effect last year, the ban has been in court ever since, and the pro-gun crowd won… Continue reading California Under 21 Rifle Ban Struck Down
New Sig Cross PRS
Sig Sauer’s big claim to fame with their Cross series of bolt-action rifles a couple of years ago was that they were light– like 6.5-pounds kinda light– while still providing a superb platform for precision work. The thing is, the guys who shoot PRS matches, and spend the big bucks to do it, don’t really… Continue reading New Sig Cross PRS
Bushmaster Rolls Legend
The rebooted Bushmaster Firearms, saved from the dustbin of Remington Outdoors’ bankruptcy last year by Nevada’s Franklin Armory, keeps introducing everything except what the people really want– a return of the ACR modular rifle. The newest entry in their black-rifle-that-is-not-an-ACR category is a variant of the Bravo Zulu series chambered in .350 Legend. The new… Continue reading Bushmaster Rolls Legend
Sig Freedom Days: A SHOT Show for the People?
Sig Sauer just wrapped up their weekend-long “Freedom Days”show in Phoenix, Arizona at the Ben Avery Shooting Center. The concept is simple: Sig brought 50 different models of their guns, charged $80 for a day pass, and everyone got a chance to run 5-10 rounds through all the above while an instructor was on hand… Continue reading Sig Freedom Days: A SHOT Show for the People?