20 Guns That Should Have Been Bought While Cheap

Above, my 1919 Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that gun prices have exploded for new and old ones, there are some that should have been purchased when the prices were a lot more reasonable.

That is the topic of a slideshow article at MSN. They spotlight 20 guns that should have been bought when they were cheap. I have several on the list.

They begin it with:

Every gun guy has a “should’ve” story. The one you handled at the gun counter back when rent was cheaper and gas was still under control, and you thought, “I’ll come back for it.” Or the one you sold to fund a new deer rifle and later realized you traded away a dependable tool for a shiny idea.

This isn’t about hoarding or treating everything like a retirement plan. It’s about how certain firearms were once regular working guns, and now they’re either priced like collectibles, hard to find in decent condition, or just plain annoying to replace because magazines and parts dried up. Here are 20 that sting a little when you remember what they used to cost.

To read more, go here. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham Dies At 71

I just spotted this at X (formerly Twitter):

 

🚨 BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Sen. Lindsey Graham died at 71 following a sudden "cardiac arrest" call at his home, and he was carried away on a stretcher

He had just returned from Ukraine

PRESIDENT TRUMP: "Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever… pic.twitter.com/vykuff9Lhu

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 12, 2026

CBN: "Godzilla Minus Zero" The End For The Franchise Era

Godzilla Minus Zero is set to be released this fall. It is the direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

The latest edition of Toho's Godzilla franchise will be shot entirely in IMAX (I'll have to check to see if there's an IMAX-equipped theater in Albuquerque). 

According to CBR: 

The Godzilla franchise is about to change forever, thanks to the upcoming release of Godzilla Minus Zero. The towering Japanese icon of the silver screen is set to return to theaters later this year, following up on the award-winning success of Toho's Godzilla Minus One. The new film will take place two years after the 2023 wartime epic, telling the tale of yet another post-WWII clash with the scale-backed titan.

While Godzilla: Minus Zero is exciting for many reasons, one of the most enticing is how exactly it will be released when it does eventually arrive in theaters. It has been revealed that Minus Zero was shot entirely in IMAX, the first Japanese Godzilla movie to accomplish such a feat. Godzilla: Minus Zero's IMAX status signals the end of an era for the character, whose IMAX adventures were previously exclusive to his American-produced Legendary MonsterVerse films.

 To read more, go here.

We Ranked Every .30-30 Lever Gun By Real-World Value!

 We Ranked Every .30-30 Lever Gun by Real-World Value! video by The Armory.

Summary:

This .30-30 lever gun ranking looks at the real value behind today’s most talked-about deer rifles. From the Rossi R95 and Marlin 336 to the Winchester Model 94, Henry Side Gate .30-30, and Mossberg 464, this breakdown focuses on what matters for a working rifle in the woods.

We compare price, optic mounting, side-eject design, weight, accuracy, fit and finish, parts support, and real-world practicality. The .30-30 Winchester cartridge delivers similar performance across these lever-action rifles, so the big difference is not raw power. It is how each rifle carries, scopes, handles, and holds up as a practical hunting rifle.

The Rossi R95 brings Marlin 336-style function at a lower price, while the Ruger-made Marlin 336 Classic makes a strong comeback. Henry brings craftsmanship, Winchester brings history, and Mossberg remains a used-rack budget option.

Which .30-30 lever gun would you actually trust in the deer woods?

 

Mia Asano West Coast Tour

 

I am going to her Albuquerque show on October 20.

Top 5 Most Owned Rifles in America (2026)

Top 5 Most Owned Rifles in America (2026) – Millions Own #1! video by David Miller on Firearms Law.

Summary:

What are the most owned rifles in America in 2026?

In this video, we reveal the Top 5 most popular rifles owned by millions of Americans, including the AR-15, AK-pattern rifles, bolt-action hunting rifles, Ruger 10/22, and lever-action rifles.

