Things we love about the M1 Garand: The history, the purposeful looks, the durable reliability, the powerful (.30-06) cartridge, the truly excellent iron sights, and the wonderful mechanical puzzle that makes up the internal action.
Things people may not love about the Garand: It’s difficult to “accurize” for competition; adding a scope is a goofy proposition since the rifle must be loaded from directly above the action; “gunsmithing” a Garand really requires an actual gunsmith; the inside-the-trigger-guard safety is probably not the greatest idea these days; the 10-pound weight is not insignificant (though it helps soften recoil), and the rifle’s legendary cult status has made even the crustiest, beat-up Garands very pricey lately. Also, a note must be made here about the legendary “Garand thumb.” Yes, this is a real concern for the uninitiated. The M1’s action includes a very stout spring that closes the bolt smartly when you release downward pressure on a loaded en-bloc clip, OR when manually closing the action after inspection to show the rifle is empty. If you don’t blade your hand against the operating rod handle, or if you don’t fully and sharply lock the bolt to the rear when withdrawing it, you can get a very nasty wound as the sharp and heavy bolt smashes your thumb against the receiver. So be extra careful, or brush up on your favorite swear words.
The AR-15
Probably the most misunderstood, controversial, and maligned rifle in modern history (except for perhaps the AK-47), the AR-15 is known as “America’s rifle” due to its nearly ubiquitous popularity among the USA’s recreational, hunting, defensive, practical competition, and target shooters.
The Eugene Stoner/Jim Sullivan-designed ArmaLite Rifle (that’s what the AR stands for, in case you didn’t know) has become so popular and is manufactured by so many different companies that the term “AR-15” now has the same common understanding and widespread usage as “Band-aid,” “Xerox,” “Frisbee,” and similar terms.
The tongue-in-cheek term for ARs is “Lego for grown-ups,” since the AR platform is so modular and so easily customized that some fans and shooters have “built” dozens of AR-15 variants with different buttstocks, receivers, barrel configurations, handgrips, forends, sights, triggers, muzzle devices, optics, and other accessories.
The AR-15 has proven so reliable, accurate, and easily modular compared to its competitors that for many riflemen, it represents the pinnacle of modern rifle design and utility.
Just as we feel everyone should own at least one 1911, we think every free, law-abiding American should own at least one AR-15 and know how to use it.
Things we love about the AR-15: The lightweight, reliability, accuracy, ergonomics, and easy accessorization of the modern AR-15 are pluses. In non-crazy times, a very good AR can be had for $600-$800 as well, which represents crazy-good value for the money.
Things that we don’t love: AR culture (like Glock culture) can get a bit fanatical and myopic, and fans can often max out their “lightweight carbines” with so much bling and bulk that they end up considerably heavier than the porky M14 the AR-15 replaced. The huge aftermarket also means that there are a lot of crappy AR parts and accessories out there, so do your homework before putting down your cash.
The SIG P365 “Micro-compact” 9mm pistol
SIG absolutely transformed the “carry pistol” market in 2018 with the release of the P365, a super-compact 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a magazine capacity that dropped everyone’s jaws. The pistol is effectively the same size as (or smaller than) the popular single-stack CCW pistols of the day, but rather than 6, 7, or 8 rounds in its magazine, the P365 came with 10 in its flush-fit mag and 12 in a slightly longer, but still amazingly compact magazine with a pinkie extension. 15-round magazines have since become available.
The proprietary new “one-and-a-half stack” magazine technology allows the tiny P365 to keep putting out bullets like an endless bunch of clowns exiting a compact car at the circus.
The fact that the P365 comes with awesome night sights, a fantastic trigger, excellent ergonomics, and is astoundingly easy to shoot well despite its diminutive size, means the model has become a top seller for SIG and a game-changer for the concealed-carry market. Nearly every serious handgun manufacturer has been forced to come up with a direct competitor to the “new wondernine” over the past 4 years with Springfield, Ruger, Taurus, Kimber, Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Kel-Tec all providing options, with more on the way.
The fact that SIG has released LARGER versions of the micro-compact pistol goes to show that they really got it amazingly small to start with. The modular nature of the P365/P365X/P365XL and similar variants and offerings from competitors means that you can select your personal preference of barrel/slide length, grip length, and capacity. These truly are amazing days for fans of shootable, small, concealed-carry handguns.
Things we love about the P365: Almost everything. The size, capacity, shootability, and market support are nearly peerless, and since SIG worked out some early issues with the durability of the striker, the pistol is remarkably reliable right out of the box.
Things we think SIG could improve: The initial P365 and many remaining models have a proprietary accessory rail rather than a picatinny rail, and the optics footprint was initially very SIG-centric, though that is improving of late. Sometimes the trigger travel can be a bit spongy with a longish reset, but usually a few hundred rounds will either smooth it out or acclimate the shooter to what is truly a good defensive trigger.
