Today’s Springfield Armory, Inc dates to 1974 and, when it comes to handguns, primarily makes assorted 1911s and 2011s (the terribly received Prodigy) domestically then imports pistols from Croatia’s HS Produkt— the XD series (HSP G2, SF, and S series) and the Hellcat (the HSP S7). Now, the company appears to be putting the XD… Continue reading The Echelon: Is Springfield Armory Getting It Right?
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).
Taurus Judge Review: From The Courtroom to The Range
The Taurus Judge is a unique and versatile firearm that has gained a reputation for its ability to fire both .45 Colt and .410 shotshell rounds. With its rifled barrel and double-action trigger, the Judge is a popular choice for self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the… Continue reading Taurus Judge Review: From The Courtroom to The Range
News: Luth Saves The Slick Sided A1 Day, Sub Guns Holding Fast, and a New Marlin 1894
Luth Sails to the Rescue with Slick Side A1 Uppers Whereas no one wanted a fixed A1 style upper just 15 years ago, as they were obsolete and so https://youtu.be/qV4Q-RSQCq0 “Fortunate Son” in an age when everyone wanted a flattop, they have since become almost impossible to find. Now, as everyone suddenly wants to make… Continue reading News: Luth Saves The Slick Sided A1 Day, Sub Guns Holding Fast, and a New Marlin 1894
Glock Barrel Upgrades: Precision Picks for Every Model
No matter if you are doing a new build from the ground up or are out to upgrade your Glock’s current barrel, you’ll need some guidance. Your Glock’s barrel is one of the most important components of the pistol, and there are lots of things to keep in mind before you add one to a… Continue reading Glock Barrel Upgrades: Precision Picks for Every Model
SIG M400 Review: A Duty-Grade AR That Won’t Break the Bank
The SIG M400 is a popular AR-15 rifle (and one of our favorites) that is known for its accuracy, reliability, and value. It is a great choice for both beginners and experienced shooters. The SIG Sauer M400-SDI XSeries is one of the latest iterations of Sig’s line of AR-style rifles. Utilizing some advancements and upgrades… Continue reading SIG M400 Review: A Duty-Grade AR That Won’t Break the Bank
News: SIG Optics, Viridian, POF-USA, and KAK Industry Announce New Summer 2023 Products
SIG Ups Whiskey to 4th Gen SIG’s Electro-Optics wing is fairly new, just eight years old. Their naming convention is easy to figure out, borrowing from the NATO phonetic alphabet. For instance, Romeo is set aside for non-magnified red dots, Juliet for magnifiers, Zulu for binos, Kilo for rangefinders, Foxtrot for lights, etc. Their Whiskey… Continue reading News: SIG Optics, Viridian, POF-USA, and KAK Industry Announce New Summer 2023 Products
News: Nighthawk’s Double stack Boardroom, a competition-ready Holosun 507, & Anderson’s Legit Budget Dissipator
Nighthawk Goes Boardroom Double stack Nighthawk Custom makes some of the nicest 1911s around and their Boardroom series is among their top-shelf offerings. Now, with everyone making a double-stack 2011 these days, Nighthawk has pulled a “hold my small batch IPA” and introduced the new Boardroom Double Stack 9mm, or BDS9. With such Gucci features… Continue reading News: Nighthawk’s Double stack Boardroom, a competition-ready Holosun 507, & Anderson’s Legit Budget Dissipator
Vortex Sonora Reviewed: Affordable Mid-Power Precision
Many a rifle whisper will spew forth the advice that one should “spend as much on the glass as the rifle” — but what if that’s not in the cards? I’m more of a “spend what you can realistically afford” kind of guy, which means certain brands aren’t really on the radar a lot of… Continue reading Vortex Sonora Reviewed: Affordable Mid-Power Precision
News: AAC E3: Coming soon, new CMMG Dissent Rifles, & Ghost Gunner has SIG P320’d the Glock
AAC E3: Coming soon Advanced Armament Corp, better just known by its AAC acronym, is a brand that was one of the first big suppressor makers. They were responsible for the Honey Badger and the .300 Blackout before Remington Outdoors gobbled them up and basically destroyed the company. The brains trust there included John Hollister,… Continue reading News: AAC E3: Coming soon, new CMMG Dissent Rifles, & Ghost Gunner has SIG P320’d the Glock
AR-15 Laser Sights: Reliable Options for Home Defense and the Range
Ah, the laser sight. Conjuring up images of Stallone’s iconic “Cobra” or the jungle hunts of “Predator,” laser sights have made a lasting impression on our imaginations. Chasing the fantasy alongside our childhood heroes, we dove deep into the realm of AR lasers, leaving behind the Hollywood nonsense and highlighting their unique practicality.