Garand Thumb Roasts Our Guns

Intro and Bust Your Builds with Garand Thumb

The episode opens with the Classic Firearms crew introducing a special Bust Your Builds segment featuring Garand Thumb. The tone is light and self-deprecating as they joke about being “roasted” and wearing their “big boy pants.” The premise is straightforward: staff and community builds are put on display and critiqued for configuration, practicality, and performance. Garand Thumb is invited to give honest feedback on everything from pistols to rifles, focusing on how the guns are actually set up and used rather than just how they look.

Taran Tactical Combat Master Pistol Roast

The first build is a Taran Tactical Innovations Combat Master pistol in 9mm with a compensator. Garand Thumb jokes about 9mm having “punishing recoil” and uses the gun to illustrate common issues with compensator builds on Glock-style platforms. He describes how adding a comp can cause cycling problems, leading owners to cut the slide for weight reduction. Those large slide windows can invite mud and debris, which mix with lubricant and still fail to solve reliability issues. He checks the barrel for the classic “Glock smile” wear pattern to gauge round count and notes the pistol appears relatively new. Despite the teasing, he praises the Combat Master’s trigger as one of the best Glock triggers available.

Glock 17 Gen 6 with RMR HD Setup

Attention shifts to a Glock 17 Gen 6 build, which Garand Thumb says he loves as a platform and often carries in similar form. The pistol is equipped with a Trijicon RMR HD optic. He critiques the optic’s forward-extended window, explaining that it can collect more ejection-related debris on the lens. He emphasizes the need to make a clear choice with iron sights on an optic-equipped pistol: either use irons that properly co-witness through the optic or remove them instead of running a compromised setup. Overall, he considers it a solid, clean build with no obvious wear issues and no major functional complaints.

Bushmaster ACR Nostalgia and Parts Issues

The next featured rifle is a Bushmaster ACR with a low serial number. Garand Thumb immediately recognizes it and notes that he owns an ACR as well, though his has a longer configuration. He highlights the platform’s strong nostalgia factor and overall quality but points out the primary drawback: parts availability. Because original Bushmaster ACR components are hard to source, he is hesitant to recommend it for hard use despite its appeal. He mentions initially mistaking it for a Templar Precision build, since full Bushmaster ACRs are now uncommon, and notes that Templar Precision produces quality lowers and components for the platform. There is also a brief mention that Bushmaster is attempting to bring the ACR back, though current pricing appears extremely high.

SureFire Mini Suppressor and Mount Problems

The discussion moves to a SureFire Mini suppressor mounted on one of the rifles. When asked about round count, the owner admits the can has been fired and refinished, and that it previously became stuck on a muzzle device. Garand Thumb jokes about the locking system, sarcastically calling it “perfect” because it locks so well that it can be difficult to remove. The owner explains that the suppressor had to be serviced and rebaffled, and that a contact at SureFire helped resolve the issue. The segment underscores how carbon buildup and mounting tolerances can cause suppressors to seize on hosts, even with reputable quick-attach systems.

LMT-Based Mark 12 Mod 2 Concept SPR

A standout build on the table is an LMT-based rifle intended as a modernized Mark 12 Mod 2 style SPR. The builder explains the concept as a progression from the historical Mark 12 Mod 1, using an LMT upper and quad rail with a Bartlein barrel sourced through Compass Lake Engineering, which has historical ties to Mark 12 development. The barrel length is 18 inches, chosen over a 20-inch option. Garand Thumb references testing with 77-grain ammunition and notes that the velocity gain from 18 to 20 inches was only about 15 feet per second in their data, questioning whether the extra length is worthwhile. He praises LMT rails and the Bartlein barrel quality, suggesting this configuration may outperform some original Mark 12 setups.

Optics, Triggers, and Final Thoughts on the SPR

The SPR build wears a Leupold Mark 5 scope in a Badger Ordnance mount, with a level and an Aimpoint Acro mounted on top for close-range use. They recount removing the Mark 5 to mount it on another AR-15 for a project with retired Master Chief Jim Foreman, then failing to reset the zero stop afterward. Despite the missing zero stop and an unconfirmed zero, the rifle still produced hits at roughly 700 meters using holdovers. The lower is equipped with a Geissele SSA EX trigger, described as an “Expo” variant with a wider pad that feels excellent, and a B5 stock suited to precision shooting. A Radian or Geissele charging handle with enhanced gas mitigation is also mentioned. With around 2,000 rounds through it and past the break-in period, Garand Thumb concludes that the rifle is a well-thought-out, effective precision build.