You'll learn:

America's most owned rifle

Why millions choose these firearms

2026 gun law updates

State restrictions you should know

Hunting and home defense rifle options

Responsible firearm ownership

Why Lever Actions Are the Smartest SHTF Guns Nobody Is Buying

Why Lever Actions Are the Smartest SHTF Guns Nobody Is Buying video by Tactical Prepper.

Summary:

AR-platform rifles outsell lever-actions roughly 10:1 in new US firearm sales — and the market is wrong. An AR gas system fouls in about 3,000 rounds without proper lubrication. A Marlin 336 runs 50,000 rounds with nothing but a bore snake and a rag. Smith & Wesson entered the lever-action market for the first time in 172 years when it released the Model 1854 in .44 Magnum in 2024 — that's the signal preppers missed. The Henry Long Ranger feeds 6.5 Creedmoor from a detachable box mag and pushes 2,400 ft-lbs at the muzzle. The #1 lever closes the AR-versus-lever argument with Cerakote, a threaded muzzle, M-LOK slots, and 1,200 ft-lbs of .357 Magnum from a 16.25" barrel.

In this video, we talk about the 7 lever-action rifles the American firearms market forgot, including the brand-new Smith & Wesson Model 1854 in .44 Magnum, the 132-year-old Winchester Model 1894 Short Rifle in .30-30, the Ruger-relaunched Marlin 336 Classic, the cross-caliber Henry Big Boy Steel .357 Magnum, the stainless Henry All-Weather Side Gate .45-70 bear stopper, the modern long-range Henry Long Ranger in 6.5 Creedmoor with a Geissele trigger, and the tactical Marlin 1894 Dark Series .357 Magnum with M-LOK and threaded muzzle.

2nd "Godzilla Minus Zero" Teaser Trailer Released

The new (or second) teaser trailer was released this morning by Toho Co., Ltd. for Godzilla Minus Zero. It is the sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

Here it is:

Bonnie Tyler Dies At 75

McGaffey and Fort Wingate

Above, at McGaffey Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I took a Jeep drive up through Six Mile Canyon to McGaffey Lake Recreational Area. 

The lake was very low due to the drought. It was more like a mudhole. There were some people along the lake's edge. It looked like they were fishing, or trying to.

From there I drove along New Mexico Highway 400 towards the national forest campgrounds and, eventually, Interstate 40. 

In Fort Wingate, I stopped at the Veterans Park and snapped some photos, including a historical marker sign. From there, I drove on to Historical Route 66 that parallels Interstate 40. At Iyanbito, I got onto the Interstate as Route 66 ended there and drove it to Jamestown.

All in all, it was an enjoyable drive. Some photos below.

Above, McGaffey Lake, or what's left of it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, on NM-400 going north near the campgrounds. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly at McGaffey Lake.

Above, on NM-400 near Quaking Aspen Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, at Veterans Park in Fort Wingate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a historical marker at Fort Wingate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, heading east on Historic Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visit Bodie

Above, the ghost town of Bodie. Mono County Tourism photo.

While heading home from a clampout in 1993, we stopped at the ghost town of Bodie, California.

It was my first time visiting it, but I had heard much about it over the years.

RV Travel has posted an article on Bodie, calling it "America's Best Ghost Town."

They start with:

If you planned to visit only one ghost town in your life, Bodie would be the one I would recommend. If you are a ghost town enthusiast, Bodie will no doubt be a highlight of your explorations. In the video below, Joel Greene of Our California takes us along on a tour of this fascinating but off-the-beaten-path Eastern California destination.

Bodie State Historic Park, near Bridgeport, CA (about an hour north of Mammoth), was once one of the wildest towns in the West.

Once you leave the highway, prepare for the last 13 miles of the trip to Bodie to be a winding dirt road. While the park is open year-round, they do not plow the roads in winter (but people do ski in, if you’re feeling ambitious).

To read more and see the video, go here.  

