Kaiser Willys Jeep 2026 Photo Contest is now Open!

Above, yours truly with my 1952 Willys Jeep M38A1. Photo by Nandoh Munoz.

An email has popped into my mailbox from Kaiser Willys Jeep, one of my sources for Jeep parts.

Their 2026 Photo Contest is now open to vintage Jeeps generally from 1941 to 1971 (check their website for rules). I submitted my photos several minutes ago.

The email said:

The 2026 Photo Contest is now Open!

​

Submit Your Photo for a Chance to Win Big!

If your photo is selected, you could win one of these amazing prizes:

🏆 Grand Prize - Featured on the front cover of the 2027 Kaiser Willys Catalog, $1000 gift certificate.

🥈 2nd Place Prize - Featured on the back cover of the 2027 Catalog, $500 gift certificate

📅 Calendar Winners - Featured in a month or on the front/back cover of the 2027 Kaiser Willys Calendar, $100 gift certificate

Generally, all participants have one photo posted in next year's catalog.

To access the photo contest, go here.

American Towns Tourists Ruined

Above, Key West, Florida was one of the towns named. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The term overtourism is something I first heard about in articles about Japan. Besides Japan, it now is applying to U.S. towns.

World Atlas has posted an article on American towns ruined by tourists. I have been to several of them over the years (Key West, Sedona, Moab, Jackson, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Estes Park) and I have to agree with their conclusions on them.

They begin with:

Ask people in a dozen American resort towns how they feel about tourism, and you will hear a version of the same story. Moab traded uranium mining for the crowds heading into Arches, and three million visitors a year now overload its water and sewer systems. Bar Harbor capped cruise disembarkations at 1,000 a day and has defended that limit in federal court since 2022. In Nantucket, the median home now runs about 3.5 million dollars, and the workers who keep the island running commute in by ferry. Each of these ten towns ahead bets on tourism, and each is now wrestling with what it won.

To read more, go here.

Second Round of Rain This Week

The second round of monsoon rain this week hit the Jamestown/Gallup area yesterday late afternoon and evening.

It was actually more precipitation than on Tuesday. 

I didn't know it was raining until I got out to put the Jeep into the garage. Before doing so, I took the below photo. Luckily, the Jeep was facing south and the rain came in from the west, so my seat was still dry.

We're expecting more rain this week. Which is what we need.

 

25 Forgotten Shotguns American Farmers Trusted

25 Forgotten Shotguns American Farmers Trusted When Help Was Miles Away video by Forgotten Frontier Weapons.

Summary:

Before help could arrive, American farm families often depended on one shotgun to protect livestock, guard the house, control pests, and put food on the table.

This countdown explores 25 forgotten farm shotguns—from cheap single-shots and mail-order pumps to the Winchester Model 1897, Browning Auto-5, and legendary Winchester Model 12. Each gun tells a story of isolation, hard work, mechanical innovation, and the families who trusted it for generations.

Which of these shotguns would you have trusted on a remote American farm?

 

20 Guns That Should Still Be in Production

Above, my Ruger P95 came in at number 15. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Gun companies introduced guns that are considered the closest thing to perfection over the years.

Many hunters swear by them and also love taking them out to the shooting range. Despite this, these guns were considered outdated (or for other reasons) by those companies and are replaced by newer, sometimes albeit inferior, models. 

The Avid Outdoorsman took a look at 20 guns they feel should still be in production. I have two on the list. The Winchester Model 12 shotgun came in at number 12 and the Ruger P-series of pistols came in at number 15 (I have a Ruger P95).

They begin with:

Every gun company loves to tell us what we “need” next. New coatings, new cuts, new  marketing names for old ideas. Meanwhile, some of the most useful, honest firearms ever built quietly slide out of catalogs and turn into “good luck finding one” guns at the local shop.

I’m not talking about museum pieces. I’m talking about the kind of rifles, shotguns, and handguns that actually got carried, got scratched, got used in the rain, and still ran when it mattered. Here are 20 that never should’ve left regular production in the first place.

To read more, go here. 

Winchester Pre-64: How One Rifle Changed the U.S. Firearms Industry Forever

Winchester Pre-64: How One Rifle Changed the U.S. Firearms Industry Forever video by Fallen Firearms Empires. 

Summary:

Discover why the Winchester Pre-64 remains one of the most respected rifles in American firearms history.

In this video, we'll explore what made the Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 legendary, why the 1964 redesign shocked shooters, and how it forever changed the U.S. firearms industry. From manufacturing cost-cutting to collector value, you'll learn why "Pre-64" has become a benchmark for quality.

Topics covered:

• History of the Winchester Model 70

• What changed in 1964

• Controlled Round Feed vs Push Feed

• Collector value today

• Impact on American firearms manufacturing

Finally, Some Monsoon Rain

Above, monsoon rain clouds over Jamestown yesterday evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, at long last, we got some rain yesterday and last night.

This was the first monsoon rain we received in weeks. We need a lot more, but we'll take it.

According to the National Weather Service, the week looks like this for Jamestown: 

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Sunny through mid morning, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 3pm. Sunny through mid morning, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 3am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday

A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 80. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday

A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Sunday

A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Guns That Became Lifetime Keepers Without Trying To Impress Anyone

Above, a Winchester 94 on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My preference of firearms are the classics. They are ones made with wood "furniture" and not with flashy polymer stocks. 

There are some guns that have become lifetime keepers without trying to impress anyone. That is the topic of an article in The Avid Outdoorsman.

They begin it with:

Some guns try hard to look special. They show up with wild finishes, clever names, oversized controls, and marketing that makes them sound more important than they are. Then there are the guns that never bothered with any of that. They just worked, shot straight, carried easy, and slowly became the firearms owners never wanted to sell.

