20 Shotguns Almost Impossible To Wear Out

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

The first time I shot skeet was a few years ago was with a group in Lake Havasu, Arizona.

I used a shotgun one of the guys let me use as I didn't own (in two cases, I didn't know I even had them) one. After that skeet shoot, I got a good deal on a Remington 870 Express, a "cousin" to the coveted Remington 870 Wingmaster. 

I've shot it a few times enjoyed the experience each time.

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article on 20 shotguns that are almost impossible to wear out. The Winchest Model 12 I bought two years ago made the list.

The article begins with:

Some shotguns are built to be light, sleek, and pleasant to carry. Others seem happiest after being dragged through a duck marsh, thrown behind a truck seat, fired for thousands of rounds, and handed down to another generation. Those are the guns that earn reputations far beyond whatever the manufacturer originally printed in the catalog.

Nothing mechanical is literally impossible to wear out. Springs weaken, extractors break, firing pins eventually need replacement, and even the toughest action benefits from basic maintenance. But certain shotgun designs have demonstrated that their receivers, bolts, barrels, and core operating systems can survive extraordinary amounts of use. If I wanted a shotgun that could spend decades  hunting, shooting clays, and generally being treated like equipment rather than a display piece, these are 20 models I would trust more than most.

To read more, go here. 

GUNS THAT SERIOUS COLLECTORS BUY NOT CARING ABOUT MARKET TRENDS

Above, the 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 I bought in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am not a gun collector. Over the years, I will buy a firearm because I just wanted it or tried one out and liked how it shoots.

The closest thing to a "collection" are the three Winchesters: Winchester Model 94, Winchester Model 62A (inherited from my grandfather) and a Winchester Model 12 shotgun. 

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article on the guns that serious collectors buy when they stop caring what the market is doing. I was lucky to find the pre-64 Winchester 94 before the pandemic and the prices started skyrocketing. (I saw one this morning of the same year at almost triple the price I paid.) I was looking for one for a while and found it while killing time in an Albuquerque gun store. 

As it turns out, I have two guns on The Avid Outdoorsman list. 

The article begins with:

There’s a stage most gun guys hit after they’ve watched enough “hot” calibers come and go and enough panic cycles roll through like bad weather. You stop trying to guess what’s going to jump in price next month. You stop caring what the forums say is “dead.” You start buying the guns you actually want to own, shoot, carry, and hand down.

Serious collectors aren’t always chasing rare. A lot of the time, they’re chasing right. The stuff that feels good in the hands, runs when it’s dirty, has parts and mags that don’t require a scavenger hunt, and still makes sense in the deer woods or on a gravel road after dark. Here are the kinds of firearms I see seasoned buyers quietly go after when the market noise fades out.

To read more, go here. 

Top 7 Hunting Rifles Veteran Hunters Keep

Top 7 Hunting Rifles Veteran Hunters Keep in Their Collections — 2026 video from Scoper 360°.

Summary:

Which heritage hunting rifles belong in your collection first, and which ones can wait? We're ranking seven classic American rifles—not by collector value or auction price, but by what a working hunter actually needs to own first. Starting with practical ownership sequence: the Winchester Model 70 pre-1964, Remington Model 700, Marlin 336 lever-action, Browning Superposed shotgun, Savage 99, Ruger No. 1, and best hunting rifles for priority.

This ranking reflects real hunting priorities. We break down the claw extractor reliability of controlled-round-feed systems, compare modern rifle design versus heritage craftsmanship, and explore which rifles demand mastery before others. Whether you're building a serious rifle collection, hunting in brushy terrain, or pursuing long-range precision, we reveal which platform teaches you what excellence means—and which models work as backup tools instead of foundations.

Hard To Find Firearms In Famous Configuration

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With new gun prices rising into the stratosphere, many people are resorting to buying "tried and true" used guns. Many of these people are serious collector who want that iconic gun in configuration that made those guns famous in the first place.