Consumer Reports: Worst Cruise Line Named

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked at Nassau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My experience with cruises is limited.

I have been on only three cruises in my life. The first was in 2001 to Alaska with Celebrity Cruises. The second was in 2019 to Cuba with Royal Caribbean. My third, and last, was to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line in 2024. 

I may not be the best source for reviews as I enjoyed each one (well, except for getting sick during the Alaska cruise). The food on each was good. No complaints here. The facilities on each ship was fine.

Consumer Reports has named the worst cruise line for 2026. Surprisingly (for me at least), they named Norwegian the worst in customer satisfaction. 

Above, the lobster dinner I paid $25 aboard the Norwegian Sky. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing stands out in my mind with Norwegian. It was buying a lobster tail (two of them) dinner for $25. I thought that was quite reasonable (like 1980s prices).

According to an article posted by AOL:

In an age of limitless vacation choices, picking a cruise to go on is tough. From the outside, so many of them seem to offer the exact same experience: great food, parties, entertainment, visits to some of the coolest ports, and amenities galore. But in January of 2026, Consumer Reports conducted a survey to find out which of the top cruises were the best ... and the worst. Surprisingly, the well-known Norwegian Cruise Line was at the very bottom in terms of customer satisfaction.

The survey had a sample size that makes these ratings hard to ignore. Based on experiences over the last three years, 18,850 respondents were asked to rate 19 cruise lines based on a variety of factors. Some of these factors were price-based, like value per dollar and price transparency; others were about experiences, such as excursions, meals, and entertainment. The ratings also factored in amenities and basic expectations, like cleanliness, cabin quality, and accessibility. According to this report, Norwegian Cruise Line has fallen behind the pack in almost every category. 

 To read the full article, go here.

Exploring Landmarks and Culture of the Navajo Nation

Above, Window Rock is located in northeastern Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is wondering where to go for a summer vacation, they should consider places within the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo Nation primarily is located in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah in the Four Corners region of the U.S. 

MSN posted a slideshow article on places in the Navajo Nation that beckon tourism.

They begin it with:

The Navajo Nation offers a diverse array of natural wonders, historic sites, and cultural experiences. Visitors can explore Monument Valley’s sandstone formations, hike scenic trails, and join Navajo-guided tours to access restricted areas and learn traditional stories. Across the region, sacred landmarks, ancient cliff dwellings, memorials, and artisan markets highlight the deep connections between the land, history, and living traditions of the Navajo people.

To read more, go here. 

We Ranked Every .30-30 Lever Gun

We Ranked Every .30-30 Lever Gun — The $620 Winner Humiliates the $1,250 Legend video by Firearms Zone.

Summary:

The $620 rifle that outshoots the $1,250 legend? We ranked every .30-30 lever action rifle you can buy in 2026 — from worst to best — and the winner is going to start a war in the comments.

Heritage marketing is lying to you. Every one of these rifles fires the exact same .30-30 Winchester payload at the exact same velocity. So what are you REALLY paying for? In this countdown we expose overpriced safe queens, corporate cash grabs, and the one budget lever gun that delivers 95% of premium performance for half the money.

We cover real 2026 street prices, side-eject vs top-eject optics mounting, factory QC issues, trigger quality, and which lever action rifle is actually the best value for deer hunting, truck gun duty, and survival use.

Which .30-30 earned a spot in your truck rack — and which one became a safe queen? Drop your pick in the comments.

Reagan Photo Restoration

Last week, I posted about the bicentennial year of 1976. Included in that post was my remembering of attending the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. That was the convention where President Gerald Ford and former Governor Ronald Reagan went head-to-head. Ford eventually won the GOP nomination.

Included in the post was this photo that I took of Ronald and Nancy Reagan arriving at the Hilton Plaza Inn for a meeting during the convention:

As you can see, it is a bit faded from age.

J. D. Lees, who published G-FAN magazine, saw the post and did some restoration work on the photo and sent the final result. He did a great job on it. It looks as if I took the photo more recently rather than 50 years ago. 

