The Ultimate Crossover: 5 Shocking New Details About Garand Thumb And Demolition Ranch’s Latest Projects In 2025

As of December 2025, the dynamic between the two titans of gun-focused YouTube, Garand Thumb and Demolition Ranch, remains one of the most fascinating and profitable collaborations in the Second Amendment community. Michael "Garand Thumb" Jones, the tactical operator, and Matt "Demolition Ranch" Carriker, the veterinarian turned explosion enthusiast, represent two distinct yet equally viral sides of firearms content. Their joint ventures—whether a high-speed carbine test or a massive, destructive experiment—continue to dominate the algorithm, but recent developments, including Carriker's dramatic announcement about the future of his channel and Jones's deeper dive into podcasting, signal a major shift in their careers. This article dives into the freshest, most current information on both creators, examining their latest projects, the evolving nature of their content, and the true impact of their most recent collaborative efforts, ensuring you are up-to-date on everything happening with the "Tactical Operator" and the "Explosion Scientist."

The Pillars of GunTube: Garand Thumb and Demolition Ranch Profiles

The enduring appeal of the Garand Thumb and Demolition Ranch crossover lies in the stark contrast between their personas. One is the master of practical application and military-grade gear, the other is the king of pure, unadulterated fun and destruction.

Garand Thumb (Michael Jones)

• Real Name: Michael Jones
• Primary Channel: Garand Thumb (Focuses on tactical gear, military history, firearms reviews, and training doctrine).
• Background: Retired U.S. Air Force Special Warfare veteran, specifically serving as a Military Survival Instructor. His content reflects his professional experience, offering a serious, high-speed, low-drag perspective.
• Content Style: Highly informative, tactical, often featuring military-grade equipment and complex shooting drills. He is known for his signature "Flannel Daddy" persona and the distinct, often comedic, production quality.
• Recent Activity: Increased focus on the Unsubscribe Podcast and high-level collaborations, maintaining a consistent stream of tactical gear reviews and training-focused videos.

Demolition Ranch (Matt Carriker)

• Real Name: Matthew Carriker
• Primary Channels: Demolition Ranch, Vet Ranch, and Off The Ranch.
• Background: Born on October 24, 1986, in Fredericksburg, Texas. He is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), which formed the basis of his charitable channel, Vet Ranch.
• Content Style: Explosive, entertaining, and focused on testing the limits of firearms and various materials, often with a humorous, family-friendly approach. His motto is often "Will it stop a bullet?"
• Recent Activity: Made headlines in 2025 with an emotional video titled "I'm Quitting YouTube... I'm Selling the Ranch," signaling a major shift toward family and other ventures, though he continues to produce content on his Off The Ranch and Unsubscribe Podcast channels.

The Tactical Operator Meets the Explosion Scientist: The Crossover Appeal

The Garand Thumb and Demolition Ranch collaboration is a masterclass in complementary content creation. Jones brings the military-grade expertise and the serious, technical side of shooting, while Carriker provides the massive targets, the comedic timing, and the sheer destructive fun that appeals to a broader audience. When they combine forces, the content is irresistible:

• Technical vs. Pure Fun: Garand Thumb might test the efficacy of a specific carbine setup, while Demolition Ranch will shoot a refrigerator full of ballistics gel with a .50 BMG for maximum effect. Their joint videos often see Jones providing the technical analysis and Carriker providing the explosive finale.
• Shared Audience Growth: The crossover introduces Carriker's massive, more casual audience (over 11 million subscribers) to Jones's more niche, tactical following, and vice-versa, creating a powerful network effect.
• The "Unsubscribe Podcast" Nexus: The most current point of collaboration is on the Unsubscribe Podcast, which Matt Carriker co-hosts. Garand Thumb (Michael Jones) and his co-host Micah Mayfield appeared on Episode 169. This platform allows for a deeper, more personal discussion that moves beyond the typical shooting range antics, covering topics from the challenges of content creation to the latest in the firearms industry, including discussions about SHOT Show 2025.

5 Shocking New Details and Career Shifts in 2025

The firearms content landscape is constantly changing, and 2025 has brought significant updates for both creators, including major personal and professional shifts that directly impact their future collaborations and content output.

1. The "Demolition Ranch" Channel's Uncertain Future

Matt Carriker's announcement about "quitting YouTube" and "selling the ranch" sent shockwaves through the community in early 2025. While the title was arguably clickbait, it highlighted his genuine desire to step back from the intense production schedule of the Demolition Ranch channel to focus on his family and other businesses, such as Vet Ranch and his lifestyle channel, Off The Ranch. This pivot means future collaborations with Garand Thumb may be less frequent on the main Demo Ranch channel and more likely to appear on the Unsubscribe Podcast or in high-profile, pre-planned events. The potential sale of the physical "Ranch" property would fundamentally alter the backdrop of his famous content.

2. Garand Thumb’s Deep Dive into Podcasting and "Flannel Daddy" Lore

Michael Jones has significantly amplified his presence on the Unsubscribe Podcast, providing a platform for more in-depth discussions with his co-host, Micah Mayfield. This shift allows him to explore complex political, tactical, and industry topics that are too long or nuanced for a typical YouTube video. His appearance on the podcast with Carriker is a fresh example of their evolving partnership, moving from the range to the studio, demonstrating a maturation of their collaborative content.

3. The Rivalry with Brandon Herrera and the "Unsub" Joke

A recent, lighthearted rivalry has emerged between Garand Thumb and fellow gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera (The AK Guy). Matt Carriker, in a recent video, jokingly encouraged his massive subscriber base to "unsubscribe" from Garand Thumb to ensure Herrera hit a subscriber milestone first. This public, good-natured banter showcases the tight-knit community of top-tier gun creators, including Kentucky Ballistics and Goldberg, and confirms that while their on-screen appearances may be limited, their off-screen relationship and mutual support remain strong.

4. Tactical Gear Entities and Brand Partnerships

Garand Thumb’s 2025 content has heavily featured collaborations with high-end tactical entities. His focus remains on providing rigorous testing and reviews of modern equipment, including optics from companies like Primary Arms Optics and survival gear from partners like Nutrient Survival. This positions Jones as the definitive authority on modern combat equipment, contrasting sharply with Carriker’s more general, "fun" gear tests. This difference in focus ensures their joint ventures remain fresh, as they are not competing for the same brand deals.

5. The Ongoing YouTube Moderation Challenges

Both creators continue to navigate the precarious landscape of YouTube's content moderation policies, which have historically led to the removal of videos, particularly those featuring silencers or content deemed "sensitive". The constant threat of demonetization or channel strikes forces creators like Jones and Carriker to be highly strategic about their content. Their shift towards podcasts and other platforms is a direct response to this environment, ensuring the longevity and topical authority of their brand outside of the main YouTube channel. Their ability to adapt and continue to produce fresh content, despite these restrictions, is a testament to their influence in the 2A community.

The Garand Thumb and Demolition Ranch saga is far from over. While Matt Carriker is scaling back his destructive antics, and Michael Jones is deepening his tactical authority, their occasional, highly anticipated collaborations—now often centered around the Unsubscribe Podcast—remain the gold standard for firearms entertainment. Fans of both the high-speed tactical world and the pure joy of explosions can rest assured that this iconic duo will continue to shape the future of gun content for years to come.