Colt 1851 Navy (replica black-powder revolver)
Samuel Colt produced the first practical revolving handgun with his 5-shot Paterson model in the 1830s, but it sold poorly and found popularity only among the Texas Rangers. However, those rangers used Colt’s revolving pistol to such good effect in several prominent battles that word got around, the concept of the revolver became less of an unknown novelty, and in 1847 Colt got a military contract to produce .44 caliber Walker “horse pistols” for the US Mounted Rifles. This contract saved Colt from bankruptcy and gave him the capital and credibility to begin selling the much smaller, lighter, and more practical (for civilians, anyway) .31 caliber pocket model revolvers (starting around 1849), which caught on like wildfire and cemented Colt as a serious player in the firearms world.
In 1851, Colt released an upsized, .36-caliber version of the pocket model, variously termed the “Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Navy Caliber,” or the Ranger Size model, or the Revolving Belt model, but the designation “Navy” is how this hugely popular model came to be commonly known.
Many early gunfighters, lawmen, and Western figures used Colt Navies, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Doc Holliday being but a few.
The 1851 Navy was the ideal size for a belt revolver: light, handy, ergonomic, and easily pointed. It proved remarkably accurate in skilled hands, and the grip frame was so well-liked that it was perpetuated in the Colt Single Action Army of 1873 (see below).
Original Colt Navies are at least 150 years old at this point, and though some do get used by historians and shooters, the majority of 1851 Navy models in current use are modern reproductions, having been produced by Italian firms by the likes of Uberti, Pietta, Armi San Marco, Armi San Paolo, and Palmetto, among some others. Uberti and Pietta are the commonly available brands today, and both companies produce excellent shooters, imported and sold by firms like Cabela’s, Cimarron, Dixie Gun Works, and Taylor’s & Company.
Things we love about the 1851 Colt Navy: The easy pointability of the grip, the pleasantly nose-heavy balance, the reliability and accuracy, and the clickety-snick of the action as the hammer is drawn to the rear. The Colt Navy is probably the ideal “starter blackpowder revolver” for new enthusiasts, as the gun itself as well as components are a bit less expensive than the larger .44-caliber alternatives.
Things that ain’t so great: Cap jams can be a problem for untuned revolvers, the .36 doesn’t put out the thump or the energy of the larger .44 Colts, and the reproductions must be modified pretty significantly to accept historical paper/conical cartridges.
The Beretta 92 series
The Beretta 92 series has been in continuous production in one form or another since 1976, but its popularity in the USA was greatly influenced by its adoption by the US armed forces in 1985 as the M9. The M9 was the standard-issue sidearm of the US military (barring special-unit anomalies like the SIG P226 used by the Navy Seals) for the next 30 years until its replacement, the SIG M17/M18, came along. The Beretta’s cult status was also boosted by prominent roles in the hugely popular Lethal Weapon and Die Hard movie series of the late 1980s.
It would be fair to say the Beretta 92 is an iconic pistol, and along with Glock and SIG, helped transition America’s police forces permanently away from revolvers to semi-automatic pistols as their primary sidearms. For sheer handgun-shooting pleasure, it’s hard to do better than a nice Beretta 92.
Things we love about the Beretta: The buttery-smooth slide that feels like it’s on greased ball bearings, the unfailing reliability, the sexy-curvy Italian styling, and a lovely smooth double-action trigger pull for the first shot, with a crisp single-action trigger break for follow-up shots.
Things we don’t really love about the Beretta: The large grip can feel bulky in smaller hands, the weight and size is significant for concealed-carry use, and the slide-mounted, trigger-deactivating safety/decocker can cause problems when the user is reloading or clearing a malfunction under stress (though the 92G and other variants ameliorate this). We’re also not fond of the perpetuation (by ignorant folks) of the “Beretta M9s are garbage” myth that began when clapped-out and poorly maintained M9s in military armories experienced malfunctions and failures in informal testing.
Since Beretta USA is now manufacturing the 92 in America, even hardcore “USA-only” fans can now experience the joy of owning and shooting this iconic handgun.
The Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle

John Moses Browning was probably the most important firearms designer of all time, and the Model 1894 is one of his most famous designs. This light, slim, reliable, handy rifle was the first rifle to chamber a cartridge loaded with smokeless powder (the .30 Winchester Center Fire, which came to be known as the .30-30), and became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time, with more than 7.5 million built.
Firearms historians have deemed the 1894 the “ultimate lever-action design,” and the ‘94 in “thuddy thuddy” is likely responsible for the harvesting of more deer in America over the past century-plus than any other firearm.
Things we love about the 1894: The slim, good looks, the reliable action, the satisfying sound and feel as you work the lever, and (in .30-30) the effective punch delivered by its widely available cartridge.
