Hunting For the “Grail” Gun In the Modern Era

Above, the gun department at the Albuquerque Cabela's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved to New Mexico eight years ago, I have purchased three firearms. Two were shotguns and one was a rifle.

The shotguns were a Remington 870 Express purchased at a Lake Havasu, Arizona gun store and a Winchester Model 12 purchased online through Guns.com. The rifle was a Winchester 94 (now my favorite gun) from a gun store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If one could call the Winchester 94 my "grail" gun, that would be an accurate description. I had been on the lookout for a pre-64 rifle for a while. 

These days more people are making good use of the Internet to find that one (or more) firearm they've coveted. 

The NRA's American Rifleman online magazine posted an article on hunting for the "grail" gun in the modern era. 

They begin it with:

There’s accumulating guns—and then there’s collecting. The thing that distinguishes the latter from the former is that there’s generally a theme to a collection. It’s not that one’s better than the other, and there’s often a fair bit of overlap, but collectors generally have a running list in their head of desired acquisitions; the next “Grail gun” to add to the safe, if you will.

This used to be more difficult in the olden times. However, along came the various web forums, whether brand-centric, themed around a certain type of shooting sport or hunting or specific to a state or other geographic location. Collecting, say, Rugers or Smith & Wessons became a lot easier when you could peruse the buy/sell/trade board on a Ruger or Smith & Wesson fan site.

Then came the auction sites. If you weren’t aware, in its earliest days, eBay actually allowed the listing of firearms before getting cold feet at the regulatory and political morass and pulling out in 1999. The market vacuum was quickly filled by specialized firearm-auction sites. These days, if one has a sufficient bank balance and some leisure time to surf the internet, a lot of the drama and suspense has been taken from the previously intriguing hunt for the next piece in a collection.

While this is convenient, it somehow feels less than—well, sporting.

To read more, go here. 

20 Shotguns That Were Built To Last

Above, yours truly with the Winchester Model 12
shotgun at Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico.

Having a shotgun or two (or three) in one's arsenal is something every Second Amendment supporter should have.

I have several, two of which I bought (a Winchester Model 12 and a Remington 870 Express) and the others were inherited from my dad, including a Manton 12 gauge made in the 1800s.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 shotguns that were built to last and proven it for over 50 years.

They begin with:

Every fall I see the same thing at the gun counter and at the range: a guy with a brand-new shotgun in a fancy box, and another guy quietly carrying a 40-year-old blued steel and walnut “plain” gun that has killed more birds than the shiny one ever will. Trends come and go. What lasts is a shotgun that feeds, fires, ejects, and keeps doing it after it’s been rained on, bounced around in a truck, and leaned in the corner of a duck blind for decades.

This isn’t a museum list. These are working shotguns that have earned their reputations over 50 years of upland miles, waterfowl mud, and the kind of hard use that shows up in worn checkering and thin bluing. Some are expensive now, some are still affordable, and a few are just heavy and boring. Still, they keep showing up because they keep working.

To read more, go here. 

Hickok45: Model 12 Winchester SlugFest

Model 12 Winchester SlugFest by Hickok45.

Summary:

The old Model 12 certainly deserves to have some fun "slugfesting"!

 

Winchester Model 12 Overview

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.

How To Buy a Used Gun at a Fair Price

Above, used rifles at Ron Peterson's Firearms in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved to New Mexico eight and a half years ago, I have purchased three guns. Two of the three of them I bought used.

I bought my Winchester Model 12 shotgun online. It was made in 1919 and was priced reasonably. The pre-64 Winchester 94 I bought at Ron Peterson's Firearms in Albuquerque. I was in town to catch an early morning flight and was browsing around the gun store for something to do. I spotted the rifle on a rack, checked it over and found it in great shape (I verified that it was made in 1962), and at a good price. I bought it (I had been looking for one anyway). Those are the only two times I bought a used gun. I have no regrets on either of them.

Outdoor Life posted an article on how to buy a used gun. It is titled, "Use the ‘Rule of Why’ to Help You Buy a Used Gun at a Fair Price."

It begins with:

A few months ago I dropped in at a local gun shop and browsed through the racks of used guns, shouldering shotguns, peering through rifle barrels and flipping price tags in search of the occasional hidden treasure. One price tag stopped me in my tracks — it was only about half what is usually asked for a “pre-owned” rifle in that model, caliber and condition, and it even had a scope! Suspecting something fishy, I cautiously slipped the bolt out and peeped into what I expected to be a rust-clogged bore. Nothing. The lands and grooves were as bright and clean as a hound’s tooth.

To read more, go here. 

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. 

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.

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. 

15 Things Winchester Got Right

Above, my pre-64 Winchesters: Winchester 62A, Winchester 94
and Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Winchester has been around for over 100 years. 

