JWR’s Introductory Note: This is an update to a reply to a letter that I posted in SurvivalBlog back in February 2007.  Given the recent spike in gasoline and diesel prices, I thought it would be apropos to re-post it. — Every well-equipped retreat should have at least one “field expedient” 12 VDC fuel transfer pump. These pump rigs are popular with dirt bike, ATV, and snowmobile enthusiasts. They are very simple to construct. Here are the materials that you will need: 1 – An automobile or truck electric fuel pump. (The least expensive pumps come from automobile wrecking yards.)…

The Mossberg pump-action 500/590-series is the most widely produced shotgun of all time, used by everyone from sportsmen to police officers to U.S. Soldiers. Mossberg has not been satisfied to rest on its laurels, continuing to bring new and updated versions of the 590 to market. New for 2026, the company is adding two new models that use the innovative Chisel Machining folding stock. New for 2026, Mossberg is adding a Chisel Machining folding stock option to its 590R pump-action shotguns. The Chisel Machining folding stock uses a 7075 aluminum folding knuckle with a push-button locking mechanism. The stock locks…

Armed Citizen® Today Near midnight on March 24, a woman in Brownsville, Pa., called police to report a man repeatedly ringing her doorbell. She called again 15 minutes later to report that he was now beating on her door. The man then allegedly broke through glass with a brick and entered the home. The woman retreated to her bedroom, but the man followed while yelling at her and standing between her and the exit. The woman told the man to leave, but he reportedly advanced on her instead, prompting her to shoot him repeatedly with her .38-cal. revolver, striking him…

Hunting stories are often beautifully written, but rarely offer practical advice. Meanwhile, cartridge guides are full of important information, but are about as fun to read as a printer’s instruction manual. This book, however, is different. Award-winning writer and Field Editor of this magazine, Richard Mann, has not herein provided us with yet another dry, technical book akin to a handloading manual. Rather, this book is filled with the stories and wisdom Mann has accrued during a lifetime of hunting and writing about the outdoors—with plenty of cartridge knowledge mixed in. Whether hunting for Appalachian tree squirrels or Cape buffalo…

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For decades, the Savage Axis line has provided hunters and shooters with a range of options to fit their needs, from backcountry hunts to benchrest precision shoots. Now, the company has a whole new line of Axis rifles to suit the needs of a new generation of hunters and shooters, all loaded with premium features. Watch our “Gun of the Week” video above for a rundown on what Savage has included with its new Axis 2 Pro Western. “Now, in 2024, Savage did a whole revamp of its Axis rifle line. That’s really the foundation line, their budget flagship bolt-action…

Lightweight, specialized shotguns with pistol grips, shorter barrels, constricted chokes, and red dots have taken over turkey hunting. Paired with heavy payloads of tungsten super shot (TSS)—and properly patterned—these guns can be deadly, especially at a distance.However, there are a few narratives surrounding turkey guns that give hunters a false sense of confidence when a tom struts into shooting range. Don’t get me wrong, turkey guns can help you anchor a gobbler, but there are always trade-offs in the shotgun game, no matter the platform and load you select. What’s most important is that you pick a shotgun, shotshell, and…

The one upgrade you can make to a truck that will result in the most noticeable difference while driving is suspension. If you spend a good amount of time driving on washboard roads and rutted-up two-tracks, or maybe your county is just behind on mending potholes, a good suspension system will aid in smoothing out your ride by absorbing those bumps and holes in a controlled manner.To be clear, I’m not recommending a giant lift kit that requires a ladder to get into your pickup. But high-quality shocks and coilovers from brands like Fox, Bilstein, KING, Falcon, and a handful…

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On December 1st, 2025, I put my foot in the stirrup of a white mule named Snowy River and threw my leg over the saddle. Over the next five days, he’d carry me 80 miles through some of the roughest ground in Southwest Utah in search of a mountain lion. Snowy River belongs to McClain and Hunter Mecham, a father and son team native to Utah, both lifelong mountain lion hunters and mule men. Also accompanying us on the hunt would be nationally known mule trainer and clinician Ty Evans of TS Mules. The following five days would take me…