Don't Underestimate the . 30 - 30 video by Harrell Brothers In Arms.
Summary:
Paul Harrell evaluates the effectiveness of the .30-30 Winchester cartridge by shooting various targets, including soda jugs and pumpkins, at different distances. The presentation addresses common misconceptions regarding the rifle caliber's accuracy, drop over distance, and practical applications in hunting.
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| Above, Henry Big Boy Steel Side Gate .327. Photo by Alexander's Store. |
When I found my 1962 Winchester 94 rifle in .30-30 back in 2019, it was before the pandemic started and prices skyrocketed.
I found one in great shape and under $500.
I don't see high prices in used guns abating anytime soon. But there are some lever-action rifles worth owning before prices do climb and The Avid Outdoorsman lists 20 of them.
They begin with:
Lever-action rifles are no longer the inexpensive woods guns that filled used racks a generation ago. Interest in pistol-caliber carbines, suppressor-ready hunting rifles, straight-wall cartridges, and traditional American firearms has pushed demand well beyond the old cowboy-action crowd. At the same time, several desirable rifles are produced in limited batches or disappear from catalogs without much warning.
That does not mean every lever gun is a smart purchase. Decorative editions and heavily accessorized models can cost far more than their practical value justifies. The rifles worth buying are the ones with useful chamberings, proven actions, distinctive construction, or configurations that would be difficult to replace after production ends. These 20 rifles deserve a closer look while they can still be found without paying collector-level prices.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, one of Key West's feathered inhabitants wandering in a restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, we stopped in Key West, Florida for a few hours.
While in Key West, I took a tour of the Hemingway House and toured the Shipwreck Museum along with shopping.
I stopped at a bar/restaurant for a break. While there, I noticed chickens walking around the tables.
Southern Living posted an article on Key West's famous wild roosters that wander the streets.
They begin it with:
If you’ve ever strolled the quirky streets of Key West, you’ve seen them. Between pastel homes, Duval Street bars, palm trees, and the Southernmost Point, a population of loud, proud roosters struts and scratches across roads, down sidewalks, and even, occasionally, through traffic.
Florida’s version of pesky pigeons in city parks, the free-roaming roosters and hens of Key West are as naturalized a citizen as any, and a colorful symbol of the freewheeling spirit of the Conch Republic. Sometimes celebrated, always tolerated, the wild birds are as much a part of Key West as sunset celebrations and key lime pie.
To read more, go here.
RVs (trailers and motorhomes) are loaded with electronics that could get damaged during a sudden power surge. This is especially so of they are plugged into an outlet that may get a sudden surge from a lightning strike.
That is why surge protectors are necessary to protect one's RV electrical system and appliances when plugged in. I use mine when I store my RV in its garage and it is plugged in.
RV Life has posted an article on protecting RVs every time they are plugged in.
They begin with:
Plugging into shorepower is one of the most routine parts of setting up camp, but the power at the pedestal is not always predictable. An RV electrical protection device should be used every time the rig connects to outside power. That includes campgrounds, a home outlet, an RV storage facility, and yes, even a generator (if compatible).
The reason is simple. Every connection introduces a new power source, and electrical conditions can change after the RV is plugged in. A pedestal that worked during a previous stay may now have a worn receptacle, loose wire, missing ground, or damaged neutral. Voltage that looks normal in the morning can drop when campground demand rises, or it may climb when a utility problem develops.
A surge protector or electrical management system (EMS) provides a layer of protection between those conditions and the RV’s converter, inverter/charger, refrigerator, A/C equipment, microwave, TVs, and electronic control boards. The two product types do not always provide the same protection, but either must be connected to do its job.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, my 1980s vintage Ruger 10/22. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
If one is wondering what rifles deserve a permanent place in a gun safe, The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 rifles that do.
Two rifles I own made the list: the Ruger 10/22 and the Winchester 94.
They begin their list with:
Some rifles are easy to sell because another one can be purchased later without much trouble. Others become difficult to replace the moment they leave your hands. The price goes up, production ends, the replacement does not shoot as well, or you realize the rifle filled more roles than you appreciated while you owned it.