Although it has undergone changes and ownership, the Winchester brand, be it firearms or ammo, is a brand that still resonates among gun owners. 

MSN posted a slideshow article on the "15 things Winchester got right that kept the brand alive for generations."

They start it with:

Winchester got one of the most important things right from the start: repeating fire mattered. In an era when many firearms were still single-shot or slow to reload, Winchester leaned into lever-action repeating rifles. That gave shooters more rounds on tap and changed what a rifle could do in the hands of hunters, settlers, lawmen, and soldiers.

That early move shaped the whole brand. Winchester did not become famous because it made another ordinary rifle. It became famous because it helped make the repeating rifle part of American firearm culture. Once people connected the Winchester name with fast follow-up shots and practical firepower, the brand had a powerful identity to build from.

To read more, go here. 

American Rifleman: 18 New Shotguns For 2026

Above, an early Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. Warner Bros. image.

In the market for a new shotgun?

Personally, I'm not as I already have four of varying ages. The oldest are my Manton 12 gauge made somewhere in the 1800s and my Winchester 1912 (or Model 12) that was made in 1919 along with a Mossberg 500E .410 pump and Remington 870 12 gauge Express. These are plenty for me.

American Rifleman (NRA) posted a list of 18 new shotguns for 2026. They vary in price and design. 

They begin with:

Among today's firearm platforms, the shotgun remains one of the most time-tested, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Today's new crop of shotguns runs the gamut, giving modern shotgunners new options in nearly every conceivable category. From break-action designs with a third barrel to modernized semi-automatics that provide more reliable operation than ever before, it's a good time to be a shotgun fan.

Check out 18 of the latest and greatest new shotguns on the market today.

To read more, go here. 

 

7 Shotguns That Are Becoming Impossible To Find (Never Sell These!)

7 Shotguns That Are Becoming Impossible To Find (Never Sell These!) video by AimX Range.

Summary:

If you own any of these legendary shotguns, NEVER sell them! From the classic Remington 870 Wingmaster and Browning Auto 5 to the ultimate tactical Benelli M4 and Franchi SPAS-12, these are the best shotguns in history. Today on Ax Range, we are diving deep into the history, reliability, and cultural impact of the 6 most iconic scatterguns ever produced. Whether you are looking for the best home defense shotgun, a reliable pump-action for waterfowl, or a bomb-proof semi-auto tactical shotgun, these firearms shaped the industry.

15 Guns That Owners Wish They Had Bought Two Of

Above, a Winchester Model 12 shotgun made in 1919. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have a friend who has a history of buying two (or more) of everything such as tools. I don't thing this quirk extends into firearms, but I really wouldn't be surprised if it did.

Speaking of buying two of everything, MSN (via The Avid Outdoorsman) posted a slideshow article on 15 guns that owners wish they had bought two of. I have some of the guns that made the list.

They begin it with:

Every shooter has at least one gun they should have doubled up on when the price was right. Maybe it was sitting cheap in the used case. Maybe it was still in production. Maybe magazines were everywhere, parts were easy, and nobody thought the market would care later.

Then the price climbed, the model disappeared, the quality changed, or the gun simply became harder to find. That’s when “I should’ve bought one” turns into “I should’ve bought two.” These are the guns that made owners learn that lesson the annoying way.

 To read more, go here.

Winchester Model 12: A Slamfire Tank of a Shotgun

Winchester Model 12: A Slamfire Tank of a Shotgun video by Pinnacle Mountain Gunsmithing.

Summary:

Hello, Friends! Today, Joel takes you through the manual of arms, features, and basic disassembly for the Winchester Model 12 shotgun we recently did some woodwork on. This is a classic design in the vintage shotgun space that has a reputation for being "unkillable." Is it well-deserved? Does this old classic hold up to today's standards? Tune in to find out! 

If you found value in today's episode, please support us by going to our website at www.pinnaclemountaingunsmithing.com to fill out our contact form and schedule your appointment today. If you can't do that, we completely understand. Just do all the good Youtube stuff: like, comment and subscribe. Hope to see you next time!

 

15 Guns That Got More Respected After The Market Moved On

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The firearms market can be fickle. What was a hot item at any given time can fall out of vogue for something else. But, eventually, they come back into favor with shooters for various reasons. 

The Avid Outdoorsman took a look at 15 guns that got more respect after the market moved on.

They begin with:

Some guns don’t get their full credit while they’re still easy to find. They sit on racks, get passed over for newer models, and spend years being treated like plain working guns. Then production changes, prices climb, parts of the market shift, and shooters start realizing those old “regular” guns had more going for them than anyone wanted to admit.

