AUSTRALIAN $8.95 Incl

Wine mogul Wolf still on target Build your own chassis rifle

March 2020 AUSTRALIAN $8.95 incl. GST

ShooterTHE MAGAZINE FOR SPORTING SHOOTERS PAWS FOR THOUGHT Secrets of gundog success

RUGER’S LATEST right on the money NOSLER puts varmints on notice

Pedersoli High Wall - fun and flair combined

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FIREARMS AND MORE REGULARS 18 CZ 527 MDT Varmint rifle 35 Commonsense prevails 6 President’s Message in.223 Remington on NT reclass 7 Letters 30 The Project - building a 54 Build your own 7 Insurance Q&A TSP X chassis rifle reloading bench 8 Open Season 36 Pedersoli High Wall fun 71 Carcass cart the wheel deal 10 Reloading and flair combined 78 P30LS 9mm handgun 12 Clay Target Q&A 48 The Baikal IJ-58 shotgun from Heckler & Koch 16 Top Shots 60 SW22 given some timely tweaks 80 French naval cutless 92 Gun & Knife Show List 78 P30LS from Heckler & Kock 82 SSAA club suffers in wake 93 Competition News 88 Ruger’s latest offering of deadly bushfires bang on Target 86 Wine mogul Wolf still on target 94 SSAA Shop 97 Members-only Competitions 98 Jumbunna HUNTING 24 The Offsider - a hunting buddy for life 42 Memories can be more valuable than trophies 72 The buck of a lifetime 76 It's staring you in the face

PRODUCTS Our March cover 64 Smart scope a Leupold winner The secrets of gundog success 68 Nosler puts varmints on notice 83 Bushbuck scope covers

Senior correspondent Lionel Swift takes a trip back Daniel O’Dea has turned the John Dunn has been in time and documents the spotlight on the Zeiss Victory NEXT out and about with the fascinating history of the V8 4.8-35x60 riflescope, new Browning Maral Big Trans-Tasman shot towers, not an inexpensive option ISSUE Game Rifle and reckons one of which now has pride but one he says will give a it will prove a hit with of place in one of Melbourne lifetime of premium service shooters actively involved CBD’s biggest shopping should your budget extend in feral animal control. centres! to it. 4 Australian Shooter RIMFIRE RIFLES BUSHNELL.COM NIOA.COM.AU any weather. in Nitrogen clarity purged for WATER/FOG PROOF adjustments. For quickandeasy on-the-fly EXPOSED TURRETS airrifles). (great for infinity Side Parallax 10 yards from focus to SIDE FOCUS ADJUSTMENT RIMFIRE / AIR RIFLE SCOPE FEATURES PURPOSE BUILT FOR MULTI-X RETICLE ballistic dials. ballistic and17HMR 22LR along with specific with onestandardShips ¼MOA dial RIMFIRE BDCDIALS transmission andbright images. enablecoating superior light Multiple layers anti-reflective of FULLY-MULTI COATED OPTICS 3-9X40BDC MULTI-X 3-12X40BDC MULTI-X INCLUDED! RIMFIRE DIALS 6-18X40BDC MULTI-X

NMD282 President’s Message WITH GEOFF JONES

AUSTRALIAN Our chance to rally round for bushfire victims

o witness the catastrophic toll ing sports and it was at times distressing to taken by the devastating bushfires witness her being hounded out of office. ShooterTHE MAGAZINE FOR SPORTING SHOOTERS that have raged throughout Aus- Perhaps SSAA National CEO Tim Ban- MEMBERSHIP AND MAGAZINE INQUIRIES tralia has been heartbreaking and nister summed things up succinctly in his Phone: 02 8805 3900 T recovering from such awful consequences appraisal of Senator McKenzie’s stand- Fax: 02 9832 9377 PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 will take considerable time. And with vari- ing and I’m happy to reiterate some of Email: [email protected] ous SSAA connections directly affected, his thoughts when he wrote: “SSAA is EDITORIAL POLICY this would be a fitting opportunity for our disappointed in the resignation of Senator To create a better environment and community understanding of all forms of hunting and members to become involved and support Bridget McKenzie from Government Cabi- shooting sports. communities, clubs and property owners as net and on behalf of its near 200,000 mem- EDITORIAL INQUIRIES they embark on the long road back to some bers thanks her for her energetic support of Phone: 08 8272 7100 Fax: 08 8272 2945 sense of normality. the shooting sports and our Association. PO Box 2520, Unley, SA 5061 We must all recognise the enormity of “Much of the media and anti-firearms Email: [email protected] Web: www.ssaa.org.au ABN 95 050 209 688 what has happened and help out in what- fraternity has tried to bully and belittle ever way we can and I have no doubt that, her over her involvement in shooting, members strong as of Dec 2019 in the usual spirit of SSAA togetherness, demonstrating their biases and discrimina- 195,862 our members will respond accordingly. tion towards almost one million Australian This magazine is owned and published by the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Inc. Opinions expressed The new year has rolled in and seemingly licensed firearms owners. Attempts have herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of this Association. thrown up a host of issues from floods, also been made to tie in SSAA and our fires, politics and biased media, giving us Victorian branch with Federal funding EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR...... Allan Blane plenty to think about. where SSAA National and Victoria have ASSOCIATE EDITOR...... Thomas Cook So it’s now up to our members to rise to not applied or received any grants from the ASSISTANT EDITOR...... Dave Rose CHIEF OF STAFF...... Jennifer Martens the challenges and get out and participate in Commonwealth. ART DIRECTOR...... Mike Barr every aspect of our wonderful sport. Stand- “We wish Senator McKenzie well in her PRODUCTION COORDINATOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER...... Elizabeth Tyson ing together can simply mean taking a mate parliamentary career and have no doubt GRAPHIC DESIGNER...... Natalie Kuhlmann to your nearest SSAA branch and with more she will continue to be one of its hardest MEDIA & POLITICAL LIAISON OFFICER...... Nadia Isa WEBMASTER...... Mark Fieldhouse than 400 scattered across this vast conti- working and most dedicated members. As ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONS...... Karoline Wasiak nent there are plenty of options. an Association we remind all politicians, the COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER...... Sam Talbot ADMINISTRATION...... Debbie Wing The Australian environment can be a media and community at large that we will SENIOR CORRESPONDENT...... John Dunn harsh taskmaster and there constantly continue to support those who support us SENIOR CORRESPONDENT...... Rod Pascoe seems to be something happening from and speak out against those who don’t.” CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE a natural world perspective. But amid Barry Wilmot, Russell Mark, Sam Garro, Joe Norris, Daniel O'Dea, Chris Redlich, Mark van den Boogart, Royce Wilson, the trials and tribulations our shooting • Page 82: SSAA club suffers in wake of Con Kapralos, Paul Miller, Graham Park, Tobias Turner, Chas Harding. fraternity should always be able to get deadly bushfires out and about and enjoy themselves and I have every faith we’ll do exactly that. STATE CONTACT INFORMATION For SSAA inquiries please contact your state SSAA office: We will stand together and prosper on our NSW 02 8889 0400 WA 08 9497 7919 strengths. Qld 07 3281 3447 SA 0419 849 452 Vic 03 8892 2777 ACT 0423 043 663 On a less satisfactory note, it was disap- Ta s 0418 734 008 NT 0402 013 918 pointing to see Senator Bridget McKenzie NATIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION bowing to pressure to resign from Cabinet SSAA National Chief Executive Officer and Chief Editor Tim Bannister duties in the aftermath of the media feed- Wildlife Programs Matthew Godson PO Box 2520, Unley, SA 5061 ing frenzy around the so-called ‘sports rort’ Phone: 08 8272 7100 affair. During her time as Sports Minister SSAA National Accounts Office President and latterly Minister of Agriculture, Senator Geoff Jones PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 Geoff Jones Phone: 02 8805 3900 Senior Vice President McKenzie was a powerful ally to the shoot- SSAA National President Email: [email protected] Lance Miller SSAA General Insurance Brokers Junior Vice President Unit 1, 212 Glen Osmond Rd, Denis Moroney Fullarton, SA 5063 National Secretary Phone: 08 8332 0281 Kaye McIntyre Freecall: 1800 808 608 Treasurer Fax: 08 8332 0303 Alf Bastian Email: [email protected] Please mail all correspondence for the SSAA National Executive to SSAA, PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 SSAA - Protecting shooters since 1948 Email: [email protected]

6 Australian Shooter Letters WRITE TO PO BOX 2520, UNLEY, SA 5061 OR EMAIL [email protected]

An inspiration to us all happen when the shooting community .303 ammo puzzler comes together. Thank you. Last March I was admitted to Fiona Stanley In his letter about an inheritance of .303 (WA) Hospital’s neurology department, Brent Biglin, via email ammunition (Australian Shooter, August diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. I 2019), Steve Larkins asked the question: started to become paralysed from my feet ‘What aircraft was still in service that had Private hunters in dreamland up and was soon paralysed from my neck synchronised guns when the ammunition down and put into an induced coma with In response to Leon Wright’s excellent was manufactured in 1950?’ respiratory failure. Doctors told my family article ‘The ethical dilemma of hunting’ The Wirraway had two synchronised it was unlikely I’d survive 12 hours due to in your December issue, I couldn’t help Vickers .303 machine guns and remained in complications. but feel a little envious of the situation he service until 1958 but the part that puzzled When they eventually woke me up I was describes in his encounter with a neigh- me is Steve says the ammunition is in told I’d be in hospital for the next 12-18 bouring farmer who encouraged him to webbing belts. For aircraft use I’d expect it months. I had one goal - to get out of there shoot an apparent excess of deer on the to be in ‘Prideaux’ disintegrating links as in fewer than 100 days. I spent 45 days on property: “Tell me that’s the sixth one you don’t want great lengths of belt hanging life support and moved to rehab on Day 50. you’ve shot today.” out the side of the gun. All I wanted was to return to normal life As a newish hunter (bow and rifle) of a few David Mottram, via email and go shooting again. years, I’ve no land connections to lean on I had to learn how to do everything for access. I thought my best bet would be again - breathing, walking, talking, feeding an ‘R’ licence to hunt NSW state forests Jet details off course myself, showering etc. On Day 87 I was however, having spent the past few years On reading my copy of December’s Shooter, discharged and no-one could believe traipsing up and down southern NSW I saw on P.91 a picture captioned ‘Stephan my recovery and how quickly it was forests where ‘success’ is glimpsing a deer Schutze recording an Australian Korean progressing. I know it may seem strange every couple of trips or so, the number of Sabre jet at Temora Aviation Museum in to have this as a goal after such a major potential targets Mr Wright infers in his NSW’. The Korean War lasted from June life event, but getting back to shooting was article seems almost magical. With the aim 1950 to July 1953 and the first flight of an huge. of trying to feed my family on harvested Australian Sabre A94-101 took place on I only write to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ meat, I’d love to have been part of such a August 3, 1953 by which time the Korean to the entire shooting community, espe- trip. conflict had ended. Sabres didn’t reach the cially the teams at Beretta Australia I’m starting to believe private land is where squadrons until 1955. and Lithgow Arms for sorting me out with the majority of success can be found for Therefore, there was no such thing as gear to make my life so much easier at the new hunters. Given the recent tragic fires an Australian Korean Sabre as the RAAF range, and Jonathan Davidson at Jarrahdale up and down the east coast eliminating aircraft in Korea were mainly Mustangs, Sporting Shooters for the inspiration to vast tracts of state forest with deer, this Meteors and Transports. The aircraft in push through. is potentially even more the case. Any the photo is an A94-983 Mk.32 delivered in The unbelievable support given to myself good advice for gaining access to private November 1957, transferred to the Royal and my family through the entire ordeal land with deer as a SSAA and R-licensed Malaysian Air Force in December 1971 and has shown what truly amazing things can member? returned to the RAAF in 1978. Jonathan Jorgensen, via email Barry Evans, via email

Insurance Q&A with Trevor Jenkin Send questions to: [email protected]

Q: If I receive a reimbursement payment all lawful recreational shooting activities, Shooters’ Liability policy. If you would like for kilometres travelled while conducting though unfortunately does not extend to to receive a formal quotation for this or a feral pest shoot, am I still covered by the cover any shooting activities where the wish to discuss any other general insurance Association’s insurance. member is being given a reward by a third needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mark Mansfield, via email. party, such as monetary payment or travel- us by calling 08 8332 0281 or visiting our ling expenses. website at ssaaib.com.au. A: SSAA Members’ Liability Insurance To be covered for this exposure you covers an individual member’s liability for would need a separate Professional

The advice offered in this column is of a general nature and does not allow for individual situations. SSAAIB recommends that you obtain professional advice before proceeding with any insurance investment. SSAAIB accepts no liability for any actions by an individual to change their insurance plans without seeking professional advice.

Australian Shooter 7 Open Season WITH MATTHEW GODSON

Overgrazing putting national park habitats at risk

study by Adelaide University ily due to the loss of its habitat and the native species - and this is vitally impor- researchers has found protected replacement of native grasses with exotic tant where we have land dedicated to the areas are under serious threat of species which respond better after fire and protection of biodiversity, such as national A overgrazing by both native and overgrazing. Overgrazing has also reduced parks. Kangaroo management is a polaris- introduced herbivores. Of particular con- the abundance and diversity of many ing issue where arguments regarding cull- cern is the degradation of protected land ground-dwelling reptiles. ing can divide communities but, that said, such as national parks which are generally To determine whether protected areas protected areas must be managed in a way regarded a cornerstone of conservation had been overgrazed, researchers assessed to meet clear biodiversity targets and con- efforts. The protected status of such land grazing impact on native vegetation across trol overgrazing even by native species. areas is normally seen as a key to providing 1192 sites, widespread across South Aus- It has been widely accepted that intro- a shield from environmental degradation. tralia’s agricultural region. More than 600 duced species such as rabbits, horses, A summary of the study published in The plant species from woodlands, forests, goats, camels etc can badly impact Austra- Conversation found that some areas studied shrublands and grasslands were looked at. lia’s native vegetation and we use a variety indicated protected land suffered similar When monitoring of these sites starting of control measures to manage populations levels of overgrazing found on private back in 2005 there were already visible - including culling - and strong incentives land with no legal protections at all. With signs of high grazing pressure in protected (regulatory) for control on farmland. the exclusion of livestock in the majority lands and that impact has grown over time. It’s generally less contentious to control of protected areas, the prime suspects of As a consequence of inadequate man- introduced species than endemic species overgrazing appear to be overabundant agement of grazing animals on protected like kangaroos and this is undoubtedly native grazers, mainly kangaroos. What’s land, monitoring has shown three things something which has to change. The time becoming clearer is that kangaroo popula- have occurred. Firstly, grazing impacts in has come for us to step up and take the tions need to be properly managed so their protected areas increased substantially. place of natural predators where those overabundance doesn’t lead to overgrazing Secondly, some protected areas showed numbers have diminished. which impacts thousands of other native equally severe effects of grazing that would species. normally be found on private land with no Researchers suggested the loss of preda- conservation protections in place. Thirdly, tors from many ecosystems has allowed the character of landscapes is set to change herbivore populations to expand rapidly due to the next generation of edible seed- which in turn has led to overgrazing caus- lings being lost from both protected and ing changes in habitat, a key threat to unprotected ecosystems. biodiversity. Overgrazing has caused native Researchers argue that a few species birds such as the diamond firetail to decline should not be allowed to compromise the Send questions to: across south-eastern Australia, primar- existence of native plants - even if they are [email protected] Need somewhere to hunt?

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Maximum velocity loading for rifle cartridges

hould I load my rifle cartridges after exiting the barrel was falling apart due you with figures but at 300m the difference to obtain maximum velocity? to centrifugal force - it was spinning too in projectile drop is 46mm and the remain- That’s a question I’ve been asked fast to remain intact. It was a good lesson ing energy difference is 160ft-lb. S many times over the years and learned and one I’ve never forgotten - you Given the average shooter under field the answer I give now is different to what can spend a lot of time and burn a lot of conditions can’t hold steady enough to I would have given back in the day. What powder chasing higher velocities to achieve notice the 46mm drop difference at 300m, people really wanted to know was if reload- very little benefit. obtaining only an extra 160ft-lb of energy ing to achieve maximum velocities for field hardly seems worthwhile. Furthermore, hunting was worthwhile, did we find greater the extra powder used for maximum loads benefit by using more powder to obtain that ...you can spend means we only manage 203 reloads from a higher velocity? 500g tin of powder instead of 220 reloads I can well remember, many years ago, a lot of time and at the lower loading, while the higher pres- sitting at a bench with my Sako 22-250 burn a lot of sure necessary to achieve this maximum endeavouring to extract maximum veloc- velocity would reduce barrel and cartridge ity from it. I was using 40gr projectiles and powder chasing brass life to some extent. Another bonus quickly obtained the magic 4000fps on the of the lighter load is it’s more pleasant to chronograph screen. I slowly increased the higher velocities shoot and the reduced muzzle blast will powder load until 4150fps appeared then not scare game and land owners for miles increased to a load which showed 4200fps to achieve very around. for the first shot. If there was substantial benefit to be However, the next two shots didn’t little benefit. had using maximum loads for much higher record at all on the chronograph and I velocity I would certainly recommend couldn’t figure out why, the only clue being Another approach is to examine remain- doing so, but after years of being there and that another target placed about 10m behind ing energy and projectile drop figures for doing that - then analysing the pros and the screen showed no bullet holes from the starting and maximum loadings, on targets cons - unless you are hunting dangerous last two bullets fired. at about 300m. For this we’ll look at my game where every ft-lb of energy counts, I After some discussion I decided to place favourite cartridge, the .243 Winchester, honestly can’t see the benefit of using maxi- another target about one metre behind the using 80gr projectiles with a ballistic coef- mum loads for most field shooting. screen and fired another cartridge. Again no ficient of 0.28 being zeroed at 150m and velocity recorded on the chronograph and shooting at a 300m target. on examining the target, no bullet hole was The start load for this cartridge was evident, just a lot of tiny shotgun pellet-like 35gr of AR2208 powder giving a velocity of holes spread over the target. It was now 3150fps while the maximum load was 38gr obvious what was happening: the projectile of AR2208 giving 3400fps. I won’t bombard

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10 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 11 Clay Target Q&A WITH RUSSELL MARK

I’m interested in having my shot- that’s too heavy in the stock and therefore, gun balanced correctly after being when testing the balance, the barrels flip Qtold it’s too ‘barrel heavy’ which upwards, you can either take some walnut I’m led to believe causes me to shoot incon- out of the back of your stock or add a barrel sistently. Can you confirm where the shot- weight or some lead tape underneath the gun should be balanced and how to achieve barrels until the desired balance point is this? Thanks in advance. reached. Liam Wilson, NSW As previously mentioned, the balance point is located at the hinge pin and this Reputable manufacturers will take should also be roughly the halfway point great care in ensuring their shotgun from your hand gripping the stock and your A is balanced virtually on the hinge pin other hand supporting the barrels holding where the gun’s action joins the barrel and the fore-end. fore-end. If you close the firearm and rest You mention in your question you it on your closed hand, the shotgun should thought the unbalanced shotgun was caus- not fall either forwards or backwards. ing you to be inconsistent in your shooting You describe your shotgun as ‘barrel and this could certainly be the case. I’d heavy’ which means the stock is too light never advise anyone to shoot in competi- for the barrels, something which is easily tion with anything other than a perfectly rectified. The simplest way is to unscrew balanced shotgun and am always critical of your recoil pad and place some alfoil in your custom stock makers who sell clients a new stock bolt hole. On top of the alfoil pack a stock, fitted to the millimetre to perfectly lead fishing weight into the hole tightly - suit a particular body shape, but no time has but not tightly enough it has to be forced been spent rebalancing the firearm. I con- as this may crack your stock - and fill the sider this attribute as important as length of remaining void with some more alfoil so pull, drop or cast. there’s no chance of the weight coming Firearms can become unbalanced simply loose. by fitting a new recoil pad. Many factory- Loosely put the pad back on the stock made shotguns are fitted with very thin, and after a bit of trial and error with differ- lightweight recoil pads but adding a longer, ent size weights you should get the shotgun heavy duty pad will often push the shotgun to balance above the hinge pin. If you need to appear back-heavy and therefore some- to unscrew the action of the gun through what harder to control, particularly under I’d never advise anyone the stock bolt hole, the weight can easily be pressure when adrenalin and removed and replaced again. Make sure it’s an increased heart rate come to shoot in competition in tight because if it works loose this will into play. drastically change the actual measurable with anything other recoil felt through your firearm. A loose than a perfectly lead weight will act like an increased pay- load of shot reacting against your shoulder. Send questions to: balanced shotgun If by chance you’re shooting a shotgun [email protected]

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12 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 13 Got a question - ask our TOP SHOTS • John Dunn • Paul Miller • Greg Riemer • Geoff Smith • Barry Wilmot? • Rod Pascoe email: [email protected] My brother-in-law has bought To gain approval for any kind of indoor or Sporting shotgun and found it was shooting a Bergara break action single outdoor range, you need to be either a club, the centre of the pattern with both barrels shot in 45/70 calibre. We want an incorporated association or an entity 50/50 elevation but about three inches right to reload using Hornady 325gr approved to run training courses. You’d then of centre. Q need to complete an application to establish I told him the simple rule to remember FTX projectiles but the ADI reloading manual quotes three different loads - one the range, including extensive civil engi- is you adjust the comb in the same direc- for trap door rifles with a pressure limit of neering and architectural documentation, tion you want the pattern to move. If you 28,000psi, one for lever action rifles (limit detailing its proposed construction and loca- want the pattern a little higher for, say, Trap 40,000psi) and one for modern rifles (limit tion. After this, local government approval shooting you move the comb up, if you want 50,000psi). We can’t find any information on would be required. your gun to shoot a little flatter for Sporting what pressure the Bergara rifle can handle. Indoor ranges must be fully enclosed, have or Skeet targets or shooting in the paddock, Can you help and suggest a load using ADI a bullet trapping system and ventilation to you lower the comb. Powder and 325gr projectiles? remove lead fumes. Shots must not be able A good way to establish accurate pattern Morris Gill, via email to escape the range, so all the downrange placement and gun fit is to shoot at a pattern areas outside of the bullet trap, for air rifles plate or large piece of paper or cardboard I believe the rifle you’re talking at least, must be clad with materials that pel- positioned at eye level 16 yards from the about is a Bergara Model BA13, lets cannot penetrate. Examples are 75mm muzzle. Fire three shots from each barrel at boxlock actioned single shot. thick concrete, 103mm bricks, 100mm con- two separate pieces of paper for an accurate It’s a modern rifle with a strong crete blocks, 125mm hardwood or 150mm pattern position from each barrel then mea- A softwood. All lighting and pipe work must sure the centre of your pattern back to the action and would be capable of handling the loadings shown in ADI’s Modern Rifles be protected and there must be no doorways point you aimed at. Tables. downrange from your firing point. If, like my mate, your barrel is shooting However, to be on the safe side with While this may seem to be an excessive three inches to the right then move the a new rifle I’d start with 52gr of AR2219 set of requirements, the authorities have comb 3/16ths of an inch to the left to make powder behind the 325gr projectile which a duty to protect the public from harm and the pattern move to the left. In other words, should give you about 2000fps. After firing, medical history is littered with examples at 16 yards you move the comb 1/16th of an inspect the cartridge case for pressure of air gun injuries. Most sensible shoot- inch for every inch you want to move your signs and, if none, increase the load by 1gr ers would ensure safety to their families of pattern, whether that be left, right, up or increments until you’re happy with it. Again course, but as with so many other areas of down. You determine direction by looking for safety reasons do not load above ADI’s life, legislation is formulated to protect us down on the stock with the gun facing for- maximum load quoted figures. from the actions of the idiot minority. ward. With adjustable shotgun ribs, however, Barry Wilmot Geoff Smith it’s the opposite where lowering the rib at the front raises the pattern and raising the I was wondering if it’s legally I’ve just bought a shotgun with rib at the front lowers the pattern. permissible for me to set up a adjustable comb and want to Paul Miller plinking range in my house. I know how to use it to make have a long hallway (15m) and my gun shoot its patterns I’m just about to start reload- Q Q ing .223 Rem for my Howa would like to practise with an air rifle. where I want them to go. It’s a Sporter and Col Clacy, Qld I believe it should pattern about 50 per cent Mini Action. I have 68gr over and 50 per cent below the aim point. Qboat-tail hollow-point, 55gr Sadly, the days of legally being Graham, Canberra full metal jacket (FMJ) and 70gr spitzer pro- able to even plink with an air gun jectiles. Are ADI Benchmark 1 and AR2209 at home are over, pretty much This is a timely question as I just powders good choices and is it okay to throughout Australia. While we had an old mate of mine call about reload these three projectiles with the same A amount of powder - the 68gr and 70gr for have separately emailed you the full answer the very same thing. He asked supplied by the Weapons Licensing people what direction the pattern moves hunting and 55gr for target shooting? A Ron Manning, via email in Queensland, the gist of their reasoning is when you move the comb left or right. He’d as follows. patterned his 12-gauge over-and-under

