Crosshairs Texas Featured in the September/October 2026 TSRA Sportsman….A daughter’s perspective on the partnership, purpose, and community behind Crosshairs Texas
We are deeply honored—and honestly a little humbled—to be featured in the September/October 2026 edition of TSRA Sportsman, the official magazine of the Texas State Rifle Association.
The feature includes two articles that tell the Crosshairs Texas story from two very different perspectives. One shares the story through the eyes of our daughter, Nikita Tristan, while the other allows us to introduce ourselves and explain the mission behind the businesses we have built together.
“More Than a Gun Store”
Written by Nikita Tristan
Our daughter, Nikita Tristan, wrote “More Than a Gun Store: A Daughter’s Perspective on the Partnership, Purpose, and Community Behind Crosshairs Texas.”
Reading our story through our daughter’s eyes was incredibly meaningful. Nikita grew up watching the long hours, uncertainty, sacrifices, setbacks, and determination required to build a family business. As an adult—and now as a mother raising her own children in Bastrop—she sees that journey from a perspective she could not have fully understood as a child.
Her article explains how Crosshairs Texas grew from the partnership between two people with very different strengths.
Devon brought entrepreneurial experience, marketing, organization, bookkeeping, and the determination to keep turning ideas into reality. Troy brought decades of firearms knowledge, a gift for teaching, and a genuine ability to make people feel seen, respected, and welcome.
Nikita also shares something our customers have helped us understand over the years: Crosshairs Texas was never built on firearms alone. It was built on relationships.
Firearms may be what first brought many people through our doors, but trust, education, friendship, patience, and service are what created the community surrounding our store. Nikita writes about seeing nervous first-time gun owners become confident students, watching customers become friends, and witnessing our family business support schools, youth organizations, law enforcement families, fundraisers, nonprofits, and community events throughout Bastrop County.
Her article captures a truth that means more to us than any sales number or award: success is not measured only by the size of a building, the number of products sold, or the number of followers a business has. It is measured by the relationships built, the people helped, and whether the community is stronger because that business was part of it.
We are grateful to Nikita for sharing such an honest and personal perspective. Having our daughter describe what she witnessed behind the scenes—the work, partnership, perseverance, teaching, and community service—is an honor we will never take for granted.
“Meet the Founders”
Written by Troy and Devon Michalik
The second article, “Meet the Founders,” shares our own perspective as the co-founders of Crosshairs Texas LLC and Shoot Here Texas LLC.
In it, we explain that our goal was never to become the biggest firearms retailer in Texas. We wanted to build a place where people could ask questions without embarrassment, learn without intimidation, and leave safer and more confident than when they arrived.
Our partnership works because we bring different strengths to the same mission. Troy’s firearms experience, teaching ability, and love for people complement Devon’s background in business development, marketing, operations, and organizational leadership.
Together, those strengths helped transform a part-time Federal Firearms License into a family-owned business that has served more than 23,000 customers and trained thousands of responsible firearm owners since 2014.
The article also explains the philosophy that continues to guide us:
Teach before we sell. Build relationships before transactions. Put integrity ahead of profit.
Education remains at the heart of Crosshairs Texas. Whether someone is buying a first handgun, attending a Texas License to Carry class, learning firearm safety, developing advanced defensive skills, or simply asking questions, our goal is for that person to leave better informed and more confident.
The article also highlights our commitment to Bastrop County and our volunteer work with the Texas State Rifle Association. Devon serves as TSRA Secretary and Director-at-Large, while Troy serves as TSRA Director of Hunting and Wildlife. These roles allow us to support firearm education, youth programs, responsible hunting, conservation, outdoor stewardship, and the preservation of Texas traditions.
A Story Made Possible by Our Community
We are grateful to the Texas State Rifle Association for giving our family and business a place in this edition of TSRA Sportsman.
More importantly, we are grateful to the customers, students, instructors, team members, friends, and community partners who made these stories possible. Crosshairs Texas would not be what it is today without the people who trusted us with their first firearm purchase, attended a class, referred a friend, supported a fundraiser, stopped by to visit, or simply encouraged us to keep going.
We hope these articles help our customers understand that Crosshairs Texas is more than a place to purchase a firearm. It is a place built around education, relationships, responsible ownership, community service, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with patience and respect.
Thank you for allowing our family to serve yours.
Read the Articles
You may read the articles through either of the following links:
TSRA Sportsman:
[CROSSHAIRS TEXAS ARTICLE LINK]
Read the September/October 2026 TSRA Sportsman:
[TSRA SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE LINK]
Crosshairs Texas
1102 College Street
Bastrop, Texas 78602
Teaching the World to shoot here with ego’s holstered.
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