A permanent keeper does not need to be rare or expensive. It needs to offer something that remains useful after newer designs arrive. That could mean dependable hunting performance, inexpensive training, historical significance, unusual mechanical quality, or a level of versatility that prevents the rifle from becoming obsolete. These 20 rifles deserve serious thought before they are ever placed on the used rack.
To read more, go here.
Visit New Mexico: A Democrat Utopia video by The Babylon Bee.
Summary:
Tired of your ordinary, boring life in a red state? Why not visit…New Mexico?
What Happened to the AURORA MODEL KITS? video by Dan Monroe / Movies, Music & Monsters.
Summary:
Dan Monroe explores the history of the Aurora Plastics Corporation, tracing its origins from a simple injection molding shop to a pop culture icon. The discussion covers the evolution of their legendary monster and sci-fi model kits, their massive commercial impact on youth culture during the 1960s, and the factors leading to the brand's eventual closure.
Why Most Americans Have the Wrong Survival Guns? video by Survival Gear Showcase.
Summary:
These are the 7 guns that actually matter when the grid goes down — ranked by ammo availability, mechanical simplicity, and real-world versatility, not hype.
From the AR-15 and Glock 19 to the Ruger 10/22, the Mossberg 500/Remington 870, and the surprisingly capable Henry Big Boy X, this breakdown covers what survives when the supply chain doesn't.
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| Above, a Nagasaki streetcar in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
At the time, I did not see any streetcars there. A few years later, I did see streetcars in Nakasaki when I visited it. They reminded me of old Los Angeles when streetcars were operating. They were removed in 1963 in favor of buses.
There is one streetcar in Hiroshima that did survive, although damaged, the atomic bomb. It is now being used for tours.
According to The Japan Times:
HIROSHIMA – A tour offering views of Hiroshima’s reconstruction following the U.S. atomic bombing 81 years ago aboard a streetcar that survived the blast started Sunday.
The tour uses Hiroshima Electric Railway’s streetcar No. 653, which was damaged in the blast on Aug. 6, 1945, in the closing days of World War II.
The streetcar resumed operations four months later after undergoing emergency repairs, and became a symbol of the city’s reconstruction. It is still operated for special events, with its livery restored to that at the time of the bombing.
The latest tour will run a total of 19 times on weekends and holidays through Oct. 31, on a loop line that opened in March.
To read more, go here.
October is shaping up to be a somewhat busy month.
The Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus will be in New Mexico.
From the chapter's Facebook page:
I am pleased to announce that we will have a history trek to Pinos Altos New Mexico, October 9-11. This event will be very similar to the satisfactory 2019 trip to Gallup, New Mexico; where we will not haul the cookshack or the hawker, and our Widders are welcome. Major details: We will stay in Silver City, NM. We will visit the Pinos Altos Museum Saturday afternoon. We will have dinner at the historic Buckhorn Saloon and Opera house Saturday October 10 at 6pm.
Then, a week or so later, I will be in Albuquerque for Mia Asano's concert.
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| Above, Barking Spider Acre three years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today is mowing day for me.
Since the temperature today in Jamestown, New Mexico is expected to reach 95° today, I plan on getting on the mower around 8:00 this morning before the temperature soars.
From the National Weather Service:
Barking Spider Acre's brush isn't too high, but I will concentrate around the RV garage (GOCO Beast Barn) and some areas where it has gotten high from the recent monsoon rains. I will also concentrate on the back yard behind the house and garage. That has started to get a little overgrown from the rains.
I have about a half a tank of gasoline in the mower, but I do have some in gasoline containers just in case.
Model 12 Winchester SlugFest by Hickok45.
Summary:
The old Model 12 certainly deserves to have some fun "slugfesting"!
Budget Friendly Beauties - Affordable Deluxe Winchesters video from The Cinnabar.
Summary:
Shooting a couple of deluxe beautiful Winchester rifles that didn't break the bank.