14 Australian Shooter From your question it sounds like Do I need higher rings? Could it have been you want to use components you damaged in transit? I am totally at a loss. already have on hand for load- Shane Slater, Qld Sign up to Aing into other cartridges. How- the SSAA ever, you may have to look at a new set of It’s unusual to find a scope and powder/bullet combinations which are fit for mount combination that can’t purpose for your new rifle, be it hunting or be sighted-in using the internal Lifeblood team target shooting. scope adjustments but, as you’ve A THIS YEAR BROUGHT with it a challenging AR2209 is a slow-burning powder not found, it does happen. I spoke to Robert start for many Australians but has also generally considered a candidate for the Tobler of RDT Products about your problem shown how well we can pull together in .223 Remington and ADI’s Handloaders’ and we agreed a higher set of mounts won’t times of need. We believe SSAA members Guide doesn’t list any loads for that powder. solve it and suggest you try the following. are particularly generous and that’s why Benchmark 1 (BM1) is an excellent choice First up, check the bottoms of each ring we’re encouraging all members to once for projectiles up to around 52 grains. Your are in the same plane. With the rings fitted again consider donating blood. While this 55, 68 and 70gr bullets require something a to the rifle, take the top off each and ensure isn’t an emergency scenario as the bushfires were, there’s an ongoing need for little bit slower burning and, if you want to the bottom of each ring is level with the blood donations and the good news is most stay with the ADI brand, my choice would other using a straight edge such as a small people are eligible to donate. be Benchmark 8208 which has a burning steel rule. If they’re not you may need to As proof of that generosity, last year our rate between BM2 and AR2206H and will shim one or the other up until they’re level SSAA Lifeblood team ranked number 47 work equally well with all three projectiles then sight-in the rifle to see if that makes throughout the country for most donations. listed. One big advantage of BM8208 is it’s any difference. Some of you may remember the program a very versatile powder and can be used in If they are level then shims can also be being called Red25 - this is effectively the same program but now called Lifeblood. a wide range of cartridges from the diminu- used to bring the cross-hairs on to target. If Coming in at No. 47 is a tremendous tive .17 Remington Fireball right up to the you need additional down movement shim achievement but we think we can do even .458 Winchester Magnum. the front base, if you need additional up better. In 2017 we placed number 72 so On the second part of your question, I movement shim the back. How much shim we’re trending in the right direction - but recommend you make a dedicated load for to use is the vexed question and the follow- there’s still lots of room to grow. each bullet type and each application. I’d ing information comes from an old Bushnell By the end of January this year we’d start with 22gr of BM8208 for the 55gr FMJ shim guide Robert sent me. made 140 donations, saving around 440 lives in the process. That’s a great achieve- and work up from there. For the 68 and With an 8.2cm (3.25") ring spacing a ment but we want to show the rest of 70gr projectiles, 20 grains would make a shim .025mm (.001") thick will shift the Australia how generous and dedicated the good starting load. point of impact 6.35mm (.25") at 22.8m sports shooting community is. After all, the Rod Pascoe (25yds), 12.7mm at 45.7m (50yds), 25.4mm SSAA is now more than 195,000 strong so (1") at 68.5m (75yds) or 50.8mm at 91.4m placing in the top 10 should certainly be (100yds). achievable. I’m hoping someone can help With the same ring spacing a .127mm If you’re a SSAA member and are with sighting-in my scope, already donating blood - or you’d like to (.005") shim - the thickness of a Coke can - a Vortex 6-24x50 on a 308 start donating - make sure you become a will shift the point of impact 31.7mm (1.25") calibre Sig Sauer 101 Alaska member of the SSAA Lifeblood team. You Q at 22.8m, 63.5mm (2.5") at 45.7m, 127mm can join the group and have your dona- using MDT mounts recommended by the (5") at 68.5m and 254mm (10") at 91.4m. tions contribute to our tally by asking your gunshop. I’ve sighted in other scopes with A wider than recommended ring spac- consultant when you call to book your no problem but this one has me stumped. ing will obviously change those numbers appointment or by joining the Sporting The elevation can’t go any higher, the bell but at least they’ll give you an idea about Shooters’ Association of Australia team of the scope is not touching the barrel and online. what changes can be made to the point of I’m sure the mounts are tight but not too Every donation helps and, if you’re impact. Don’t use any more shims than nec- tight. When sighting-in, the cross-hairs are unable to donate, you can always encourage essary as the shimming process can bend friends or family who are eligible to join our well below the centre, almost off the paper the scope tube and mess with reliability of Lifeblood team. target. The scope was a gift from my son- turret adjustments. Hope this helps. More at www.donateblood.com.au in-law, sent from America and brand new. John Dunn

Australian Shooter 15 27 Beaconsfield St, Margate, Qld 4019 ABN: 94 072 207 935 Ph: 07 3883 1733 Fax: 07 3284 6611 Mobile: 0419 644 269 www.cleaverfirearms.com

MAUSER M18 308win 5 Shot Blued Finish, FEDERAL Syntech Bucket Synthetic Stock Detachable Magazine, 9mm, 124gr, Coated, LRN Threaded Muzzle SPECIAL $99 /per 250 LUCKY 13 Adler B220 SPECIAL NEW $699 7 Shot Magazine Tube NEW $115 Including Gunsmith Fitting LUCKY 13 Mauser M18 NEW $139 KRISS Vector 22 CRB 243win & 308win ADLER B220AW All Weather VOLQUARTSEN Summit 17WSM 6 Shot, 22lr, 10 Shot, Category C Semi Auto 10 Shot Magazine 12 Gauge, 5 Shot, Straight Pull Stainless Steel, I Fluted Barrel, Laminated LUCKY 13 Adler B220 16" Barrel with Threaded Muzzle NEW $139 CATEGORY A Stock Staight Pull Ambidextrous Available In: Black, FDE & Alpine White PPU 357 Magnum Nickel Finish, 20" Barrel Supe rQuick Straight Pull Action Extended Tac Cocking Handle NEW $1095 158gr, JHP, Ammo Synthetic Stock & Forend NEW $2629 NEW $54.90 B709 or AG Permit required for this item SPECIAL $24.90 /per 50 NEW $535 $249 /per 500

ADLER B220PG Pistol Grip KRISS Vector CRB Gen II 12 Gauge, 5 Shot, Straight Pull 9mm, 17 Shot, Category D Semi Auto CATEGORY A 16" Barrel Heat Shroud SAUER 100 Ceratech Available In: Black, FDE, OD Green, Grey & Alpine White Grey Ice Ceracoated Finish Synthetic Stock, Black Finish, 20" Barrel VOLQUARTSEN Black Mamba LUCKY 13 Adler B220 NEW $2595 Detachable Mag, Threaded Muzzle Available Synthetic Stock & Forend Arctic Camo Striaght Pull AR/M4 AG Permit required for this item In: 223rem, 6.5 Creedmoor & 308win NEW $489 22lr, 10 Shot, Two Mags Stock Adapter NEW $949 WINCHESTER Supex X Limited Edition Cased Ammo 22lr, 36GR, Hollow Point With NEW $109 Available In: Wooden Collectors Box LUCKY 13 Sauer 100/101 5.5” with Compensator SPECIAL $32.50 /per 400 $195 /per 2400 7” with Compnasator KRISS DMK22C 10 Shot Spare Magazines ADLER B230T Tactical NEW $2665 12 Gauge, 5 Shot, Straight Pull 22lr, 10 Shot, Category C Semi Auto Available In: 223rem, CATEGORY A 16" Threaded Barrel 243-308, 6.5 Creed 20” Barrel, Detachable Magazine Full Alloy Billet Construction NEW $139 Supplied With Two Magazines Available In: Black, FDE, OD Green, Grey & Alpine White Pistol Grip, with Pic Rail NEW $1349 NEW $615 B709 or AG Permit required for this item

WINCHESTER 22 Z Long ADLER B230T Tactical COLT Python 357mag 22LR, 29GR, LRN, 770 FPS 5 shot Spare Magazine 6, Shot, Stainless Steel SPECIAL $69.90 /per 500 NEW $69.90 Colt Timber Grips Available In: 4.25" & 6" Barrel NEW $3050 KRISS DMK22C LOVA MDT XRS Chassis System 22lr, 10 Shot, Category C Semi Auto Supplied with Two Hand Grips 16" Threaded Barrel One Vertical / One Normal Full Alloy Billet Construction M Lok Forend, Alloy Bedded Available In: Black, FDE, OD Green, Grey & Alpine White LITHGOW LA102 Crossover BLACK OR FDE LUCKY 13 Adler B220 Pic Rail COLT King Cobra 357mag NEW $1495 Cerakoted Finish, Pic Rail Available For: NEW $99 6 Shot, Stainless Steel B709 or AG Permit required for this item Threaded Muzzle, Synthetic Stock Rem 700 SA RH Colt timber Grips, 4.25" Barrel Available In: Tikka T3/T3X SA RH WINCHESTER Super Target NEW $2190 223rem Titanium & Black Rem 783 SA RH 12 Gauge, 7 1/2, 28 Gram KRISS DMK22 22lr 308win Titanium & Black Savage SA RH SPECIAL $90.90 /per 250 10 Shot Spare Magazine SPECIAL NEW $1265 Howa 1500 SA RH NEW $39.90 NEW $575

LUCKY 13 Lithgow LA102 MDT PolyMetal www.cleaverfirearms.com COLT COBRA TALO 38 Special AICS Style LUCKY 13 Adler B220 10 Shot Spare Magazines $$$ Monthly Prizes !!! See the Universal Match Saver Two Round 5 Shot, 2” Barrel KRISS Vector CRB22 22lr Available In: 243/308win Etc NEW $59.90 Stainless Steel, Colt Timber Grips 10 Shot Spare Magazine 223rem, 243-308, 6.5 Creed 10 Shot Magazine specials first and subscribe today NEW $1490 NEW $39.90 NEW $129 NEW $59.90 EXCLUSIVE WEB DEALS! 16 Australian Shooter 27 Beaconsfield St, Margate, Qld 4019 ABN: 94 072 207 935 Ph: 07 3883 1733 Fax: 07 3284 6611 Mobile: 0419 644 269 www.cleaverfirearms.com

LUCKY 13 Lithgow LA102 MDT PolyMetal www.cleaverfirearms.com COLT COBRA TALO 38 Special AICS Style LUCKY 13 Adler B220 10 Shot Spare Magazines $$$ Monthly Prizes !!! See the Universal Match Saver Two Round 5 Shot, 2” Barrel KRISS Vector CRB22 22lr Available In: 243/308win Etc NEW $59.90 Stainless Steel, Colt Timber Grips 10 Shot Spare Magazine 223rem, 243-308, 6.5 Creed 10 Shot Magazine specials first and subscribe today NEW $1490 NEW $39.90 NEW $129 NEW $59.90 EXCLUSIVE WEB DEALS! Australian Shooter 17 For your eyes only CZ's latest offering exclusive to Australia Con Kapralos

he CZ 527 MDT Varmint in .223 after a small calibre platform with the noticeable squared sections, two on top of Remington is a rifle which blends micro-length Mauser action and its Control the receiver containing the milled 16mm the old with the new. Checking CZ’s Round Feed method of case manipulation dovetail grooves for scope mounting, T European and US websites there’s from the magazine to the chamber and out another squared section on the rear left of no mention of this model and a call to through the ejection port. the receiver containing the oversize bolt Winchester Australia confirmed it’s for our The review rifle, supplied with MDT release button and the fourth on the rear domestic market only. Such is the interest LSS-XL2 aluminium chassis, FAB Defence right for the safety lever. in rifles with chassis stocks the CZ 527 buttstock, Core-CP adjustable comb and The ejection port on the right measures Varmint barrelled action, with its classical baffle tube together with the CZ 527 55mm x 20mm and forward of the receiver design features, would be a perfect candi- Varmint barrelled action in .223 Remington ring is a small gas port which deflects hot date for the MDT LSS-XL2 (Generation-2) is made to be shot off a bench or prone, its gases away from the shooter’s face as a aluminium chassis. Winchester Australia forte being long-range target or varmint safety measure. supplied us with a review rifle in .223 hunting. It measures 1030-1110mm (depen- Remington calibre for fans of the CZ dant on buttstock position) and weighs Bolt marque. 3.96kg. This is 145mm x 15mm and has a true micro-length Mauser Control Round Feed Up close Receiver (CRF) design. A full-length rotating claw The CZ 527 is probably the most popular This measures 73mm x 30mm and is extractor and ejector slot in the locking barrelled action in the world for shooters primarily of a cylindrical profile with four lug mates up with the ejector blade in the >

CZ scope-mounting Micro-length Mauser-style dovetails on the receiver bolt on the CZ 527. accept rings made by CZ and other manufacturers.

18 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 19 * * Free Delivery Free Delivery AnywhereAnywhere inin Australia Australia forfor phonephone and intenet internet Free Delivery orders over $200. DEALERS LICENCE NO: 409564311 orders over $200 CZ 527 MDT Varmint rifle in .223 Remington *Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. AnywhereAnywhere inin Australia Australia *Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. OPENING HOURS: MON - FRI: 9AM - 5PM for phone and intenet$15 flat rate post SAT: 8AM - 3PM

for phone and internet $870 $420 VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x40 4.5-14x50 AO LR ------$915 VXVX-II-I 4-12x40 3-9x40 ------$380 $940 $420 VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x40 6.5-20x40 LR AO ------$860 on any orderVX-II 1-4x20 VX-II 3-9x50 ------$475 $910 orders over $200. VX-3 4.5-14x50 $420 VX-3 6.5-20x40 EFR ------$910 PH: 02 9882 2689 VX-IIVX-II 2-7x33 4-12x40 AO ------$560 $1050 $460 VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x50 6.5-20x40 LR LR------$915 VX-IIVX-II 3-9x40 4-12x50 ------$595 $965 $555 VX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 6.5-20x50 AO LR TGT ------$1055 orders over $200 VX-II 3-9x50 VX-II 6-18x40 AO------$635 $1035 anywhereRangefinders in $620 VX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 8.5-25x50 EFR LR TGT ------$1135 VX-IIVX-II 4-12x40 6-18x40 AO AO TGT ------$690 $1050 RX-RANGEFINDERS 600 ------$275 $665 VX-3 6.5-20x40 LR $285 VX-II 4-12x50 RX-600 VX-3 1.5-5x20 ------$525 $1225 RX- 750TBR ------$370 $690 VX-3 6.5-20x50 LR TGT $405 VX-IIVX-3 6-18x40 1.75-6x32 AO ------$525 RX-750TBR $1335 RX- I000 ------$445 $760 VX-3 8.5-25x50 LR TGT $485 VX-IIVX-3 6-18x40 2.5-8x36 AO TGT ------$525 * AustraliaRX-1000 RX- I000TBR ------$500 $595 Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. $550 VX-3VX-3 1.5-5x20 3.5-10x40 ------$615 RX-1000TBR $595 Scopes VX-3VX-3 1.75-6x32 3.5-10x50 ------$700 VX-3 4.5-14x40 ------$700$595 Call us for the best prices VX-ISCOPES 2-7x33 ------$275 VX-3 2.5-8x36 $295 VX-3 4.5-14x40 AO ------$750$690 on other products VX-I 2-7x33 VX-3 3.5-10x40 VX-I 3-9x40 ------$295 $800 *Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. $325 VX-3VX-3 3.5-10x50 4.5-14x40 LR------$835 VX-I 3-9x40 3-9x50 ------$380 $420 VX-3 4.5-14x50 ------$835$800 VX-I 3-9x50 4-12x40 ------$380 VX-3 4.5-14x40

CALDWELLCALDWELL $220 $220 Rock RestRock Rest $125 $125 Rock JnrRock Rest Jnr Rest $380 $380 Rock CompRock CompRest Rest $320 $320 RCBS Lead SledLead Plus Sled Plus RCBS $455 BACKPACKSBACK PACKS Chargemaster 1500 Scales $335 Fire Controlt Rest $455 Fire Control Res $99 $345$345 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $375 $360 Electronic Muffs $99 2200 2200 Chargemaster Dispenser $415 Electronic Muffs $415$415 Chargemaster Dispenser $625 2800 2800 Chargemaster Combo $670 OPENING HOURS: Chargemaster Combo $720$720 $58 4500 4500 FL Die Sets (most cals) $70 $240 FL Die Sets (most cals) FRANKFORDFRANKFORD ARSENAL ARSENAL Diablo $240 $640 $135 Diablo Pro-melt Furnace $710 DS750 Digital Scale $135 $179 Pro-melt Furnace $155 DS750 Digital Scale Hyper Hydro $179 Vibratory Case Cleaner $155 $79 $79 Hyper Hydro $310 Vibratory Case Cleaner ElectronicElectronic Calipers Calipers Hyper Vent $310 Electronic Digital Calipers $120 $45 $45 Hyper Vent Electronic Digital Calipers $120 Impact Bullet Puller Massive Trijicon Clearance $215 $160 Impact Bullet Puller Monster Fanny $215 Uniflow Powder Measure Monster Fanny Uniflow Powder Measure $160 MON - FRI: 9AM - 5PM $120 $80 Nanno Fanny $120 Hand Priming Tool $90 Nanno Fanny $159 Hand Priming Tool SHOOTERS RIDGE Reactor SHOOTERS RIDGE Trijicon Accupower Scopes $159 Trim Pro Case Trimmer Kit $185 $125 $299 Trim Pro Case Trimmer Kit $195 $125 SuperdayReactor StandardStandard Bi-Pod Bipod $299 TrimTrim Mate Mate CaseCase Prep Centre $255 $175 Superday $430 $95 Pivot Bi-Pod $175 Terra Glide Duffel RC-130 Reloading Scale $110 Pivot Bipod $240$430 RC-130 Reloading Scale $65 $65 Ultra DayTerra Glide Duffel $599$599 Front FrontLeather Leather Bag Bag This Month’s Vortex New RCRC SupremeSupreme MasterMaster KitKit $69 $69 Insane Tikka Clearance $240 ra Day Rear LeatherRear Leather Bag Bag SAT: 8AM - 3PM Ult Quick Change Powder Measure $160 Specials Limited stock Meopta Optika 6 Quick Change Powder Measure $160 Vortex Fury HD500 Trijicon Accupower 2.5-10x56 ADDRESS: 19 BABBAGE RD • ROSEVILLE CHASE • NSW 2069 • PHONE: 02 9882 2689 www.magnumsports.com.au Green or red duplex was $1340, just * PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE $970 DEALERS LICENSE NO. 409564311 10x42, 5-5000 yard Tikka Lite 20" threaded 6.5CM Optika 6 1-6x24 SFP RD 4C $750 Rangefinding binos Was $1215, VX-Inow just 4-12x40 $895 $420 VX-3 4.5-14x40Optika AO 6 1-6x24 SFP RD BDC3$870 $750 Was $2495 Add a factory muzzleVX-II brake for3-9x40 just $100 ------Trijicon Accupower $380 3-9x40VX-3 4.5-14x50Optika LR6 1-6x24 ------SFP Z-Plex $915 $680 The FAB Defence reflectivethis month measurement just $1999 Add a spare factory 6-shotVX-IIVX-II mag1-4x20 3-9x50 for just $55 ------Red or green duplex$420 $475 or MOAVX-3VX-3 dot was 4.5-14x40 6.5-20x40 LR AO ------$940 $860 buttstock and Core-CP $1385, just $795 adjustable comb. VX-IIVX-II 2-7x33 4-12x40 AO ------$420 $560 VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x50 6.5-20x40Optika EFR6 3-18x50 ------SFP BDC $910 $820 10x42 Binos Optika 6 3-18x50 SFP Z-Plex $820 Vortex CrossfireWas $425 HD Tikka Varmint StainlessVX-IIVX-II 20" threaded 3-9x40 4-12x50 .308 Win ------Trijicon Accupower$460 $595 4-16x50VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x50 6.5-20x40Optika LR LR------6 3-18x50 SFP Dichro$1050 $915 BDC $880 this month just $299 Was $1780, now just $1359 Red or green duplex, red mil-square or red Optika 6 3-18x50 SFP RD 4C $880 Rangefinders Free factory muzzleVX-II brakeVX-II 3-9x50valued 6-18x40 at $200 AO------MOA was $1675$555 $635, just $1145VX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 6.5-20x50Optika AO LR6 3-18x50 TGT SFP ------RD BDC3$1055$965 $880 Vortex Impact 850 Add a spare factory 6-shot mag for just $55 Optika 6 3-18x50 FFP RD MRAD $940 RX-RANGEFINDERS 600 ------$275 VX-IIVX-II 4-12x40 6-18x40 AO AO TGT ------Trijicon Accupoint$620 $690 ScopesVX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 8.5-25x50Optika EFR LR6 3-18x50 TGT FFP ------$1135 RD ZPlus$1035 $940 RX-600 Was $425 $285 The FAB Defence RX- 750TBRthis month ------just $370 VX-IIVX-3 4-12x50 1.5-5x20 ------$665$525 VX-3 6.5-20x40 LR $1050 buttstock is Laser Rangefinder$349 RX-750TBR Tikka$405 CTR 20" threaded .308 or 24" Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24 amber duplex Optika 6 3-18x56 SFP BDC $880 adjustable through RX- I000Vortex ------Razor HD 4000 $445threadedVX-IIVX-3 6.5CM 6-18x40 1.75-6x32 AO ------Was $1845$690 $525, just $1195VX-3 6.5-20x50Optika LR TGT 6 3-18x56 SFP Z-Plex$1225 $880 five positions. Optika 6 3-18x56 SFP Dichro BDC $940 RX-1000 Was$485 $1965, nowVX-II just 6-18x40 $1595 AO TGT $760 RX- I000TBRUp to 4000 ------yards ability Add a $500factory muzzle VX-3brake for 2.5-8x36 just $130 ------$525 VX-3 8.5-25x50Optika LR TGT 6 3-18x56 SFP RD 4C$1335 $940 RX-1000TBR RangefinderWas $995 $550 normallyVX-3VX-3 $260 1.5-5x20 3.5-10x40 ------Trijicon Accupoint$595 $615 1-6x24 Optika 6 3-18x56 FFP RD MRAD $999 this month just $759 Add a spare factory 10-shot mag for just Green duplex or green circle dot Optika 6 3-18x56 FFP RD ZPlus $999 Scopes $120 - normallyVX-3VX-3 1.75-6x32 $240 3.5-10x50 ------Was $2345$595 $700, just $1599 Vortex Diamondback Spotter VortexVX-ISCOPES Diamondback 2-7x33 20-60x80 ------Angled $275 VX-3VX-3 2.5-8x36 4.5-14x40 ------$595 $700 Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP BDC $940 Spotting scope Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-10x56Call us forOptika the 6 4.5-27x50 best SFPprices Z-Plex $940 wall of the receiver and case ejection is Safety and trigger works but something more refined would VX-I 2-7x33 3-9x40 ------Was $895 $295$295 VX-3VX-3 3.5-10x40 4.5-14x40 AO ------Duplex or mil-dot$690 $750 in amber or green Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP Dichro 4D $999 this month just $715 Crazy Steyr Was $1825, just $1145 on otherOptika products 6 4.5-27x50 SFP RDR 4C $999 unparalleled. Loaded ammunition from the To the rear of the bolt handle notch is a flat have been better with a smaller lever and VX-I 3-9x40 3-9x50 ------RFP $380Deal$325 VX-3VX-3 3.5-10x50 4.5-14x40 LR------$800 $835 Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP RD BDC3 $999 detachable five-round magazine slides up on in the receiver which contains the two- less lever travel from ‘safe’ to ‘fire’. Steyr RFP 22LR Optika 6 4.5-27x50 FFP RD MRAD $1100 VX-I 3-9x50 4-12x40 ------semi-auto $380$420 pistol VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x40 4.5-14x50 ------Trijicon Accupoint$800 $835 2.5-12.5x42 to the bolt face and is controlled from that position safety lever which, in the uncocked The trigger is of a single set design Cased with one mag Green duplex or MOA dot moment until the bolt is drawn back and the ‘fire’ position, is set horizontal with a small and fully adjustable for weight of pull, a Was $715 - just $299 Was $2175, just $1490 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP Dichro BDC $1260 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP RD Mil-dot 3 $1260 case ejected. red dot on the receiver flat apex indicating thin alloy trigger blade extending into the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP RD MRAD $1350 The bolt body and locking lugs are highly the firing mechanism is not blocked and the triggerguard area another uncomplicated Deadiold BDC Reticle Trijicon Accupoint 4-16x50CALDWELL CALDWELL Was $450, this month just $349 Steyr Ranger .308 Green mil-dot or MOA-dot polished steel with only the bolt handle and bolt unlocked. feature. Last available, now discontinued. Reduced Was $2345, now $1599Rock RestRock Rest $220 $220 shroud matte blued. The bolt handle shank When the rifle is cocked, pushing this to clear, amazing value. Normally $3680 High round mag kit & 2x10-rnd mags Rock JnrRock Rest Jnr Rest $125 $125 is well profiled and facilitates the 90-degree large lever forward towards the vertical Magazine Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x50 Adjustable cheekpiece, muzzle brake, Rock Comp Rest $380 bolt lift, ensuring the handle clears any blocks the trigger mechanism and bolt This is of a single stack manner and holds integral bipod Green or amber in mil-dot orRock duplex Comp Rest $380 BACKDeadhold PACKS BDC Reticle Further reducedRCBS to $2395 Was $2560, just $1570 CZ 455 Thumbhole Carbon .22LR scope ocular housing. A small round bolt handle simultaneously while covering the five rounds in .223 Remington. Being made BACKPACKS RCBS Lead SledLead Plus Sled Plus Reduced to $935$320 $320 WasVortex $349 ,Crossfire this month II 3-9x40 just $289 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $335 knob, devoid of chequering, helps the oper- red dot on the receiver flat, a visual indica- entirely of steel, it clips into place in the 2200 2200 $345$345 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $375 Fire ContrFire olControl Rest Rest $455 $455 Chargemaster Dispenser $360 ator cycle the bolt easily. tion it’s now ‘safe’. This two-position safety magazine well of the MDT chassis securely Steyr SSG-04A1 .308 and .300 Win Mag Electronic Muffs $99 2800 2800 $415$415 Chargemaster Dispenser Now Stocking$415 S&BElectronic Muffs CZ 455 Carbon Mini Sniper$99 and is removed by pressing the button on Was $5170, limitedChargemaster stock at $3875 Combo This month’s$625 specials 4500 4500 $720$720 Chargemaster Combo PMII 3-20x50$670 Ultra Short Reduced to $1050 the left of the chassis body. Deadhold BDC Reticle FL Die Sets (most cals) S&B PMII 3-20x50$58 Ultra Short P4FL DiabloWasVortex Diablo$395 Crossfire, this month II 4-12x40 just $310 $240$240 FL Die Sets (most cals) Was $5760, limited$70 stock atFRANKFORD $2995 ARSENAL Pro-melt Furnace PMII 5-20x50$640 Ultra Short FRANKFORD ARSENAL Hyper Hydro $179 Pro-melt Furnace $710 CZ 455 Synthetic Carbon .22LR Barrel Hyper Hydro $179Nite Site Spotter Xtreme S&B PMII 5-20x50 Ultra Short P4FL Hand-held NightVibratory Vision System Case Cleaner $155 DS750DS750 Digital Digital Scale ScaleReduced to $799$135 $135 Made by the cold hammer forging method, Hyper Vent $310 Vibratory Case Cleaner Was $5075, limited$155 stock at $2995 Hyper Vent Just$310 $899, save $1000, was $1899 ElectronicElectronic Calipers Calipers $79 $79 the barrel is of a #6-contour varmint Monster Fanny $215 ElectronicElectronic Digital Digital Calipers Calipers $120 $120 profile, 610mm (24") long and matte blued MonsterDeadhold FBDCanny Reticle $215 Uniflow Powder Measure S&B PMII 1-8x25$160 ShortdotImpact CC CQB2Impact Bullet Bullet Puller Puller $45 $45 NannoWasVortex $535 Fanny Crossfire, this month II 6-18x44 just $385 $120 Uniflow Powder Measure Was $4510, limited $160 stock at CZ 455 Carbon MDT $3495 Reduced to to match the rest of the action. It has no Nanno Fanny $120 Hand Priming Tool Exos$80 $1149 iron sights and the crown is neatly finished Reactor $159 Hand Priming Tool $90 Reactor $159 SauerTrim Sale Pro Case Trimmer Kit $185 SHOOTERS RIDGE in a recessed target-style profile. Internally, Superday $299 Trim Pro Case Trimmer KitS&B Exos $195 1-8x24 FD7 SHOOTERS RIDGE Trim Mate Case Prep CentreWas $3095, limited $255 stock atStandard Bi-Pod CZ 527 Varmint MTR in$125 .222rem the one in 9" twist is superbly finished and Terra GlideSuperday Duffel $430$299 Trim Mate Case Prep Centre $255 $2695Standard BipodVery limited stock - just $125 Summit $1095 should shoot all .224 bullet weights well, UltraVortex Day TerraViper PST Glide Gen Duffel 2 5-25x56 FFP $240Sauer$430 100 XT,RC-130 RC-130all available ReloadingReloading Cals Scale Scale $110 $95 Pivot Bi-PodPivot Bipod $175 $175 though it’s principally designed for .223 MOA or MRad EBR7C Reticle Just $995 with free spare mag and rings CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Black Was $2200Ultra, thisDay month just $1680 $240 RCRC SupremeSupreme MasterMaster KitKit S&B Summit 2.5-10x40$599$599 A4 orFront A7 reticle FrontLeather Leather 9mm,Bag cased Bag with 3 mags $65 $65 Remington loads with bullet weights from Bonus Free Vortex Lens Cleaning Pen Special price while stock lasts Only $1249 QuickQuick ChangeChange Powder MeasureNormally $160$2200 $160 just Rear LeatherRear Leather BagVery limited Bag supply due this month$69 $69 60gr and heavier. The CZ 527 MDT Varmint Sauer 100 Classic, all available Cals $1690 Last at this price, secure with Hungaria is offered only in the .223 Remington Just $1095 with free spare mag and rings a deposit now calibre. S&B Hungaria 8x56 CZ 75 Shadow 2 9mm Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 A4 or A7 reticle just Urban Grey ADDRESS: 19 BABBAGESauer RD 404 • Classic ROSEVILLE XT CHASE • NSW 2069$895 • PHONE:Cased 02 with 9882 3 mags 2689 Stock AR-BDC2 Reticle Was $790, this month just $579 270, 308 or .30-06 S&B Klassik Hungaria 3-12x50 Last available at old price Reduced to while stocks last This is what gives the rifle its purpose $3249 Illuminated L1 reticle just $1299 $1780 The all-steel five-shot detachable box and MDT of Canada is at the forefront of * PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE www.magnumsports.com.au magazine sits securely in the magazine well. rifle chassis design and manufacture. The DEALERS LICENSE NO. 409564311 19 Babbage Rd MON-FRI: 9am - 5pm LSS-XL Generation-2 unit is pure quality, > www.magnumsports.com.au Roseville Chase NSW 2069 SAT: 8am - 3pm 20 Australian Shooter PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE *

* Free Delivery Free Delivery AnywhereAnywhere inin Australia Australia forfor phonephone and intenet internet Free Delivery orders over $200. DEALERS LICENCE NO: 409564311 orders over $200 *Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. AnywhereAnywhere inin Australia Australia *Excluding firearms and dangerous goods. OPENING HOURS: MON - FRI: 9AM - 5PM for phone and intenet$15 flat rate post SAT: 8AM - 3PM

CALDWELLCALDWELL $220 $220 Rock RestRock Rest $125 $125 Rock JnrRock Rest Jnr Rest $380 $380 Rock CompRock CompRest Rest $320 $320 RCBS Lead SledLead Plus Sled Plus RCBS $455 BACKPACKSBACK PACKS Chargemaster 1500 Scales $335 Fire Controlt Rest $455 Fire Control Res $99 $345$345 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $375 $360 Electronic Muffs $99 2200 2200 Chargemaster Dispenser $415 Electronic Muffs $415$415 Chargemaster Dispenser $625 2800 2800 Chargemaster Combo $670 OPENING HOURS: Chargemaster Combo $720$720 $58 4500 4500 FL Die Sets (most cals) $70 $240 FL Die Sets (most cals) FRANKFORDFRANKFORD ARSENAL ARSENAL Diablo $240 $640 $135 Diablo Pro-melt Furnace $710 DS750 Digital Scale $135 $179 Pro-melt Furnace $155 DS750 Digital Scale Hyper Hydro $179 Vibratory Case Cleaner $155 $79 $79 Hyper Hydro $310 Vibratory Case Cleaner ElectronicElectronic Calipers Calipers Hyper Vent $310 Electronic Digital Calipers $120 $45 $45 Hyper Vent Electronic Digital Calipers $120 Impact Bullet Puller Massive Trijicon Clearance $215 $160 Impact Bullet Puller Monster Fanny $215 Uniflow Powder Measure Monster Fanny Uniflow Powder Measure $160 MON - FRI: 9AM - 5PM $120 $80 Nanno Fanny $120 Hand Priming Tool $90 Nanno Fanny $159 Hand Priming Tool SHOOTERS RIDGE Reactor SHOOTERS RIDGE Trijicon Accupower Scopes $159 Trim Pro Case Trimmer Kit $185 $125 $299 Trim Pro Case Trimmer Kit $195 $125 SuperdayReactor StandardStandard Bi-Pod Bipod $299 TrimTrim Mate Mate CaseCase Prep Centre $255 $175 Superday $430 $95 Pivot Bi-Pod $175 Terra Glide Duffel RC-130 Reloading Scale $110 Pivot Bipod $240$430 RC-130 Reloading Scale $65 $65 Ultra DayTerra Glide Duffel $599$599 Front FrontLeather Leather Bag Bag This Month’s Vortex New RCRC SupremeSupreme MasterMaster KitKit $69 $69 Insane Tikka Clearance $240 ra Day Rear LeatherRear Leather Bag Bag SAT: 8AM - 3PM Ult Quick Change Powder Measure $160 Specials Limited stock Meopta Optika 6 Quick Change Powder Measure $160 Vortex Fury HD500 Trijicon Accupower 2.5-10x56 ADDRESS: 19 BABBAGE RD • ROSEVILLE CHASE • NSW 2069 • PHONE: 02 9882 2689 www.magnumsports.com.au Green or red duplex was $1340, just * PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE $970 DEALERS LICENSE NO. 409564311 10x42, 5-5000 yard Tikka Lite 20" threaded 6.5CM Optika 6 1-6x24 SFP RD 4C $750 Rangefinding binos Was $1215, VX-Inow just 4-12x40 $895 $420 VX-3 4.5-14x40Optika AO 6 1-6x24 SFP RD BDC3$870 $750 Was $2495 Add a factory muzzleVX-II brake for3-9x40 just $100 ------Trijicon Accupower $380 3-9x40VX-3 4.5-14x50Optika LR6 1-6x24 ------SFP Z-Plex $915 $680 reflectivethis month measurement just $1999 Add a spare factory 6-shotVX-II mag1-4x20 for just $55 Red or green duplex$420 or MOAVX-3 dot was 4.5-14x40 LR $940 VX-II 3-9x50 ------$1385 $475, just $795 VX-3 6.5-20x40 AO ------$860 VX-IIVX-II 2-7x33 4-12x40 AO ------$420 $560 VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x50 6.5-20x40Optika EFR6 3-18x50 ------SFP BDC $910 $820 10x42 Binos Optika 6 3-18x50 SFP Z-Plex $820 Vortex CrossfireWas $425 HD Tikka Varmint StainlessVX-IIVX-II 20" threaded 3-9x40 4-12x50 .308 Win ------Trijicon Accupower$460 $595 4-16x50VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x50 6.5-20x40Optika LR LR------6 3-18x50 SFP Dichro$1050 $915 BDC $880 this month just $299 Was $1780, now just $1359 Red or green duplex, red mil-square or red Optika 6 3-18x50 SFP RD 4C $880 Rangefinders Free factory muzzleVX-II brakeVX-II 3-9x50valued 6-18x40 at $200 AO------MOA was $1675$555 $635, just $1145VX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 6.5-20x50Optika AO LR6 3-18x50 TGT SFP ------RD BDC3$1055$965 $880 Vortex Impact 850 Add a spare factory 6-shot mag for just $55 Optika 6 3-18x50 FFP RD MRAD $940 RX-RANGEFINDERS 600 ------$275 VX-IIVX-II 4-12x40 6-18x40 AO AO TGT ------Trijicon Accupoint$620 $690 ScopesVX-3VX-3 6.5-20x40 8.5-25x50Optika EFR LR6 3-18x50 TGT FFP ------$1135 RD ZPlus$1035 $940 Was $425 RX-600 $285 VX-II 4-12x50 $665 VX-3 6.5-20x40 LR $1050 RX- 750TBRthisLaser month ------Rangefinder just $349 $370 VX-3 1.5-5x20 ------$525 RX-750TBR Tikka$405 CTR 20" threaded .308 or 24" Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24 amber duplex Optika 6 3-18x56 SFP BDC $880 RX- I000Vortex ------Razor HD 4000 $445threadedVX-IIVX-3 6.5CM 6-18x40 1.75-6x32 AO ------Was $1845$690 $525, just $1195VX-3 6.5-20x50Optika LR TGT 6 3-18x56 SFP Z-Plex$1225 $880 Optika 6 3-18x56 SFP Dichro BDC $940 RX-1000 Was$485 $1965, nowVX-II just 6-18x40 $1595 AO TGT $760 RX- I000TBRUp to 4000 ------yards ability Add a $500factory muzzle VX-3brake for 2.5-8x36 just $130 ------$525 VX-3 8.5-25x50Optika LR TGT 6 3-18x56 SFP RD 4C$1335 $940 RX-1000TBR RangefinderWas $995 $550 normallyVX-3VX-3 $260 1.5-5x20 3.5-10x40 ------Trijicon Accupoint$595 $615 1-6x24 Optika 6 3-18x56 FFP RD MRAD $999 this month just $759 Add a spare factory 10-shot mag for just Green duplex or green circle dot Optika 6 3-18x56 FFP RD ZPlus $999 Scopes $120 - normallyVX-3VX-3 1.75-6x32 $240 3.5-10x50 ------Was $2345$595 $700, just $1599 Vortex Diamondback Spotter VortexVX-ISCOPES Diamondback 2-7x33 20-60x80 ------Angled $275 VX-3VX-3 2.5-8x36 4.5-14x40 ------$595 $700 Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP BDC $940 Spotting scope Trijicon Accupoint 2.5-10x56Call us forOptika the 6 4.5-27x50 best SFPprices Z-Plex $940 VX-I 2-7x33 3-9x40 ------Was $895 $295$295 VX-3VX-3 3.5-10x40 4.5-14x40 AO ------Duplex or mil-dot$690 $750 in amber or green Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP Dichro 4D $999 this month just $715 Crazy Steyr Was $1825, just $1145 on otherOptika products 6 4.5-27x50 SFP RDR 4C $999 VX-I 3-9x40 3-9x50 ------RFP $380Deal$325 VX-3VX-3 3.5-10x50 4.5-14x40 LR------$800 $835 Optika 6 4.5-27x50 SFP RD BDC3 $999 Steyr RFP 22LR Optika 6 4.5-27x50 FFP RD MRAD $1100 VX-I 3-9x50 4-12x40 ------semi-auto $380$420 pistol VX-3VX-3 4.5-14x40 4.5-14x50 ------Trijicon Accupoint$800 $835 2.5-12.5x42 Cased with one mag Green duplex or MOA dot Was $715 - just $299 Was $2175, just $1490 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP Dichro BDC $1260 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP RD Mil-dot 3 $1260 Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Optika 6 5-30x56 FFP RD MRAD $1350 Deadiold BDC Reticle Trijicon Accupoint 4-16x50CALDWELL CALDWELL Was $450, this month just $349 Steyr Ranger .308 Green mil-dot or MOA-dot Last available, now discontinued. Reduced Was $2345, now $1599Rock RestRock Rest $220 $220 to clear, amazing value. Normally $3680 High round mag kit & 2x10-rnd mags Rock JnrRock Rest Jnr Rest $125 $125 Adjustable cheekpiece, muzzle brake, Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x50 integral bipod Green or amber in mil-dot orRock duplex CompRock CompRest Rest $380 $380 BACKDeadhold PACKS BDC Reticle Further reducedRCBS to $2395 Was $2560, just $1570 CZ 455 Thumbhole Carbon .22LR BACKPACKS RCBS Lead SledLead Plus Sled Plus Reduced to $935$320 $320 WasVortex $349 ,Crossfire this month II 3-9x40 just $289 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $335 2200 2200 $345$345 Chargemaster 1500 Scales $375 Fire ContrFire olControl Rest Rest $455 $455 Chargemaster Dispenser $360 Steyr SSG-04A1 .308 and .300 Win Mag Electronic Muffs $99 2800 2800 $415$415 Chargemaster Dispenser Now Stocking$415 S&BElectronic Muffs CZ 455 Carbon Mini Sniper$99 Was $5170, limitedChargemaster stock at $3875 Combo This month’s$625 specials 4500 4500 $720$720 Chargemaster Combo PMII 3-20x50$670 Ultra Short Reduced to $1050 Deadhold BDC Reticle FL Die Sets (most cals) S&B PMII 3-20x50$58 Ultra Short P4FL DiabloWasVortex Diablo$395 Crossfire, this month II 4-12x40 just $310 $240$240 FL Die Sets (most cals) Was $5760, limited$70 stock atFRANKFORD $2995 ARSENAL Pro-melt Furnace PMII 5-20x50$640 Ultra Short FRANKFORD ARSENAL Hyper Hydro $179 Pro-melt Furnace $710 CZ 455 Synthetic Carbon .22LR Hyper Hydro $179Nite Site Spotter Xtreme S&B PMII 5-20x50 Ultra Short P4FL Hand-held NightVibratory Vision System Case Cleaner $155 DS750DS750 Digital Digital Scale ScaleReduced to $799$135 $135 Hyper Vent $310 Vibratory Case Cleaner Was $5075, limited$155 stock at $2995 Hyper Vent Just$310 $899, save $1000, was $1899 ElectronicElectronic Calipers Calipers $79 $79 Monster Fanny $215 ElectronicElectronic Digital Digital Calipers Calipers $120 $120 Deadhold BDC Reticle S&B PMII 1-8x25 ShortdotImpact CC CQB2 Bullet Puller $45 Monster Fanny $215 Uniflow Powder Measure $160 Impact Bullet PullerCZ 455 Carbon MDT $45 NannoWasVortex $535 Fanny Crossfire, this month II 6-18x44 just $385 $120 Uniflow Powder Measure Was $4510, limited $160 stock at $3495 Reduced to $1149 ReactorNanno Fanny $159$120 HandHand Priming Priming Tool Tool Exos$80$90 Reactor $159 SauerTrim Sale Pro Case Trimmer Kit $185 SHOOTERS RIDGE Superday $299 Trim Pro Case Trimmer KitS&B Exos $195 1-8x24 FD7 SHOOTERS RIDGE Trim Mate Case Prep CentreWas $3095, limited $255 stock atStandard Bi-Pod CZ 527 Varmint MTR in$125 .222rem Terra GlideSuperday Duffel $430$299 Trim Mate Case Prep Centre $255 $2695Standard BipodVery limited stock - just $125 Summit $1095 UltraVortex Day TerraViper PST Glide Gen Duffel 2 5-25x56 FFP $240Sauer$430 100 XT,RC-130 RC-130all available ReloadingReloading Cals Scale Scale $110 $95 Pivot Bi-PodPivot Bipod $175 $175 MOA or MRad EBR7C Reticle Just $995 with free spare mag and rings CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Black Was $2200Ultra, thisDay month just $1680 $240 RCRC SupremeSupreme MasterMaster KitKit S&B Summit 2.5-10x40$599$599 A4 orFront A7 reticle FrontLeather Leather 9mm,Bag cased Bag with 3 mags $65 $65 Bonus Free Vortex Lens Cleaning Pen Special price while stock lasts Only $1249 QuickQuick ChangeChange Powder MeasureNormally $160$2200 $160 just Rear LeatherRear Leather BagVery limited Bag supply due this month$69 $69 Sauer 100 Classic, all available Cals $1690 Last at this price, secure with Hungaria Just $1095 with free spare mag and rings a deposit now

S&B Hungaria 8x56 CZ 75 Shadow 2 9mm Urban Grey Vortex StrikeADDRESS: Eagle 1-8x24 19 BABBAGE RD • ROSEVILLE CHASEA4 •or A7NSW reticle 2069just $895 • PHONE: 02 9882 2689 AR-BDC2 Reticle Sauer 404 Classic XT Cased with 3 mags Was $790, this month just $579 270, 308 or .30-06 S&B Klassik Hungaria 3-12x50 Last available at old price Reduced to while stocks last $3249 Illuminated L1 reticle just $1299 $1780 * PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE www.magnumsports.com.au DEALERS LICENSE NO. 409564311 19 Babbage Rd MON-FRI: 9am - 5pm www.magnumsports.com.au Roseville Chase NSW 2069 SAT: 8am - 3pm PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

CZ 527 MDT Varmint rifle in .223 Remington the chassis consisting of the aluminium backbone which supports bedding of the Range testing - 5-shot groups in mm at 100m barrelled action, integral aluminium trig- Factory load Best Worst Average* gerguard, ventilated fore-end design with Winchester Super X 55gr Jacketed Soft-Point 22 40 31 M-LOK compatibility and rubber AR-style Winchester Varmint X 55gr Polymer Tip 15 32 22 grip attached to the backbone via a hex-bolt Browning BXV 50gr Varmint Expansion Tip 24 40 32 through the grip. Winchester Super X 64gr Soft-Point 18 39 29 The magazine well is built into the chassis body and accepts the CZ five-shot * Average calculated from five 5-shot groups magazine. It clips into position easily and can be removed by pressing a button on the left of the chassis body. The barrel is natu- preservatives and once the optics were bore Overview rally free floating along its entire length. sighted and initial point of impact adjusted, The CZ 527 MDT Varmint should be on A single sling swivel stud is attached accuracy testing was done at 100m. the shortlist of the shooter and hunter to the underside of the fore-end but with Being a small centrefire varmint looking at a chassis-stocked rifle made to the M-LOK slots it’s easy to install any cartridge, five 5-shot groups were fired for shoot medium to long distances over a bipod-mounting hardware. To the rear of each Winchester and Browning ammuni- bench or prone from a shooting mat, the the chassis is the buttstock, a FAB Defence tion brand supplied, the barrel cleaned MDT LSS-XL2 chassis paired with the FAB unit attached to the chassis via a baffle between changes in ammo. The table above Defence buttstock a perfect platform for tube which is adjustable for length of pull outlines the best, worst and group averages the varmint barrelled CZ 527. With decent (LOP) with five pre-determined positions. for each, shot in pleasant range conditions factory ammo or tuned handloads, shooting By pressing a small latch on the underside conducive to shooting good groups. accurately out to 500m and beyond should of the buttstock, LOP can be moved from One small issue did impact adversely be within easy reach using a quality optic 295mm to 380mm with three positions in on what was otherwise an excellent rifle. like the Meopta Meostar or ZD range. The between the minimum and maximum. When setting up the Meopta Meostar scope CZ 527 MDT Varmint in .223 Remington A rubber pad is fitted to the buttstock in matching CZ 527 rings, the presence of retails for $2250 and is available from your and provides a slip-free surface when shoul- the Core-CP adjustable comb, even at its Winchester dealer. More at winchesteraus- dered, not to dampen recoil. The buttstock lowest setting, made it impossible to line up tralia.com.au. . also has provision for attaching a side-sling my dominant eye with the scope’s eye-box, mount which could be handy shooting regardless of length of pull setting. Precision Rifle Series disciplines where the Higher scope rings would have been rifle is carried then shot from a stationary an easy fix but mounting a scope as low position. There’s also provision for as possible is the way many Australian Specifications adjusting comb height using the Core-CP shooters like to set up their optics, high- Manufacturer: Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ), comb and this adjustable unit pivots from its mounted scopes a European trait not many Czech Republic rear and moves upwards at the front. of us subscribe to (I had to remove the Model: CZ 527 MDT Varmint adjustable comb by following a YouTube At the range video). While a user manual was supplied Distributor: Winchester Australia The rifle was supplied with a Meopta for the MDT chassis, no guide was supplied Action: Bolt, 90-degree lift, micro Meostar R2 2-12x50 RD riflescope and for the FAB Defence buttstock or Core-CP length Mauser Control Round Feed, matching CZ rings tailored specifically for adjustable comb, something Winchester integral 16mm dovetails for scope the 16mm dovetailed receiver. The gun was Australia might note. mounting cleaned thoroughly to remove any factory Barrel: Cold hammer forged, #6 contour, 610mm (24"), one in 9" twist rate, recessed target-style crown Metal finish: Matte blue Calibre: .223 Remington only (tested) Magazine: Detachable box, all-steel construction, five-shot capacity Stock: MDT LSS-XL Generation-2 aluminium chassis, FAB Defence buttstock with baffle tube, Core-CP adjustable comb Safety: Top tang mounted, two-position Trigger: Single stage with set option, fully adjustable Overall length: 1030-1110mm (dependant on buttstock position)

Range testing the CZ 527 was a Weight: 3.96kg (bare) pleasure with the Meopta Meostar RRP: $2250 riflescope fitted.

22 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 23 The Offsider

aChas Hardinghunting buddy for life came to serious gundogs in my thirties and was fortunate to have as my mentor a gundog trial champion and dedicated Ibird hunter. Under his tutelage I learned the following three basic principles - and one sad reality - behind a good gundog.

Bonding Dogs threw their lot in with us thousands of years ago and together we’ve hunted ever since. This inbuilt desire to bond with humans is hardwired in their DNA and it’s this trait you work on from the day the pup comes home. To help promote this bond the pup should have only one boss - you. You feed, water, protect, travel, walk, socialise, discipline with respect and play with him. By sharing your life 24/7 with your dog through weeks 8-14 you’ll have laid the foundation for a life companion whose devotion to you is complete. The technique I use with pups to develop the ‘look for the boss’ trait is to walk them on a vacant country golf course down open fairways where there are usually a few big trees. I let the pup run around and, while doing his own thing, step behind a tree where I can watch him. Soon he’ll realise he’s on his own and a little panic will set in and as soon as I see this I step out from behind the tree as if nothing has happened. He’ll run to me with relief in his eyes, the fear of being alone gone. I repeat this several times during the walk, each time letting the panic level rise slightly before nonchalantly showing myself and after a week of this he doesn’t do his own thing all the time but often stops to check where I am. In week two I do the same but with the wind at our backs. Now when he’s out front and I step behind the tree I let him pretty well panic and he’ll run back into the wind towards where he last saw me. Unknown to him his best asset - his nose - is working in tandem with his best ally - the wind. He doesn’t know it yet but is tracking me by scent. Always make a fuss of him when he finds>

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Australian Shooter 25 The Offsider - a hunting buddy for life you. Remember, you are each other’s world. nothing or the dog will think ‘I don’t have to The ability to ‘sit/stay’ After several weeks, remembering not to do that’; as a trainer you’ll have days where is imperative when totally panic him, you’ll find he doesn’t go things just don’t work so cease training stalking on. far without looking for you and if he does by ending on a good note like an easy ‘sit’; chase a plover he’ll come back using his repetition over time is the way to success nose and the wind. but don’t overdo it in the same session; The benefits of this learned behaviour is make sessions relatively short but regular essential for his life as your hunting dog. and reinforce previously learned behaviour; You know he can track a wounded bird, always end with a bit of play and praise for a swim downstream after a floating duck, be job well done. unsighted in thick scrub yet always find his way back, tracking you with his nose. And He is your dog when his eyes and ears through age start My mentor made it clear your dog is to do to fail him, his nose won’t let him down. what you want and not what others expect It’s a great feeling knowing the offsider it to. He trains his dogs to run/swim in a can always find you and, more importantly, straight line to the bird and return on the wants to find you. same line or collect the furthest away bird first if there are several. Others may just be Control happy to have two birds in the bag, even if There are four non-negotiable commands stones have to be thrown to indicate their your dog must always obey. Drill this position and he goes the long way round to concept of compliance into him and he’ll get them. be a pleasure to have and work with in any I’m pleased he told me that as my dogs company or situation. The commands are would never have completed a trial course ‘come’, ‘sit/stay’, ‘heel’ and ‘no’ and if you but they do exactly what I want them to get your dog bulletproof on these, without and that’s what’s important. What follows exception, he’s always under control and are several things I’ve taught my gundogs, you and he will be a happy team. over and above the four essentials, as I feel One thing: It’s vital to have a ‘release these skills greatly enhance their versatility from command’ word - I use ‘okay’ as a and enjoyment. signal he’s in relax mode, time to be a free I preface this with the recommendation dog. Training books are available to help to always help your dog out if you can in the teach these commands - Game Dog by tasks you set - work him into the wind, give Richard A. Wolters and Retriever Training him a hand on a high ute if asking him to by Tom Dokken two of the best. get in the back, especially as he ages etc. And a few points on training: Never give Hand signals: In conjunction with a command you can’t enforce - best to say the verbal command I teach three hand >

Part of the team and he knows it.

26 Australian Shooter BERSERK 686BA RUGGED LIGHTWEIGHT AFFORDABLE

The Berserk stock features GRS’s famous ergonomics and adjustability features, but in a rugged and durable material that is lighter, and more affordable than laminate. Upgrade your favourite rifle with a GRS precision stock for improved accuracy, comfort and control.

