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The M1 Garand

The M1 Garand is one of the most iconic American military rifles ever made. Designed by John C. Garand at Springfield Armory and adopted in 1936, it became the standard U.S. infantry rifle through World War II and gave American troops a semi-automatic rifle when many other armies still issued bolt-actions.

Key features

• Semi-automatic and gas-operated: one trigger pull per shot, with no need to work a bolt between rounds.
• Powerful cartridge: it fires .30-06 Springfield, a proven full-power rifle round. Find ammo at True Shot Ammo or Natchez.
• En bloc clip: it loads from an 8-round clip that goes into the rifle with the ammunition, and the empty clip ejects with its famous ping.
• Built in large numbers: more than five million were made, which is why they are still around today.

Why it still impresses

Decades later, the Garand is still a rewarding rifle to shoot and a favorite of collectors and history buffs. Many shooters get theirs through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which sells them to eligible buyers. Surplus-era rifles also reward good care, so stock up on cleaning supplies at Brownells and wear ShellShock hearing protection at the range.

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Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Ranking every rifle under $1,000

Searching for a capable bolt-action rifle without breaking the bank? We ranked the best options under $1,000. Finding a reliable firearm in the $500 to $1,000 price point is often a gamble, so we put a variety of models through their paces, evaluating build quality and ergonomics to see which ones actually deliver.

How we test

• Real-world shooting performance: how each rifle handles recoil, cycling and general accuracy.
• Build quality and ergonomics: separating reliable platforms from ones that compromise too much.
• Value: which models offer the most for your money.

Finish the setup

You will need a scope, so compare options at OpticsPlanet. Find ammo at Natchez and True Shot Ammo, and get tools and cleaning supplies at Brownells.

Subscribe for weekly rifle breakdowns, and comment if you want to see a specific caliber or model in our next round of testing.

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Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The Ruger-57 with a suppressor

The Ruger-57, chambered in 5.7x28mm, gets even more interesting with a suppressor. In the video, we run this unique pistol setup at the range so you can hear how a suppressed Ruger-57 sounds.

Why the Ruger-57 stands out

• Lightweight design: it is easy to carry and shoot for long sessions.
• High-velocity cartridge: 5.7x28mm is a small, fast, flat-shooting round.
• 20-round magazine: plenty of capacity for range days. Keep it fed with ammo from True Shot Ammo.

What to expect from a suppressor

A suppressor cuts muzzle blast a lot, but it does not make a gun silent. Many 5.7x28mm loads are supersonic, so you still hear the crack of the bullet. That is why we still recommend electronic hearing protection even when shooting suppressed. If suppressors are legal where you live, Anechoic offers titanium suppressors. They are regulated under the National Firearms Act, and state laws vary.

Would you run a suppressor on your Ruger-57? Subscribe to Bullets4Bucks for more firearm reviews, range videos and outdoor gear content.

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Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Testing the Tisas PX-5.7

We take the all-new Tisas PX-5.7 to the range. At nearly half the price of traditional 5.7x28mm handguns, this optics-ready, 20+1 pistol aims to dominate the budget market. In the video, we test its reliability, check its accuracy, and see whether it is worth your hard-earned cash.

What to check on any budget 5.7x28mm pistol

• Reliability: run several brands and bullet weights before you trust it. 5.7x28mm ammo is not cheap, so a reliable gun matters. Shop range ammo at True Shot Ammo or Natchez.
• Accuracy: shoot groups at realistic distances, both with the iron sights and with an optic.
• Optics readiness: an optics-ready slide lets you mount a red dot. You can compare red dots at OpticsPlanet.
• Magazines and support: check that spare magazines and parts are available before you buy.
• Total cost: include ammo, optic and magazines, not just the price of the pistol.

Watch the video above for how the PX-5.7 performed on the range.

Keep watching and reading

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Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Bonnie and Clyde and the short-barreled shotgun

Before the National Firearms Act of 1934, short-barreled shotguns were easy to get and easy to modify. In the video, we look at how Bonnie and Clyde used an illegally modified semi-auto shotgun to outgun the police.

The history

• Gangster-era firepower: Clyde Barrow and his gang were known for sawed-off shotguns and stolen military-style rifles such as the Browning Automatic Rifle.
• Police were outgunned: many officers carried revolvers, so a shortened semi-auto shotgun was a serious advantage.
• The NFA of 1934: the law put heavy tax and registration rules on short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, machine guns and suppressors. It regulates them rather than banning them outright, and those rules still apply today.

Bonnie and Clyde were killed in May 1934, a few weeks before the NFA was signed, but their crimes were part of the public pressure behind laws like it. Always check federal and state law before you modify any firearm.

If you want to stay legal and still get a compact setup, shop gear from Brownells.

Keep watching and reading

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Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Upgrading a Weatherby Vanguard with an MDT field stock

We are upgrading the Weatherby Vanguard .300 Win Mag with a new MDT field stock to improve stability and ergonomics. The rifle started with a standard synthetic stock, which we replaced with the MDT modular technologies field stock.

What the MDT field stock offers

• Aluminum bedding block: a full aluminum bedding block gives the action a rigid, consistent foundation.
• Polymer exterior: the polymer outer keeps the rifle lighter and easier to carry than a full chassis.
• Better ergonomics: a stock that fits you well makes the rifle steadier and easier to shoot accurately.

In the video, we take the rifle to the range to see how the new configuration affects handling and overall accuracy on the target.

Before you upgrade

Check that the stock is made for your exact action and barrel contour, and plan to re-check your zero after the swap. Pair the rifle with a quality scope from OpticsPlanet, feed it ammo from Natchez, and find tools and cleaning supplies at Brownells.

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