Why Lever Action Rifles Still Win Hearts

Above, yours truly at the Winchester Arms Collectors Show
 in Cody, Wyoming last year. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Lever-action rifles have seen a surge in popularity. 

This has been more pronounced following the COVID pandemic of six years ago. Ever since I bought my Winchester 94 in 2019, I have noticed not only the surge in popularity of lever-actions, but prices for them as well. 

MSN posted an article on why lever-action rifles are still winning hearts.

They begin with:

Lever action rifles blend history, practicality, and pure shooting joy. From the iconic Winchester 1894 to modern Henrys, they remain beloved for their speed, handling, and personal connection. Whether for hunting, collecting, or range fun, their charm endures beyond pure performance specs.

The enduring magic of lever guns

Lever action rifles have been trusted companions for well over a century, offering a fast, intuitive shooting experience that connects shooters to a rich history. Whether it’s the Winchester 1873’s role in taming the West or the Marlin 336’s place in countless deer camps, these rifles carry stories in every scratch and worn grip. Modern versions keep the tradition alive while adding refinements for today’s shooters.

To read more, go here. 

Wacky, Weird UFO Sites To Visit In the U.S.

Above, yours truly at the Roswell International UFO Museum in 2018.

Before he passed away last October, Russell Azbill and I regularly discussed all kinds of topics of the paranormal. Subjects ranged from ghosts, bigfoot and Unidentified Flying Objects. He personally saw the "Phoenix Lights" back in the 1990s.

I have been interested in UFOs since about high school. Eight years ago, my former roommate Jessica and I went down to Roswell, New Mexico for the annual Roswell UFO Festival. We both had a fun time.

Above, the 2018 Roswell UFO Festival. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel, in today's newsletter, posted an article on weird, wacky UFO sites to visit. 

They begin it with:

As of November 2024, the Pentagon has analyzed 1,652 reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). Of those, 757 were recorded between May 2023 and June 2024, with 21 still classified as unexplained. Even if you’re not a UFO enthusiast, this is certainly intriguing. It reminds me of the fascinating places you can visit and learn more about UFOs right here in the USA.

What is a UFO?

Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are not new. The first alleged UFO sighting in the United States dates back to the 1890s! Since that time, there have been many, many reported sightings from Washington to Maine and New Mexico to Indiana, with places in between, as well.

A Gallup poll taken in 2021 found that four out of ten Americans believe that UFOs are alien spacecraft from other planets. Recent sentiment seems to indicate that the number is rising—especially given the latest news. No matter what your position may be, there are UFO sighting locations throughout the USA. Here are just two places to consider adding to your next RV trip.

To read more, go here. 

Senior RVing: Why I Am Not Giving Up RV life At 74

Above, yours truly at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana last summer.

Now that I am 72 (hard to believe, eh?), I noticed that the ol' body is not as agile as it used to be. Mentally, I feel just as good as ever, even though some things take a bit of prodding to remember something. That's why I do this blog. I am better at it now than when I started it in 2008. It is still fun for me to do.

Aging, if we're lucky, is one of those things everyone goes through. The main thing for seniors (people over 65, in my view) is to remain active. That includes traveling, especially by RV. I still enjoy mine. Already this year I attended a clampout in Prescott, Arizona with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus vitus, and a few days after getting home, I went with a friend to Houston, Texas for the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. 

Last summer, a friend and I took a long RV vacation and roamed around Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado. Before heading out, I was unsure if I could handle the long drives. As it turned out, everything went just fine. Besides being fun, it was also educational.

RV Travel posted an article in today's newsletter on senior RVing. It starts with:

At 74, John of the Gone with John channel’s biggest fear about RV life isn’t a breakdown, bad weather, or money. It’s the day he might be told he’s done, and has to give up the road for good. That thought sits behind the whole message he shares in the video at the end of this post.

Perhaps you feel the same way. I know these thoughts have crossed my mind from time to time. For John, full-time RV living for seniors isn’t only about travel. It’s about staying part of life for as long as he can.

To read more, go here. 

Route 66 and Hollywood Movies & TV Shows

Above, Route 66 in Williams, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year is the centennial of Historic Route 66.  

Fox 8 of Cleveland has posted an article on Route 66 and Hollywood focusing on movies and TV shows that captured the mystique of the road. 

It begins with:

(NEXSTAR) — It’s one of the U.S.’ most well-known roads — if not the most known — and one of few highways to capture America’s imagination across the little and big screens.

In honor of its 100th anniversary, here are some of the films and TV shows that have taken inspiration from Route 66, or even been filmed on parts of it.

To read more, go here. 

PSA Airlines Still Exists

Above, a PSA Airlines 727-200 jet. Wikipedia Photo.

Back in the 1970s, whenever I flew around California (usually for GOP state conventions) or to Las Vegas, Nevada, I often flew with PSA Airlines or Western Airlines. My first flight was with PSA Airlines from San Jose, California to LAX in 1974. 

I was using Google to read about PSA (short for Pacific Southwest Airlines) after reading about the current troubles with Spirit Airlines and found that the airline still exists.

Above, yours truly about to board a PSA Airlines plane in 1974. Photo by Max Bettman.