Features Include • 15% fibreglass reinforced Durethan • Glass pillar bedding • Free-floated barrel channel • Pistol grip and forend has rubber grip surfaces for better friction in wet conditions • Flush cup sling mounts and push button sling loops • Sling mount on forend for mounting bipods • Right hand configuration only • LOP 33.5 - 36.5cm • Average weight 1.4kg

Available Inlets • Tikka T3 (all Calibres) • Howa 1500 SA / Weatherby Vanguard SA • Remington 700 BDL short and long action • Savage Models 12 and 16 www.grsriflestocks.com www.nioa.com.au NMD237 Australian Shooter 27 The Offsider - a hunting buddy for life signals - ‘sit’, ‘come’ and ‘back’. Many times people use essential in good retrieving. until close to the firing line and let him see when creeping up on duck dams or stalking The ability to send the dog away for some you’re not concerned. deer in the open you want your dog to stay distance (200-300m) until he catches wind I take lots of pleasure from all facets of while you go on alone, and the less move- of the subject is right up there for me. The the offsider’s work but one of the best is to ment visible by your quarry the better. signal I use is right arm raised vertically. Get see him run a broad acre crop in darkness You’re close to the quarry so can’t whistle him out there where he can use his nose. with torch beam shadowing as he searches or speak and the ability to sit him by hand Night work, lights and noise: At night for the unknown. He has the confidence to signal is a godsend. my dog becomes invaluable. We do lots know you’ve sent him for something and Similarly, once you’ve completed a stalk of shooting with a spotlight in crops, long knows it’s his job to find it. you may be so far away he can’t hear you, grass and run country where animals are When he turns on the scent, zig-zags especially if windy, then the hand signal to hard to find once downed. The dog has to upwind and finally stands over the animal, ‘come’ delivered from distance is a great work in close proximity to lots of centrefire looks back into your light with tail wagging tool. These signals are easy to instil. As rifle fire without flinching, be immune to and eyes bright, he knows his job’s done. you voice the command when they’re bright lights in his eyes as he returns with He’s happy and you are indeed a happy learning as pups, simultaneously make the game and be able to find multiple unsighted dogman. He knows as you do you couldn’t appropriate hand movement and they learn downed animals in various directions and have found that animal without his help and either/or together. For ‘come’ I spread my distances around the vehicle. he loves knowing he’s part of the team. arms horizontally like an open embrace, The latter is simply nose work in the very visible, and for ‘sit’ I raise both arms dark and easily taught with single/multiple The sad reality vertically, again visible from afar. staged retrieves upwind at night. Bright The only downside to gundogs is their ‘Up’: This one makes your life easy. lights on and off in his eyes is taught as a short working lifespan. You have them at Wet, muddy dogs that need lifting into ute pup at meal time - feed him using a head their peak from years three to seven if trays during a day’s hunting become very torch and flashing a powerful light over you’re lucky and my advice is to make the tiresome and it’s a pleasure to know your and across him, he loves his food and soon most of those years and hunt with your dog dog can leap on command with confidence, won’t even notice. at every chance. Take the lows with the especially at night. Start with low objects Constant centrefire rifle fire needs careful highs, not every day goes as planned but and gradually increase the height. introduction. Again at feed time when he’s when it does and his performance is perfec- ‘Over’: This one’s great on tight mesh young, make irregular sudden noises, grad- tion, these memories will last forever. fences, electric fences and post and rail ually increasing their intensity and dura- It’s hard not to be sentimental about your fences. Shooting on a dairy farm or small- tion. Another good idea is to take the pup gundog, a truly fine companion and if you’re holding with multiple and electric fences will to the range and, at some distance from the blessed with good ones throughout your have you teaching your dog this if he doesn’t firing line, play with him and give him a few shooting life then toast the gundog gods at already do it. Again, start low and help him dummies to retrieve. His mind will be on every opportunity. . out by holding wires down if you can. other things and noise just another part of ‘Back’: I find this command the trial dog life. Move him closer as he gains confidence

The ‘over’ command in action.

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Components laid out prior to assembly.

ussies love a DIY project as some- manufactures offer barrelled actions as wondering what exactly a 20MOA rail is, it times just the idea of personal opposed to completed rifles, with just such simply means that rather than the scope rail input adds joy over simply buying build projects in mind. Howa are one who being perfectly flat and parallel to the bore A something out of the box, not to offer complete barrel action assemblies axis, it cants downwards slightly towards mention the pleasure involved in customi- of various calibres and profiles at a very the front of the barrel which, in turn, sation and having a finished venture just the reasonable price, and as the TSP X chassis provides more usable elevation (in this case way you want it or built to your budget. has a Howa-compatible variant I thought 20MOA) in scope adjustment. In last month’s edition we looked at a this would be a good start. So, if say your scope as standard has new modular rifle chassis designed and I was looking to build a medium-weight 30MOA up and 30MOA down turret adjust- manufactured right here in Australia by rifle for medium to long-range work and ment, by using a 20MOA rail you end up Southern Cross Small Arms - the TSP X. having used several rifles already in the with 50MOA adjustment for elevation There are lots of fine off-the-shelf chassis- calibre this was the ideal opportunity to (up) and 10MOA adjustment for inclina- style rifles these days from almost all the jump on the 6.5 Creedmoor bandwagon and tion (down) allowing turret adjustment for major manufacturers but in reviewing the build it in that. Research revealed Howa elevation out to much longer ranges. US TSP X chassis I thought it might be good to had exactly what I was after, a Howa 1500 manufacturer Warne has a large selection take a closer look at what you need to put barrelled action in 6.5 Creedmoor with of scope mounting options including their together your own chassis build. a medium-heavy profiled barrel, heavy relatively new and well-priced Mountain In addressing this project I wanted to enough but not axle shaft diameter. Tech range of lightweight precision rails keep it both simple and within reach of To make it even better the barrel was and rings. This range includes a 20MOA those on a budget, preferably without the threaded for a muzzle brake and the unit rail option for Howa 1500 and Weatherby need to employ gunsmithing services or came with Howa’s HACT two-stage trigger Vanguard variants so that and a set of 30mm buy a complete donor rifle to start with. As system, all the bottom metal and an over- rings would do nicely. such, I’m looking at this as a basic ‘build’ sized tactical bolt knob. With the TSP X The Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor barrelled rather than ‘custom’ rifle project, the main chassis I wouldn’t need the bottom metal action selected comes threaded 5/8" x 24 to difference in my analogy being in a custom (magazine box and floorplate) but some accept a muzzle brake and with any longer- project you might start with an action and other chassis systems can use these or range rifle, anything that mitigates muzzle raw barrel blank you’ve tuned, profiled, alternative parts. With the TSP X I’d only lift and recoil is an advantage as it’s good chambered, head-spaced, fitted etc by a need an AI pattern magazine. to be able to spot your shots through the qualified gunsmith, while in this example The only other parts I’d need would be a scope. As such I felt an effective muzzle we’re simply taking off-the-shelf compo- rail and rings to mount a scope and looking brake would be in order. ACT-based GC nents for DIY assembly. to take advantage of the long-rang capabili- Precision Developments not only make These days, seeing the opportunity ties of the 6.5 Creedmoor round, I felt a a range of precision long range rifles but modern chassis rifles present, some major 20MOA rail would be in order. For those suppressors (for LE and Permit) and >

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Step 1: Remove standard fixed magazine and floorplate from barrelled action.

high efficiency muzzle brakes and I run one of theirs on a Remington 700 in .308 Step 2: Barrelled action locked down in the TSP X Winchester set up for long-range work. chassis inlet. GCPD recently unveiled a newer ‘User Timed’ three chambered muzzle brake I was keen to try so this would be a great opportunity. A few calls and emails and everything was ordered from the relevant suppliers. Another thing I’d need for the project would be tools, thankfully nothing too exotic just a handful of various sized hex (Allen) keys and a torque wrench, all of which I had. When everything arrived I Step 3: TSP X stock bolted in place. started the build. Unboxing the Howa barrelled action the first job was to remove the bottom metal - magazine floorplate, internal box and spring - which as mentioned was superfluous. Next step was to unpack the TSP X chassis which comes with a detailed schematic diagram and step-by-step instructions along with all bolts and components. Starting on the assembly the outlined steps were as follow: Step 1: In using a Howa action you must remove it from the stock and bottom metal (based on working from a donor rifle) and as Step 4 has the fore-end mounted and I’d started with a barrelled action and had tightened down. already removed the bottom metal, I was ahead of the game. Step 2: Invert the action and position the TSP X chassis inlet, confirm alignment then inset the provided front and rear action screws and tighten. Suggested torque setting for Howa actions is 65in/lb which happens to be the fixed torque setting on my Warne TW65 torque wrench, so I used that. Step 3: Assemble and secure the butt- The final step is fitting up the magazine and grip adapters (hex keys show bolt locations). stock to the TSP X chassis inlet and once there’s another minor step in the case of the minor stock components are assembled the Howa action which is inserting the (cheekrest etc) simply line up the recess recoil lug set screw and giving that a tweak tang and two small M4 x 10 each side of the and lug of the two assemblies and insert to lock up the bedding. magazine release, and the magazine adapter and tighten the single M8 x25mm bolt. Step 5: Position and secure both the with another two 20mm bolts. The grip Step 4: Attach the fore-end which, like magazine and grip adapters that bolt to the itself being a standard MSR/AR Milspec the stock, is a simple matter of lining up chassis inlet via another handful of bolts, uses a single ¼ 28 UNF threaded bolt as and bolting the assemblies together, in this the grip adapter with a single M6 35mm opposed to all the other metric bolts in the case with two M6 20mm bolts. However, bolt from the top just behind the receiver build. >

32 Australian Shooter Australianspika.com.au Shooter 33 The project - building a TSP X chassis rifle

The instructions include torque settings is needed and this system allows for quick for all bolts while a medium strength thread removal if required for fitment of other Build components locking agent such as Loctite 243 is recom- accessories such as suppressors where Barrelled action: Howa 1500, Medium mended and was used in this instance. I’d allowed under permit. profile in 6.5 Creedmoor with HACT trigger note the assembly does vary slightly for the I’d successfully completed my own system and Tactical bolt knob. osaaustralia. TSP X chassis depending on action type chassis build, turning a bunch of precision com.au. but, as with this one, all are pretty simple to parts into a functional modern-day chassis Chassis: Southern Cross Small Arms, TSP X put together. rifle. As a proud creator naturally, I couldn’t Howa Short Action Chassis. scsa-au.com. To complete the build I installed the wait to get to the range and start running it Warne 20MOA Mountain Tech rail to the in and working up some loads. Early days Magazine: AI Pattern Accurate Mag (note: Howa receiver using the Torx T-15 socket so far, but all looks promising with some genuine AI mags recommended) osaaustralia. caped screws provided with a dab of Loctite starting loads providing sub-MOA groups com.au. and torqued down with my Warne TW1 and I look forward to wringing the best out Muzzle brake: GCPD high efficiency ‘User 25in/lb wrench. The Mountain Tech 30mm of it. Timed’ three chambered. gcpdarms.com. rings were then fitted and an on-loan Zeiss In summary, building the rifle on 5-30x50 V6 scope mounted. Southern Cross Small Arms’ TSP X chassis Scope rail: Warne Mountain Tech 20MOA Howa Short Action 1913 rail. tsaoutdoors. Last thing to do was remove the muzzle was a simple and enjoyable process, fairly com.au. thread cap and install the GCPD high effi- intuitive, instructions easy to follow and all ciency muzzle brake. Unlike units which with basic knowledge and tools. To state Scope rings: Warne Mountain Tech 30mm have to be timed (lined up) using a crush the obvious, always ensure any firearm lightweight low-precision rings. tsaoutdoors. com.au washer this unit comes with its own locking or action is completely unloaded with bolt ring (jam nut). To install you screw the jam removed before starting such a build and, Scope: Zeiss V6 5-30x50 osaaustralia.com.au. nut to the muzzle thread until it contacts equally importantly, ensure any upgrades the end face, then with anti-seize grease or modifications fall within state regulatory Tools used by author applied to muzzle thread screw the muzzle requirements. . Hex keys: 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, brake itself on until it contacts the nut. 3/16"; torque wrench; Warne TW1 and TW65 Back it off to line up horizontally and scope mount torque wrenches; Loctite 243 while holding it in place use the supplied thread locker; Tipton gun vice. spanner to tension the jam nut, locking the muzzle brake into position. Not much force

Daniel looks forward to using this new build on medium-sized game.

34 Australian Shooter Commonsense prevails on NT rifle class Nadia Isa

orthern Territory Police have the Commissioner would be withdrawing rifle were made without consultation with performed a U-turn on a decision the declaration with the possibility of a relevant stakeholders. to reclassify certain rifles in the future review if deemed necessary,” said SSAA (NT) also said the reclassification N territory, which it said operate Mr Armstrong. “But given this matter was raised significant concerns for its members like semi-automatics. The announcement to brought before the tribunal, we have asked and asked that declarations be revoked. re-categorise the rifles from the least restric- that the appeal be considered and upheld The letters included seven main tive A and B licence categories into C and D in order for the matter to be finalised, even concerns to be considered as a matter was made late last year. though the police have indicated the decla- of urgency, including: “At no time was SSAA (NT), along with the NT Firearms ration is to be withdrawn.” our organisation, or anyone representing Council and SIFA has been lobbying The directive by the Northern Territory shooters, consulted or spoken to what- Northern Territory Police and Police Police Firearms Policy and Recording soever about re-categorisation of these Minister Nicole Manison against the reclas- Unit was announced in October last year, firearms. This matter took us by complete sification and SSAA member Andrew advising the Savage A22R .22 rifle along surprise and came without any apparent Armstrong took the matter to the Firearms with centrefire rifles such as the Verney justification or reason.” Appeals Tribunal last month. Carron Speedline were being reclassi- In a statement to the SSAA, an NT The matter heard by the tribunal was the fied from A and B categories to C and D Police spokesperson said: “NT Police are Commissioner’s declaration to reclassify: respectively. Owners were told they must repealing the declaration with a view to ‘All linear repeating firearms chambered ‘dispose’ of those firearms within three engaging in more consultation with all with rimfire ammunition to be Category C months, which was then extended by an parties involved, in order to make a consid- firearms’; and additional three months after lobbying by ered and informed decision on the classifi- ‘All linear repeating firearms chambered SSAA (NT). cation of these types of firearms.”. with centrefire ammunition to be Category In letters to NT Police Commissioner D firearms’. Jamie Chalker and Minister Manison, SSAA “The NT Police representative indicated (NT) said the declarations to reclassify the

Australian Shooter 35 Pedersoli High Wall fun and flair combined Senior Correspondent John Dunn

or the past five decades or so Brief history that transaction the 1885 Winchester was the Italian family firm of Davide John Moses Browning of Ogden, Utah was born, based on the Browning patent but Pedersoli has probably built and issued patent #220271 on October 7, 1879 refined to suit mass production. This was sold more reproduction muzzle- for “an improvement in breech loading fire- also the start of Browning’s long association F arms” - a single-shot falling block rifle that loading and black powder cartridge firearms with Winchester, one which would prove than any other producer in the world. The was quickly and widely recognised as an extremely beneficial and profitable to all Pedersoli range of re-enactment, target, exceptional firearm for the times. concerned. hunting and sporting arms and accessories Sales were brisk from the earliest days Winchester made the Model 1885 single- is extensive and widely recognised for of production and as the rifle’s reputation shot from 1885 until around 1920, and quality and durability. grew it came to the attention of Winchester during that time it was available in both What began as a niche market has salesman Andrew McCausland who bought High and Low Wall configurations which become an international success story that one, bundled it up with a reloading tool offered a range of barrel and stock options offers something for everyone who enjoys and sent the package to Winchester. About in calibres that began with the humble .22 the nostalgia and challenges of shooting a week later Winchester vice-president Short rimfire and finished with the some- older-style firearms. Long noted for their Thomas Gray (T.G.) Bennett was on a train what larger .50/110 centrefire. Sharps and Remington rolling block repro- to Ogden with authorisation from his board In the 100 years since production wound duction rifles, some years ago Pedersoli of directors to buy full rights to the rifle. down, demand for the Model 1885 has added another classic American single-shot The rest, as they say, is history. never really ceased and these days, in all its to their line-up - a replica of the legendary In 1883 Browning sold his patent to variations, the Winchester single-shot is a Model 1885 Winchester High Wall. Winchester for the sum of $8000 and from collectable firearm in its own right. There >

36 Australian Shooter Pedersoli High Wall Pedersoli High Wall fun and flair combined always seems to be someone, somewhere Open breech of the looking for an action to use as the basis for Pedersoli with cartridge in a custom single-shot rifle. The growth of the chamber. Western Action shooting and Black Powder Silhouette has created a renewed demand for such rifles and there are increasing numbers of hunters accepting the challenge of taking to the field with retro-style firearms in old-fashioned calibres. These days ‘High Wall’ has become more of a firearms style than a specific type and the demand just won’t go away.

Pedersoli High Wall Classic Anyone who likes older-style firearms with traditional metal finishes and a good walnut stock will appreciate the Pedersoli High of the Miroku 78, Uberti and Browning/ An adjustable single set trigger is fitted Wall Classic. To a single-shot tragic like Winchester High Wall clones which all lay which allows it to be used normally if me it was irresistible, especially when you claim to some Browning heritage. preferred or set by pushing it forward if consider an original in similar condition will The Pedersoli receiver and finger lever required. A set trigger greatly reduces cost at least two or three times more. At are beautifully colour case hardened as the amount of trigger pressure required first glance the rifle appears to be a replica they were on the higher quality versions of to discharge the rifle, a recognised of the thin side High Wall coil spring action the original Winchesters, the colours and plus in terms of potential accuracy for introduced around 1908. It looks the part patterns in such a finish unique to individual target shooters but also in some hunting but when you peer a little closer you find rifles and tending to give an air of eminence situations. that’s not quite the case as the action has to any firearm they’re applied to. The full octagonal PMG (Pedersoli Match been completely redesigned. To load the rifle the finger lever is pushed Grade) carbon steel barrel on the High Wall It’s still a lever-operated falling block that down and forward, thus lowering the Classic is 813mm or 32" long, measuring looks and works similar to the original but breech block and allowing a cartridge to be 27mm across the flats at the breech end the mechanism is far more complex. Most inserted into the chamber. When the lever and 23.5mm at the muzzle. The broached if not all component parts are completely is drawn back up against the stock, the rifling has six grooves with a 1:18" twist and different and the rifle can’t be disas- breech closes and the hammer is pushed external finish is matte black except at the sembled as easily as Browning’s master- back into the safe or half-cock position, muzzle which has been left in white. piece of simplicity. That’s not a criticism ready to be thumbed back to full-cock as Sights consist of a ramp adjustable rear, of the Pedersoli as the same can be said required. fashioned in the original Winchester style and a small blade fore sight, the top flat of the barrel carrying the inscription “D. PEDERSOLI TARGET-HI-WALL” just forward of the rear sight with the tang of the receiver drilled and tapped to accept a Vernier-type target sight if needed. The two- piece stock is walnut with what appears to be a low sheen polyurethane finish. The fore-end is 25.5cm long, essentially round in cross-section with a wrap- around panel of chequering and is secured by a single screw into the bottom flat of the barrel. The butt has a chequered pistol grip and straight comb with a nice cheekpiece for right-handed shooters, the buttplate steel with matte finish to match the barrel and wood-to-metal and metal-to-metal fits on the rifle excellent. This is no small rifle having an overall length of 123cm and weighing 5.3kg. As its name would imply that makes it more suitable for range work than hunting, though it would be useful for sit-and-wait hunting for larger game if the walk-in wasn’t too far. >

High Walls have become more of a firearm style than a specific model. The Pedersoli with a Miroku M78 (top) and 2018 Winchester made by Miroku. Uberti also make a High Wall reproduction.

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Range testing To give the rifle the best possible chance of showing what it could do, I knocked the Same name but different - the Pedersoli (top) rear sight out of its dovetail and fitted a with an original 1885 Pedersoli aperture sight to the tang. I don’t Winchester High Wall Winder Musket in .22LR. see open sights well any more and knew the aperture option would be easier. Initial testing was at 50m using a variety of old handloads I had in my ammunition cabinet. Results varied, due in no small way to the mix of projectiles of different weights but the outlook was promising. The primary aim of the exercise was to gain a feel for the trigger which I used as normal and also in its set configuration. I shot decent groups with Federal and Remington factory ammunition so by the time I was ready to move the targets out to 100m had some fairly lofty expectations on the sort of results I might achieve. The rifle didn’t let me down and I’m sure the set trigger made a huge difference. Let-off was consistent and predictable, allowing a good sight picture to be maintained without straining. hunting rifle. That’s unlikely on my The best group with Federal factory loads watch as to me it’s more of a fun gun than at 100m measured 50mm, the worst 63mm anything, something to be enjoyed when and I’m not sure I can hold any better the mood takes without being too serious than that. A target-style front sight would about results. undoubtedly be an improvement given the There’s a great deal of nostalgic satisfac- factory-fitted sight is more suitable for tion to be had from shooting older-style hunting than anything else. Whether that single-shot rifles like the Pedersoli High would make any difference to the results is Wall, akin to stepping back in time to an age debatable but I expect it would. when life, technology and the world were all Recoil wasn’t an issue given the weight much simpler. That may not suit everyone of the rifle and factory loaded .45/70 ammo but I’m sure there are lots of hunters and doesn’t come back really hard anyway. I shooters out there who’d agree. . enjoy shooting this rifle, accuracy is more than acceptable and I’ve no doubt in the right hands with some purpose developed handloads it would perform more than adequately as a competition firearm. Best group so far with I suspect that’s what it was designed the Pedersoli - 50mm at for, though under the right circumstances 100m using Federal factory it would also be useful as a sit-and-wait ammunition.

This is a big rifle in every respect, much too heavy to cart around the hills but fun to shoot on the range.

40 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 41 Memories can be more valuable than trophies Sam Garro

here’s no set rule as to what symmetrically shaped antlers or horns and a European mount made of his sambar represents a worthy trophy animal high-scoring pig tusks of 30DP or more deer skull that resembled more a spiker or specimen. Certainly there is a and repeat trips for such hunters are not with only six to seven-inch single vertical T scoring system through Douglas uncommon until their quest is achieved. antlers - for him size didn’t matter it was Points (DP) or Safari Club International There’s nothing wrong with that but in the experience and what he went through (SCI) which sets a level of achievement, reality it’s not easy to achieve and may to take his first deer in the Victorian High including record-breaking scores, but irre- mean passing up opportunities with no Country. spective of how average or grand the trophy guarantees in future. Another only managed to score deer may be it’s only relevant to the individual Record trophies can be harvested at the with malformed antlers, perhaps associated and the importance it carries for them. most unexpected time and with little effort, with genetics of deer of that area, but he Trophy hunters have existed ever since a matter of being in the right place at the kept them as they meant something to him. man first hunted the wilds, collecting right time. On the other hand some prefer a Another hunter shot and wounded a mature animal bones, hides and parts to fashion nice-looking head with reasonable, evenly- buffalo just before dark and returned the weapons, display and wear as body orna- shaped antlers and are unconcerned with following morning in the hope of finding it ments and more. Today, the desire to hunt the biggest, while a few prefer irregular dead and retrieving the horns only to find and pursue trophy animals prevails among or oddly-shaped racks viewed as unique, and disturb a different buffalo sleeping on a different ethnicities and cultures and in others with the least luck happy to settle grassy bed. Fearing an attack was imminent individuals of varying persuasions, back- for any type of antlers, horns or tusks. he quickly delivered a felling shot to the grounds and professions. Whatever the trophy you end up with, if it head. It was only a young bull with small has meaning for you it’s worth preserving horns but the story behind it was worth A representative trophy animal and mounting. taking those horns for. What represents a sought-after trophy to A young hunter scoring his first trophy a hunter is a matter of personal perspec- Relevance to the hunter animal is more likely to be excited and tive and what he or she is satisfied with. As touched on, it’s what matters to the overwhelmed by the whole experience Many strive for the biggest and most individual that counts. One gentleman had and not necessarily by how big or grand >

42 Australian Shooter Australian Shooter 43 Memories can be more valuable than trophies the animal’s tusks, antlers or horns may mounts and collectables on walls or predominantly of European skull mounts be and we tend to become more discerning shelving, give some thought to the place- and two wild boar head or shoulder mounts. with time and experience. ment of items before commencing. Draw While my trophy wall displays may appear a layout diagram or picture where you’d impressive, it’s more down to the way like to position mounts and collectables for they’ve been mounted and presented, After the event balanced and maximum visual effect. not because they’re record-breakers. My A set of reasonably sized boar tusks or The internet or eBay can be a conve- buffalo horns measure 93DP and not 110DP jaws, antlers or horns may be taken only to nient avenue to source firearms and or better, deer antlers sport 3x4, 4x4 and be stowed away in a draw or corner of the hunting-related collectables. While I’m 5x4 tines and not 6x6 or more and none of garage, rarely to see the light of day then unlikely (never say never) to experience a my feral goat horns have a spread of 40" over time deteriorate to the point they’re sojourn in Africa or hunt British Columbia, or better. But each and every one holds a unsalvageable. It can often be the case the I appreciate their game animals through special attraction and place as they were owner doesn’t know how to preserve and my bronze wildlife statues acquired at gun hunted under fair and open range condi- mount them, when learning how is not that and collectables shows. Travelling hunters tions and, importantly, for the memories hard to do. collect knives, wooden statues, native craft- attached. As an example a property manager had work, pelts and much more to decorate and scored an impressive tusky boar measuring remind them of special places visited. Different elements just under 30DP on a property he’d been As the collection grows the display area A trophy room or den is also about bringing managing in outback Bourke, NSW. After will change. The extent of trophy rooms and together the different elements and incor- removing the head he stowed it intact in a their displays can range from the conver- porating those which have contributed chest freezer until he could decide what to sion of a garage, erection of an additional directly or indirectly to your hunting do with it. Nine months later when we met room to, in the extreme, establishment of a existence or way of life. Hunting books I offered to boil the head out and mount the separate building or house to accommodate and magazines that provided interesting skull on a timber shield with picture inset life-size trophy mounts in their natural and informative reading over the years, and he was ecstatic with the finished work surroundings. bullet boards, hunting scenes or pictures of which takes pride of place on his wall. famous hunters and authors, primitive or Quality of mounts native hunting implements such as spears Den or game room design My own game room is filled with a and boomerangs and wildlife statues To avoid continually rearranging pictures, collection of modest trophies comprised are all considerations. >

Den walls displaying trophies and collectibles.

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1848 The Horsley Drive HORSLEY PARK NSW 2175 PHONE 02 9620 1313 EMAIL [email protected] LIKE US ABN 85 003 914 850 DLN 410 582 683 • ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE • WWW.HORSLEYPARKGUNSHOP.COM.AU Please Note: Some items listed above may sellout before ad is released. While this is unavoidable we will endeavour to keep prices as marked but may change without notice. Australian Shooter 45 Memories can be more valuable than trophies

At one point I had furniture purposefully built to house the various items and collectibles, especially the many photo albums, bronze wildlife statues and my expansive collection of African safari hunting books by such noted authors as W.D.M. Bell, John A. Hunter, Frederick C. Selous, Arthur Newman, Australia’s own John Dawkins and others.

Mount types and choices Trophy mounts come in various forms, shapes, stances or poses from full-bodied, head or shoulder mounts to European full skull or cap mounts, the extent and style for the individual’s preference and how much the pocket allows. These days, perhaps more than in the past when times were more accepting, we have greater consideration for youngsters who may be influenced or are more sensitive to, for example, the sight of a full or shoulder deer mount, hence the preference at times for Sam collecting his NT European-style skull mounts. boar from taxidermist. But it also depends on the environment they’re raised in and what they’re accus- to retrieve those tusks, antlers or horns. tomed to. My boar shoulder mounts don’t The following morning you’re distracted by draw admiration as they’re unattractive events or lose interest in retrieval, at other critters associated with crop and property times, with the best intentions, you’re damage, so I don’t have an issue with prevented by inclement weather and return shoulder mounts. empty-handed. There’s also no guarantee the animal will Making the effort remain intact due to marauding animals Often at the end of an arduous but such as wild dogs, foxes and birds of prey successful day’s hunt you may feel and back home you wished you’d made the exhausted and just want to return to camp. extra effort to retrieve them. Often you You snap a few photos and take some meat give up a potential trophy animal in the with the intention of returning the next day hope of scoring something better which may or may not eventuate.