Here's the photo after restoration:

Here's what he said he did:

Saw the pic of RR on your website and couldn't resist "improving" it (hope you agree). I'm far from an expert on photo editing, but I use a free software called GIMP that is available for download if you want it. (I switched years ago when Adobe started charging a monthly fee to use Photoshop.) My abilities are very limited, but if you copy a picture to your clipboard, then click on "File" in GIMP, there's an option "Create." Click on that and you can import the image from your clipboard as one of the options. That's how I captured the RR photo. Then you click on "Colors" and down a ways is "Auto." Click on that and choose "White balance." That's the only thing I did to your photo. The result is attached.

Yes, it came out great!

Silver Around $62

The above screenshot of today's COMEX silver spot price was made a few minutes ago.

Personally, I am not at all concerned if silver should dip down even further. To me, that means that the metal will be more affordable to collectors/investors. Should silver go down into the $40 range, I will likely start buying again.

According to LiveMint.com:

Gold and silver prices traded with mild gains on Monday, 6 July, extending last week's sharp recovery as easing concerns over an imminent US Federal Reserve rate hike and a weaker US dollar provided much-needed support to precious metals, which had remained under pressure in recent weeks.

COMEX gold futures climbed $90 per troy ounce to an intraday high of $4,215, while silver futures advanced $2.73 per troy ounce to $63.73.

To read more, go here. 

Can You Buy a Gun Online?

Can You Buy a Gun Online?

The answer is yes! I bought my Winchester Model 12 shotgun online through Guns.com. I had them ship it ot Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico as they are a FFL dealer that I have patronized previously. 

Impact Guns posted the nuts & bolts of buying guns online.

They begin with:

Yes — you can legally buy a gun online in the United States. Millions of firearms are purchased online every year. The process is straightforward, fully legal, and in many cases gives you access to better selection and pricing than a local gun store. Here's exactly how it works.

To read more, go here.

America’s Lever Revolution

Above, lever-action rifles on display at the Billy the Kid Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that there is one type of firearm that is distinctly American? 

This means that it was totally an American invention in the nineteenth century. That invention was the lever-action rifle.

The NRA's American Rifleman website an article on this yesterday. 

It begins with:

America is known across the world as a nation of gun owners, but only one firearm action has the distinction of being uniquely American: the lever-action.

This year, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country, not only as a world bastion of freedom, but as a nation of riflemen. But unlike the flintlock, percussion rifle and many other firearm actions we inherited and then improved upon, the lever-action is a distinctly American innovation. The motivating force behind its creation was the need for more firepower, or more specifically, the need for more reliable firepower, superseding earlier multiple-barrel and swivel-breech attempts.

To read more, go here. 

14 Best Cruise Line Private Islands Ranked

Above, Mitch Geriminsky and I about to jet ski at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

It seems like yesterday that a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Sky. But it actually was two years ago.

It was with Norwegian Cruise Line and one of the stops of the cruise was their private island, Great Stirrup Cay. While there, we went on jet skis for about an hour or so. We had a good time.

Afterwards, I found a beach cocktail bar and had myself a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice). 

MSN has posted a slideshow article (from The Travel Blog) on 14 best cruise line private islands ranked.

They start it with:

Picture this: you’ve been at sea for days, and suddenly the ship drops anchor at a pristine island that exists solely for your enjoyment. No crowds from other cruise lines, no local vendors pushing trinkets, no competing for beach chairs with strangers who booked through different companies.

This is cruise line territory — a private playground carved out of paradise and designed around one simple promise: everything here is yours for the day.

To read and see more, go here. 

Lever-Actions That Built The West But Still Outperform Modern Guns

Above, a vintage Winchester 1894 advertisement.

When I was looking for a pre-64 Winchester 94 to buy around 10 years ago, I didn't hear much about lever-action rifles of any make. It wasn't that I didn't pay attention, I was. 

