Pal with a Garand rifle shot ... (5)
I believe the answer is:
amigo
'pal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'with a garand rifle shot' is the wordplay.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a garand rifle' becomes 'ami' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'shot' becomes 'go' (both can mean an attempt).
'ami'+'go' is 'AMIGO'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amigo that I've seen before include "Mexican's mate" , "Friend in Spanish-speaking areas" , "Mexican friend" , "Friend in Spanish-speaking area" , "A Mexican pal" .)