A hunter’s first small-antlered Trophy hunters sambar which meant a lot. Aussie hunters travel to far-flung loca- NT boar taken for the tions in pursuit of exotic and spectacular memories and special place hunted. species just as hunters from Europe, South Africa, America and other places come here to hunt our deer species, feral game and Asiatic water buffalo. Any of Safari Press’ beautifully illustrated eight volume books of Great Hunters - Their Trophy Rooms and Collections provide a window to some of the world’s best collections by avid hunters from diverse back- grounds who travelled far and wide not only to further their collection but, importantly for the adventure, friends made along the way and unique experiences. In the end, the den or your little corner of the house or shed where you keep your trophies and hunting gear is a place to appreciate and admire your hard-won spoils, a place to reflect on past hunts and special moments and even gather inspiration for your next hunt. . 46 Australian Shooter BarnThe 5 Campbell St, OAKEY QLD 4401 NOW IN STOCK. (07) 4691 1620 • thebarn.net.au

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Because there has never been a riflescope like this. At 32x, you can zero in on the smallest targets at the most extreme distances. At 4x, you are perfectly comfortable with up-close or rapidly moving targets. That vast magnification range - with superb clarity and resolution at every step - means that one riflescope will give you a world of versatility and confidence in any situation in which you might find yourself. Meanwhile . . . back in the USSR the Baikal IJ-58 shotgun Royce Wilson

rom the legendary AK-47 and where anyone could buy a shotgun over was perpetually not short of was guns to Mosin-Nagant M91/30 to the iconic the counter. This changed in 1959 with sell, most of them made at Tula Arsenal in TOZ-17 .22 rifle and Tokarev TT-33 a Council of Ministers decree ending Moscow and the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant F handgun, Soviet firearms have a that but granting the right to hunt with about 1200km east of the capital. well-earned reputation for being rugged, approved firearms (shotguns) to any Soviet Marketing and branding were not strong simple, reliable and effective. Their hunting citizen who was a member of the officially points of the Soviet economy - the coun- guns are just as sturdy as their military endorsed local State Society of Hunters try’s prestigious watch-maker Poljot was creations and few firearms illustrate that and Fishermen (there was only one in each officially known as Moscow No.2 Watch point quite as well as the Baikal IJ-58 area), passed tests on firearms and hunting Factory - and someone realised that if they double-barrelled shotgun which was made safety and paid the appropriate fees. wanted to sell sporting guns abroad they in large numbers, widely found throughout There don’t appear to have been restric- were going to need a catchier name than Australia, yet doesn’t receive much atten- tions on how many shotguns someone who ‘People’s Commissariat of Defence Factory tion despite having a fascinating story. went through this process could own, but No.180’ (the actual name of a 1930s Soviet The Soviet Union was noted for being it’s unlikely to have been more than could hunting arms factory). Somehow the tag somewhat authoritarian so most people be counted on one hand. Not that there Baikal, after the Siberian lake, was arrived rather understandably assume that civilian was much variety anyway as, besides the at with Vostok (Russian for ‘east’) chosen as firearms ownership was completely banned subject of this article, the other major the brand for target rifles and pistols being in the USSR. Surprisingly, it was not. While options for most hunters were the TOZ-B exported to the West. gun ownership was heavily restricted in hammer SxS shotguns made by Tula, some The fact there was already a company the cities and ownership of handguns and single-barrel shotguns and, for those with named Vostok making wristwatches doesn’t military weapons almost completely out of a few more roubles, the Baikal IJ-54 SxS appear to have been considered an issue, the question for the average citizen, Soviet shotgun, a higher-grade gun featuring a although unlike Vostok-branded guns the Russia was an enormous place and tens W.W. Greener-style cross bolt on the action. wristwatch concern is still going today. of millions lived in remote and rural areas In short there was a respectable internal The Baikal brand became best known for where hunting wasn’t just something fun market in the USSR for hunting shotguns, inexpensive shotguns, the overwhelming to do but a vital way of putting food on the which provided a double opportunity for majority of them made at the Izhevsk table and keeping wild animals out of the the Soviet government beyond selling Mechanical Plant who were more innova- communal potato field. guns to domestic hunters and farmers. One tive than their counterparts at Tula. It has After Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953 gun thing the Soviet Union was perpetually been suggested they were possibly stimu- laws were relaxed markedly, to the point short of was cold, hard cash. One thing it lated by being further from Moscow and > 48 Australian Shooter *

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Baikal IJ-58 12ga double-barrelled shotgun, this one fitted with aftermarket recoil pad.

more motivated to gain access to coveted to a completely manual operation. The Typical proof markings indicate the gun was Western goods from trade junkets and the MAE version had an automatic safety as made at the Izhevsk factory and proofed like as a result. well as ejectors and much nicer engraving for both black powder and modern nitro Russian hunters needed a shotgun that on the action. All models had dual triggers ammunition. would work in the harshest conditions and and chrome-lined 28" barrels along with a could be repaired with whatever tools were nominally full and ¾ choke, although real- on hand and Baikal delivered exactly that. istically it’s often closer to ‘full’ and ‘even Vast quantities of single and double-barrel fuller’ chokes. They were generally cham- shotguns were made and sold under the bered for 12ga 2¾" shells although some Baikal brand, both domestically and inter- examples were also made in 16ga and 20ga. nationally, one of the most ubiquitous being The guns were never going to win the IJ-58 shotgun (the other being the IJ-18 prizes for aesthetics as even when new single-barrel shotgun found on rural proper- it was jokingly said Baikal shotguns had ties across Australia), introduced in the late been made from scrapped tractors and old 1950s-early ’60s. Trans-Siberian railway sleepers. But they Due to discrepancies translating from were built like a Soviet tank and that’s a Cyrillic to English the guns are sometimes reason there’s so many of them still kicking also referred to as IZH-58s but for the around, namely they’re hardy, simple and purposes of this article I have stayed with dependable. the nomenclature as stamped in English No-one knows exactly how many IJ-58s on guns exported to the West - IJ-58. This were made as anything relating to arms shotgun was made in four models - the production in the Soviet Union was a mili- IJ-58, IJ-58M, IJ-58MA and IJ-58MAE. The tary secret and people who went around IJ-58 was the original but soon changed to talking about those tended to vanish the IJ-58M version, incorporating minor into Gulags (if they were lucky). Most > design improvements. This 1931 ad from Intourist, the The IJ-58M and MA are the most Soviet travel agency, was aimed commonly encountered variants, fitted with at the US market and shows a hunter trying to bring down ejectors, and differ mainly in that the safety a bear with a TOZ-B hammer catch on the MA would engage automati- shotgun. cally when the gun was broken open, many users disabling this and reverting the safety

Despite being a utilitarian hunting shotgun the Baikal IJ-58 features a surprising amount of decorative scrollwork.

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Just return the coupon or go online today quoting promotion code: 110327 at www.bradford.com.au/aussie 2. MAIL no stamp required, to: The Bradford Exchange, Reply Paid 86369 Parramatta NSW 2124 Arrives in a handsome presentation case with 3. PHONE: (02) 9841 3311 8am-5pm Mon – Fri Please allow between 2-10 business days for delivery. All sales subject to product availability Certificate of Authenticity and reservation acceptance. Credit criteria may apply. Our privacy policy is available online at www.bradford.com.au. You must be over 18 years old to apply. From time to time, we may allow carefully screened companies to contact you. If you wouldAustralian prefer not to receive Shooter such offers, please tick51 this box. q The Baikal IJ-58 shotgun of the companies importing Soviet firearms into the West no longer exist (much like the Soviet Union itself), so the best anyone has been able to come up with is “a lot”, probably in the hundreds of thousands. The design was phased out around the time the Soviet Union collapsed, replaced with a more or less identical successor, the IJ-43 which is still in production today, along with several other Baikal-brand shotguns. These are currently made by the Kalashnikov Concern in Izhevsk and are popular in the UK where they’re regarded as affordable, no-frills guns which work reliably no matter the weather. Sadly, due to embargoes imposed by Australia, Baikal shotguns (and indeed any This 1988 Soviet stamp (from a series commemorating hunting dogs) shows a Russian Russian-made firearms) are prohibited from spaniel with duck-hunter using a Baikal IJ-58. being imported here at present. Fortunately there are lots of them already in the country or dusting clay targets, Baikal IJ-58 shot- and readily available from the popular used guns are workhorses in the truest sense of gun websites for (at time of writing) around the word and have been providing decades $400 in good condition. of unswerving, solid service from the The IJ-58 is very much a field shotgun steppes of Siberia to the forests of the UK and well suited for hunting rabbits, foxes, to the Australian Outback and will doubt- pest birds and all the other things you’d less soldier on for decades to come. use a 12ga side-by-side for. Weighing about 3.2kg they’re not especially heavy (which is Further reading why a recoil pad is often desirable) and are There’s not a huge amount of information fitted with narrow sling swivels designed on Soviet-era shotguns available due to a for 2cm-wide slings which can be hard to Side view of an IJ-58MAE action showing higher combination of secrecy and the language find at gunshops but are available online quality engraving work on this model. barrier, but Russian researcher Aleksei from eBay and the like. Morozov maintains an informative blog IJ-58s are proofed for 1.25oz (36g) loads entitled The Sporting Bookworm at sporting- so will happily take almost all standard 2¾" for use as coach guns, both for Single bookworm.wordpress.com which contains shells but despite having chrome barrels Action Shooting and bush hunting, and for a lot of useful facts on Soviet hunting are not rated for steel shot, so aren’t suit- the bush are usually loaded with 00SG or firearms and was an invaluable source of able for duck hunting in areas restricting SSG shells where, due to the lack of choke, reference for this article. There are also the use of lead shot. Quite a few IJ-58s have they’re most effective at close range. facts available on various shotgun-focused had their barrels cut down to around 18-20" Whether it’s dropping bunnies and foxes discussion forums including shotgunworld. com, doublegunshop.com and YouTube. Like most Russian guns, part of the Left side of an IJ-58 action IJ-58’s attraction is learning about their showing the engraving, scrollwork and ‘Made in history and discovering it’s more than just USSR’ marking. ‘an old Russian shotgun’ - and that they’re still as effective and dependable today as they were more than 50 years ago. .

Specifications Make: Baikal Model: IJ-58 (also known as IZH-58) Type: Double-barrelled shotgun Action: Boxlock break-action Calibre: 12ga (also 16ga and 20ga) Barrels: 28", full and ¾ choke Country of origin: Soviet Union Produced: 1960-1990

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Australian Shooter 53 Build your own reloading bench Chris Redlich

hen space is limited we more My frame design uses vertical supports spaced at 450mm centres but not always often than not make do with angling back to the wall, a method which and a stud finder, available at most hardware what’s available. Not satisfied reduces floor space obstruction and allows stores, is handy for this. Make a note or W at being relegated to the shed for the transfer of weight through the press slight marks on the wall of the stud posi- for reloading, I negotiated some space in back to the wall. tions, draw a sketch of the desired position the office of our new house to conduct one and transcribe the measurements to it. of my favourite hobbies in comfort. Considerations Over my bench size of 2m long I needed A reloading bench doesn’t need to take 1: Ease of movement around the bench; 2: three vertical supports at approximately up too much room but must be functional. Dimensions (length and width) suitable for 900mm (every second stud). Important: There are no set dimensions but strength the work required; 3: A level top is para- Ensure the bench support fasteners won’t is vital and while you may get by using mount for positioning of precise electronic conflict with power cables hidden in the an old timber table, there’s no substitute and manual scales. stud frame (an electrician can help with for the strength steel has to offer. A lami- After some serious thought I decided on this). nate top such as melamine supported by a a bench top 2m x 400mm, a conservative steel square hollow section (SHS) frame size but adequate for rifle cleaning and all Step 2 will enable a solid platform to mount the my reloading needs. I drew a rough sketch With all available dimensions to hand you press and handle the rigours of repetitive of my proposed bench and began the build, can begin the build. Using an abrasive metal reloading. the following steps and photos provided as a cut-off saw I cut the 40x40 and 30x30 x guide to help the DIY handyman in building 2mm SHS to my allocated dimensions for a home reloading bench. all square and angle cuts. Make sure the What you’ll need (clockwise from top left): Earmuffs and safety glasses, welding visor and steel is secure and hands are clear of the shield, leather welding gloves, inverter stick Step 1 blade before cutting. With all cuts made, welder, filter mask for painting, spray gun, F-clamp, wire buff and carpenter’s roofing Locate studs in the wall for positioning of grind off of any excess burrs around the square. vertical wall brackets. Studs are usually edges. > 1

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Australian Shooter 55 Build your own reloading bench 2 3 4

Step 3 the steel. Weld one section of a join in rota- finishing with the correct diameter as this Find a clear flat work space and set out the tion with all the others until all welds are will help avoid wandering of the drill bit. I steel for tack welding together. A gas MIG completed, allowing the frame to cool down drilled 10.5mm holes to allow clearance for welder is perfect for light SHS but for those and not become distorted. a 10mm diameter fastener. with a stick welder it’s important to keep the amp adjustment low. Before you attempt any Step 5 Step 7 form of welding, ensure you have the correct Using a chipping hammer, remove all slag Before painting it’s important to prepare safety shield visor to avoid weld flash or eye from welds and dress back any ugly welds by filing off all burrs and wiping the surface damage. Tack weld the frame to the desired to an acceptable look. Grind the welds flush with a rag and paint thinner to clean and dimensions, including both vertical and hori- on the surface where the bench top sits remove unwanted oil and grease. It’s indi- zontal frame, and check the square with a then finish off steel surfaces and welds with vidual choice how you paint the surface but carpenter’s roofing square. a rotary wire buff to remove any unwanted I used a spray gun with gloss enamel steel impurities and aid paint preparation. paint. Wearing a safety filter mask, select Step 4 a well-ventilated area and apply two coats Once the frame is tacked you can start fully Step 6 to all surfaces with even spray strokes for welding it together. When welding light Measure and mark holes for bolting the a good finish. I allowed 48 hours’ drying steel it’s important to evenly distribute the frame to the wall. Centre punch the before the next step. Note: The enamel heat of the arc to avoid blowing holes in hole position and drill a pilot hole before paint could have been applied by brush. > 5 6 7

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Step 8 Position frame against the wall until the vertical wall supports align with the stud 8 positions as set out in Step 1. Enlist a 10 helper to mark fastener positions to the wall and once again drill a pilot before the finishing hole. I used 10mm x 100mm coach screws as fasteners which required an 8mm finish hole. Bolt to the wall checking verti- cals for plumb and horizontal frame for level before tightening.

Step 9 With frame completed, cut the bench top to size and scribe to the wall. Using a good quality polyurethane adhesive apply even strokes of glue to the horizontal steel surface. Place the top carefully to the glue the press to be transferred to the wall. The and clamp in position, wiping off any excess bench is now ready for use. and allow adhesive to cure before removing clamps. Alternatively, screws can be used to Conclusion fasten the top but I prefer a clear surface. I realise not everyone has the resources to undertake a project like this but my intent Step 10 was to assist those who may be considering The bench is almost ready for use but prior a similar venture and how to tackle it. I to mounting my press I took into consider- hope the process serves as an inspiration 9 ation the space needed for rifle cleaning. I to build your own, saving you money and mounted the press directly over the right- providing the joy you get from building hand vertical support and bolted it to the something for yourself. Approximate mate- frame, thus allowing all forces generated by rial costs: $130. .

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SSAA Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd | CAR 315403 | ABN 86 077 822 970 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of PSC Connect Pty Ltd | ABN 23 141 574 914 / AFSL 344648 | SGiB GJ -12/19 SW22 given some timely tweaks

Daniel O’Dea

ome years ago I reported on the For the model as tested, the barrel has been release of the Smith & Wesson upgraded to a 152mm (6") fluted target SW22 pistol in Australian and New version, threaded and fitted with a custom S Zealand Handgun magazine. At muzzle brake that uniquely features five the time this innovative .22 target pistol semi-spiral drilled flutes. was heralded for its modular design which The next major enhancement is a made it easy to field strip for cleaning and Vortex Viper 6 MOA red dot sight. I’d to customise to the owner’s specification. note that in the kit with the pistol is a set Smith & Wesson had collaborated with of fully adjustable green fibre optic iron aftermarket suppliers in the US such as sights which can be swapped where the Volquartsen and Tandemkross so at the pistol might be used in target disciplines launch you could pick up the SW22 Victory that disallow optical sights. The same and also select from a variety of reputable rings true for the muzzle brake where a accessory parts to modify your new pistol. threaded end cap is also included. Those familiar with the manufacturers Next we have Tandemkross ‘hiveGrips’ would be well aware they have their which wrap around from the front grip own factory custom shop in the Smith strap and have deep finger grooves to the & Wesson Performance Center which front edge and also boast what’s described carries out duties such as fine-tuning and as a target thumbrest, a groove directly custom-engraving and delivers an exten- behind the magazine release which wraps sive array of their own offerings which the thumb nicely into the grip. A raised are basically core Smith & Wesson items hexagon pattern in the rubber grip surface The pistol comes fitted with ergonomic tweaked and bettered. provides a stable grasp and overall the gun Tandemkross ‘hiveGrips’. For a comparison think in automotive feels comfortable in the hand. terms the equivalent of Holden Special The trigger has been upgraded with a Vehicles, where you could send your stan- flat-faced target format with adjustable round knob is about 11mm in diameter and dard Holden for engine or body improve- trigger stop. In describing the trigger I’d is easy to move on to. When pressed, the ments or alternatively buy a ready-made say it has a bit of free play, almost to the magazine literally springs out of the well, HSV product such as a Senator or Clubsport stage where thereafter you hit a wall. presenting an excellent advancement for direct from the dealer. Performance Center Further take-up has some partial creep swift magazine changes of action-styled is in effect Smith & Wesson’s HSV. followed by a crisp, clean break. Ideally rimfire events. Likewise the magazine well As a short recap, in the Smith & Wesson you could do without that creep but most itself is bevelled to speed up the reload SW22 we have a brushed stainless steel importantly the trigger broke cleanly and process while other small details such as self-loading target-style pistol chambered consistently, a good start but perhaps it the custom polished feed ramp, steel rein- in .22LR with a reasonably heavy profile could benefit from further fine-tuning for forced polymer safety catch and supplied barrel of 140mm (5.5") all weighing in the most serious target work. Picatinny rail finish off the package nicely. at a shade over 1kg and being fed by a At the end of that target thumbrest The pistol comes with two 10-round 10-round magazine. In the case of Smith groove, standing proud is the next single stack magazines which, like some & Wesson’s Performance Center version, Performance Center addition in the similar .22LR pistol mags on the market, various improvements have been applied. extended magazine release. This raised have a thumb button and exposed race for >

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Major Partners SW22 given some timely tweaks the follower which can be used to depress the spring tension for simplicity of loading. This is a great facet as some .22 magazines can be finicky to load and I’m sure we all agree it’s more fun emptying our pistol mags than loading them. The Vortex Viper red dot sight that comes with the Performance Center SW22 is a mere 46mm long and weighs just more than a couple of ounces including the mount, meaning it’s compact and lightweight and in no way upsets the balance of the pistol. It has a low profile so stays close to the bore line, although naturally still sits higher than traditional iron sights. Unlike magnified optics, such red dot sights are parallax free and give unlimited eye relief which makes them a great choice One of the major enhancements of the Two point of view images taken from the same Performance Center upgrade is a 6 MOA Vortex perspective show the first as in camera focus and for handguns. Adjustment values are 1 Viper red dot sight. second in dot focus. MOA and the Viper offers an adjustment range of 120 MOA. The sight comes supplied with a using the adjustment tool (a small screw- it brighter than you need to. I’d also say it Weaver/Picatinny mount to go straight driver shaped like a hex key) to dial in might take you a little practice on presenta- on the Picatinny rail provided with the the required elevation and windage. It’s tion of the pistol to automatically pick up Performance Center SW22. Some hand- important to note the windage and eleva- the dot in your sight picture as naturally guns with sight cut slides have proprietary tion screws also have an adjustment lock the optical sight alignment is higher than mounting solutions but using the standard screw at the back edge of the sight. Both for iron sights. Once you become used to Weaver/Picatinny mount adds more flex- these need to be moved out one-and-a-half it, shooting with a red dot can be a blessing ibility should you wish to use the sight on turns prior to adjustment and once sighted for those who find obtaining a clear sight other firearms at some stage. in must be tightened again to maintain the picture with iron sights doesn’t come as Also in the box is a hard rubber sight sight’s zero. easily as it used to. cover, a hex key and adjustment tool, a Shooting with a red dot is lots of fun Like its less fancy brother (the standard microfibre lens cloth and CR2032 battery although I have learned a couple of things SW22) the Performance Center version which powers the optic for 10 levels of red from experience, having used many such is a joy to shoot, having sufficient weight dot illumination via two small arrow buttons sights. Firstly the dot, depending on your to feel stable but not enough as to induce which also serve as ‘on’ and ‘off’ buttons. eyes, may not always appear as a perfectly fatigue. It’s balanced and points well, Likewise, the Viper has a 14-hour auto ‘off’ round dot but this is completely normal. controls ergonomic and easy to reach with feature to preserve battery life. The sight is Also, I find the lower I run the illumination the safety sitting nice and low allowing for waterproof and shock proof and according to brightness the clearer and more precise/ a thumb over grip. Safety and slide release the box comes with an unlimited, uncondi- concentric the dot appears, so I generally also sit proud for operation and the slide tional lifetime warranty so you have to ask: set the illumination as low as I can with has deep grooves aiding good purchase How can you go wrong? the dot still clearly visible considering the for cocking. The slide’s resistance/spring Off to the range, first job was to sight ambient lighting conditions. tension is low, making it a simple task for in the Viper red dot, a simple procedure In other words, for best results don’t run charging the pistol. >

The 10-round magazines come with a Simply slide back with the thumb ...... for easy cartridge insertion on loading. follower retracting button.

62 Australian Shooter SW22 given some timely tweaks

Accuracy was good with plain old stan- premium Performance Center. After all, dard velocity .22LR ammunition and I was they’ve been in the business for more than happy with the groups I shot. The gun 160 years and counting. Overall this is a functioned flawlessly with smooth feed and good package, adaptable to many sports ejection as you’d expect from any Smith pistol shooting applications which won’t Specifications & Wesson pistol, let alone one from their disappoint prospective new owners. . Pistol: Smith & Wesson Performance Center SW22 Action: Self-loading single-action The pistol is modular by design and can be stripped completely Trigger: Flat-faced target trigger with the hex key provided. Calibre: .22LR Capacity: 10 (2x single stack magazines) Barrel: 152mm (6") Australian compliant Thread barrel: Custom muzzle brake Optical sight: Vortex Viper 6 MOA red dot Iron sights: Fibre optic front and rear adjustable Length: 287mm (11.3") Grips: Tandemkross ‘hiveGrips’ Slide: Stainless steel Frame: Stainless steel Weight: 1.08kg (38oz)

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Australian Shooter 63 Smart scope a Leupold winner Paul Miller

aving just re-read an excellent 4.5-14 power range seems perfect for this 2: Measure scope tube diameter and divide article by Don Caswell on the sensational dual purpose cartridge I use for by two - 1.000" ÷ 2 = 0.500" (for 30mm Leupold Custom Dial System harvesting the occasional deer and long- tubes use 1.81" and divide by two); H (CDS) (Australian Shooter, range feral game shooting. 3: Measure the distance from top of the bolt February 2016) I thought readers might The Custom Dial System is clever in the rifle to bottom of the scope on the be interested in a high quality scope in the and easy to understand. With CDS scope rifle - example 0.750"; VX-3i series of Leupold options. Speaking installed, sight the rifle in with your most 4: Add the numbers in steps 1-3 (0.350" + with Ken Stevens from Nioa, Australian accurate and effective hunting load at either 0.500" + 0.750" = 1.600"). importers of Leupold scopes, we agreed a 100yds or 100m and provide Nioa ballistic Most loading manuals and scope compa- scope in 4.5-14 magnification covers a huge technicians with the speed of your load, nies use 1.500" as the default for their variety of Aussie hunting selections from projectile weight and its ballistic coefficient. trajectory tables as it’s a common measure- reasonably close quarters to longer range You also need to measure the height your ment, but if shooting at longer ranges like shots requiring considerable precision and scope’s line of sight is above the centre of 500yds-plus then the above formula will lens clarity. your rifle’s bore. give the CDS the ability to be even more Ken suggested the 30mm-bodied model Other conditions are factored in like the accurate in trajectory across longer ranges, with side focus and CDS dial. Nioa provide average elevation (yards or metres) you assuming you have the necessary skills to this (after-purchase) laser printed dial free normally hunt at and average expected be shooting at game over these distances. of charge with each of their CDS-capable temperature. The better the information fed Popping targets for fun or competition models when the buyer supplies specific into the system, the more accurate the dial is one thing but humane despatch of any ballistic data for their rifle and cartridge will be for your particular load and circum- animal is another altogether and no matter combination. stances. For factory loads you provide those the technology available, we need to be The VX-3i series with matte finish are details but chronographing them makes a mindful of hunting ethics - a clean despatch handsome scopes and this particular model lot of sense to gain actual data as different is always the uppermost consideration. with its 40mm objective allows for lower length of barrels can effect velocity and this When the Custom Dial System arrives, mounting on your rifle. It sat snugly in is the most critical input for the CDS. simply remove the factory dial used to the 30mm medium rings I bought after- Finding a scope’s centre height to the accurately sight-in the rifle at whatever market for my left-handed Ruger Hawkeye bore’s centre line involves four steps and I distance and store it somewhere safe. Put in 25-06 several years ago. I previously provide this information courtesy of Sinclair the new dial in its spot, align your zero with had the earlier VX-3 6.5-20x40 but felt the International US, sourced online. the mark on top of the scope tube next to 6.5 power was a bit high for close-range 1: Measure bolt diameter and divide by two the turret and carefully tighten the three work so it now lives on my 220 Swift. The - example 0.700" ÷ 2 = 0.350"; screws holding it in place. If your zero is >

64 Australian Shooter Big Issue 2 OUT NOW! We uniquely consult with environmental experts, farmers, fishers and those charged with protecting Australia’s landscape to take an in-depth look at issues affecting Great Australian Outdoors magazine Australia’s outdoors, along with showcasing beautiful • Highest award for magazine in its category destinations and providing travel tips, reviews and more. • Award for Excellence