The Cinnabar showcases two high-deluxe Winchester lever-action rifles, examining their history, refinishing techniques, and restoration potential. Beyond their collectible appeal, these firearms are put to the test on the range to evaluate their practical performance and suitability for the upcoming hunting season.
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.
For the first entry of August, we have The Electric Prunes with their 1967 hit, "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)." It was recorded in 1966 and made it to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1967.
From Wikipedia:
The Electric Prunes are an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. Much of the band's music was, as music historian Richie Unterberger described it, possessed of "an eerie and sometimes anguished ambiance." Their most successful material was by songwriters Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz, though the group also penned their own songs. Incorporating psychedelia and elements of embryonic electronic rock, the band's sound was marked by innovative recording techniques with fuzz-toned guitars and oscillating sound effects. In addition, guitarist Ken Williams' and singer James Lowe's concept of "free-form garage music" provided the band with a richer sonic palette and exploratory lyrical structure than many of their contemporaries.
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| Above, at Arches National Park in Utah last summer. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky. |
Sooner or later, each of us will be so old that we can no longer do the things that were once easy to do.
Fortunately, I have not reached that point... yet! But there will come a time that I may not be able to drive my motorhome for long road trips. I managed to do a long trip last summer with a friend to Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado at age 71. Taking one's time with more days to do so is a big help.
But there are some RV enthusiasts that have reached that are "aging out" of the RV game.
Nanci Dixon posted an article on this at RV Travel.
She begins with:
A few weeks ago, I wrote about our RV seemingly falling apart on our trip to Minnesota and lamented all the work and maintenance it required. I even said that I was at the point of selling it in Minnesota and renting a small U-Haul trailer to take our too-much-stuff back to Arizona.
Aging out
It is not just the maintenance and massive costs of gas, insurance, and license; we are getting older. My husband just doesn’t have the stamina, eyesight, or reaction time to drive “Miss Ruth Brown” thousands of miles each year anymore. I never thought we would age out; I thought it was other people that aged out. I should be glad he is aware of his limitations, but still wish it wasn’t so. I am faced with the ultimatum of downsizing our rig, or I agree to drive it.
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| Above, camping at the Moab, Utah KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read the full article, go here.
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| Above, yours truly enjoying an adult beverage on a cruise to the Bahamas two years ago. |
Although I have been on three cruises in my life (Alaska, Cuba, Bahamas), it is not my favorite mode of travel and it never has been. RVing is.
That being said, I did enjoy those cruises. But I noticed that the cruise lines passengers are being nickel-and-dimed, especially on adult beverages and food. People are starting to feel that cruises just aren't worth it anymore.
AOL posted an article on five cruise lines that aren't worth it anymore. I have cruised on two of the five.
They begin it with:
Cruising built its reputation on being the closest thing to an all-inclusive vacation. One fare covers endless food, a cabin that moves between destinations while you sleep, and entertainment every night. That reputation is getting harder to defend. Across several of the biggest names in the industry, gratuities have climbed, drink and dining packages have shrunk, and small perks that used to come standard now carry a price tag. For anyone trying to travel on a budget, the gap between what a cruise fare promises and what actually shows up on the final bill has never been wider.
None of this is guesswork or internet grumbling. It's a pattern of dated, documented fee increases and cutbacks announced across major lines over the past several months, backed by passenger surveys, company emails, and industry reporting. Here's a look at the cruise lines where the numbers back up what passengers have been saying. While these cruise lines still appeal to many travelers, recent fee hikes and shrinking inclusions mean they may no longer deliver the value they once did.
To read the full article, go here.
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| Above, Grandpa's Grill, the location of our Saturday breakfasts. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It has been relatively dry here in the Four Corners region this weekend.
The last rains were short downpours of a few days ago. But the rain we did receive helped green up the area.
We're in a bit of a heat wave according to the National Weather Service. But, they do forecast some precipitation towards the end of the week. We'll see.
Here's the forecast for Gallup/Jamestown:
The .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 - Firing it Out West video by Part-Time Explorer.
