The .224 Valkyrie rifle is fairly new to the market, only introduced commercially a few years ago, but it has nonetheless proved appealing to many modern sporting rifle users and competitive shooters – and for good reason. Taking advantage of better ballistics with a flatter trajectory and less drift, the “Valk” is capable of delivering… Continue reading The Best .224 Valkyrie 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).
AR-15 vs. M4: A Comparison
Guide to Everything AR Both the AR-15 and the M4 are based on the Armalite Rifle design from Eugene Stoner in the 1950s. These rifles have, in their respective roles, served the United States well since the Vietnam War. In service arenas, they are both select-fire, automatic combat rifles capable of fully automatic fire, but… Continue reading AR-15 vs. M4: A Comparison
The Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers
The 6.5 Grendel has become one of the more popular choices for long-range shooters in the last several years. When compared to the 5.56mm, the larger round of the 6.5 adds long-range oomph where the 5.56 NATO can fail to impress. In this piece, we’re going to cover some of the best 6.5 Grendel upper… Continue reading The Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers
Best Shooting Sticks: Elevate Your Hunting Game
While U.S. hunting participation has declined by almost half since the 50s, more than 11 million Americans participate in hunting activities today — taking more than 147 million trips annually — so hunting remains a very popular sport. While often not the first piece of kit that comes to mind when building out your bag,… Continue reading Best Shooting Sticks: Elevate Your Hunting Game
The Colt 1911: The History & The Glory
While dozens of companies are busy making 1911-style pistols, only one name stands above all others as the inventor of the original– Colt. With over a century in the game they kicked off, Colt is still the GOAT when it comes to John Browning’s Government model. We turn back the clock to investigate how Colt… Continue reading The Colt 1911: The History & The Glory
Magpul Stock Differences: MOE, STR, CTR, & SL Compared
Of all the aftermarket stocks available for purchase, Magpul is one of the most popular manufacturers. They also have a decidedly wide selection of firearm accessories, including magazines, grips, sights, and adjustable or fixed stocks for various guns. They are known for making some of the best AR-15 stocks anywhere, each with its own unique… Continue reading Magpul Stock Differences: MOE, STR, CTR, & SL Compared
Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything
Can a traditional 1911 manufacturer compete in the modern 2011 arena? We fired 847 rounds through Kimber’s 2K11 answer to find out. For thirty years, Kimber built beautiful single-stack 1911s that purists loved and competitors ignored. But with Staccato dominating the high-capacity 1911 market and polymer pistols eating everyone else’s lunch, even the most traditional… Continue reading Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything
Ruger RXM Review: 1,500+ Rounds With the Magpul-Designed Glock Alternative
The polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol market has been dominated by one name for over four decades: Glock. While the Austrian “plastic-fantastic” maker’s reliability and simplicity earned well-deserved respect, their reluctance to make serious innovations beyond incremental updates issued as “generations” has left the door wide open for American manufacturers to step up with something better. Enter… Continue reading Ruger RXM Review: 1,500+ Rounds With the Magpul-Designed Glock Alternative
Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds
Taurus and I have, well, let’s call it history. For years, the Brazilian gunmaker occupied a niche in my gun safe—affordable alternatives that worked but never felt finished. I say this because the triggers were mushy, the finishes wore quickly, and quality control sometimes felt more like quality suggestions. So, when the Taurus GX4 showed… Continue reading Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds
Top Survival Rifles: Backpacking & Emergency Preparedness Picks
The term “survival rifle” can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s a rifle of last resort, others might see it as more of a backpacking or camping firearm designed to be easily carried into, and out of, the great outdoors. Almost everyone agrees that a rifle geared toward excelling in the elements… Continue reading Top Survival Rifles: Backpacking & Emergency Preparedness Picks