International Lure of chasing pesky porkers entices hunters

Award Winner ecause of the huge amount abandon but some of their careless traits of harm inflicted by feral pigs per of their population. They are itinerant on crops, vegetation and the play into the hands of hunters who are primed to take advantage. beasts, that pay no attention to borders often straightforward to detect. Hunters landscape across Australia, and roam freely. One day they can be can again benefit from this. hunting is on the agenda. Clothing for treks itB makes them fair game for hunters. Similar to other various imported species, running rampant over one property, the Pigs have a trusted sense of smell that in the bush is usually based around cotton Indeed pig hunting or wild hog hunting is pigs thrived once they had gone walkabout next minute, they have switched to a can pick up aromas a great distance away. and light garments. It is prudent to carry increasingly gaining popularity all over the throughout the Australian continent. One neighbouring pasture. They also possess a well-trained pair of ears extra water and remember to wear a hat world. Property owners are becoming fascinating aspect is that pigs don’t actually However, pigs do follow a degree of to work out sounds. These acute attributes and apply sunscreen to combat the seering infuriated with the wanton destruction like warm surrounds. They are destined routine. Mostly they stick to well-worn can help to hasten them as far away from sun on any warmer outings. caused by porkers so they are quite happy to die in around six hours with no access trails when scavenging for food. The any impending dangers as they need to be. Pig hunting in Australia can be a rollicking to enlist help from the all quarters as they to drinking water at above 30-degree amount of pigs in a region can be roughly However, their eyesight is not up to par. adventure and attracts followers born look at ways to humanely thin the numbers Celsius temperatures. Hunters can apply guessed by wallows or by inspecting their This gives hunters another aspect to cash in and bred in the countryside as well as city Great Australian of pigs. this information to implement positive tracks. Hunters can use their know-how on, especially in the time around and after dwellers. Hunters are doing their bit to protect strategies when reconnoitring waterholes, to check whether the tracks are relatively dusk. For anyone who has had their interest Australia’s biodiversity and pig hunting can creeks, troughs and dams. new. If this is so, it’s an indication that the The most favourable time to hunt feral stirred about hunting feral pigs, remember be fun-filled and exciting, provided the right Understanding the habits of feral pigs is that you need to possess a firearms crucial to carrying out a successful hunt. It pigs are in close vicinity. pigs in Australia is between the months of safety precautions are observed. licence before you go tracking the irksome is reckoned that killing by baits, trapping, Feral pigs are boisterous beings. They July and November, because of the weather The pigs may behave with reckless intruders. So consult with your relevant shooting and hunting only can control 20 emit vigorous snorts and grunts while patterns and temperature fluctuations. consuming food or mating, so they are Australian surroundings are generally dry local state authority or go to Australia’s and temperate during these days when largest hunting organisation online at ssaa.org.au GREAT AUSTRALIAN OUTDOORS ISSUE 2 2020 TAKE US ON THE ROAD . A dangerous adversary that provides the perfect challenge Sam Garro

ig hunting, especially wild have shot my fair share of pigs over the boars for their ivory tusks, has years and have yet to procure such an always held a special attraction exceptional boar, my enthusiasm and for me, stemming back some P eagerness to pursue them has never 45 years when I was 20 or younger. As a hunter, I rated them highly as a trophy diminished. The challenge rather keeps animal. On the many hunting trips me motivated and wanting more. The damage they to properties in Outback New South In Australia there are three to four Wales, I always hoped to encounter a species of feral pigs, the main ones cause to crops and well-endowed boar with magical 30DP being the European (referred to at (Douglas Points) or more tusks, similar times as the razorback) and Asiatic grain, paddocks to those successful hunters I read so pig. In later years I planned and hunted much about in the various and many pigs in the Northern Territory, a much shooting magazines. I guess the stories larger and tougher animal than its NSW and fields can I read sparked the interest in me and cousin, although some of the mountain my eventual quest to pursue them. pigs in the NSW ranges can be real be extensive I’ve stalked feral pigs in all manner monsters. As a professional hunter on of terrain and weather conditions from a guided hunt in Darwin pointed out, 2020 Issue 2 - $10.95 incl. GST tangled wiry lignum and cumbungi after my 6mm 87gn bullets proved OUTDOORS swamps to rocky escarpments and the inadequate, you need a minimum pill of 150gn. 110 Great Australian Outdoors floodplains of the Top End. And while I Of all medium to large game species,

Great Australian Outdoors 111

A magazine of destination, exploration and conservation From old coins to gold nuggest, the lure of An introduction to metal detecting metal detecting is uncovered Two high-end gold detectors from Minelab a GPZ 7000, left, and GPX 5000, along with a Paul Barker selection of search coils, all designed to suit Beach, forest and desert Australia’s highly mineralised soils.

However, there is always a chance of decade or so back our small finding old coins and other items while adventures group of trout fishers gath- gold detecting around former miners’ ered for our annual get- camps on the goldfields. together on Lake Eucumbene Metal detectors for the most part are A designed to suit either of the two forms in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Most in the west afternoons we would assemble for a of detecting, each having specific design chat and enjoy a relaxed happy hour features to enable efficient exploration over drinks and snacks. It was on such of the chosen targets, though there an afternoon that we were seated is some overlapping between the two around an aluminium table at one of the types. group’s caravans when the owner disap- Coin and relic detecting is becom- peared into his van, returning shortly ing increasingly popular, particularly with a small motley-looking bag which with grey nomads travelling around he proceeded to drop onto the table Australia. Even so, you do not have to with a resounding metallic clang. travel too far from home. Sometimes, As you might imagine, this promptly just go around the corner, to a park or gained everyone’s attention. He then oval to start detecting and experience unlaced the bag and disgorged the con- the thrill of hunting coins and perhaps tents onto the table. To all onlookers’ jewellery and other interesting finds. amazement several plastic bags of beau- Believe me it can become quite con- tiful natural gold in all manner of shapes tagious and yield varying amounts of and sizes emerged. pocket money, to say nothing of the Needless to say, our friend was a keen exercise gained along the way. gold prospector, spending most of the Coin and relic detectors are well Outback winter months roaming the back coun- represented by most of the metal detec- try of Western Australia’s goldfields tor manufacturers. Minelab in South swinging a metal detector in pursuit Australia has a great range of models to of the precious yellow metal. For a choose from, each having their place in number of years he would repeat his terms of the features required to suit Detecting a typical area worked old-timersmid-1800s. from the party trick which ultimately kindled my the varying conditions being explored. interest in this fabulous pastime. Now, Also, most manufacturers provide an survival tips array of interchangeable search coils, 10 years on, winter or summer will find me metal detecting somewhere on the the part of the detector that is passed Great Australian Outdoors 137 goldfields or on local beaches and parks, over the ground. The reason is that and other interesting locations looking different detecting situations can some- for coins and relics. times be enhanced by using a larger Metal detecting can loosely be classi- or smaller coil, one that is waterproof fied into two types - gold and coin/relic. Villain of Oz 136 Great Australian Outdoors the rise of the feral pig

Member price $ 9.95posted in Australia onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Australian Shooter 65 Smart scope a Leupold winner

Zero your rifle at 100yds or metres, align laser-cut dial with zero white line on the scope then tighten set screws on the dial.

100yds or metres, align the 1 with the mark physical size and magnification capability. If your target is at 300yds twist the dial to align the 3 with the mark on the scope body and aim - it’s that simple - you should then be able If you want to shoot long-range SSAA dead on. to quickly dial the distance with the help of disciplines there are scopes better suited in a rangefinder. For this system to work you the Leupold stable designed especially for need to know the exact gap you’re shooting these demanding fields. at so a quality rangefinder is essential. This one has the standard duplex reticle The Leupold 1200 TBR I use lets you but the new Wind-Plex version is also avail- choose a setting that best matches a able which allows you to hold off by way of particular load, then this amazing piece of dots on the horizontal bar up to 10 MOA, an equipment almost instantly calculates the interesting idea worth searching online or true ballistic range when you press the watching on YouTube. button to find a distance. It does this at any I prefer the simple duplex to any of the angle up or down so you have a space you complicated range-finding or other reticles can dial into the scope that has allowed for we’ve seen in recent years with a multitude the elevation. of aiming points but the Wind-Plex is easy Putting the system to the test was fun to use and relatively uncluttered and many and involved placing targets at known shooters will love it. distances and random ones in between. I According to Leupold: “The Extended tested the dial at all the known ranges and Twilight Max lens system delivers the bullet placement was near perfect. I then highest average light transmission in all shot the unknown distances, adjusted for wavelengths for exceptional contrast and those and again all results were right in the low-light performance in all conditions. As distance increases so do the number of clicks between the 100 markers to allow for additional zone for a merciful despatch from rabbit- Edge blackened lenses reduce diffusion and elevation required. sized game and up. I limited myself to glare to improve resolution and contrast. 400yds as that’s my personal boundary. Second generation Argon/Krypton gas more Looking at the new VX-3i and comparing effectively resists thermal shock and the it with my older VX-3 and Vari-X111 dual spring precision adjustment system Leupolds was interesting. It was hard to ensures match-grade repeatability and tell the difference in quality of picture and strength. Top it all off with DiamondCoat 2 sharpness - they’re all that good - the big external lens coatings for scratch resistance advantage of this scope over the others is and you can see why VX-3i is the last word the CDS and lens coating that supposedly in riflescopes.” provides the highest level of protection to So we can see the marketing people at external damage. Leupold are not backwards in describing The 30mm body also allows considerably their products. The reality is there are more adjustment both vertically and hori- many things to like about this scope zontally at 110 Minutes of Angle compared including the ability to mount it low on a to the current 25mm (one inch) VX-3i hunting rifle, the opportunity to use it at models that have between 55 and 65 MOA longer ranges for casual target shooting adjustment. This is only relevant if shooting with the 110 MOA adjustment, more than at long ranges. For hunting purposes and adequate eye relief, glass etched reticle the distances involved both scopes have in the second focal plane and matte finish plenty of adjustment, this scope being a to minimise potential for scaring your Separate dials can be ordered for different projectiles when relevant data is provided then fine hunting accessory with a balance of intended game. the rifle re-sighted to that zero.

66 Australian Shooter Smart scope a Leupold winner

The power range is a great compromise as stated earlier and the redesigned power Specifications ring is positive and comfortable to use. The same can be said for the turret/saddle- Magnification: 4.5-14x40mm mounted focus. A lifetime warranty for objective lens any owner (not just the first) gives peace Adjustment click value: ¼ MOA of mind for buyers of Leupold scopes in Exposed turrets: No Australia, with the Nioa Custom Leupold Turrets resettable to zero: Yes shop and their highly trained technicians available, in the unlikely event of a problem, Finger adjustable turrets: Yes to fix and return your scope in the shortest Fast focus eyepiece: Yes and lockable possible time. Lens coating: Fully multi-coated This CDS scope retails for about $1100 Custom Dial System: Yes and includes provision for a complimentary Field of view at 100yds: (feet) 18.7’ custom dial, laser-etched to your exact at 4.5x, 4.4’ at 14.5x ballistic requirements by the Nioa ballistic team who turn these around quickly once Optimum eye relief (inches): low they have your data. You can also order extra 4.4’, high 3.7’ dials for different loads for about $60 each. Weight in ounces: 15.6 This is a serious scope for hunters who Sunshade: No demand the maximum from their equipment Bikini cover: Yes mechanically and technologically. It’s essen- Elevation and windage adjustment: tial you use a quality rangefinder to eliminate Both 110 MOA guesswork and ensure the optimum accuracy this scope is capable of delivering in the Reticle: Duplex or Wind-Plex hands of a competent shot. Excellent value Reticle construction: Glass etched and highly recommended. . Airgun rated: No Warranty: Lifetime To get the most from this scope requires an Price: Approximately $1100 including accurate rifle, exact data and a precision sight-in at whatever zero range you specify to Nioa’s one CDS dial Leupold technicians

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Australian Shooter 67 A successful night’s shoot with 55gr tipped and hollow point Varmegeddons.

Nosler puts varmints on notice Chris Redlich

s the name suggests, of a lead-alloy core encased by an ultra-thin for hunters who shoot for pelts and fur skins Varmageddon bullets have put copper jacket designed to have what Nosler and maintain accuracy out to long ranges. In the varmints of this world on refers to as ‘violent expansion’ on impact, theory the bullets penetrate the soft-skin A borrowed time and the distressed- expansion initiated by either the black varmint and self- destruct rapidly inside looking groundhog wearing a sandwich polymer tip or hollow-point with a large without destroying the skin on the off side board proclaiming ‘The End is Near’ is a cavity separating the lead-alloy core from with an unsightly exit wound. In Australia light-hearted but effective way of Nosler the projectile tip. we don’t have woodchucks or coyotes marketing their projectiles specifically for This is where the Varmageddon design roaming the land but these bullets are suit- high-volume varmint hunting. really distinguishes itself from its ballistic able for wild dogs, foxes, feral cats, hares and Importantly, unlike the Nosler Ballistic tip cousin. Nosler developed these bullets rabbits and for professional marksmen are Tip bullets which I’m sure every hunter ideal for head-shooting kangaroos. in Australia at some stage has had success with on all manner of thin and thick-skinned Load testing game, Varmageddon bullets are designed to Nosler developed I loaded both the 55gr hollow-point and be used on thin-skinned game only. black tip projectiles for my Maddco-barrelled Nioa forwarded a box each of 53gr these bullets for Remington Model 700 in 22-250 Rem and, tipped and 55gr tipped and hollow-point working my way up, settled on 32gr of ADI .224 diameter projectiles for testing in my hunters who shoot BM2 powder for both. At the 100m range it .22-250 Rem and .22PPC, two calibres I was hard to split the groups as most loads use frequently for destruction of varmints for pelts and fur performed beautifully, averaging .550 MOA, and the ideal choice to test these bullets. the 32gr ADI BM2 marginally edging the Varmageddons come with a choice of black skins and maintain others. Both the hollow-points and black polymer-tipped projectiles or hollow-points tips printed equally on paper which gave me in the .224 calibre range of bullets though accuracy out to plenty of confidence to batch load the rest for not all have the hollow-point option. hunting, on one occasion I even managed to Reloaders will be familiar with the boat- long ranges. put two bullets through the same hole. The tail design of Nosler Ballistic Tips but Varmageddons weren’t fussy with varying Varmageddons have a flat base and consist powder weight loads.

68 Australian Shooter Varmegeddon bulllets loaded for the .22PPC, left, and .22-250 Rem.

Another feral cat taken care of.

Outstanding accuracy from the Loading the highly accurate Varmageddon bullets for the.22PPC. .22PPC (mongrel).

The 53gr black tipped projectiles proved is no diesel engine at a drag race. I suspect always looking for the edge in control- a good choice for my .22PPC (mongrel) a the same 55gr bullet from a .222 Rem trav- ling pests and with Nosler advertising the custom Zastava in a Boyds thumbhole stock elling at 3000fps wouldn’t be as destructive Varmageddon’s credentials for long-range with Remington barrel. Working my way but I wasn’t in a position to whinge about varmint shooting, my farmer mate attests up from 27gr of AR-2206H with three-shot horsepower and wasn’t shooting for skins. they live up to that claim. groups at 100m, I settled on 27.5gr printing Interestingly, anything I shot at 150-180m an awesome .224 MOA group. Achieving was left intact and apart from a drop of .22PPC (mongrel) field test this kind of accuracy with little fuss, I blood indicating an entry wound, the rest More recently I field tested 53gr tipped couldn’t wait to field test both calibre/load of the pelt was unharmed reinforcing the Varmageddons in the .22PPC and again combinations on varmints. Varmageddon’s suitability for skin-shooting. was suitably impressed by their accuracy. A The furthest shot that night was around hare crossed my path at 100m but made me 22-250 field test 235m and I successfully dropped the crop work to take a shot, darting back and forth My son Carl and I headed to our hunting raider on the spot with a single head shot, before pausing at 190m, long enough for me property for an evening of spotlighting and the extraordinary accuracy gained during to feel comfortable with a head shot. At the soon discovered how effective Vamageddon range testing giving me the confidence I report he dropped on the spot. bullets really are. In no time we’d made needed to take long-range kill shots. In the neighbouring paddock a feral cat light work of the local hare population’s Reinforcing the ammo’s popularity was on the move grabbed my attention and at an dinner plans and with 20 shots and 20 my mate who has a permit to cull kanga- estimated range of more than 200m I took confirmed kills the bullets were proving roos on his family property. He loaded 55gr the shot. Again, the range testing accuracy their worth, both hollow-points and black tipped projectiles for his 22-250 Rem and achieved on paper gave me the confidence tips equally effective though I did find that reported a spectacular 400m kill. Using a to take such a shot and I had rid the area of anything around 100m or less was left with rangefinder he made the necessary height another native animal killer. a large exit wound. adjustment and the roo dropped on the An audible thud on impact (a spot, numerous rounds that night providing Conclusion Varmageddon trademark) and puff of hair similar devastating results. As with all Nosler bullets I’m not surprised drifting on the night breeze confirmed their With the drought and exploding by the Varmageddon’s performance, ‘violent expansion’ design, understandable kangaroo numbers having a major impact accuracy every bit as good on varmints as a 22-250 Rem spitting a bullet at 3700fps on dwindling crop yields, farmers are as it is on paper. I couldn’t split the >

Australian Shooter 69 Nosler puts varmints on notice performance of the black tip polymer and culler or recreational varmint hunter after a hollow-point projectiles in.22-250 Rem, premium, value-for-money bullet, these will using both loads in the field test and at not disappoint. various stages of the shoot they were mix- Nosler Varmageddons are available .17, matched in my magazine. .204, .224, 6mm, .308 and .310 calibre and If you’re restricted by overall length, now in 6.5mm bullets and come in boxes the hollow-point projectiles offer a slight of 100, 250, and 500 quantity (calibre reduction in length, the lighter projectiles specific). Contact your local retailer for loaded in my .22PPC also proving a top latest prices. . performer. Whether you’re a professional

Sighting-in the tipped Varmegeddon 53gr bullets and .22PPC.

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70 Australian Shooter Carcass cart the wheel deal Con Kapralos

Graham Park

Charlie with the modified cart.

s a greenhorn on the deer stalking a fence and planned a stalk through the way to carry out deer after a stalk. On the scene many years ago, I look chest-high bushes, probably a good couple internet I found the Americans had just back with some awkwardness and of hundred metres to a spot where I could what I was looking for - a deer cart made the odd laugh at how I did things guarantee a clear shot at my quarry. by Ameristep. I sourced one from the US A which surprisingly didn’t cost much on then - and can say with certainty you learn Lining up through the Zeiss Duralyt from your mistakes. Back then I didn’t scope I sent a 130gr Federal Premium postage and since that day the cart has been know of the veritable feast of information Ballistic Tip in .270 Winchester on its way, with me on every stalk. Its solid construc- available on the worldwide web and how it taking the animal cleanly. Feeling relief, tion and thoughtful design is obviously the could have prevented me from making silly exhilaration and achievement I waded work of deer hunters, solid rubber tyres on mistakes when discovering deer stalking. through ankle-deep water as reality struck spoked rims, foldable for easy storage and I recall my first stalking trip. Previous - where’s my car and where’s the nearest transportation, removable wheels - it’s spot deer hunts had been with the aid of a farm track? This red deer was way too big on for the job. vehicle and couldn’t be deemed hunting to carry out in one piece. I’d used the cart unmodified for eight in the true sense of the word. I had all After gralloching the animal I harvested years until on one trip while harvesting the right gear, calibre-wise and optics, but the hind legs and backstraps. Naively a decent red spiker, my hunting buddy seemed to be wandering aimlessly having believing all deer legs were like fallows, the suggested we ‘tweak’ it somewhat. Adding seen not a scrap of deer hide or antler. Deer red deer’s were huge by comparison and mesh would help stop the carcass falling were around as evidenced by the many foot- the only way I was going to retrieve them through gaps in the cart’s frame and an prints and scat but, several hours into my was to drag them half a kilometre through ergonomic handle to allow two people to first stalk, I had nothing to show for it. grass to the nearest farm track, hard work pull instead of one was a valid suggestion. I Resting on a log overlooking a shallow as most of it was mud and slush. gave the cart to my mate who’s a dab hand lake I rang my wife to let her know how After considerable effort to reach the at modifying anything with wheels attached. my day was playing out. I then reached for track I had another 1.5km to the car. Now the old cart is working better than my trusty Bushnell Elite 10x42s to glass Already exhausted, I got to the car, eventu- ever and even has a fresh coat of gloss the area immediately in front of me. The ally retrieved everything and was back at black paint. The only comment to my pal on image of a red deer feeding in the middle of camp one cold, wet but undefeated hunter. examining his handiwork? “The shorter the the shallow lake was more a shock than a After processing the venison and putting carry-out distance the better!” He agreed surprise, trying to figure out how it mate- it in the fridge, I pondered what had trans- wholeheartedly. . rialised out of nowhere. I quickly cleared pired thinking there must be an easier

Australian Shooter 71 The buck where he fell, taken with a single shot at 170m.

The buck of a lifetime John Dunn

Sometimes it’s better to hunt for the sake of the chase than for a particular animal and that thought crossed my mind as we drove to the crest of the hill and stopped to glass the broad flats beyond. We’d been hunting for three days and nothing had popped up to pique my interest.

he previous afternoon Pete Spurgin into a broken-antlered stag and his hinds on Half a kilometre or more away a drain had taken a wonderful fallow buck the lee face of our hill. He’d been hesitant bisected the flats. As we watched, the red with his vintage Winchester 1885 to leave, perhaps because of another as yet deer splashed through the water, climbed T High Wall in .38-55 and to date unseen stag with a deep voice roaring on over the mound on the other side and that was the best deer we’d seen. We’d the other side and if that was the drop tine dropped out of sight behind it to join a glassed fallow, red, chital and sambar and stag there was only one way to find out. scattering of reds already feeding there. while they were all wonderful to observe, A couple of hundred metres away a group One of them appeared a reasonable animal nothing really moved me, though I wasn’t of lesser red stags and spikers cleared and as we checked him out we heard yet unhappy. We were constantly looking the sheep fence and jogged away with another roar even further away on the edge at deer and even when you can’t find that proud, head-up almost regal mode of the timber. Though he was little more something to hunt, time spent watching of shambling movement they have when than an active spot in the binoculars, he had deer is never wasted. they’re not in a hurry but leaving anyway. to be worth a closer look. We’d used a good part of the afternoon Trailing behind was a mob of bleating Where a concrete bridge crossed the searching for a red stag with a drop tine the sheep that bunched up in the corner of the drain, Shaun Cooke stopped the car and landholder had mentioned. I like non-typical paddock, squeezed through the gate in the grabbed his binoculars and spotting scope. antlers so he seemed like a prospect - if we frantic way sheep do then spread out to One by one we climbed through the fence could find him. We couldn’t but did bump feed on the other side. around the bottom of the drain mound then

72 Australian Shooter The buck of a lifetime

clambered to the top to use the elevation. The edge of the bush was a good 1500m away and the stag we wanted was no longer in sight. Bit by bit we began the search, checking every dip and hollow or patch of vegetation that might shield him. A couple of hundred metres away a big stag with scrappy antlers was feeding into the wind, oblivious to our presence, while off to our left the stags we’d pushed across the drain were doing likewise. Where a finger of bush jutted out into the grasslands some fallow does were mooching about in the timber while others basked in the afternoon sun. Closer in a couple of kangaroos hopped out for an evening feed as once again a deep-voiced red was roaring in the timber. It was an idyllic landscape, easy to sit back and enjoy with no real need to do any Pete Spurgin with the results of a four-day hunt. more. Tucked in behind the spotting scope as he often is, Shaun swore softly then the verdict was unanimous - here was a little cover there was ran out halfway to turned and asked me if I fancied a crack at fallow buck too good to walk past, he was him so beyond that we’d probably have to a sizeable fallow buck. What fallow buck? big and we all knew it. There was no need crawl. There were kangaroos and other There wasn’t one when I’d looked earlier to go into detail of counting his tines or deer we’d have to work our way through so where had he come from and more mentally gauging his palms, the sensible and how they reacted to our approach importantly, where exactly was he? thing to do was hunt him and worry about would be crucial to the outcome. All we Shaun pointed him out and, just like him, the finer points later. had in our favour was a quartering breeze I was amazed by the size of the animal. We talked tactics and agreed a direct and afternoon sun behind us. With his wonderful high-swept antlers he approach was the best option, the buck With Pete atop the bank to survey The buck of a lifetime looked like a moose. Pete had a look and was 800m from where we sat and what proceedings, Shaun and I set out >

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Australian Shooter 73 The buck of a lifetime across the flat, heading for a thin stand of those on the left had their heads up, curious We took our time, moving slowly, trees that looked the best available cover. but unable to smell us upwind. watching the red deer monitor our Stopping to check ahead, our boy had We were still 400m from the fallow and approach. A big hind lifted her head a little moved and was now lying in his rut hole there was no more cover except short higher, snorted softly then turned and among the trees watching his does. The grass and, given the slightly elevated posi- walked away. The others followed her lead kangaroos had hopped out of our approach tion of the deer, that probably wouldn’t be and a few moments later they were all line and the red deer were still feeding. So enough. Our only hope lay in a tiny mallee jogging steadily down the wind. We stopped far, so good. knoll ahead and off to our left, if we could and waited, anxious to see how the fallow We made another couple of hundred reach that we’d have some cover and hope- would react, wondering if our stalk had metres and huddled in behind the trunks fully be within shooting range. To arrive been blown. of a skinny pair of tea trees. Our buck now there all we had to do was sidle through the A few minutes later we were watching had his eyes closed, most of his does were clearing for 100m or so and resume a direct him through a skinny screen of mallee feeding and the kangaroos no longer a approach, the only flies in the ointment the trunks. Shaun ranged the buck at 200m consideration. The red stag off to the right red deer. If they were spooked this show which was good but there were no gaps to had no idea we were there but a couple of was over. shoot him through the trees. I slid forward

John Dunn and his buck of a lifetime. The rifle is a Ruger No.1 in 7x57 Mauser.

74 Australian Shooter The buck of a lifetime to the edge of the mallee and, sitting flat on my butt, rested the rifle on a horizontal stem and waited patiently, checking the buck through the scope. Soon he opened his eyes and trotted down into the clear to push two of his does back towards the edge of the timber. With his neck extended he gave a half-hearted grunt then thought better of it and stood there, the paddles of his antlers rocking from side to side as he looked around. I told Shaun I was about to take the buck and if he’d any doubts about whether or not I’d done my job properly, he was to shoot the deer again and we’d talk about it later. He gave me a laconic affirmative as I heard him work a cartridge into the chamber of his .300 Winchester Magnum Mannlicher. From a rock-solid rested position I put the cross-hairs on the base of the buck’s neck and squeezed off my shot. I saw him crumple and by the time I’d reloaded and Shaun Cooke pressure-cleans the skull cap after boiling it for 10 minutes. found him in the scope again all I could see was a single antler jutting up out of their back edges bladed above a strong pair and as Pete had been the day before, I was the grass, rocking gently as he kicked his of guard tines. He carried four good points more than a little awestruck. last. We waited a few minutes to ensure he on either top with nice long brow and bey As evening settled in and the light wasn’t going to stand up then walked in to tines out front. Viewed front-on the antlers faded I sat beside my trophy, quietly see what we had. were over spread and broadly V-shaped, thanked him for the hunt he’d given me At our feet lay the largest antlered the tops turning in as they always do on and promised him pride of place in my fallow buck I’ve ever seen in the flesh. His mature fallow heads. He looked wonderful trophy room. What else would you do for antlers were long, as were his broad palms, lying there in the last of the evening light the buck of a lifetime? .