Potential downsides: Light weight and (generally) the lack of a butt pad mean the recoil can be significant; unloading requires you to cycle each round (at least partially) into the chamber before ejecting; recent models come with an unnecessary and ugly manual safety; and don’t even think about taking one of these rifles apart unless you REALLY know what you’re doing and have a very good set of gunsmithing screwdrivers. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
The Remington 870 pump-action shotgun
Introduced in 1950, the Remington 870 is the most popular shotgun in history, with more than 11 million having been made. The 870 was designed to be easier and cheaper to make than competitors like the Winchester Model 12, but it still earned a reputation for durability, reliability, handling, and sleek “space-era” good looks.
Dozens of different variations have been offered over the years, but our favorite for sporting (and defensive) use is the classic-era, polished-blue-and-walnut Wingmaster in 12 gauge. A buttery-smooth action is the sign of a well-used 870, and the things just keep getting better the more you use them.
A large aftermarket has grown up around this popular and well-loved shotgun, so you can build your 870 into the ideal tactical blaster, pheasant-getter, or backyard clay-buster. Nearly every police or military in the free world has at one time or another adopted the 870 into its arsenal.
Things we love about the 870: The stock and overall fit of the gun hits that impossible ideal that seems to work for 90% of shooters, and the smooth action and good trigger make it easy to hit just about everything in the air.
Things that could use a re-think: The location of the action-release lever in front of the trigger guard is an ergonomic stretch, and is a real pain if you install a pistol grip. The latest models have plastic trigger group housings, and the “Express” bargain-basement models of recent years have had finishes that seem to rust if you look at them wrong. We’re also not fond of the staked-in cartridge stops and sharp internal surfaces.
The newly revived Remington Firearms company is up and running now, so we have high hopes that they can bring back the glory days of the 870 for another 11 million copies.
Colt 1873 Single Action Army

The “Peacemaker” is probably the most recognized firearm in the world overall, and for good reason. Colt’s Single Action Army transformed the face of the American West with its powerful, waterproof, metallic, 45-caliber cartridge, its reliability, its excellent ergonomics, and its accuracy.
Though many civilians, gunfighters, and lawmen continued to carry cap-and-ball revolvers well after the introduction of the “SAA,” it became clear that the Peacemaker was the way of the future, particularly after Colt introduced the Colt Frontier or “Frontier Six-Shooter” in 1877, which was a Colt 1873 “Model P” type revolver manufactured in .44-40 Winchester caliber instead of .45 Colt, to allow ammunition commonality between a user’s Colt revolver and his 1873 Winchester rifle of the same caliber.
Production of Colt’s Single Action continued up until 1941, when it was halted to allow Colt’s factories to focus on more modern firearms for the war effort. However, due to huge demand spurred by the popularity of the “Western” TV and movie genre in the 1950s, Colt began producing new SAAs in 1956, and if you’re lucky, you can get a newly manufactured, 3rd-generation Colt to this day. They aren’t cheap, but like the man once said, ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby.
Things we love about the Colt Single Action Army revolver: The four clicks, the easy pointability, the classic looks, the fits-everyone grip, the history, and the timeless quality of polished steel.
Things that could improve: The trigger can be rough before attention is given by a knowledgeable tuner; adjusting the point of impact requires turning the barrel and/or filing the front sight, and the price has become eye-watering. Italian copies are available for a quarter to half the price, but there’s something about a real Colt that keeps us coming back for more.
The Browning Superposed over-under shotgun
Produced from 1931 to 1986 (with some interruptions), the Superposed was the first over-under “luxury” shotgun that was within the reach of America’s middle class. John Browning died of a heart attack while working on the elegant Superposed in 1926, and the design was completed by Browning’s son Val in 1931. More than ten times less expensive than some British over-unders of the day (and with arguably better function due to the single inertial trigger system adopted in 1938), the Superposed was a prize that was within reach of the affluent American sportsman, or even the “regular guy” who saved his lunch money for a few months.
Production of the Superposed was put on hiatus during the Nazi occupation of Belgium, but the classy over-under shotgun was reintroduced in 1948, and quickly became the choice of many postwar wingshooters during the ’50s and ’60s. Surpassed in technical function by the more modern Citori and Cynergy models, the Superposed (which ceased production in 1986) remains our choice for the “in-the-know” upland game hunter or clay-busting sportsman, and in our view, the Superposed is responsible for establishing the over/under Browning as the glamor-dream gun of the American everyman.
What we love about the Superposed: The bank-vault action, the classical lines, the lovely finish, and the instinctive pointability. Not to mention the social cred you get among the “in-the-know” shotgunners at the sporting clays club or the pheasant field.
Things we might complain about if pressed: The weight is probably more than it could be, as is the height of the action. “Salt wood” is a problem with Superposeds built during particular years, so be sure to read up on that. Collectors are snapping up the reasonably priced guns, so finding a nice Superposed for a less-than-jawdropping price is becoming more difficult.
Our favorite safes to store our favorite guns
Now that you’re read our list of some of our favorite guns, be sure to read up on our favorite gun safes, handgun vaults, vault doors, and home safes. From inexpensive but functional to fully customized and top-of-the-line, Liberty offers quality, USA-made safes for every taste and budget.