Summary:
Winchester is known as "the gun that won the west". With that, I simply had to bring my antique Winchester rifle out west with me. Let's dive a bit into the history of this rifle and fire off a few rounds between the deserts of Nevada and the wilderness of Wyoming.
The model 1894 Winchester was first produced in 1894, but were redesigned in 1895 to accommodate smokeless rounds - being the first rifle to do so. Used in both world wars and becoming the most successful high-powered rifle in the United States, the rifle was produced regularly until 2006. In the 1960's, Winchester changed the way the rifle was made in order to save on production costs, using cheaper material and lower quality methods. In more recent years, production was moved overseas. The rifle in this video is from 1949, when these rifles were in their prime.
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| Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Google is acting up. This started yesterday. I generally have it set for the last 24 hours on different subjects but it is not limiting itself to that range.
But it did come up with something of interest to me that was posted in 2010 by NRA Museums. It is on the history of the Winchester 1894 (or Winchester 94).
It is an interesting article, especially for those of us who are fans of the firearm.
It begins with:
Winchester's first smokeless powder lever-action rifle, the Model 1894 Rifle is by far the company's most successful centerfire rifle. This John Browning-designed firearm is still in production, and over five million have been manufactured. Originally priced at $17.50, Model 1894s available today sell for several hundred dollars. As with other Winchester lever-actions, the Model 1894 is available in rifle, carbine, trapper's model carbine, takedown, and extra-lightweight versions. This example was manufactured in 1925.
John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) was a true genius of mechanical design. The son of a Mormon gunsmith, he began working full-time in that profession at age 15. His 1878 design for a single-shot metallic cartridge rifle resulted in the first of many patents that he would receive during his lifetime. In partnership with five of his brothers, Browning later opened a machine shop in Ogden, Utah, but the firm's output of three guns per day could not keep up with demand for his products. One of his rifles was purchased by a representative of Winchester Repeating Arms Company and shipped to Thomas G. Bennett, the firm's General Manager, who purchased the patent rights for $8,000 and hired the Browning brothers as Winchester "jobbers".
To read more, go here.
Winchester Model 12 Overview video by The Hunting Gear Guy.
Summary:
The Winchester Model 12 (1912) is a great takedown shotgun from yesteryear. It's a pump action shotgun known for its smooth action and high-quality internal construction. Unlike modern shotguns that use stamped parts and aluminum receivers, the Model 12 is built from steel and walnut.
This model is a take down design, meaning the barrel and magazine tube can be easily separated from the receiver for transport or cleaning. While it was an innovative powerhouse in its day, using one today for modern hunting requires understanding its limitations regarding steel shot and shell length.
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| Above, a casino in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Here's a topic I've never thought about.
Are casino carpets ugly on purpose to keep people gambling?
That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. Frankly, I figured that they are designed the way they are to hide spills.
The article begins with:
Many RVers like to stop at casinos on their trips. They stop for a buffet, or sometimes to stay overnight in a casino RV park or for free in a parking lot. And, yes, some like to gamble. If that’s you, have you ever noticed that the carpeting in at least some of those casinos is gaudy, even ugly?
In Las Vegas, one of the most enduring gambling myths is that the loud, colorful carpets in casinos are designed to keep people gambling longer. Is that true?
To read the full article, go here.
We are now in a new month and we're still in the summer vacation season, so it is time to see how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in foreign exchange.
Japan Today reported:
NEW YORK - The Japanese yen briefly surged to the lower 157 level against the U.S. dollar in New York on Friday, with Japanese government sources confirming a yen-buying, dollar-selling intervention by currency authorities.
Trading at 157.24 per dollar for a brief span, the yen hit its strongest level since mid-May.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, Hoover Dam in November 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I have been to Hoover Dam twice in my life.
The first time was with two friends in 1973. We took the tour that had us go down inside the dam to the machinery area. The second time was in 2018 with a couple of friends. We didn't take any tours but walked around the top of the dam.
If one is planning on visiting Hoover Dam, you have to delay your visit as it is closed to visitors currently.