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Australian Shooter 75 It’s staring you in the face! Joe Norris

ave you ever wondered why so many deer when I couldn’t see any, he because, like me, they were ‘looking for some people seem to be able to explained he doesn’t look for deer, rather deer’. Sounds crazy? Of course they were spot game while you don’t see for ‘parts’ of deer and outlines that aren’t looking for deer but the fact is you rarely Hanything until it’s pointed out to natural like horizontal lines, legs or an ear see the whole animal in the bush - usually you? I was on a deer hunt with my cousin - anything that seems out of place. As soon just part of it at first - and it’s not until and he was pointing out sambar left, right as he said that I knew what I was doing you study the part you’ve seen that you and centre while I struggled to spot any. wrong and immediately started to notice can actually make out the rest of it in the Not that I’m inexperienced when it comes deer while hunting on my own. surrounding bush. to hunting - he just seemed to find deer I think part of the problem was I’m not I know this from many years of hunting easily while I struggled. used to the Victorian mountain bush but pigs and wild dogs in my home state, so to Now as I’m from far north Queensland and mostly I hadn’t applied the basics I already travel to Victoria and expect to see whole he’s from Gippsland in Victoria there is the knew. Of course, the fact Dean has spent deer just standing in plain view is totally issue of familiarity with local conditions, but many years hunting these animals and unrealistic, yet that’s what I was doing. that wasn’t all of it. I just wasn’t seeing the understands their habits and where he can While hunting one morning we spotted a deer that were obviously right in front of me expect to find them at any given time or dark wattle that wasn’t normal and putting and it wasn’t until we talked about hunting weather conditions helps. the binoculars to use soon discovered a in general and sambar in particular I realised There are people who’ve hunted these nice young sambar doe standing directly what I was doing wrong. magnificent animals for years and rarely behind the tree, a perfect eater. As I was When I asked Dean how he could spy seen one and I believe the reason is after a stag we let her walk but not until

76 Australian Shooter First sighting of the sambar hind; The hind comes feeding out of the trees.

Red hind in plain sight but not easy to spot.

A big dark shadow in the tea trees, the ears give it away as a huge wild pig. This sambar hind could easily have been missed. waiting for her to feed out from behind the of the dam. Actually, I spotted a huge dark took some photos of deer I didn’t want to wattle, allowing me to take a clear photo. shadow in the tea trees that could have harvest, most of them clearly showing parts I’d have missed her if I was looking for been anything except it had an ear sticking of a deer, and it was only by waiting for the deer instead of something out of the ordi- up so I knew it was a pig asleep in the animal to move I was able to take a photo nary like a dark shape that didn’t fit or a shade. That’s when I got to thinking about that clearly showed deer. Only photos of tree with too many trunks. writing this article because if I hadn’t been deer taken in farm country really showed And while you need to look for parts of looking for odd shapes I’d have missed the the whole animal. the animal you’re hunting, that doesn’t pig just as I was missing deer in Victoria. While I’ve always used the old American mean you shoot at it. Basic safety is to Now I don’t think applying the ‘look for Indian method of hunting - walk little, look always identify your target, without doubt, odd shapes’ method is the be-all-and-end-all lots - it helps if you’re looking for the right before taking a shot. Usually you’ll have of hunting. Knowing how the target animals thing and to my mind that’s to be looking time to identify the animal and be able to live and what they eat, where they’re likely for parts of the deer first, then clearly iden- place an accurate, humane shot if you just to be at any given time is crucial, but when tifying your target and deciding if that’s wait and observe. And if you don’t, you it comes to actually spotting one it’s far the animal you want to take home, be it for weren’t meant to have that shot in the first more likely you’ll see part of the animal meat or as a trophy. place, so learn from it and move on knowing before you get to see a whole animal, so So next time you’re on a hunt just ask you’re a wiser hunter for the experience. it makes sense that’s what we should be yourself ‘what are you looking at?’ The I was checking a solar pump on my farm looking for. answer just might help you find what you’re when I spotted a huge pig on the other side During that sambar hunt in Victoria I hunting for. . Australian Shooter 77 P30LS 9mm handgun from Heckler & Koch Geoff Smith

The gun in its case with spare magazine and alternative grip inserts.

Right-hand view.

n 1949 engineers Edmund Heckler, The safety catch at the rear of the frame is cocked and safety off, the gun is aimed Theodor Koch and Alex Seidel formed easily worked and operates by blocking the at the target and trigger squeezed. The their own engineering company at a operation of the trigger bar and sear. trigger pivots on a pin set fairly low in the time when, having been defeated in The de-cocker button safely drops the frame and its upper end pulls the trigger I bar forward. The trigger bar is on the right World War Two, Germany had been heavily cocked hammer to enable holstering the restricted in its legal capacity to manufac- gun with a live round in the chamber. When of the frame viewed from the rear and as it ture firearms. Notwithstanding these limi- a live round is chambered the outwards moves forward it releases the sear to drop tations they secured contracts to supply the shift of the extractor claw reveals a red the hammer. The disconnector sits along- local police, border police and Bundeswehr upper surface to indicate the chamber is side the trigger bar and its upper section or federal defence force. no longer empty and under dark conditions is in a recess in the slide’s underside. On More than 70 years on the model under this can also be detected by feel. firing, as the slide moves out of battery in review, the P30LS as modified for Australia, For Australian compliance the barrel recoil, the disconnector is pushed down is a double action 10-shot, hammer-fired, length is 129.1mm from muzzle to breech ensuring the hammer will re-cock and not polymer-framed gun supplied with two face and the muzzle features a removable fire again until the trigger is released and magazines in a foam-lined case with spare left hand-threaded cap, the barrel having re-operated. grip inserts and instruction manual. It’s a right-hand twist polygonal rifling. The gun’s The hammer, once released, will drive locked breech, short recoil design based on relatively light weight (816g unloaded with the firing pin into the primer of the Browning’s HP35 system. magazine attached) coupled to the well- cartridge so long as the trigger is being Straight out of the box the luminous designed grip makes it a pleasure to shoot. pulled, a safety factor to ensure the firing three-dot sights stand out and the controls One asset claimed for this gun is it will pin can’t strike the primer if, for example, all appear to be conveniently located. The shoot reliably with a wide range of ammo the gun is dropped. On firing, the barrel and rear sight is adjustable for elevation and and tests conducted employed factory loads slide are locked together and begin their windage. The black appearance of the fibre with projectiles ranging from 115gr through rearwards travel under recoil. The barrel reinforced polymer frame matches the black to 147gr and a variety of handloads which can only travel back a short distance before nitride finish of the slide and barrel and also performed well. the ramp at the base of the breech pulls it the gun is designed to be ambidextrous. With a live round chambered, the action downwards, unlocking it from the slide. The

78 Australian Shooter slide is free to recoil backwards, ejecting of the backstrap is pushed out with a pin Rear left the fired case as it opens until its travel is punch and the backstrap slides downwards view showing stopped by the recoil spring and buffer. to remove it, the grip panels then able to de-cocking button, hammer and The spring then pushes the slide back be slid backwards out of the grip frame. sights. towards the barrel and as the slide closes The appropriate sized pieces are slipped it collects a new cartridge from the maga- into place and secured by tapping the roll zine and pushes it into the chamber for the pin back into position. The ambidextrous next shot. The barrel tilts back up until magazine release levers are part of the it’s re-locked into its battery position and base of the triggerguard. Just forward of the should the slide be even slightly out of triggerguard on the base of the frame is a battery, the gun won’t fire. After the last Picatinny rail to mount lights, laser sights shot is fired the magazine follower lifts and other accessories. the slide release which ensures the slide In actual use the gun performed superbly remains open. with factory and handloaded ammuni- Field stripping is simple. After removing tion, 10-shot group sizes over 25m mostly the magazine the slide is withdrawn until within the black and these became notice- the square notch on the left lines up with ably smaller. Overall this is a fine looking the axle of the slide release lever. The firearm which points and shoots extremely right-hand slide release has a button in the well. The test gun was supplied by H&K’s middle of the axle and this is pushed to the Australian wholesalers, Hermann’s left. The left-hand side slide release lever Sporting Guns of Mirboo North in Victoria. is pulled outwards a few millimetres until it • This is an edited version of a review stops, when the slide can be lowered then which first appeared in Australian & New pulled forward from the frame. Zealand Handgun Issue 18. . Turning the slide over reveals the recoil spring and its guide rod and buffer which are pulled outwards to expose the barrel. On the test bench. The muzzle cap is unscrewed and the barrel can be lifted up and back out of the slide. The gun is now dismantled as far as needed for cleaning and maintenance into its five main parts. Reassembly is in reverse order and it’s important that when replacing the slide, some downwards pressure is applied at the rear end to engage it into the guide lugs on the frame. The guide lugs on the frame contain hardened inserts which are cunningly moulded into the reinforced polymer of the frame. The grip frame features interchange- Rear right view able backstraps and side plates so the fit showing hammer cocked and safety to the shooter’s hand can be optimised. catch in the ‘fire’ To change grips, the roll pin at the base position.

Specifications: Heckler & Koch P30LS (Australian version) short recoil self-loading handgun Double action, polygonal rifling Calibre: 9x19mm (9mm Luger) Magazine capacity: 10 rounds Barrel length: 129.1mm, overall length 208mm, width 39mm, height 139mm Weight: unloaded with magazine installed 816g Supplied with spare magazine, polymer case, alternative grips, detailed instruction manual

Jo Barton fires a few test rounds. RRP: $1569

Australian Shooter 79 Le chop chop M1833 French naval cutlass Mark van den Boogaart

The ocean-going entrepreneur's toolkit circa 1833.

he romantic view of 19th century heavy cannon and while Britannia may so it stands to reason I’d be on the hunt war on the high seas was billowing have ruled the waves, it’s the French for an M1833.But an antique French naval sails, brass-buttoned coats, pointy cutlass which was regarded as the finest sword isn’t something you see every day, T hats and a smoking cannon. Yet it naval sword of the era. The M1833 - like so my search eventually moved overseas. was ships, especially blue water warships, its predecessor the AN IX 1801 series of After a few months of enquiry I managed to which were the ultimate expression of a French naval cutlasses - was one of the locate a very good example of an M1833 at country’s military technology and wealth. most widely dispersed patterns of 19th a reasonable price. Because of the inherent cost of such a ship century swords. Sold, replicated, copied A few weeks later I finally had the and its ability to project a nation’s power and in several cases simply stolen by coun- chance to examine my purchase. well beyond its physical borders, the last tries throughout Europe and the Americas, Measuring just over 825mm with a blade thing anyone wanted was for it to be sent to they were highly regarded and have of 625mm and total weight of 1.4kg, the the bottom of the sea. become equally collectable. cutlass with its slightly upturned cut- It was a far better option for an enter- The word cutlass, uniformly recognised and-thrust blade, or falchion as it’s more prising captain to capture the enemy ship, as the ‘sword of a sailor’, is believed to correctly known, is a fighting sword share its valuables with officers and crew be derived from the French coutelas and designed for close quarters combat. then collect a sizable reward for the intact earlier Latin word cultellus (small knife). As with any new antique purchase I ship from their respective government. A cutlass, like the weapon of the soldier try hard to determine its age. The good That way the government could promptly or trooper was very plain, in fact due to its news is most French swords carry the rename and re-crew the ship and integrate constant exposure to salt water the cutlass manufacturer’s name on the spine of the it into their own fleet. Of course with that was probably even more utilitarian than blade and in the case of the cutlass it reads kind of monetary motivation, a naval battle its landlubber cousins. At times they were Manuf re R le de Châtellerault Aou or Royal would inevitably turn from a majestic event also of inferior quality and in the case of a Manufacturer, Chatellerault, Aou. of exploding timber to a bloody hand-to- number of British cutlasses were just cut- Unfortunately what’s missing is the date hand brawl over ownership. down cavalry sabres. stamp, specifically the month and year of In this scenario flintlock, sword, axe, The thing is, as a collector I find the utili- manufacture have been worn away over pike and club all took precedence over tarian rather than ornate really appealing time with only the letters Aou remaining,

80 Australian Shooter Le chop chop

Cutlass and scabbard - due to its quality the scabbard is likely a newer replacement.

The surprisingly effective grip. The manufacturer’s name with partial worn date stamp.

which I assume was once Aout or August time is either I’m reading the R inspection japanning, essentially 1830s rust protec- in French. Without a year of manufacture stamp incorrectly or the cutlass at some tion. Unfortunately many of the ordinance I began to look elsewhere and apart from point returned to Chatellerault and was stamps on the bowl are blurred by this the large etched anchors on each face of the restamped. Other stamps include a clear ‘2’ protective coating, though the trade-off is blade luckily the ricasso, the point where on the inside face of the bowl which is most the japanning has protected the metal for the blade connects with the hilt, carries two probably an issue to service stamp. The almost 180 years. ordinance inspection stamps. same face also carries a number of other With regard to japanning, its continued One stamp is an ‘A’ with star above stamps but all are illegible. use post-manufacture was entirely up to the surrounded by a laurel, the other possibly Like the blade, the hilt is impressive ship’s captain who may have insisted it be a cursive ‘R’. After some research I identi- comprising a fully enclosed D-shaped guard removed to improve presentation quality of fied the ‘A’ as belonging to Charles-Elis which protects the whole hand and the the crew’s weapons, this particular example Arcelin who served as Armoury Director curve of the bowl extends past the spine of clearly coming from a ship where the from November 1841 to September 1842. the blade, giving the sailor effective protec- captain wasn’t so fussy about appearance. Looking more closely there’s also a cursive tion against an attacking edge from sliding The final piece of the puzzle is the ‘B’ on the inside of the bowl guard, this the up their arm. The cutlass is clearly an offen- leather scabbard which, with brass throat stamp of Francois Antoine Bisch, a Second sive weapon, its bowl the great-granddaddy and end cap, is in excellent condition so is Class Controller who held the role from of all knuckle dusters which would deliver a probably a later replacement as leather and January 1829 to February 1845. fearsome blow. salt spray most definitely don’t mix. As a In considering the information avail- The grip, reflecting the harshness of 178-year old sword it’s a fantastic collectable relating to the ordinance inspection the salt water environment, is a section able and a great find. Like so many antique stamps and partially obscured August date of straight iron with eight sides, not military collectables it’s a little incomplete stamp, I believe the cutlass was manufac- an evenly constructed octagon, having and its history is not so clear, but what can’t tured in August 1842. As for the R that’s two wider faces, and although it has no be said is that this was a wallflower. It is, as not so clear. There’s a similar R attributed covering, etching or curvature it does it was designed, a weapon for a fighting man to Jean Paul Reallon who was Armoury fit the hand very well. Unlike the blade, on a fighting ship. . Director in 1876, and my best guess at this the hilt assembly is covered in black

Australian Shooter 81 SSAA club suffers in wake of deadly bushfires Dave Rose

he SSAA Batemans Bay branch has that the fires hadn’t been spreading at night 800 and Mr Payne reckons teamwork will been all but wiped out by one of the but next day the phones were going mad turn things around. “It will take some time brutal bushfires which have devas- at six o’clock in the morning and the whole and hard work but I know we’ll get it done,” T tated much of Victoria and New area had to be evacuated.” he said. “I’m an optimist and we have a South Wales over the past few months. And it wasn’t just the shooting range that willing work base of volunteers, including The NSW club’s home range resembled a was engulfed as about 550 houses were lost contractors. I reckon within about six frazzled war zone after the New Year’s Eve throughout the surrounding area. So where weeks, if we fix the fences first, we could at blaze and was strictly out of bounds while does the club go from here? Fortunately least be shooting again.” club officials considered their next move. SSAA insurance was already in place so But for the clubhouse and other buildings The family-orientated club built its own assessors will move in and offer an evalua- it’s a different story. “If the clubhouse was barn-style clubhouse in the mid-1990s with tion and once the insurance company gives back in operation by the end of this year I’d a kitchen as well as an indoor range for air the go-ahead it will be all hands on deck. be more than happy,” said Mr Payne. . rifle and air pistol. There were nine lanes for The club has a membership approaching running target as well as automatic returns while sheds, toilets and other amenities were erected by volunteers to allow the club to cater for women and children. “It has all been wiped out, devas- tated,” said club president Bryson Payne. “Everything basically just melted with the force of the blaze. That includes aluminium on windows, all the sheds and concrete pillars. And on the rifle range part of the concrete roof collapsed through the sheer heat.” Mr Payne says little was spared as outdoor lighting, poles and transformers were burnt down, mowers, whipper- snippers and tractor tyres also added to the list of items which had to be written off. Ironically the firestorm struck just one day after members had been busy raking up and clearing debris which could have taken hold during any approaching fire threat. “We thought everything should be all right after that, but hot north-west winds blew the The severity of the Batemans Bay fire in,” said Mr Payne. “It was an overnight devastation is evident in these photographs taken by club members. thing which happened all of a sudden. Before

82 Australian Shooter Bushbuck scope covers put a lid on it Both Snap-Shots in use

Tobias Turner

lways on the lookout for new and The simplicity of this design is how the cycled, online comments suggesting this innovative products to give me an cover is made in two separate parts, each was a potential issue for others as well. advantage in the field, I was made part feeding through the other then feeding One advantage I found by having the A aware of New Zealand company over the body of the scope via an elongated cover in separate parts was the ability to Bushbuck who are producing some inter- slot. The ends have an insert to retain only fit one end to the scope to suit your esting hunting gear and clothing. According the circular shape matching the ends of hunting style and circumstances. For to their website: “Bushbuck was created the scope and a fixed strap so they can be example, when the rifle was carried on a in 2012 by a husband and wife team with pulled on or off. sling over my shoulder or strapped muzzle- the goal to provide the highest quality gear The combination of this and the overall up to my pack, I’d only leave the front cover at an affordable price.” After browsing design made fitting the cover to the ends on to prevent rain and dust gathering on their gear, clothing and accessories I was of the scope quite a simple process and the front lens, making the process of taking intrigued by a couple of products, the one they’re then securely attached to the scope a shot that much quicker as I was only in focus here being Bushbuck’s Snap-Shot (with a little practice I was doing this by removing from one end. scope covers. feel without looking). The ends are slightly The reverse of this is just as advan- The pictures on the website showed an different sizes to accommodate the smaller tageous as by fitting the cover to the interesting take on the traditional soft scope eyepiece and up to a 50mm objective. eyepiece only, I would be afforded protec- cover. I’ve tried a number of products over Fitting and removing the scope cover is tion when carrying the rifle muzzle down, the years in a bid to keep debris, especially therefore a two-step process but because say in heavy bush after rain or dew and water, off the lenses while retaining effective the covers are attached around the scope, while getting in close on a stalk. I hunted functionality. Some products considerably you can remove them quickly without fear all through the last Queensland roar and slowed the process of taking a hasty shot, of dropping them. One point I’ll make is to swapped the covers around to try different some were too bulky and/or snagged on ensure they’re pulled to the opposite side options. That time of year ended up being packs and clothing and others were just too of the bolt otherwise there is potential for quite wet and I was thankful I had the complicated, unreliable or prone to breakage. them to be in the way when the action is scope in place. Mine were fitted to a >

Australian Shooter 83 Bushbuck scope covers

Snap-Shot removal

Leica 3-12x50 and there were no issues I was playing around with it for review, this instant the mistake I’d made. Given this with size for this scope. was a minor issue. product sells for less than $40 posted to Another advantage I discovered was You’ll need some practice before your Australia, I’m impressed enough to recom- when hunting with my son I was able to put first hunting trip to build up the muscle mend giving it a go as I feel any hunter will one on the front of my scope and the other memory of removing it, a hazard with benefit from protecting their scope. They’re half on the front of his, which has a 40mm any scope cover especially when taking available at bushbuckoutdoors.com and if objective. As we were hunting together a hurried shot. A number of times I had you have any questions I found the people our rifles were carried muzzle up so rain the ‘black screen’ effect and realised in an there to be most approachable. . was never a problem on our scopes and it’s almost like having two scope covers for the price of one. One suggestion I’d make on design is that the cover for the rear lens - which would normally slip over the objective end - could perhaps be fitted with a press stud or similar. The issue I specifically faced with this was because my objective sits very low to my barrel and I had trouble squeezing the material between the two. I subsequently had to remove the scope to put it on which would be fine normally as I’d probably leave it on permanently but as Snap-Shot scope covers

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Order your copy online now Walther shows its metal The PPQ Q5 Match onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Australian Shooter 85 A vintage calibre Wine mogul Wolf still on target Nadia Isa

nternational wine identity and Aussie icon Wolfgang ‘Wolf’ Blass AM has spent a lifetime cultivating his self-titled Ibrand. After travelling to the Barossa Valley in regional South Australia on a return ticket in 1961, the German native never went home and in 1966 established Wolf Blass Wines, now a prestigious name in the industry worldwide. A multimillion-dollar concern, Wolf Blass Wines has accrued more than 10,000 accolades and is one of the world’s most successful and awarded wine brands. But outside the success of developing a world- renowned product, the 85-year-old is an enthusiastic shooter, visiting the SSAA club in Adelaide CBD almost every week. Describing himself as an avid sports fan, Aussie icon: Wolf Blass. Wolf Blass has participated in horse racing, skiing and Australian Rules football, is the business things away from what the club Gawler Social Luncheon Club and Greenock number one ticket holder at the SANFL’s is about - that’s the difference. It’s a very Tavern Luncheon Club competing for the Norwood Football Club and has the first relaxed atmosphere.” trophy. “As with most things associated Melbourne Cup trophy on display at his with Mr Wolf, the day was colourful and wine museum in the German-style town of The Wolf Blass Pistol Shoot hugely enjoyable,” APSC captain James Hahndorf in South Australia. Having established himself as a distin- Innes recalled. But Wolf says there’s something unique guished winemaker and excelling in his Wolf created the competition as a social about shooting, something the sport has business, Wolf wanted to create a shooting event and enlisted the help of former which sets it apart from your more run-of- event with his social group, the Greenock Olympic shooter and close friend Michael the-mill activities. “It’s a real camaraderie Tavern Luncheon Club, and in 1986 Papps to advise and supervise on the day. experience, different from anything else,” launched his first sponsored competition. “He was a strong motivator in explaining he said. Unlike other sports, Wolf says That inaugural event was held at the what the industry and association was all there’s a social and intellectual aspect Adelaide Pistol and Shooting Club (APSC) about,” said Wolf. “We were learning how to to shooting which makes it particularly in Korunye (about 50km from Adelaide) handle guns respectfully and I think that’s special. “You talk about personal things and under the Wolf Blass Wines banner with the very important.”

86 Australian Shooter A vintage calibre

Wolf, right, presents the annual Pistol Shoot Wolf, centre, with competitors at the annual Blanchetown trophy to Elizabeth Pistol Club president Jason invitational shoot. Wolf-Williams.

The competition involved three shoots “A social club that Wolf is part of also The business magnate also said the a year, one of them at Blanchetown Pistol shoots with us under supervision. That has activity helps him relax. “To convert your Club where secretary Maiga Schultz proved to be a big hit with the members and business and the pressure that creates has fond memories of her late husband, has given them a great opportunity to try during the week, you start relaxing and Peter, competing in the event with Wolf. pistol shooting.” focusing on something entirely different Nowadays the competition is the club’s The competition at the Franklin Street and leave with great enjoyment.” biggest annual fundraiser. Maiga describes range in Adelaide’s CBD is 50 rounds, A member of his current club for 15 Wolf as “fun-loving, easy-going and noisy”. shooting .22 calibre self-loading pistols years, the veteran shooter is well-regarded “He’s an honorary member of Blanchetown in five rounds of 10 at five, seven, 10, 15 on Franklin Street. “Wolf is a regular on Pistol Club and we always have a lot of fun and 20 metres - making the top score 500. Saturday mornings at Club 21 and has with him,” she said. “Very few shoot below 450-490 - not that been for some time,” said Daniel. “He’s For his social club, the tradition of we can be classified as top shooters,” said one of the real characters at our club and participating in a competitive shoot is an Wolf, “but we all get so much enjoyment things definitely wouldn’t be the same annual highlight. Wolf has been a member from it.” without him around.” of Greenock Tavern Luncheon Club for 52 At Blanchetown, competitors shoot 10 Born in 1934, Wolf is a self-confessed years, joining in 1968 not long into his new rounds at 25m outdoors and after shooting ‘senior’ at the club and reckons that affords life in Australia. “Thanks to the enthusiasm the Greenock club, largely made up of him certain allowances. “I’m sheriff of the and generosity of Wolf Blass, may it continue Wolf’s wine buddies, offer wine tasting as competition, that’s the fun thing. They allow for many years into the future,” said club competitors enjoy a long lunch. Wolf said me, as the senior, to be a bit different.” secretary and treasurer Peter Frazer. the most satisfying aspect of the event Ultimately for Wolf it’s all a bit of fun. was introducing new people, allowing “I’m the oldest in the club and I’d probably The shooting specifics them to experience shooting in a safe and be the worst shot - I haven’t improved very Fast-forward 34 years and the shoot is now enjoyable way. “The highlight is bringing much - but I just thoroughly enjoy being by invitation only. There are two annual the amateurs in,” he said. “Competitions part of this group, full-stop.” . competitions between SSAA’s Club 21 in are strictly supervised by range officers Adelaide and the Blanchetown Pistol and under the rules of the Sporting Shooters’ Shooting Club in regional South Australia. Association of Australia.” Wolf said each event includes trophy presentations and the all-important A good group of people luncheon. “I just enjoy the friendship Now in his eighties and having stepped and social involvement with people from back from the daily decisions of business different types of work and profession, I life, Wolf visits his local range almost think that’s the major reason why I started every week. “I’m shooting every Saturday the competition,” he said. “Without the morning when time permits,” he said. social interaction of the people it wouldn’t When asked what it is about shooting he be the same.” truly enjoys, Wolf joked it wasn’t even the Spokesman for Club 21, Daniel Rowe, sport that kept him coming back, but the described Wolf as the “driving force” people he has met along the way and those behind the two competitions and an eager he continues to shoot with. “The people supporter of them, reflected in its official you’re meeting, the members, coming from name - the Wolf Blass Pistol Shoot. “His all walks of life. Doctors, engineers - it’s a enthusiasm for the shooting sports along multicultural pastime. You can talk about with his generosity has nurtured a series of politics, economics, what life is all about in an annual shoots that bring us together with intelligent manner and that’s what the club is A commemorative trophy presented to the Blanchetown Pistol Club,” said Daniel. all about, bringing out the best in people.” Adelaide Pistol and Shooting Club.

Australian Shooter 87 Con puts in some range time with the American Rimfire Target Stainless in .22LR.