Then, in April 2019, I found a Winchester 94 that met my criteria and bought it. I haven't regretted that purchase.

Since then, it seems that lever-action rifles have made a resurgence in popularity. Along with that, prices surged for them. Sometimes I get the feeling that my purchase ignited the resurgence making me a trend-setter.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted about 20 lever-action rifles that "built the west" and still outperform modern guns. 

They begin with:

Every few years somebody decides the lever gun is “back,” like it ever left. You’ll see tactical handguards, red dots, and big-loop levers selling a lifestyle. Meanwhile, the plain lever-actions that fed families, guarded wagons, and rode in scabbards are still doing what they’ve always done: carrying easy, cycling fast, and putting a real-world bullet where it needs to go.

Are they perfect? No. Tube magazines are slower to top off, some designs are picky about overall cartridge length, and you’re not mounting night vision without turning the rifle into something it wasn’t meant to be. But for woods hunting, ranch carry, and “grab it and go” practicality, these rifles still embarrass a lot of modern stuff that’s heavier, fussier, and less friendly in the hand.

 To read more, go here.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off this 250th year month of the Declaration of Independence, we have Alive 'N Kickin' with their 1970 hit, "Tighter, Tighter".

From Wikipedia:

Alive 'N Kickin' is an American pop group formed in Brooklyn, New York. Led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, they are best known for their 1970 hit "Tighter, Tighter", which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The group's initial run lasted from 1968 to 1971, during which they didn't achieve success outside of "Tighter, Tighter", making them a one-hit wonder. In 1976, most of the original lineup reformed, and they've continued to perform to the present day, with various member changes. They have released one studio album, 1970's Alive 'N Kickin'.

 

British Family Reacts To Why Can Americans Just Buy This???

British Family Reacts to Why Can Americans Just Buy This??? video by L3WG Reacts.

Summary:

L3WG Reacts explores Charlie's journey into an American Fleet Farm, highlighting the vast scale of the store and its extensive inventory. The family observes the accessibility of various hunting gear, power equipment, and firearms, contrasting these retail experiences with those typically found in the United Kingdom.

20 Firearms That Became Collector Favorites by Accident

Above, the price of a good pre-64 Winchester 94 doubled and tripled since I bought mine in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Guns that were once commonplace (i.e., easy to find) are becoming more scarce in the used gun market. Finding examples that are in great condition are even harder for find.

That is the topic The Avid Outdoorsman posted yesterday. The article is on 20 guns that became collector favorites by accident. I have some that made the list.

The article begins with:

Every gun counter has that one story: a plain-looking firearm that sat untouched for years, then suddenly everybody wants one. Most of the time it wasn’t designed to be “collectible.” It was designed to be affordable, useful, or just different enough to stand out for a season. Then production stopped, a military contract ended, a movie showed it off, or a new law shifted buying habits, and the thing turned into a safe-queen whether the owner meant it or not.

Here are 20 firearms that ended up becoming collector favorites the hard way—by being in the right place at the right time, and then disappearing.

To read more, go here. 

Top 10 Cringiest Stock Photos of Women and Guns

More women are buying guns and taking classes on how to correctly and safely use them. At the same time, some media outlets occasionally post photos of women and guns that makes one scratch their heads.

As there's dos and don't of firearm use, NRA Women posted a list of the cringiest stock photos of women and guns. 

They begin it with:

In the media, we often rely on stock photos sites to provide kind of generic images to go with articles. This works well enough when you need a picture of, say, an elk standing in a field, or a “bad guy” type looking threatening. But if you need a photo of a woman shooting a gun, drawing a gun, preparing to defend herself with a gun, hunting with a gun or basically anything that involves women and guns? God help you, because the internet’s idea of what women do with guns is downright absurd. You see the same eye-rolling poses, stupid safety violations and general WTH over the over, like you’ll find in these 10 cringy stock photos.

To read more, go here.