According to RV Travel:
If Hoover Dam is on your Southwest RV itinerary this summer, you’ll want to adjust your plans. One of the West’s most popular roadside attractions remains closed to visitors. Read on to find out why.
What happened?
The first shutdown began on July 27, 2026, after emergency road repairs blocked public access through the site. The latest closure, announced July 29, was triggered during routine maintenance when the massive transport cableway carriage moved unexpectedly. This prompted a second closure this week.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, a Hornady LEVERevolution round (at left) and a "traditional" .30-30 round. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The advent of lever-action rifles in the 1800s soon made them popular hunting rifles. The lever-action rifle is versatile and is an excellent shooter up to about 200 yards.
One disadvantage was the tubular magazine. The rounds touched each other inside and it was feared that a pointed bullet resting on a bullet's primer in the magazine might detonate. That is why .30-30 Winchester ammo (and others) were made with a flat or round-nosed tip.
Hornady came up with a solution to this magazine detonation fear with their LEVERevolution ammunition. "It is a jacketed spire point with a soft polycarbonate red tip in place of hard copper," according to GunsAmerica.
GunsAmerica posted a detailed article on the Hornady ammo.
It begins with:
For those who hold and own lever action rifles, the imagery of living in the shoes of cowboys, outlaws, and the classic hunter is impossible to escape. It also helps that the lever gun, by design, is light, quick-shooting, naturally ambidextrous, and holds a fair amount of ammunition. The lever action is also available in several different calibers to tackle anything from beer cans to bear. But one big downside of the lever action is that most of them use ammunition with round-nosed bullets. This drops quicker and loses more energy compared to pointed spire point rounds. That was until the Hornady LEVERevolution line of ammunition came onto the scene.
The Hornady LEVERevolution line of ammunition represents a quantum leap in lever action ammunition. Hornady has grown the line since its introduction in 2006. It has an excellent track record for pushing the power and range envelope of existing lever action rifle cartridges. Despite that, most lever action rounds are still based on old round-nosed designs.
I had good luck with both rounds in the original .30-30 Winchester configuration, but my luck isn’t anything objective. After a long hiatus, I took up the lever gun once again. I began to ask: is the Hornady LEVERevolution round that much better than traditional soft points? If so, is it enough to matter?
I bought a box of the Hornady LEVERevolution ammunition and tried the rounds in my 1962 Winchester 94. The rifle took the ammo just fine and it shot it just as fine. No problems.
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| Above, a box of .30-30 Winchester LEVERevolution ammunition. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read more, go here.
Last evening, after dinner I took a little Jeep drive over to the corral where the entrance into Six Mile Canyon is located.
Today wasn't rainy out, but there were plenty of clouds. The Six Mile Canyon Road was dry and the culverts were passable.
I stopped at the corral and took the following photos:
The Gutfeld group took at look at Anthony Fauci's hearing before the congressional hearing. Talk about infuriating. The S.O.B. was granted a blanket pardon so he really couldn't lawfully plead the Fifth.
The bastard needs to be jailed for Contempt of Congress.
Summary:
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and the ‘Gutfeld!’ panel analyze Dr. Anthony Fauci’s congressional hearing in which he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times.
At least the video ends with a humorous reference to Clint Eastwood and the Second Amendment.
The ol' blog has now reached 14 million page views overnight.
It seems I have to change the header more frequently and at shorter intervals. I last had to change it was on June 19.
The new one reflecting the new milestone:
The 8 Best Lever Guns for Big Game Hunting You Can Still Buy in 2026 video by IronSight Reviews.
Summary:
America's Top 8 Lever-Action Rifles for Big Game Hunting is our complete 2026 ranking of the most trusted lever guns for deer, elk, moose, bear, and other North American big game. If you're looking for the best lever action rifle 2026, best lever action rifle for hunting, or Marlin 1895 SBL review, this countdown covers the rifles hunters trust most in the field.
From timeless Winchester classics to modern hunting favorites, we're breaking down each rifle's history, technical specifications, real-world hunting performance, strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and why these legendary lever-action rifles continue to dominate big game camps across America.