The Avid Outdoorsman listed 20 of these guns that are getting harder to find on the used gun market. I have two that made the list.

They begin with:

Anybody can find “a” version of a popular gun. What’s getting tougher is finding the version everybody actually remembers—the one with the right barrel length, the right sights, the right stock, the right finish, and the right little details that made it iconic in the first place. Walk into a shop today and you’ll see plenty of close-enough models, “tribute” runs, and updated variants with rails, optics cuts, and modern coatings.

That’s not automatically bad. But if you grew up with certain rifles and handguns in your head—what they looked like in a deer camp rack, behind a truck seat, or on a hip in an old holster—then you already know the sting of trying to replace one and realizing the famous configuration is the one that’s thinned out.

To read more, go here. 

FIREARMS THAT WERE DESIGNED MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AGO

Above, the Ruger 10/22 is one listed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are plenty of new guns that are being introduced to the buying public constantly. 

To some, guns designed over 50 years ago are preferred over the latest craze in firearms. The Avid Outdoorsman lists 20 of them.

They begin with:

Every year the gun world rolls out another “new and improved” something. New coatings, new cuts, new optics plates, new marketing words. Then you go back to the safe and grab an old standby that’s been doing the job since before you were born, and it just works. No drama. No learning curve. No weird proprietary parts you can’t find.

When I say “never been improved on,” I’m not saying nobody ever made a nicer version with better sights or a better trigger. I’m saying the original idea was so right that the “improvements” mostly turn into preferences. These are the guns that still show up in deer camps, behind truck seats, in duty holsters, and on range benches for one simple reason: they keep earning their keep.

To read more, go here. 

Skip These 5 Guns — Stockpile These 5 Survival Guns Instead

Skip These 5 Guns — Stockpile These 5 Survival Guns Instead video from All About Survival.

Summary:

When preparing for a total supply chain collapse, choosing the best survival guns will literally mean the difference between life and death. Many modern firearms aggressively marketed as prepper essentials are actually dangerous gimmicks with fatal points of failure that will lock up when you need them most. We expose five catastrophic platforms you must avoid at all costs, and reveal the absolute gold-standard, battle-tested firearms you should stockpile instead. Do not let your safety rely on an expensive paperweight when the grid goes down.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always follow fundamental firearm safety rules and adhere to all local, state, and federal laws regarding the purchase, ownership, and handling of firearms.

How To Accurately Measure A Gun Barrel's Length

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun barrels came in 26
to 30 inches with some at 32 inches. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something that I haven't given any thought to. I generally relied on the gun's specs in the advertisement or the gun's owner's manual.

That is: How to accurately measure a gun barrel's length?  

The NRA's American Rifleman website answers that question for measuring.

This is the recommended method (except revolvers), here's what they said:

Rather than debating your math and measurements, I think that I can clarify your questions by referring to the recommended methods used by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute (SAAMI) and the ATF. Both use a standard method for measuring barrels in firearms with chambers manufactured as an integral part of the barrel. The procedure is easy to follow.

When performing this procedure, safety is of the highest concern. Remove any and all ammunition from the work area to mitigate the possibility of a mistake. Once the gun is verified clear and empty, close the action as though it were ready to be fired.

Insert a wooden dowel, cleaning rod or other suitable object into the muzzle end of the barrel until it comes to a rest against the breech face where the firing pin protrudes through when firing. Once the dowel is resting firmly against the breech face, mark it at the muzzle with a magic marker or similar marking medium. Next withdraw the dowel and measure the distance between the mark on the dowel and the end that was resting against the breech face.

That measurement is considered the industry standard for pistols, rifles, shotguns or any other type of firearm having a chamber integral with the barrel (Revolvers are treated differently because they have multiple chambers not integral with the barrel).

To read more (especially for revolvers), go here.

Winchester Model 12: Why People Still Love This Shotgun

Winchester Model 12: Why People Still Love This Shotgun video from Range logic.

