Determining what to upgrade on a rifle can be daunting. Optics, triggers, rails, & accessories galore all call at your wallet. A good aftermarket stock will not only give you a huge array of configuration options for your favorite Russian firearm but can also make shooting this particular assault weapon even more fun. Many folks… Continue reading Top Aftermarket SKS Stocks: Modernize Your SKS In Style
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).
Choosing Your Red Dot Magnifier: A Buyer’s Guide for Clearer Shots
Personally, I like to put red dot sights on most of my short-range rifles. Iron sights are incredible, but most of the time, it is just so much easier to use an excellent red dot. You get a clear sight picture, and your target acquisition is much better. Although if you want to shoot medium-range… Continue reading Choosing Your Red Dot Magnifier: A Buyer’s Guide for Clearer Shots
The Best Buffer Tube Kits
A balanced firearm is a beautiful thing. Not only is it easier to shoot and less prone to wear and tear, but shooting a truly balanced gun is satisfying in a way less orderly set-ups can’t touch. In addition to being one of the best ways to dial in the feel of your rifle, no… Continue reading The Best Buffer Tube Kits
Sig, SA, and Beretta Pull Out of SHOT Show 2022
The biggest firearms industry event in the world, the NSSF’s annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, is going to be missing some of the larger names. With a surge in COVID cases nationwide, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, and Beretta have all pulled out of the upcoming Las Vegas event, set for Jan. 18-21. The… Continue reading Sig, SA, and Beretta Pull Out of SHOT Show 2022
Federal Introduces the 30 Super Carry
Vista Outdoors– owners of Federal and just about every other American ammo brand that isn’t Winchester– has a new caliber on the market for self-defense handgunners: the .30 Federal Super Carry. Not to be confused with past .30-caliber rimless rounds (such as .30 Longue or .30 Mauser) or the .38 Super, the new caliber seems… Continue reading Federal Introduces the 30 Super Carry
The Best AR-15 Suppressors: Silence, Performance, and Precision
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your AR with a suppressor, you’re in good company. According to the ATF, the number of suppressors in circulation has almost doubled in the past 3 years, to more than 1.7 million in 2019. This explosion in product has led to a massive amount of innovation, and these days… Continue reading The Best AR-15 Suppressors: Silence, Performance, and Precision
The Best Shooting Targets
Zig Ziglar famously said, “if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” While he wasn’t speaking directly about shooting, it still applies. A day at the range would be terribly dangerous, boring, and unproductive if you were not aiming at — and consistently hitting — a target. Every shooter should have several… Continue reading The Best Shooting Targets
News Brief – 12/27
In this week’s gun news, California magazine ban put on ice, FBI has an Indiana Jones moment, Savage back in the pistol business.
News Brief – 12/20
In this week’s gun news, the gun industry hits back against New York, first Ruger Marlin surfaces in the wild, Savage goes bolt-action pistol, meet the SiCo Harvester EVO, Springfield operates 1911 style.
News Brief – 12/13
In this week’s gun news, ATF finally gets something right, Barrett goes NFT, Remington reboots paper shells, a new 6.5 PRC rifle, Sig intros yet another P320, Springfield makes a better SL8.