This article is part of our Guide to Everything AR. In general, the Recce (pronounced: “Wreck-E”) Rifle has been something of the Bigfoot or Loch Ness Monster of the AR-15 world for the past quarter-century. However, going past the basic “enhanced carbine” concept — theorized originally by the country’s most elite special operations commandos — … Continue reading Ultimate Guide to A Proper Recce Rifle Setup
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).
Guide to Beretta 92 Models Through The Years
Undoubtedly one of the most popular handguns ever made, the Beretta 92 has been around for a solid half-century and has no signs of going away any time soon. We detailed the 100-year history of Beretta’s pistols previously, but the 92 is a beast of its own. With that, how do you pick a good… Continue reading Guide to Beretta 92 Models Through The Years
5.56 vs 7.62: A Comparison
Headstamp-to-Headstamp is our series aimed at helping you grok everything ammo. It’s September of 1970. After a strongly worded letter from President Johnson and six weeks at Paris Island, a fresh recruit finds himself walking down a trail through a dense section of jungle, a newly minted Private in the Marine Corps. In his hands… Continue reading 5.56 vs 7.62: A Comparison
Sig P365 XMACRO Review: 18 Rounds Ready
The P365 XMACRO is a standout in the world of concealed carry firearms. With its impressive recoil control, high round capacity, and adaptability for a variety of shooters, it has quickly become a favorite among enthusiasts. All those attributes make the P365 XMACRO a top choice for anyone seeking a reliable and versatile concealed carry… Continue reading Sig P365 XMACRO Review: 18 Rounds Ready
HK 416 Review: A New Take on the Iconic HK416
The 5.56×45mm NATO HK416 A5 occupies a kind of iconic status in the world of guns. Its lineage, historical significance, and performance capabilities have made it the go-to rifle in various spheres of the shooting world, from military and law enforcement agencies as well as gun safes of private owners. Its standing is hard to… Continue reading HK 416 Review: A New Take on the Iconic HK416
Best Double Stack 45? Reviewing the FN 545
With a striker-fired answer to the 2011 game that keeps “The Lord’s caliber” at its center, the FN 545 series hits the market with an up to 19-shot capacity in .45 ACP and makes an excellent choice for a lot of users. I put it through the wringer over the past few months and have… Continue reading Best Double Stack 45? Reviewing the FN 545
Lost in the Sauce: The New Daniel Defense PCC
Georgia’s Daniel Defense has long been a big name in factory SBRs and pistol-length ARs in 5.56 and .300 Blackout but plans to get into the pistol caliber carbine market later this year. The unimaginatively named Daniel Defense PCC was at SHOT Show last month but isn’t listed on the company’s site just yet as… Continue reading Lost in the Sauce: The New Daniel Defense PCC
Is a .22 Ammo Revolution Underway?
Something is going on when it comes to .22 caliber ammunition. There is both a move to make current .22LR loads much better, delivering almost unheard-of performance out of guns that already exist, as well as introducing new cartridges to further break the mold.
5 Unsung Guns from SHOT Show
The folks that put on the “Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show” issued press creds to something like 2,000 members of the gun media from around the world. Here are the coolest tragically underreported guns from the event that deserve a second (or even first) look.
Beretta Brings Straight Pull Bolt Rifle to America
Beretta has brought an interesting rifle platform across the ocean and is now going full speed ahead with marketing it to Americans. The catch? It is straight-pull, made by robots, innovative, modular, and has a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee.