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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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).

Michael Crites

CZ Shadow 2 Carry Review: Competition Genetics Meet EDC Performance

Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Roller-Delayed Pew Without the Premium Price

PMAG Gen 2 vs Gen 3: A Comparison

The Best Under Bed Gun Safes

The Best Beginner Hunting Rifles

The Best AR-15 Lower Parts Kits

Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers: Keep Your Firearms Rust-Free

Sig Sauer Has 2 New M400 Rifles

The Dicken Drill Emerges

FBI is buying a lot of suppressors

The Best Ruger 10/22 Upgrades

The Best Shotgun Suppressors

Best Tactical Shotguns: Stay Ready

Best Rangefinder Binoculars: Budget, Hunting, & More

Best AR-15 Foregrip Bipods

The Best Gun Safes & Cabinets

The Best Browning Guns

The Best Pistol Cases

The Best Dry Fire Training Systems: Time to Train

The Best Gun Racks: More, Better Storage

The Best .300 Blackout Magazines

Top .308 Rifles: Unleash Your Potential

The Best .300 Blackout Uppers

Best .308 Muzzle Brakes: Taming the Recoil

The Best 7.62×39 Rifles: AKs, ARs, And More

From Novice to Expert: The Best .22LR Rifles for Any Shooter

Top Concealed Carry Pants: Stay Prepared and Comfortable

The Best SKS Scope Mounts

The Best Bedside Gun Safes

The Best Long Range AR-15 Uppers: Get Some Distance

The Best Budget AR-15 Scopes

Magpul Stock Differences: MOE, STR, CTR, & SL Compared

The Colt 1911: The History & The Glory

Best Shooting Sticks: Elevate Your Hunting Game

The Best 6.5 Grendel Uppers

AR-15 vs. M4: A Comparison

The Best .224 Valkyrie Rifles

Find Your Perfect Fit: The Best Shooting Gloves Tested

The Best Coyote Hunting Scopes

Best .300 Win Mag Rifles: Big Power, Big Precision

The Best Pump Action Shotguns

The Best Concealed Carry Jackets

Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything

Ruger RXM Review: The Modular 9mm Shaking Up the Glock Clone Market

Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds

Top Handguns for Home Protection: Defend Your Domain

Serious,Young,Bearded,Hiker,In,Cap,Setting,Fire,In,The

Top Survival Rifles: Backpacking & Emergency Preparedness Picks

Shadow Systems MR920 with Gold Tyrant Designs Glock 19 Barrel Slide Back

Glock Barrel Upgrades: Precision Picks for Every Model

The famous Kalashnikov assault rifle with magazine and cartridges on an old, damaged board

AK-47 Rifle Shootout: Finding the Right Kalash for You

A Look At The World of Micro Compact 9mm Pistols

FFP Rifle Scope Mounted on a Bolt Action Rifle

Best First Focal Plane Scopes: Top FFP Scopes

Best Truck Gun Rack: Overhead, Seat Back & Window Mounts

Remington 870 Tactical Review: A Guide & Retrospective

Short and Mighty: The Best Bullpup Shotguns

IWI Tavor TS12 Review

Glock 17 vs 19: A Comparison

The Best 6.5 PRC Rifles

Top AR-15 Build Kits For Your Next Project: From Basics to Ballistics

Best Shooting Tripods: Hunting & Precision Game Changers

Top AR-15 Upper Receivers: Build Your Perfect Rifle

Top Bergara Rifles For Long Range & Hunting: What Makes Them Special?

Hunting & Sport: Your Guide to the Best Over-Under Shotguns

The Best .300 Blackout Barrels

Best Laser Bore Sights: Get On Target Faster!

Best Rimfire Scopes: Small Calibers, Big Performance

The Best .30-06 Rifles: A Timeless Caliber for Modern Hunters

Best Home Defense Shotguns in 2025: Tactical vs. Traditional Picks

Best Lever-Action Rifles: From Classic To Cutting-Edge

The Best 9mm Suppressors: Let’s Get Quiet

The Best 300 Blackout Rifles: These Dominated Our Range Tests

The Best .45 ACP Pistols: Big Bore Choices That Still Deliver

Glock 19X Review: The Crossover Champ?

Best Pocket Carry Guns: True Ultra-Compact Options

The Best Single-Shot Shotguns

Best 9mm Ammo: Hollow Point, Range & Self-Defense Rounds

Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammo: A Comparison

The Best Taurus Revolvers

The Best 10mm Pistols: Top Choices and Essential Buying Tips

Budget-Friendly Gun Safes: Top Picks Under $500

The Best AR-12 Shotguns: Modern Firepower From Tactical to Sport

Best Pistol Lights: Compact Weapon Lights & Laser Light Combos Tested

The Best Thermal Scope for Coyote Hunting

The Best .224 Valkyrie Uppers: Get Some Longer Distance Pew

9mm Revolver Evolution: The Best on the Market

Ultimate Guide to Smith & Wesson 9mm Models

Beretta Bobcat M21A Review - EDC Pocket Load Out

Beretta Bobcat Review: A Palm Full of 22 Caliber Prevention

Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870: A Comparison

Ultimate Guide to A Proper Recce Rifle Setup

Guide to Beretta 92 Models Through The Years

5.56 vs 7.62: A Comparison

Sig P365 XMACRO Review: 18 Rounds Ready

HK 416 Review: A New Take on the Iconic HK416

Best Double Stack 45? Reviewing the FN 545

Lost in the Sauce: The New Daniel Defense PCC

Is a .22 Ammo Revolution Underway?

Ohio Ordnance the Recoil Enhanced Automatic Precision Rifle (REAPR) 1300

5 Unsung Guns from SHOT Show

Beretta Brings Straight Pull Bolt Rifle to America

10 Best Guns of SHOT Show 2024

Breaking: Smith & Wesson Now Makes Lever Action Rifles

Top 5 Things We’re Excited About Headed into SHOT Show

Springfield Armory debuted their new Emissary line of kinda flashy 1911s a couple of years ago. They are easily recognizable, being two-toned guns with a squared trigger guard, wrap-around grip texturing, a skeletonized hammer, and a solid-body flat-faced trigger.
To complete the look, they have 40 LPI flat-top slide serrations on the slide along with tritium/luminescent front and Tactical Rack U-notch rear sights.
The newest kid on the block when it comes to the Emissary is a <a href='https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series-handguns/1911-emissary-handguns/1911-emissary-9mm-handgun/'>9+1 capacity 9mm variant</a> with a 4.25-inch barrel and a Commander-length slide.
Cost? $1,349.

Coming Soon

New Springfield Armory Emissary 9mm Commander

Magpul has been behind some of the most reliable firearm products in the world for over a decade. Their polymer PMAG magazines have seen use and abuse in nearly every environment on Earth and will continue to do so for a while given the green light from Uncle Sam and militaries across the globe.
A question we often get is “What, exactly, are the differences between Gen 2 and Gen 3 PMAGS?” Well, you’re in luck — we’ll spell out the differences below so you can get the right PMAG for your application. This article is part of our ongoing <a href="/guide-to-all-things-ar/">Guide to Everything AR</a>.

The Russians have a saying – “a man is not a man until he has broken a horse, fathered a child, and built a house.” I’d add “and built an AR-15” to that list. It’s a bit of a right of passage for every firearm enthusiast — one day you’ll decide it’s time to build an AR.
You’ll spend hours pouring over reviews, diving into the forums and /r/guns, agonising over the nuances of BCM vs LWRC vs Aero, with the goal of nailing the ideal upper. Be it class 5.56, .300BLK, or something more exotic, you’ll pair it with the perfect custom, stripped lower.
Of course, that new Bravo Company lower isn’t much more than an expensive doorstop without all the bits that help it come to life.
For new builders, sorting through the various kit options, colors, triggers, &amp; variety of furniture can be daunting. Rest assured – with just a little guidance, you’ll be off to the range enjoying your new hand-built AR in no time. This article is part of our ongoing <a href="/guide-to-all-things-ar/">Guide to Everything AR</a>.

Dehumidifiers are the perfect accessory for a gun safe. They regulate a safes internal humidity levels so your firearms will retain their cosmetic integrity and optimal functionality.
Failing to control your gun safe’s humidity can result in rust or corrosion – which completely defeats the purpose of storing them to begin with.
We’ve compiled a list of handpicked recommendations from our team of experts to help you separate the wheat from the chaff – and hopefully give you a little education along the way.

Possibly the most popular centerfire ammunition made today, and almost certainly one of the most prolific, landing on the right 9mm ammo load for home defense, plinking, or carry ammo can sometimes get a little overwhelming.
We dive deep into the world of Herr Luger to point you in the right direction for the ever-popular 9mm — both for range time and self-defense.
This article is part of our series on <a href="/firearm-basics/">Gun Basics</a>.

For some people in the shooting community, choosing ammunition can be a little daunting. There are a lot of bullets out there – which makes for a steep learning curve, especially when it comes to teasing out the relative strengths of different calibers and ammunition types.
At first glance, all ammunition might look pretty similar – a metal case with a bullet on one end and some kind of firing mechanism on the other. But here&#8217;s the thing: the design differences between rimfire and centerfire cartridges can make a huge difference in performance, cost, reliability, and what you can actually do with them. These distinctions affect everything from how much you&#8217;ll spend on a range day to which rifle you&#8217;ll want for your next hunting trip.
Rimfire ammunition – think your classic .22 LR – is affordable and gentle, making it perfect for new shooters and anyone who wants to burn through 500 rounds without breaking the bank. Centerfire ammunition, from 9mm pistol rounds to powerful rifle cartridges, brings the reliability and stopping power you need for serious work.
We&#8217;re going to take a deep dive into both types, comparing how they work, what they cost, and when you&#8217;d want to use each one.
This article is part of our series on <a href="/firearm-basics/">Gun Basics.</a>

Modern small arms ammunition can be confusing due to the myriad common types, calibers, and sizes involved, but with a little research, navigating the “bullet aisle” at your local gun store is a snap. We’re here to hold class on the essentials. This article is part of our series on <a href="/firearm-basics/">Gun Basics</a>.
If you’re in the market for ammo check out our guide to the <a href="/ammunition-manufacturers/">best places to buy ammo online</a>.

Bullet Sizes: Understanding Sizes, Types, and Calibers

<a href='/guide-to-all-things-ar/'>Guide to Everything AR</a>
Both the <a href='/best-ar-15-rifles/'>AR-15</a> 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 they differ in terms of historical context, features, and handling characteristics. These high-profile firearms have been dissected and discussed at length by both firearms enthusiasts and within the public arena – and here we’ll detail the histories, similarities, and differences between these two rifles and offer you some examples that can be purchased and used by civilians today.

The differences between the Glock 17 and Glock 19 are subtle but the two 9mm pistols certainly bring a different design philosophy to the user.
Each Glock is engineered around specific strengths that play to its respective purpose. With that in mind, we dive into the debate over which gun is better for which kind of user.

A hunter is, ultimately, only as good as his or her rifle. Yet finding the best hunting rifle for your next expedition can be a trickier business than you might think. With so many rifles on the market these days, you’re almost inundated with too many choices – and way too many price points – to make an easy decision.
To find the best hunting rifles, we worked with an expert Pacific Northwest hunting guide, who spent over 10 hours field-testing 8 different hunting-specific rifles in a variety of situations and ranges. After testing this collection in the backwoods of Central Oregon, then on both an indoor and outdoor shooting range, our expert broke provided the below list of the 3 best hunting rifles for most people. From his perspective, these selections offered the best mix of performance, functionality, and price.
Today, let’s take a look at some top hunting rifles that our testers love from their own experiences.

Picking the ideal tactical shotgun doesn’t have to be hard. Simply follow a few steps to cut through the bluster and propaganda to find something that really works. Let&#8217;s dive in!

What are the best Browning firearms you can buy? John Browning is a pillar of American firearm design. He has made major contributions to the world of firearms – in military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms. His contributions made such an impact that both shooters and firearms historians consider him a legend. Who …

Storing your guns safely is arguably the primary responsibility of any gun owner. However, you also want your guns to be relatively close at hand in case you need them for a self-defense situation or if you’re visited by an unwanted house guest while asleep in your bed.
An under bed gun safe is an ideal solution – it’s a compromise between keeping a firearm locked away in a closet and keeping your self-protection on your nightstand. These safes still allow you to keep your guns locked away from kids or guests, but make them readily available should the situation arise.
As with many home defense products – there are almost too many to choose from, so we consulted with home defense experts to break down the critical criteria for ensuring your next under the bed gun safe offers the best mix of safety and performance.

Someone once said that with great power comes great responsibility. And as a proponent of the 2nd amendment, there are few responsibilities more significant than keeping your weapon out of the wrong hands.
Striking a balance between security and availability can be a challenge, and navigating the array of features of American firearm safes can make anyone’s head spin. Luckily we’ll cover everything from the basics to biometrics to help you understand your options a little better.
We gun owners have to material types of guns to house – long guns and handguns. As such we’ve reviewed both categories – starting with handgun safes.
After researching the majority of firearms safes from the major manufacturers and inspecting more than a dozen, including testing the fit of various rifles and handguns with the help of two experts, we recommend the <a href="/recommends/gun-safes-vaultek-vt20i/">Vaultek VT20i Biometric Handgun Safe</a> as the best safe you can get for your firearms.
Its mix of multiple entry mechanisms, lighter weight, and variety of advanced features make it a great handgun safe.

After diving deep into the world of EDC pants, we think <a href="/recommends/concealed-carry-pants-511/">5.11 Tactical’s Defender Flex Jeans</a> are the best concealed carry pants for most people.
They use a 65% polyester/35% cotton blend that offers rip-stop to keep your pants in one piece, are water-resistant yet breathable, come in multiple inseam lengths, have rear-slanted side pockets that work well when seated, offer such features as front slip pocket, articulated knees, and are more affordable than many of the other pants we tested.

The <a class="thirstylink" title="Rothco Special Ops" href="https://www.americanfirearms.org/recommends/rothco-special-ops/" target="_blank" rel=",sponsored nofollow noopener" data-linkid="48242" data-nojs="false">Rothco Special Ops Soft Shell</a> CCW jacket is the best concealed carry jacket for most people. It is lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use, and has a huge number of pockets. Most importantly, the internal carry pockets are easy to get into and make pocket carry a breeze.

Ah, a million options for concealed carry holsters and you have to pick just one (or maybe a couple of options). The number of holster options for concealed carry have exploded over the last decade — in part due to the now almost 20 million American CCW holders, having grown 34% since 2016.
Rest assured — this guide will tackle a variety of options of high-quality holsters and help define what to look for when selecting the perfect fit for on-body carry.
If you take nothing else away from reading this article, remember this: what works for your friends and family may not be what works best for you. Read that again. Only you will be able to find out what works best for your needs. So, let’s dive in!

Top CCW Holsters for Every Carry Position & Budget

The New Hampshire-based small arms giant has turned its eyes to its direct impingement 5.56 NATO AR-15 beanstalk and shook out a pair of new M400 series rifles. This includes the <a href='https://www.sigsauer.com/m400-xseries-sdi.html'>M400 SDI X-SERIES</a> and <a href='https://www.sigsauer.com/m400-tread-predator.html'>M400 Tread Predator 2.0</a>.
If the “X-SERIES” sound familiar, Sig uses that name for its optimized P320 pistols that include lightening cuts and high-speed features. To live up to that, the M400 SDI X-SERIES includes a flat-blade 2-stage trigger, lightened receivers, and a 16-inch 1:7 barrel.

No, it’s not a new line of power tools available at your local big box home improvement store, the Dicken Drill is now the most popular handgun drill in the country. In an ode to 22-year-old armed bystander <a href='https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indiana-mall-shooting-elisjsha-dicken-neutralized-gunman-15-seconds/'>Elisjsha Dicken</a> who, clad in shorts and a T-shirt, earlier this month engaged and stopped an Indiana mall gunman from approximately 30-50 yards away.
Police say he fired 10 shots at the active shooter from distance and continued to move closer, making at least eight hits in 15 seconds.
Now that is an impressive performance, especially in the days when inaction by <a href='https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/17/law-enforcement-failure-uvalde-shooting-investigation/'>literally hundreds of law enforcement officers</a> standing around at a school shooting led to a much different result. As such, numerous outlets are taking a stab at the Dicken Drill, including <a href='https://www.facebook.com/MALCtraining/posts/pfbid0rCD53JLGAVMbuJViUSF7UPSxZuFpp3thAYjsswBgYgF9njEKwa5ae893sAv1nSi1l'>MALC</a>, Caleb Giddings <a href='https://www.tactical-life.com/videos/the-elisjsha-dicken-drill/'>over at The Tactical Life</a>, Demonstrated Concepts, and Garand Thumb, the latter with almost a million views in the first 24 hours.
If nothing else, maybe it will get more people to the range to up their skill level.