Summary:

The Winchester Model 12 earned its place in history as a wartime trench gun. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this classic shotgun and putting its famous slam-fire capability on display at the range.

Would you add a Model 12 to your collection?

20 Guns You Should Never Sell!

20 Guns You Should Never Sell! video from Gun Junkies. 

Summary:

Some firearms are more than just tools—they can become pieces of history, collector favorites, family heirlooms, or models that become increasingly difficult to replace. In this video, we're looking at 20 guns you should think twice about ever selling, based on factors like historical significance, build quality, scarcity, collector interest, reputation, and long-term appeal.

The used firearm market in 2026 continues to show strong interest in proven and established designs. Recent marketplace rankings have featured classics such as the Colt Python, Winchester Model 94, Remington 700, Ruger No. 1, Ruger 10/22, and Remington 870 Wingmaster, demonstrating that older and long-established platforms can retain substantial interest decades after their introduction.

From classic American designs to discontinued models and highly recognizable collector pieces, these are firearms with stories that can extend far beyond their original purpose.

Watch until the end to see which 20 firearms made the list—and why some guns can be surprisingly difficult to replace once they're gone.

 

How Women Hunters Are Reviving a Fading Tradition

The sport of hunting has been fading. It has been a mainly male sport. But over the years, fewer people are taking it up.

However, there is one segment of society that is causing a resurgence of hunting: women.

The Audubon Society posted an article on how women hunters are reviving a fading tradition.

They begin with:

This isn’t your typical girls’ weekend.  Not that you can tell from the accommodations—a charming farmhouse in Montana’s picturesque Bitterroot Valley—or the wine bottles on the kitchen counter this Friday evening in December. In the living room, delectable hors d’oeuvres hint at the gathering’s theme: savory duck rillettes and a charcuterie board with an array of wild game sausages. Then there’s the entertainment. “Duck Jeopardy” is teed up on a TV in the corner, intended to help us recognize birds in the field.

Ten women have traveled from across the state to learn the ins and outs of duck hunting from a handful of female mentors. A few know one another well. The rest are complete strangers. Most of us have never hunted ducks. Some, like Sophie Albert, have never even fired a gun. She’s from Germany, she says, where the sport is largely limited to private land. The food bank in Whitefish where she works processes a lot of deer donated by hunters, and she’s pretty sure she wants to try harvesting animals to feed her own family. Waterfowl, Albert says, seem like a good gateway.

To read more, go here.

6 Reasons Why You Should Have a Good Gunsmith

Above, Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are some things that gun owners can do with their guns. There are also some things that gun owners should not do.

One thing they should do is to have a good gunsmith. 

I made use of a gunsmith at Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico a few years ago. He knew what he was doing and was reasonably priced. I would use him again, if need be, as I was pleased with his work. 

That is the topic of an article in the online NRA's American Rifleman. 

It begins with:

Since the early 2000s, perhaps maybe a decade or so later than that, people have taken to building their own guns (look at bolt guns using a Savage/Remington barrel nut system or the ubiquitous AR-15 platform) or doing small tinkering jobs (like installing sights, triggers and many other aftermarket parts). While that’s been good for the industry as a whole, as it contributed to the growth of a huge aftermarket of accessories and new components over time, not every job needs to or should be a DIY job, and it pays to have a good gunsmith. Here’s why.

To read more, go here. 

25 Guns You Should NEVER Sell!

25 Guns You Should NEVER Sell! video from Gun Addicts.

Summary:

Some firearms are more than just tools—they can become pieces of history, valuable collectibles, family heirlooms, or increasingly difficult-to-find examples of important firearm designs. In this video, we explore 25 Guns You Should Think Twice About Selling, looking at the history, craftsmanship, rarity, collector interest, and long-term appeal behind each one.

From legendary revolvers and classic lever-action rifles to military-surplus firearms, iconic sporting shotguns, rimfire classics, and historically significant designs, this list covers firearms that have developed strong reputations among collectors and enthusiasts.

