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
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).
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.
News: Pistol Brace Era Ends, Weatherby’s new 307 rifles, & new TriStar Matrix Shotguns
Well, the Pistol Brace Era has Ended (at least for now) With the 120-day amnesty period allowed by the ATF to register, modify, turn in, or destroy the estimated 3 million to 40 million large format pistols equipped with stabilizing braces now expired, starting June 1st those who have one could face up to 10… Continue reading News: Pistol Brace Era Ends, Weatherby’s new 307 rifles, & new TriStar Matrix Shotguns
News: GX4 Safety Notice, New Colt 1908, Ruger LC Charger 5.7, SA Saint Law Folder
Taurus GX4 Safety Notice Taurus says that some (not all) “GX4 pistols assembled and sold only in the United States may, under certain circumstances, discharge when dropped.” If you have one, they advise you to “safely unload and stop using your GX4 IMMEDIATELY. Failure to observe this warning may result in injury or death to… Continue reading News: GX4 Safety Notice, New Colt 1908, Ruger LC Charger 5.7, SA Saint Law Folder
News: SW PC M&P 10mm M2.0, a ‘Star Spangled Banger’ Desert Eagle, & Compensated CR920P
Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P 10mm M2.0 Smith & Wesson introduced their M&P model pistol in 10mm Auto earlier this year and now has a tuned Performance Center model. The new PC M&P 10mm has all the same things the standard model has but uses enhanced features such as a ported 5.6-inch barrel, optic-height… Continue reading News: SW PC M&P 10mm M2.0, a ‘Star Spangled Banger’ Desert Eagle, & Compensated CR920P
News: Hellcat Pro Threaded Barrel, SA Operator in 9mm, More Turkish 1911s, & a Ruger Suppressor Host
Hellcat Pro Threaded Barrel Version There are lots of micro-compact 9mm pistols on the market today, with SIG alone having like 30 different variants and subvariants of the P365 and everyone from Stoeger to Smith & Wesson and Kimber to Canik making more. However, none that I can think of have a factory threaded barrel… Continue reading News: Hellcat Pro Threaded Barrel, SA Operator in 9mm, More Turkish 1911s, & a Ruger Suppressor Host
News: P210 Carry Custom Works, DBX 57 Stormtrooper, SA Threaded Barrels, & Girsan Negotiator
P210 Carry Custom Works SIG has added a new Custom Works P210 model to its catalog this month. With the Germans and Swiss no longer making the vaunted classic, it has been left to the American branch to keep the flame going on these single-action single-stack 9mm handguns. The newest model takes the rather plain… Continue reading News: P210 Carry Custom Works, DBX 57 Stormtrooper, SA Threaded Barrels, & Girsan Negotiator