250 Years of American History In 9 Minutes

250 Years of American History In 9 Minutes video by Kite & Key Media.

Summary:

250 years of American history in 9 minutes — with no words. 

250 Years of American Hunting

Above, Daniel Boone.

We are celebrating America's 250th birthday today.

One big feature of our heritage is the Second Amendment. From self defense to just plain plinking or hunting, firearms play a big role in that heritage.

American Hunter (NRA) takes a look at 250 years of American hunting and spotlights several notable American hunters in our history.

They begin with:

As we Americans celebrate the semiquincentennial—250th anniversary—of our great country, understand there are, of course, various interpretations of what made our country great. But no one can deny the role of frontiersmen in our history—and they depended on hunting for their survival. (Unfortunately, in some circles there are those who reject the very idea of America being a great country, but such perfidy is not worth our time, for life is too short to waste it on negative nincompoops.) At 250, our country has lived longer than any of us ever will, so let’s celebrate this unique moment with unabashed patriotism.

There are few recreational activities where patriotism runs deeper than in hunting. In a deep sense, we hunters are traditionalists—we go get our meat from the land, just as the frontiersmen did when the country was founded. Our equipment is more sophisticated than theirs, but fundamentally the activity is the same. When the country expanded in the founding era, it was largely thanks to frontiersmen who braved forth and charted uncharted land. Of course, there were no grocery stores in the wilderness—you ate what you brought with you, and when it ran out you hunted your dinner. You cleared the land for farming, but you still depended on meat from the land until your crops were ready.

Therefore, at this time of grateful celebration, we American hunters cannot be faulted if we also indulge in filiopietism—the enthusiastic reverence of traditions and ancestors. In fact, filiopietism should be a very appropriate part of our celebration. After all, hunting made possible the existence of the frontiersmen, and frontiersmen made possible the expansion and thus the continued existence of the country, and therefore hunting is inseparably connected to America’s greatness.

Over the last 250 years, millions of Americans maintained the tradition of hunting by actively engaging in it. We will never know all their names—but we can commemorate those whose names we do know well. Even the latter list would be inordinately long, so we are therefore compelled to pick and choose some names over others, which is a subjective exercise after all. Nevertheless, the American hunters we celebrate here are worthy of being on anyone’s list.

To read more, go here. 

15 Firearms That Families Quietly Fight Over Later

Above, yours truly with the Winchester Model 12 shotgun.

I have a friend who has a sizable gun collection. His first born was a son. Later, a daughter was born.

When the sister was born, the son said, "Good! I will inherit the guns!" or something similar. 

However, the daughter, after growing up, gained a big interest in firearms. Now who-gets-what is a bit up in the air. My friend is still alive and well. 

That is the crux of a slideshow article in MSN. It is on 15 firearms that "quietly" became the ones families fight over later. I have three on the list: Winchester 94, Winchester Model 12 and Ruger 10/22. Also listed is a Remington 870, but it is a Wingmaster and I have an Express. So I am not counting it.

The slideshow begins with: 

Some guns are obviously destined to become heirlooms. The engraved shotgun. The pre-war rifle. The fancy revolver with the presentation case. Everyone knows those pieces will matter, so people treat them carefully from the beginning.

But the guns families fight over later are not always the fancy ones. Sometimes they are the rifles and shotguns that got used the most. The .22 everyone learned on. The deer rifle with the scratched stock. The revolver that sat in the same nightstand for decades. Those guns become valuable because they carry the family’s stories. By the time everyone realizes it, the safe may already have several people emotionally attached to the same firearm.

To see the slideshow, go here. 

Independence Day Eve Dinner

Last evening, I had my usual dinner at Jerry's Cafe in Gallup with "Uncle Bob" Weekes.

Earlier, I was chatting on the phone with by former roommate Jessica and mentioned that would be going there. She asked me to send her some photos, including one of the enchilada/chile relleno dinner.

So, I obliged.