We'll examine what makes certain firearms particularly desirable over time, including limited production, discontinued models, historical significance, original condition, matching components, unusual configurations, manufacturer reputation, and collector demand.

A firearm's value isn't determined by age alone. Condition, originality, documentation, rarity, production numbers, provenance, and market demand can all have a major impact on what a particular example is worth. Two firearms of the same model can therefore have dramatically different collector values.

Stay until the end as we reveal the firearms on our list that combine the strongest mix of history, rarity, craftsmanship, collector appeal, and long-term significance.

12 Cheap Guns People Laughed At — Until...

12 Cheap Guns People Laughed At — Until They Proved Everyone Wrong video from Arms Insider.

Summary:

Cheap guns are easy to dismiss—but some of them earned respect the hard way. In this video, we look at 12 affordable firearms that people mocked, underestimated, or ignored until they proved surprisingly reliable, accurate, durable, or popular. From budget pistols and carbines to working-man rifles and shotguns, these are the cheap guns that ended up proving everyone wrong.

Of the firearms listed, I have number 8 on the list.

Top Used Guns On GunBroker For July

Above, the Winchester 94 named top used lever-action rifle by GunBroker for July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wonder what are the top used firearms?  

GunBroker has posted their results for July 2026 and the top used lever-action rifle category was the Winchester 94. The Ruger 10/22 is the top used semi-auto rifle. Neither one is a surprise to me. 

They begin with:

The top used guns on GunBroker in July 2026 sshowed stability across every major firearm category, with the Remington 700 leading used bolt-action rifles and proven names such as the Colt Python, SIG Sauer P320, and Remington 870 Wingmaster topping their own categories. This month’s top 10 spanned rifles, shotguns, and handguns, with established, long-production platforms represented throughout the rankings with long production histories.

The list broke down to four rifles, four shotguns, and two handguns, and Remington accounted for three of the ten category leaders. Every category leader from June held its position, making July a month defined by stability at the top, with the month’s movement concentrated further down each category’s top five. Below are the top 10 used guns for July 2026, followed by the key trends behind the rankings.

To read more, go here. 

Manton Percussion Shotgun

A few years ago, I was getting a gun case for a friend from the garage. While going through the gun cases left from my dad, I found that one had a gun inside.

Lo and behold, it was a side-by-side Joseph Manton percussion shotgun. I never knew my dad had it until I opened the case. 

Here's a photo of it: 

 Here's a quick Facebook video about Manton shotguns:

The Most RARE and Expensive Guns | Antiques Roadshow

The Most RARE and Expensive Guns | Antiques Roadshow video from AntiqueTreasureHunt.

Summary: 

The Most RARE and Expensive Guns | Antiques Roadshow

Some of the rarest and most expensive guns ever brought to Antiques Roadshow were sitting in closets, toolboxes, and locked trunks. A pistol mistaken for a tool. A cane bought at Goodwill for $6.99. A shotgun captured three days before Appomattox that experts couldn't agree on a ceiling for. In this Antiques Roadshow best-of documentary, we uncover extraordinary antique firearms, their histories, and the appraisals that stunned their owners.

This episode features an early iron-frame Henry rifle valued up to $100,000, a Mortimer shotgun taken from General Longstreet's supply train, an 1851 Colt Navy presented by President James Buchanan to frontiersman Seth Kinman, engraved Colt Single Action Armys with factory letters, Pennsylvania long rifles by Christian Beck and Adam Daniels, Confederate Richmond muskets, Scottish Doune pistols, Civil War derringers, a Kunz pistol cane, a Korean matchlock tiger gun, a Japanese wall gun, and a Winchester 1894 with a Buffalo Bill connection. Along the way, experts explain how factory archives, inspector cartouches, original finish, matched pairs, and unaltered parts can multiply a gun's value or destroy it entirely.

From a $6.99 thrift store cane to a Custer-era Colt whose replaced parts cost it tens of thousands, these appraisals prove that in the world of antique arms, provenance is everything.