Those are often the best lifetime keepers. They are not always rare, expensive, or beautiful. Sometimes they are plain rifles, beat-up shotguns, simple revolvers, or practical pistols that earned trust one season at a time. These guns became keepers the old-fashioned way: by doing the job without begging for attention.

To read more, go here. 

John Wayne and America’s Bicentennial

Above, John Wayne in the Cody, Wyoming Bicentennial Parade.

Fifty years ago, the nation celebrated its Bicentennial. 

Part of the celebration included events in Cody, Wyoming. The Cody Firearms Museum was dedicated. A big parade was held in Cody. Its grand marshall: John Wayne.

JohnWayne.com posted an article on those events of fifty years ago.

It begins with:

What is the story behind the custom Winchester presented to John Wayne during America’s Bicentennial in Cody, Wyoming? On July 4, 1976, John Wayne traveled to Cody, Wyoming, to celebrate America’s Bicentennial as Grand Marshal of the Cody Stampede Parade. During the celebration, he rang one of four commemorative Liberty Bells, dedicated the new Cody Firearms Museum and received a custom Winchester rifle presented in honor of the nation’s 200th anniversary.

When America celebrates a milestone birthday, John Wayne is never far away. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, it is worth remembering how the Duke helped celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial fifty years earlier. His appearance in Buffalo Bill’s hometown reflected not only his enduring connection to the American West, but also one of the busiest periods of his career.

Above, the Cody Firearms Museum is now housed at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Democratic Socialists of America's Radical Platform

 The enemy within:

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair joins 'Saturday in America' to discuss the Democratic Socialists of America's alleged intentions to become an independent party and proposed policies.

The Best Interstate Routes For Cross-Country Road Trips Rated

Above, westbound on Interstate 40 approaching Lupton, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's see. The longest trip I've ever taken on Interstates has to be the trip to Metropolis, Illinois in 2019. I took Interstate 40 going east and Interstate 70 going west. 

The second longest has to be the trip from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California in December. I took Interstates 35 and 40. 

RV Travel has posted an article on the best Interstate routes.

They begin it with:

In the video below, we join Kyle, aka the Geography King, for his countdown of the six best interstate routes for cross-country road trips. The “Geography King” is basing his picks on his experiences taking more than 20 cross-country trips, and counting.

The video focuses on interstate highways, as most major U.S. cities are near one. And, as the topic is crossing the country, it focuses on east/west routes. Kyle chose to feature six because, well, there are only six major routes that cross the United States. So, the competition for the six-best list was, in reality, not that tough.

Those six routes are Interstates 10, 20, 40, 70, 80, and 90. Of those six, know that I-20 does not officially completely go across the entire country, but goes 2/3 of the way before ending in Southwest Texas; and I-70 only goes about 3/4 of the way before it ends in Southwest Utah.

Be sure to watch the video. In addition to what you can expect to see along each route, our host shares some creative variations and alternative routes from each that let you see even more sites.

These are the order of Kyle’s preference of cross-country routes. Yours may be different. I know I can find interesting things to see almost ANYWHERE.

To see the video and to read more, go here. 

Grandfather Injured By Charging Bison

 

The above video is a good example for keeping your distance from bison in Yellowstone National Park or anywhere else. Bison are surprisingly fast.

Fortunately, the grandfather, although injured, is expected to fully recover.

From Cowboy State Daily: 

A man was seriously injured Friday evening after being thrown 8 feet into the air by an angry bull bison in Yellowstone National Park.

Mike MacLeod, a professional photographer from Bozeman, Montana, said the incident happened at the Bridge Bay Campground, south of Fishing Bridge.

MacLeod said the man was walking with his grandson when the agitated bison made them the targets of its aggression.

“I was just trying to get some dramatic footage of that bison having a fit,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s changed my idea of what to expect from these guys at this time of year, because I would not have predicted that happening.”

The National Park Service has not released any information on the incident.

To read more, go here. 

20 Firearms People Sold Too Soon

Above, the Ruger 10/22 (older, basic carbine) made no. 3 on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many people have guns (pistols, rifles, shotguns) that they acquired through inheritance, gun shows, gun stores, trades and other means.

Some people with guns will sometimes sell them for what they think is something better, only to regret it later. 

MSN posted (from The Avid Outdoorsman) a slideshow article of 20 firearms people sold too soon.

They begin it with:

Most of us have one that got away. A rifle you traded because a buddy swore something else was better. A shotgun you sold to fund a new scope. A handgun you let go because it “didn’t fit a role,” only to realize later it fit just fine. Here are 20 firearms I’ve seen folks regret moving down the road before they really understood what they had.

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. 

We open the week with Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods and their 1974 hit, "Billy Don't Be A Hero". The song was voted #8 on Rolling Stone magazine's readers' poll of "10 Worst Songs of the 1970s" even though it did hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1974.

At the time, some thought it was about the Vietnam War that ended the year before, but it was actually set in the American Civil War.

From Wikipedia:

Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods are an American pop music group, known mainly for their 1970s hit singles, "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and "Who Do You Think You Are".

The band was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1965 by their leader, Robert Walter "Bo" Donaldson. Their first singles were released between 1966 and 1968 on a label owned by Bo's mother, Bea Donaldson. Those four singles went largely unnoticed. The band were first discovered while touring with The Osmonds in the early 1970s and signed with Family Productions, releasing their first single in 1972, "Special Someone", but their big break came after moving to ABC Records and working with the record producer Steve Barri in 1973. Although their first single with ABC, "Deeper and Deeper,” failed to make a big impression on the charts, beginning in 1974, the band began a string of hit songs.

 

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.