In the past couple of weeks, two big Utah-based suppressor companies– SilencerCo and <a href='https://huxwrx.com/'>HUXWRX Safety Co.</a> (formerly OSS Suppressors) — have announced seven-figure deals to supply the Feds with cans.
HUXWRX says <a href='https://soldiersystems.net/2022/04/01/fbi-awards-huxwrx-safety-co-with-hrt-suppressor-contract/'>their $4.9 million contract</a>, to outfit the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, is for their new 3D-printed FLOW 556k suppressor, which they say, “finished first in weight, unsuppressed and suppressed flash/spark, sound suppression, gas blowback, and user assessment testing.”
Meanwhile, SilencerCo details their own <a href='https://thegunbulletin.com/2022/04/12/silencerco-wins-1-million-fbi-suppressor-contract/'>$1 million suppressor contract</a> for the FBI HRT’s Long Range Precision fire weapon is a variant of the commercially-available Harvester EVO suppressor with user-configurable mounting options. While HUXWRX says their FLOW 556k is only available to law enforcement customers, SiCo has been selling their Harvester EVO to the public since last year, with a modest (for SiCo) retail of about $680 plus stamp.
For the record, both <a href='https://www.reddit.com/r/NFA/comments/u1ft9x/which_suppressor_are_these_silencercos_doj_fbi/'>companies got flamed</a> on their social media accounts immediately following the announcements, pushback that will surely make it hard for the suppressor makers to cash their checks. Good thing they are probably wire transfers.

The CZ Shadow 2 has dominated competition shooting since 2016, racking up national championships and filling holsters at USPSA matches across the world. But at 46.5 ounces with a manual safety and no firing pin block, the full-size Shadow 2 was always a competition gun first—everyday carry capability was theoretical at best.
That changes with the CZ Shadow 2 Carry.
In 2023, CZ responded to shooter demand by introducing the Shadow 2 Compact. It represented CZ&#8217;s acknowledgment that many shooters wanted Shadow 2 performance in a package designed for concealed carry. However, the Compact was largely just the full-sized CZ Shadow with a shorter grip and aluminum frame.
With the Shadow 2 Carry, CZ made deliberate engineering choices: they swapped the manual safety for an ambidextrous decocker, added a firing pin block for drop-safe operation, installed tritium night sights, and optimized the optic mounting interface for defensive red dots like the Holosun EPS Carry.
The result weighs 30.7 ounces—a full pound lighter than the full-size competition model—and measures compact enough for concealed carry without requiring a dedicated wardrobe. Yet it maintains the core Shadow 2 characteristics: exceptional trigger quality, superior accuracy, and that distinctive CZ grip geometry that works well even for smaller hands.
We&#8217;ve spent three months carrying and shooting the CZ Shadow 2 Carry through approximately 2,500 rounds of testing. This included daily carry time in appendix and 4 o&#8217;clock positions, defensive shooting drills, accuracy testing from three to 25 yards, and enough ammunition variety to understand what this pistol likes and doesn&#8217;t like.
The fundamental question for this CZ Shadow 2 Carry review: Does it successfully translate competition-gun performance into a viable everyday carry gun? Or is this another case of forcing a square peg into a round hole?
Here&#8217;s what happened during our testing: the Shadow 2 Carry is legitimately good at concealed carry, but it demands certain compromises. The weight of the metal frame isn&#8217;t prohibitive, but it&#8217;s noticeable. The DA/SA trigger pull requires training. 
The price—$1,400-$1,500 street—positions it against serious competition from other guns. But if you&#8217;re willing to work with this platform, you&#8217;re rewarded with accuracy most carry guns can&#8217;t approach.

The <a href="/recommends/springfield-kuna-review-cta">Springfield Armory Kuna</a> delivers authentic roller-delayed blowback operation at a price that disrupts the premium pistol caliber carbine market. While enthusiasts have long coveted the smooth-shooting characteristics of HK&#8217;s legendary MP5, its $3,000+ price tag kept that dream out of reach for most shooters. The recently introduced Kuna changes that equation entirely.
Manufactured by <a href="https://www.hs-produkt.hr/">HS Produkt in Croatia</a>—the same company behind Springfield&#8217;s well-recived Hellion bullpup along with the Echelon, Hellcat, and XD pistol series—this personal defense weapon won a competitive contract a major military police organization before reaching American consumers in early 2025. Named after Croatia&#8217;s fierce European pine marten, the Kuna isn&#8217;t just another AR-9 with different furniture. This is a purpose-built roller-delayed platform that brings HK-style refinement to working-class budgets.
After extensive testing with over 1,000 rounds spanning multiple ammunition types and suppressors, this Springfield Kuna review confirms what early adopters suspected: genuine roller-delayed performance is finally accessible at around $1,050 street price.
<h3>Quick Take</h3>
Is the Springfield Armory Kuna reliable? Absolutely. We experienced only three malfunctions across 1,000+ rounds—a 0.3% failure rate that qualifies as extremely reliable for any semi-automatic platform. The roller-delayed operating system proved robust across diverse ammunition types, suppressed and unsuppressed fire, and deliberate neglect testing.