 

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. 

20 Guns Around Long Enough to Stop Being Fashionable

Above, the Winchester 94 made the list (of course). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some guns have been around for so long that, without even trying, have become classics.

Guns that have done so include pistols, rifles and shotguns. The Avid Outdoorsman lists 20 guns that have been around long enough to stop being fashionable and start being classic. I have three that made the list.

They begin their list with:

Every few years the gun world picks a new “must-have” and acts like everything before it belongs in a museum. Then hunting season rolls around, a buddy’s “latest and greatest” starts acting up in the cold, and the old standby in the scuffed case quietly does the job again. That’s when you realize some guns don’t age into irrelevance. They age into classics.

These are the ones that have been carried long enough to get boring in a gun shop display, but familiar enough that most of us can run them without thinking. Some are pricey now, some are still cheap, and a few are a little clunky by modern standards. Still, they’ve earned the kind of respect that doesn’t come from a marketing campaign.

To read more, go here. 

20 Firearms That Are Still Worth Buying After Decades

Above, my Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is looking for a firearm (pistol, rifle or shotgun) that can be considered a reliable shooter, The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 firearms that are still worth buying even decades after being first introduced.

I have two that made their list: Ruger 10/22 and Winchester 94.

They begin with:

Every few years a new batch of guns gets pushed like they’re the only thing worth owning. Then hunting season rolls around, the range gets busy, and reality shows up. The truth is, some older designs just keep doing the job, and they do it with parts you can find, magazines you can afford, and handling that makes sense when your hands are cold or your heart rate is up.

This isn’t a nostalgia piece. Some of these are heavy. Some are plain. A couple are even a little awkward by modern standards. But if you’re buying used, building a “no drama” safe, or trying to quit cycling through gear you don’t actually trust, these are still smart money decades later.

To read more, go here.
 

10 Guns Americans NEED TO OWN If War Started Today!!!

10 Guns Americans NEED TO OWN If War Started Today!!! video by Clynt.

Summary:

10 Guns Americans NEED TO OWN in case War Broke Out Today With EVERY REASON why they are ALL MUST HAVES!!! AR-15, Glock 19, Ruger 10/22 & More. Make sure you have what you need before the day you need it.

Welcome to the channel built for serious gun owners, collectors, and preppers who want more than range day content. Every video breaks down collectible firearms, vintage guns, and rare revolvers, rifles, and shotguns with real auction data, real market values, and the technical engineering details most gun owners never learn. From the Colt Python and Smith & Wesson Model 29 to the pre-64 Winchester Model 70, the M1 Garand, the Winchester Model 1886, and the legendary Parker Brothers shotguns, we dig into matching serial numbers, milled receivers, controlled-round feed actions, hand-fitted cylinders, proof marks, and the manufacturing history that separates a $300 gun from a five-figure collector piece.

This channel covers gun collecting, firearms investing, and survival preparedness in equal measure, featuring countdown-style breakdowns of the AK-47, the AR-15, the Glock 17 and Glock 19, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown, Ruger GP100, Henry AR-7, SKS Type 56, the Mossberg 500, the Benelli M4, the Springfield M1A, Winchester Model 21, Remington 870 Wingmaster, Browning Auto-5, Parker Brothers shotguns, Remington Model 1100, Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight, Winchester Model 12 and classic lever actions like the Henry rifle and the Winchester Model 1894. We pull real numbers from Rock Island Auction Company and other major auction houses to show you exactly what pre-ban rifles, pre-lock revolvers, and original Belgian-made shotguns are bringing today, and why originality, factory letters, and untouched finishes are the biggest drivers of value in the collector firearms market.

Whether you are building a war-ready load-out, preserving a family heirloom, or just trying to figure out what is sitting in your gun safe, this channel gives you the history, the technical detail, and the dollar figures to make informed decisions. New videos drop regularly covering collectible firearms, classic revolvers, vintage shotguns, military surplus rifles, and the preparedness gear every American household should have.