That’s how a lot of respected firearms earn their second life. Not through marketing, not through internet noise, but because owners finally compare them against what replaced them. These are the guns that got more respected after the market moved on.

To read more, go here. 

5 Reasons Why Pre-64 Winchesters Still Hold Their Magic

Above, my three pre-1964 Winchesters. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Prior to 2019, the only Winchester I owned was a Model 62A .22 cal. pump rifle. I inherited it from my maternal grandfather. It was made in 1947. 

Since then, I have bought two more pre-1964 Winchesters. The first was a 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle. The second was a Winchester Model 12 shot gun in 12 gauge made in 1919. 

Collectors of vintage Winchesters seek them out as they were manufactured better (in their view). 

MSN posted a slideshow article with 5 reasons why pre-1964 Winchesters still hold their magic. 

They begin it with:

Firearm enthusiasts often speak about the legendary status of older rifles with a sense of reverence and nostalgia. The term pre-64 Winchesters specifically refers to model 70 rifles manufactured before the company changed its production methods in 1964. These vintage pieces represent a high point in American gun making that many believe has never been equaled since that time. Collectors and hunters alike pursue these firearms because they embody a level of industrial art that modern mass production rarely achieves today. Understanding why these specific rifles command such high prices reveals much about the history of manufacturing.

To read more, go here. 

The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun I bought last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that shotguns were very effective during World War II, especially in the Pacific Theater.

Winchester's Model 1897 and Model 1912 shotguns terrified Japanese soldiers, with good reason.

War History Online posted an interesting article on the use of shotguns during World War II.

They begin it with:

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot spread does not need to be precisely aimed to score a hit. At longer ranges, a shotgun peppers the target with fast-moving metal balls, while at close ranges shotguns can effortlessly inflict horrific wounds. For these reasons, the shotgun has found itself at home in close quarters combat in wartime, sometimes controversially. Until the 1960s the United States’ shotguns of choice have been the Winchester Model 1897 and 1912.

Both of these shotguns started life as commercially-sold firearms but quickly proved themselves on the battlefield.

To read more, go here. 

Christmas In Arizona

Above, last year at the skeet range. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Next week, I plan on spending Christmas with Mitch and Holly Geriminsky in Lake Havasu, Arizona.

I had a nice chat with Mitch yesterday and expressed my desire to do some skeet shooting with the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. I want to see how it performs. I also am bringing along the Winchester 94 for some plinking at the shooting range there. 

Funny thing, the first time I did skeet shooting was three years ago with a borrowed shotgun. I did better than I expected. The following year, I tried out the Remington 870 Express that I bought there. Frankly, I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with it. I think it was due to the short barrel. Since the Winchester Model 12 has a much longer barrel, I hope to do much better. 

The drive (around 420 miles) will seem like a short drive after driving about 2,000 miles last week from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California. 

Background Checks for Online Gun Purchases Explained

Above, picking up my Winchester Model 12 shotgun at Loeffler's Guns Etc. 

Thinking about buying a gun online but never done so before?

Well, you're in luck! Guns.com can sell you a gun online, but there are still procedures to endure (they vary by state, by the way).

I bought my Winchester Model 12 shotgun through Guns.com last year. I had them send it to my favored FFL dealer in Grants, New Mexico, Loeffler's Guns Etc. After it arrived, I went there, went through the background check and walked out with my shotgun.

Guns.com has a page explaining the process.

They begin it with:

Buying a gun online is not only easy and convenient, but it's also safe and legal in all 50 states. While the process is a little different than walking into your local gun store, you’ll still have to pass a background check for your new purchase. If it’s your first time buying a gun online, you may be wondering what to expect and how mandatory gun background checks work when you buy online. 

Buying a firearm from Guns.com is actually better than walking into your local gun store and browsing the current stock. We’re not limited by storefront size, so it’s more efficient to browse our virtually unlimited inventory from the comfort of your own home (or office – don’t worry, we won’t tell the boss). The background check process is the same once you purchase a firearm or win one in an auction. Here’s how to complete it, step by step. 

To read more, go here. 

Winchester Model 12 Shotgun

Last year, I bought a Winchester Model 12 shotgun in 12 gauge. It was made in 1919. 

I tried it out a couple of times at our shooting area and it worked just fine. Next month, I will be heading to my friend's in Lake Havasu for the Christmas holiday. While there, if past times are an indication, we'll be heading out to the skeet range for some skeet shooting. I am anxious to try out the Model 12 on the skeet range. It should be interesting to see how a 106-year-old shotgun does.

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The longer barrel of the Model 12 should work out better than the Remington 870 Express. I bought the shotgun through Guns.com.

It is interesting to note that Americans used the Model 12 in the Pacific War against the Japanese. It was highly effective in jungle conditions and the Japanese forces were fearful of them.