According to the AI-generated overviews: 

Does PSA Airlines still exist?

Yes, PSA Airlines still exists and is a major, growing regional airline operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group. It operates under the American Eagle brand, focusing on short-haul flights with a fleet of Bombardier CRJ jets, operating over 700 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations.  

PSA Airlines originally stands for Pacific Southwest Airlines, a prominent West Coast carrier founded in 1949 and known as "The World's Friendliest Airline". Today, PSA Airlines operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, using the historic name to protect the trademark. 

 

Top 10 Most Accurate Rifles Ever Made

Top 10 Most Accurate Rifles Ever Made– #2 Definitely Will Shock You! video by Gun Junkies. 

Summary:

Accuracy separates a good rifle from a truly legendary one. In this video, we break down 10 of the most accurate rifles ever made, highlighting firearms that earned their reputation through precision, consistency, and real-world performance.

We explore the features that make these rifles stand out, including barrel quality, trigger design, action smoothness, stock stability, and long-range capability. These rifles are known for delivering tight groupings and repeatable results, whether on the range, in competition, or out in the field.

If you think you already know which rifle deserves the top spot, wait until you see the unexpected #2 choice.

 

The Best 22 LR Rifles of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Above, my Winchester 94 (top) in .30-30 and my Winchester 62A in .22 LR. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like everything else these days, the cost of ammunition has gone up over the past few years. Some calibers cost around $1.00 per round and sometimes more. 

With that being the case, target shooting with a .22 LR rifle is looking more and more economical. I happen to have two .22 LR rifles: a Winchester 62A that I inherited from my maternal grandfather and a Ruger 10/22 that I bought around 1984.  

If one doesn't have a .22 LR rifle in their arsenal, an article by Field & Stream may be a big help in selecting one. It is on the best .22 LR rifles of 2026.

They begin with:

If you are an adult who likes to shoot or hunt, it’s hard to find completeness without a 22 LR rifle or two. Considered by many to be the most useful rifle in the world, a 22 rifle is perfect for target practice, hunting, competition shooting, and teaching others to shoot. And you can do all of that with ammunition that doesn’t cost you a dollar every time you pull the trigger.

There are many 22 rifles to choose from, and with modern manufacturing techniques, they’re getting more affordable each year. Affordability can be important when it comes to buying a 22 rifle, but other things—depending on what you want to use your 22 rifle for—matter as well. Here’s a look at seven of the best 22 LR rifles for just about any application.

To read more, go here. 

Why Some Shooters Swear By These “Outdated” Guns and Calibers

Above, yours truly with a Remington 870 Express. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

There are many varieties of firearms. Like anything else manmade, there are some great ones and there are some pretty lousy ones.

The firearms industry has been bringing out new designs. Some work well while others leave much to be desired. 

However, there are some shooters who swear by some alleged "outdated" guns and calibers. This is the crux of a slideshow article posted by MSN.  

They begin it with:

Calling a gun or caliber “outdated” usually means it’s been around long enough to get ignored. It doesn’t mean it stopped working. A lot of shooters stick with older setups for the same reason they keep an old pair of boots: they know exactly how it fits, exactly how it behaves, and exactly what it will do when the moment matters.

The modern market chases lighter, faster, smaller, higher-capacity, flatter-shooting. That’s fine. But there’s a different kind of confidence that comes from cartridges with real-world track records and guns that have been carried, hunted, and shot hard for decades. When you’ve seen a load perform on game, or you’ve watched a particular action run clean through bad weather, it’s hard to unlearn that trust.

To read more, go here. 

Gun Basics: What Is A Lever Action Rifle?

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past few months, I have posted about lever-action rifles, particularly the Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle.

There are other other manufacturers of lever-action rifles and some, even today, have joined the pack with new rifles along with new innovations. 

But, what is a lever-action rifle? 

The answer may seem obvious, but fortunately, an article in Bear Creek Arsenal explains it all.

They begin with:

What is a Lever Action Rifle? History, Mechanics, and Why Shooters Still Use Them

Lever-action rifles occupy a unique position in firearms history and modern shooting sports. They're neither the newest technology nor relics of the past. Instead, they represent a mechanical philosophy that's remained relevant for nearly 200 years, evolving continuously to solve real-world challenges that shooters face. If you're curious about what makes these rifles tick, why hunters and sport shooters still choose them, or how they've managed to stay competitive despite newer designs, here's the complete picture.

To read more, go here. 

Yen Rises To ¥155 In Tokyo Trading

We're now in a new month, commonly known as May Day.

 As such, it is time to take a peek at how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in Tokyo foreign exchange trading. This is especially of interest to those Americans planning to travel to Japan.

According to Japan Today:

The yen rose sharply on Friday, briefly reaching the mid-155 level from the lower 157 range, amid a cautious mood a day after an around 5 yen surge overnight on possible intervention.

At 4 p.m., the dollar fetched 155.91-92 yen, compared with 156.58-68 yen in New York and 160.13-15 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Japan's top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, on Friday declined to comment on the foreign exchange market intervention, saying, "I have no intention to comment on such matters." On Thursday, the Japanese currency surged nearly 5 yen to the 155 zone against the dollar within hours.

To read more, go here.