PCCs and subguns have exploded in recent years. PCCs being a pistol caliber carbine and subguns large format pistols with an SMG-like appearance, both styles offering short barreled rifle mobility but in the easy-to-control (and wallet-friendly) 9mm caliber.
One of the guns that spearheaded this explosion of popularity is the CZ Scorpion. Scorpion pistols have an outstanding design that’s captured the market, and at this point there are almost half a dozen Scorpion configurations, including SBRs, pistols, and carbines.
Today we are looking at the stock standard CZ Scorpion Evo 3 S1. The OG of sting, if you will.
Over the years, this firearm has changed slightly, and a brace has been added, but it’s largely the same internally and mechanically.

CZ Scorpion Reviewed: Feel The Sting

If you want to get on-target faster, a holographic sight can be an excellent asset. They increase accuracy and reduce the amount of time it takes to aim and fire your weapon.
They also provide more reticle options than a red dot sight – like a variety of crosshairs or dot configurations – so if you have a strong preference for a specific reticle a holographic sight will probably be your best choice.
While quality holographic sights can help you track targets within a range of around 300 yards, they tend to be used for close-quarter situations. They provide a single focal plane by superimposing the reticule over the target – eliminating the need to decipher the reticle from the target – drastically improving target acquisition speed.
To find the best holographic sight we had a combat shooting expert spend over 10 hours reviewing more than 25 holographic sight options – both through online reviews and via his experience with different models and manufacturers. Our recommendations are listed below.

The Best Holographic Sights

To find the best rangefinder binoculars, we had a professional hunting guide spend over 20 hours field-testing 12 pairs against his own $2,600 Leica Geovids.
After using our collection of test pairs in the mountains and forests of Eastern Oregon, then on a hunting trip in the heat of southern Mexico, he found that the <a href="https://amzn.to/2JiyfQx">Nikon Laserforce Rangerfinder Binoculars</a> offered the best mix of laser performance, range, and price – plus the widest field of view of the binoculars within its price range.
This means you’ll be able to range better, further, and you can get this performance for less than half of premium units.

After more than 70 years in service, SKS rifles have been around the block. After replacing the Mosin Nagant the world over (and given the amount of time this rifle has been in the hands of recreational shooters) there’s an incredible number of aftermarket components available to help bring these rifles into the 21st century.
That said, if there’s one thing Russian battle rifles don’t cotton to, it’s easy optics. Every model from the AK to the SKS shares this characteristic – so when you’re looking to improve the target acquisition capabilities of your SKS, chances are you’ll need to purchase and mount your preferred scope separate from the rifle itself.
Luckily we’re here to make the process a little easier by testing, reviewing, and providing these guides to SKS scope mounts. You’ll find our recommendations below.

New Springfield Armory Emissary 9mm Commander

Michael Crites

Editorial Team

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In-Hand Reviews

CZ Shadow 2 Carry Review: Competition Genetics Meet EDC Performance

Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Roller-Delayed Pew Without the Premium Price

CZ Scorpion Reviewed: Feel The Sting

Firearm News

Sig Sauer Has 2 New M400 Rifles

The Dicken Drill Emerges

FBI is buying a lot of suppressors

Featured Comparisons

PMAG Gen 2 vs Gen 3: A Comparison

AR-15 vs. M4: A Comparison

Glock 17 vs 19: A Comparison

Firearm & Ammo Reviews

Best 9mm Ammo: Hollow Point, Range & Self-Defense Rounds

Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammo: A Comparison

Bullet Sizes: Understanding Sizes, Types, and Calibers

Popular Guides & Stats

The Best Beginner Hunting Rifles

Best Tactical Shotguns: Stay Ready

The Best Browning Guns

Range Gear & Accessories

PMAG Gen 2 vs Gen 3: A Comparison

The Best AR-15 Lower Parts Kits

Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers: Keep Your Firearms Rust-Free

Gun & Ammo Safes

The Best Under Bed Gun Safes

Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers: Keep Your Firearms Rust-Free

The Best Gun Safes & Cabinets

Scopes & Optics

The Best Holographic Sights

Best Rangefinder Binoculars: Budget, Hunting, & More

The Best SKS Scope Mounts

Holsters & Concealed Carry

Top Concealed Carry Pants: Stay Prepared and Comfortable

The Best Concealed Carry Jackets

Top CCW Holsters for Every Carry Position & Budget