Ruger’s latest offering bang on Target Con Kapralos

he success of the Ruger American from cylindrical stainless steel bar stock, the Trigger and safety Rifle line in both centrefire and upper profile of the receiver of a semi-hexag- The Marksman trigger is an excellent rimfire forms has been a feather in onal design and the rifle’s serial number, unit offering a compromise between a T the cap of Sturm, Ruger & Co. It maker’s logo and model name on the left of crisp trigger pull with added safety built can no longer be considered a ‘subordinate’ the receiver adjacent to the ejection port. in. There’s a 1.4-2.3kg trigger pull adjust- option to the classic M77 rifle offerings as its The top of the receiver has an integral ment range with an extra inner safety attributes make it a rifle collection that’s a dovetail milled into it for scope attachment blade which must be depressed as you pleasure to own and use while not breaking but Ruger wisely decided to also drill and pull the trigger before the sear is oper- the bank. The rimfire line-up includes rifles tap the receiver top flat and supply this ated. For target applications or field use covering hunting and target variants. model with a single, full-length Weaver rail it was excellent and as set at 1.6kg from One addition is the American Rimfire which makes scope mounting much more the factory was good to use as-is. Only a Target with a stainless barrelled action. adaptable. serious rimfire target shooter would look While the satin blued version has been for a trigger with a lower pull weight but available for a few years, Ruger heeded calls Bolt the Marksman unit has everything for from its client base and added the stainless This is of a three-piece construction made all-round target/hunting application. The barrelled action edition with black laminate of stainless steel to mirror the rest of the safety is on the tang behind the bolt and is stock and 457mm (18") ‘bull-barrel’. barrelled action. It’s 160mm long x 16mm of a two-position configuration - forward It’s available in .22LR, .22WMR and wide and uses a single claw-type extractor and back. It’s quiet to handle and sits in the .17HMR with standard laminate stock and with a spring clip which locates the rimfire perfect spot for the shooter’s thumb. with the thumbhole black laminate stock round on to the bolt face. One neat touch is the blued steel trigger- in .22LR only. Nioa, Australian importer Ejection is via a spur on the static action guard which protects the trigger blade. It’s and distributor, sent Australian Shooter bedding block and protrudes through the too easy these days for makers to choose a review rifle in .22LR with standard bolt face and ejects the case when the bolt the straightforward route and opt for black laminate stock along with a Leupold is pulled towards the rear, like the blade- polymer so it’s encouraging to see Ruger Freedom 3-9x33 EFR scope, rings and a ejector system found on so many centrefire still retain steel on the American Rimfire selection of quality target ammunition from rifles. The bolt handle is also stainless steel Target model. Lapua, Eley and SK. with a tactical-style oversize bolt knob which makes the bolt travel in the raceways of the Magazine Receiver action silky smooth and is also benefitted by One of the Ruger American rimfire’s major This is perfectly scaled to the rimfire cali- a 60-degree bolt lift, making contact with the attributes is the BX-1 rotary magazine bres, 83mm long x 27mm wide and made scope ocular housing avoidable. system. Ruger is well respected for its

88 Australian Shooter Ruger’s latest offering bang on Target

Ruger American Rimfire Target Stainless in .22LR as supplied.

Accuracy test at 50m - 5-shot groups in mm Ammunition Best Worst Average* Eley Standard 40gr round nose 1090fps 15 20 18 Eley Tenex 40gr flat nose 1085fps 12 19 15 Eley Edge 40gr flat nose 1085fps 11 20 16 Eley Match 40gr flat nose 1085fps 13 22 16 SK Flatnose Match 40gr 1067fps 10 18 14 SK Flatnose Basic 40gr 1067fps 15 22 18 Bolt is the standard unit found on the Ruger Lapua Midas + 40gr 1073fps 10 16 13 American Rimfire line with Federal Premium Hunter Match exception of the stainless steel and tactical-style bolt 40gr match HP 1200fps 18 25 21 handle. * Average calculated from five 5-shot groups at 50m from a benchrest. rotary magazines which still feature on the Stock rear bedding platform for the action as well M77 models but have been introduced to The striking black laminate stock is of as securing the magazine release lever and the American rimfire line. With 10-shot a sporter profile but with a higher comb ejector spur. The two bedding block system capacity that’s smooth to load and sits which makes cheek weld and scope acquisi- is as good as you could wish for in a rimfire flush with the contours of the stock, it’s by tion with the master eye much easier. The rifle and certainly beats the barrelled action far the best rimfire magazine design. The pistol grip is full with a palmswell on both bearing directly on the stock surfaces. The magazine is removed via a release lever sides which enhances control of the rifle barrel is free-floating along its entire length that protrudes just behind the well and with the right hand. The stock is devoid as would be expected on a target rimfire, when pushed forward drops the magazine. of chequering with only the Ruger logo the rifle having an overall length of 940mm impressed into the base of the pistol grip, and weighing 3.04kg. Barrel not a problem as the grip on the stock was Shining star of the American Rimfire Target perfectly adequate. At the range Stainless, the cold hammer forged stain- The fore-end was pure Ruger with the Range testing over two sessions was chal- less steel barrel is of a semi-varmint profile No.1 style tip and Alexander Henry profile lenging weather-wise with gusty winds 457mm (18") long with a six-groove, one-in- adding a touch of class. Two sling swivel on both occasions. Nevertheless, the 16" rifling twist. It’s of a parallel profile studs as well as a rubber recoil pad complete rifle and optic turned in some excellent measuring 22.2mm at both knox form and the stock and give it a 350mm length of pull. 5-shot groups at the 50m distance with the muzzle and is attached to the receiver via For users who prefer it, Ruger also offer this Leupold optic set at the maximum of 9x and the pinning method. model with a black laminate thumbhole stock parallax at 50 yards (being a US riflescope). At the muzzle end, a threaded section but only in .22LR. In all instances the rifle performed for use with accessory devices (where Internally, the bedding system on the flawlessly with the BX-1 rotary magazine permitted) is protected by a knurled stain- American Rimfire Target Stainless consists feeding the .22LR rounds faultlessly and less collar. A target-style crown is as of the Power Bedding blocks which Ruger extraction/ejection of fired cases seamless. expected on a target rimfire and protects has patented. One aluminium V-block is Target rimfire ammunition commands a the rifling while also providing superior inletted into the floor of the stock to which premium price but you can see from the bullet release from the bore and enhanced the front action screw passes through and results in the accompanying table why this accuracy. The exterior of the barrel is the block mates up with recesses milled is the case, even with range conditions not finished beautifully and matches the into the receiver underside. conducive to shooting tight groups. receiver and bolt perfectly - a more attrac- The second bedding block is inletted into Supremely consistent manufacture tive stainless rimfire rifle I’ve yet to see. the floor of the stock directly behind the of these tested loads by leaders in magazine well and serves to provide the target rimfire ammunition are the >

Australian Shooter 89 Ruger’s latest offering bang on Target reason competitive rimfire shooters, World and Olympic champions choose the Eley, SK and Lapua brands to name a few. I’d happily rely on any of the brands tested in my own rifle and even the solo hunting ammunition tested in the Federal Premium Hunter Match performed well.

Summary The Ruger American Rimfire Target Stainless continues the excellence already shown in the matte blued version but the stainless barrelled action mated with the black laminate stock makes for a visual treat that shoots as good as it looks. For those intending to try informal rimfire target shooting or hunters wanting a Review rifle in disassembled form. superbly accurate rifle that’s comfortable to carry in the field, you can’t go past this one, available in .22LR, .22WMR and .17HMR with either the standard sporter stock or thumbhole variant in .22LR. Paired with a great optic from the Leupold stable you won’t be disappointed. The Ruger American Rimfire Stainless rifle retails around the $900 mark and is available from most firearms dealers. More at nioa.com.au .

SPECIFICATIONS Make: Ruger American Rimfire Target Stainless rifle

Action: Bolt-action, stainless steel finish The bedding arrangement consists of the Power Bedding system Barrel: 460mm long, cold hammer patented by Ruger. forged stainless steel, semi-varmint profile, 1:16" RH twist with six grooves Sights: None fitted. Receiver dovetailed and Picatinny rail fitted for scope. Review rifle tested with a 3-9x33 Leupold Freedom EFR scope (not included) Calibre: .22LR (tested), .22WMR, .17HMR Magazine: Ruger BX-1 rotary, 10-shot, flush mounted Stock: Black laminate, matte finished, sling swivel bases fitted Trigger: Ruger Marksman, fully adjustable from 1.4-2.3kg, set at 1.6kg from factory Length of pull: 350mm Overall length: 940mm Weight: 3.04kg Distributor: Nioa Left side of the action with serial number, maker’s logo and model etched into the RRP: About $900, shop around stainless steel receiver.

90 Australian Shooter Don’t be a mug! BRISBANE GUN SHOW March 14-15, 2020 Brisbane Small Bore Rifle Club, Belmont Shooting Complex, 1485 Old Cleveland Rd, Belmont Modern, sporting, military guns, Get your name in to win a rare militaria, edged weapons and SSAA COFFEE MUG collectables. Contact Paul Brush 0412 562 252 Yes, it’s true - all the best shots are members of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia. SSAA Member Alert Now you can be the proud owner of one of a limited number of Maxwell & Williams Members are reminded that if you are using mem- coffee mugs emblazoned with exactly bership of the SSAA as your genuine reason for those words to tell the world and be the FIREARMS envy of your mates. your firearms licence, you must ensure you renew your SSAA membership in time. Please be aware You can’t buy this mug, no matter the size that state and territory police firearms registries GetLAWYER help from 4-time Olympic shooter of your wallet. So if you want your shot and lawyer, Glenn Kable of coffee in the SSAA Best Shots mug, you regularly cross-check firearm licences and your Get the right legal advice! better get your entry in for your chance member status. To support your genuine reason Available Australia-wide. to win one! Having spent a lifetime around the sport, I have an intimate and keep your firearms licence and to make sure knowledge of the workings of all the bodies affecting the decision-making process, whether it is police or courts, SSAA members only. that SSAA can support you, make sure you renew local councils or governments, clubs or associations. your SSAA membership. For a no-obligation assessment, phone 0407 962 200 or email [email protected] Enter online at ssaa.org.au/win [email protected]

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Australian Shooter 91 Gun & Knife Show List

2020 Feb 29-March 1 Eastbank Centre, Welford St, Shepparton 200 tables antique & modern fireams, militaria and collectables Expo Ricky Seiter 0400 567 353 March 7-8 Bathurst Showgrounds, Bathurst Bathurst Arms Fair bathurstarmsfair.com.au March 14-15 Belmont Shooting Complex, Belmont Brisbane Show of modern, sporting, military guns, militaria, edged weapons, collectables Paul Brush 0412 562 252 April 4-5 The Betting Hall, Elwick Showgrounds, Hobart Antique & modern firearms, edged weapons and militaria Phil Gourlay 0477 411 457 April 4-5 Exhibition Display Pavilion, Ipswich Showgrounds Queensland Knife Show [email protected] May 23-24 Toowoomba Showgrounds, Glenvale Rd, Toowoomba 350+ tables firearms, ammo, militaria & collectibles Dan Watson 0407 643 776 July 18-19 Belmont Shooting Complex, Belmont Brisbane Show of modern, sporting, military guns, militaria, edged weapons, collectables Paul Brush 0412 562 252 September 12-13 Toowoomba Showgrounds, Glenvale Rd, Toowoomba 350+ tables firearms, ammo, militaria & collectibles Dan Watson 0407 643 776 September 12-13 Cannington Exhibition Centre & Showgrounds, Cannington WA Arms & Armour Annual Militaria Fair Geoff Smith 0419 955 284 October 17-18 Belmont Shooting Complex, Belmont Brisbane Show of modern, sporting, military guns, militaria, edged weapons, collectables Paul Brush 0412 562 252

Persons wishing to purchase any firearm that requires a licence from any arms fair in NSW should apply for a Permit to Acquire at least six weeks before the fair. For reasons beyond the control of show organisers, some of the above dates may be changed. It is advisable to check the show dates before travelling.

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92 Australian Shooter Competition News ONLINE AT SSAA.ORG.AU/DISCIPLINES

International SSAA Albury, Winchester Lane, Ettamogah, NSW Queensland SSAA Rifle Metallic Silhouette Program: See website for event details. State Championships International Big Game Rifle/ Contact: Brett Chambellant 0407 153 300 SSAA Air Rifle State May 30-31, 2020 Dangerous Game Shoot Championships September 12-13, 2020 Wanneroo Shooting Complex, WA Big Game Rifle National March 27-29, 2020 Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, Darwin, Program: See National website for full Championships 292 Mt Petrie Rd, Belmont, Qld event details. Nominations: $20 per NT Program: See National website for full Program: See National website for full May 16-17, 2020 day or $30 all events, juniors half price. event details. Contact: (07) 3395 0911or event details. Facilities: Toilets at range but Blue Hills Range, Copping, Tas Facilities: Some camping with limited no showers or camping. Darwin Rifle Club Program: See National website for full 0418 873 258 power. Contact: Paul Dunn Paul@ has showers and toilets and camping can event details. Nominations to be received compac.com.au or 0407 428 175 be arranged with sufficient notice. Contact: by Friday, May, 1. Rules: SSAA Big Game SSAA Lever Action Silhouette Barry Seabrook [email protected] Rifle national rule book, Issue No.4, 2016. State Championships Victoria Facilities: Camping and caravans permitted May 15-17, 2020 at range from Thursday to Monday, toilets Hervey Range, Townsville, Qld National on-site with disabled facilities. Contact: SSAA Handgun Metallic Program: See National website for Silhouette Ultra 500 State David Moult [email protected]. full event details. Contact: Bob Luther National Junior Rimfire Rifle Championships au or 0488 441 499 [email protected] or 0429 Metallic Silhouette Postal Shoot May 19-21, 2020 212 262 February 1-July 31, 2020 Gallery Rifle National Eagle Park, Little River, Victoria Various locations Program: Tuesday, May 19: Set-up and Championships SSAA NRA Pistol Metallic Program: 40-shot match with results July 25-26, 2020 practice; Wednesday: Competition day due by August 31, 2020. To enter email Silhouette State Championships one; Thursday: Competition day two, SSAA Para, Rifle Range Rd, Greenwith, SA May 17-20, 2020 name, age, club, membership number and Program: See website for full event shoot-offs. Rules: IHMSA rule book. detailed results to juniorsports@disciplines. Rifle Range Rd, Hervey Range, details. Contact: Don Robinson 0428 986 Contact: Mick Arden 0419 429 485 or ssaa.org.au. Prizes: Medals for first three Townsville, Qld Peter Mannu 0410 017 501 in U-15 and O-15 to U-18. Contact: 070 or Dave McCarthy 0414 880 333 Program: See National website for [email protected] full event details. Contact Hazel Bozic SSAA 2020 IMHSA National SSAA Single Action Black 4128 0467 [email protected] or Powder State Championships SSAA Handgun Metallic Championships Bob Luther 0429 212 262 johair67@ October 2-9, 2020 July 11-12, 2020 Silhouette National Postal Shoot optusnet.com.au Eagle Park Range, Little River, Vic March 1-May 31, 2020 ACT Majura, Hector McIntosh Grove, Majura, ACT Program: See attached for full event Various locations. Program: Big Bore, Western Australia details. Nominations: $60 main match Small Bore and Field Pistol. Rules: IHMSA Program: See National website for full and side events plus Saturday shindig, official rule book. Prizes: Gift cards - 1 event details. Contact Russell Mowles SSAA Cowboy Lever Action shooting partner $50, juniors $20. Rules: x $100, 4 x $50 handgunsilhouette@ 0418 819 945 or Cheyne Fischer Silhouette State Championships disciplines.ssaa.org.au 0419 660 062. Single Action Shooting Society and local April 10-12, 2020 range rules. Facilities: Free camping, toilets Wanneroo Shooting Complex, Pinjar, WA Muzzleloading National New South Wales and showers, limited power. Contact: Program: See National website for full [email protected] Championships event details. Contact: Warren Goodfield NSW Big Game Rifle State April 10-13, 2020 0407 440 431 Wanneroo Shooting Complex, Pinjar, WA Championships SSAA IHMS Big Bore State Program: See website for full event details. June 6-7, 2020 Championships SSAA Target Pistol State Note: WA Police require temporary permits Southern Highlands Regional Shooting July 23-26, 2020 to bring firearms into Western Australia. Championships Eagle Park, Little River, Vic Complex, NSW May 4-5, 2020 Rules: Rule book No.8 - current firearms Program: Please see National website Program: Thursday, July 23: Set-up and licence and SSAA card must be shown. Dawesville, WA practice; Friday: Competition day one; for full event details. Nominations to be Program: See National website for full Contact: [email protected] Saturday: Competition day two; Sunday: received by May 22, 2020. Contact: Ben event details. Nominations: $10 per Doherty [email protected] or event, $50 maximum (juniors half price). Competition day three, shoot-offs. Rules: SSAA 5-Stand National 0409 831 258 (A/H). Prizes: Medals for first three in each grade IHMSA rule book. Championships for each match. Contact: Ronnie Pope Contact: Mick Arden 0419 429 485 or May 16-17, 2020 0459 545 374 Peter Mannu 0410 017 501 SSAA Official Calendar INTERNATIONAL September 12-13, 2020 International Big Game Rifle/Dangerous Game Shoot Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, Darwin, NT [email protected] NATIONAL February 1-July 31, 2020 National Junior Rimfire Rifle Metallic Silhouette Postal Shoot Various locations [email protected] March 1- May 31, 2020 National IHMSA Postal Shoot Various locations [email protected] April 10-13, 2020 Muzzleloading National Championships Wanneroo Shooting Complex, Pinjar, WA [email protected] May 16-17, 2020 SSAA 5-Stand National Championships SSAA Albury, Winchester Lane, Ettamogah, NSW Brett Chambellant 0407 153 300 May 16-17, 2020 Big Game Rifle National Championships Blue Hills Range, Copping, Tas [email protected] July 25-26, 2020 Gallery Rifle National Championships Rifle Range Road, Greenwith, SA 0428 986 070 or 0414 880 333 Ocober 2-9, 2020 IMHSA 2020 National Championships SSAA ACT Majura Complex 0418 819 945 STATE Feb 1-May 31, 2020 SSAA Qld NRA Pistol Metallic Silhouette Postal Shoot No.1 Various locations 07 4128 0467 or [email protected] March 27-29, 2020 SSAA Qld Air Rifle State Championships 292 Mt Petrie Rd, Belmont, Qld 07 3395 0911 April 10-12, 2020 SSAA WA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette State Championships Wanneroo Shooting Complex, Pinjar, WA 0407 440 431 April 10-13, 2020 Muzzleloading National Championships Wanneroo Shooting Complex, Pinjar, WA [email protected] May 4-5, 2020 SSAA (WA) Target Pistol State Championships Port Bouvard Pistol & Small Bore Rifle Club, WA 0459 545 374 May 15-17, 2020 SSAA Qld Lever Action Silhouette State Championships Hervey Range, Townsville, Qld [email protected] May 17-20, 2020 SSAA Qld NRA Pistol Metallic Silhouette State Championships Rifle Range Road, Hervey Range, Townsville, Qld [email protected] May 19-21, 2020 SSAA Vic IHMS Ultra 500 State Championships Eagle Park, Little River, Vic 0419 429 485 or 0410 017 501 May 30-31, 2020 SSAA (WA) Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Championships Wanneroo Shooting Complex, WA [email protected] June 6-7, 2020 NSW Big Game Rifle State Championships Southern Highland Regional Shooting Complex, NSW [email protected] July 11-12, 2020 SSAA Vic Single Action Black Powder State Championships Eagle Park Range, Little River, Vic [email protected] July 23-26, 2020 SSAA Vic IHMS Big Bore State Championships Eagle Park, Little River, Vic 0419 429 485 or 0410 017 501

Australian Shooter 93 onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Shop now for exclusive SSAA products, including clothing, SHOP NOW - IT’S EASY! camping, accessories, knives, books and more.

SHOOTING GLASSES SSAA Advantage SSAA Magnum SAFETY shooting glasses shooting glasses SSAA messenger bag The bag has a velcro strap SSAA first aid kits to seal the top flap as An absolute must-have for home Limited well as two inner pockets and the car. You never know sewn in, ensuring that your when the next little emergency Stocks shooting gear can be kept might strike - be prepared. - selling safe and secured. These well-equipped bags will make an important addition for fast! $37.50 the next hunting trip. For full details on the contents of SSAA Apex swag each pack see online shop. $49.95 $49.95 The SSAA Apex swag measures Small 210x170mm $39.95 2000mm long, a generous 900mm 18-piece pack wide and 600mm in height at the peak Code FA001 of the apex. Large 320x200mm $64.95 See full details online! $199 27-piece pack Code FA002 A heavy-duty $78.95 SSAA ceramic knives SSAA outdoors bag - black tackle box-style Code FA003

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SSAA ceramic blade kitchen knife set comes in a presentation gift box. Large knive blade is 150mm long. Small knife blade is 75mm long. $28.95 * Material made from waterproof 430gs, $74 Ripstop Polyester canvas * Hard base sewn between bottom layers SSAA knife roll of canvas SSAA knife roll includes a 20cm boning knife, * 50mm adjustable shoulder strap 18cm skinning knife, 20cm filleting knife and * Front, rear and side pockets for essential 25cm sharpening steel. items SSAA multi-tool * High visibility reflective strip on front flap The blades are made from 3Cr13 stainless steel The SSAA multi-tool, with stainless steel handles, * Side footwear storage pocket and all fit neatly into a heavy-duty canvas knife comes with 11 functional tools in one handy unit. $39.95 roll featuring the SSAA logo. See our array of cloth badges $44.95 online - all only $7.50 each

Pocket-size knife sharpener This carbide and ceramic hand-held knife sharpener SHOP NOW - IT’S EASY! Go to features: SSAA blue earmuffs • Non-skid base for SSAA rechargeable stable sharpening With a noise rating of NRR 23 db, knife sharpener they are ideal for sporting shooters, • Crossed carbide blades range officers, instructors and onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Sharpen every knife or blade you providing quick edge setting spectators. own with the SSAA rechargeable • Crossed ceramic rods providing a See full details online. knife sharpener. The sharpener is razor-sharp edge battery operated so you can take it or call 02 8805 3900 anywhere with you, just charge the • Pre-set sharpening angles $59.95 batteries before you go. providing guaranteed results $89.95 $14.95 for phone orders 94 Australian Shooter onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Shop now for exclusive SSAA products, including clothing, SHOP NOW - IT’S EASY! camping, accessories, knives, books and more.

$74

Pocket-size knife sharpener This carbide and ceramic hand-held knife sharpener SHOP NOW - IT’S EASY! Go to features: SSAA blue earmuffs • Non-skid base for SSAA rechargeable stable sharpening With a noise rating of NRR 23 db, knife sharpener they are ideal for sporting shooters, • Crossed carbide blades range officers, instructors and onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Sharpen every knife or blade you providing quick edge setting spectators. own with the SSAA rechargeable • Crossed ceramic rods providing a See full details online. knife sharpener. The sharpener is razor-sharp edge battery operated so you can take it or call 02 8805 3900 anywhere with you, just charge the • Pre-set sharpening angles $59.95 batteries before you go. providing guaranteed results $89.95 $14.95 for phone orders Australian Shooter 95 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ABN 95 050 209 688 SSAA Membership Office, PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 Membership No. Phone 02 8805 3900 Fax 02 9832 9377 Email [email protected]

NEW RENEWAL Have you been a member before? Yes/No

Title (PLEASE CIRCLE) Mr Miss Ms Mrs or ...... Preferred SSAA Branch I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I PLEASE READ AND SIGN First name I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Middle name I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I This application is made in full recognition of the Association’s Last name I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I requirement for responsible and ethical behaviour. I undertake to do all in my power to preserve Residential address the good image of the sport and I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I the Association. I understand Town/suburb State Postcode that members breaking the I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Code of Conduct may be subject to suspension or expulsion. The Code can be found at Postal address I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ssaa.org.au/code Town/suburb I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I State I I I I Postcode I I I I I SIGNATURE:...... (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE) DATE:......

Phone (Mobile) I I I I I I I I I I I I I (Home) I I I I I I I I I I I I I Refund Policy: Subject to Australian law, membership fees are not refundable, nor can they be transferred. Email I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I SSAA Inc collects personal information of members. The Member referral number if applicable information you provide on this form will be disclosed to the state Date of birth I I I I I I I I I Male Female or territory branch of the SSAA to which your membership application relates. A copy of SSAA Inc’s privacy policy can be found at ssaa.org.au/ Tick to subscribe to the FREE SSAA National E-newsletter via email privacy. You can obtain access to your personal information by writing to: SSAA, PO Box 2520, Unley SA 5061. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES AND SPECIAL OFFERS Each membership category (apart from Family Member) includes 11 issues of the Australian Shooter magazine per year. ATTENTION NSW & ACT Add four issues of the Hunter magazine per year MEMBERS

$93 $123 Adult (over 18 years) Just Complete this section ONLY if you wish to use your $128 $158 Includes $35 insurance premium for SSAA Member Firearms $ membership of the SSAA to Insurance for 12 months, valid until next membership renewal. 30 support your Genuine Reason per year! for having a firearms licence. Register your SSAA activities by marking one or more of the $70 $100 Additional Family Member (No magazine) Applies to each additional person following boxes: over 18 residing at the same address as a full-subscription Adult member. TARGET SHOOTING Includes $35 insurance premium for SSAA Member Firearms (longarms only) $105 $135 Supporting Insurance for 12 months, valid until next membership renewal. Adult member No. HUNTING (club membership) COLLECTING Pensioner Available on production or photocopy of $70 $100 HUNTING OTHER both sides of your Australian Concession Card. (R licence, property owner/permission) Includes $35 insurance premium for SSAA Member Firearms $105 $135 Insurance for 12 months, valid until next membership renewal. SIGN UP

$465 5-year Adult Contact SSAA for firearms insurance information. Choose the ONLINE insurance offer $1860 Member for Life Contact SSAA for firearms insurance information. ssaa.org.au and for just $35 you get $25,000 worth $175 $236 Overseas Available to members living overseas. of firearms and fixed accessories cover. $27 $57 Junior (under 18 years) Parent’s or guardian’s signature ...... Want to know more? Call us at SSAA PAYMENT OPTIONS

Enclosed is payment for the amount of $...... Cheque Money order MasterCard Visa 02 8805 3900 I also wish to donate the following Card number amount to the SSAA $...... Expiry date Signature...... Cheques payable to the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Inc.

September 2019 Members-only competitions WIN Advertisers’ index

For your chance to win one of these competitions, write your name, address, Australian & New Zealand Handgun...... 85 phone number and membership number on a piece of paper and place it Beretta Australia...... 9,25 inside an envelope, along with the name of the competition on the front of the Bradford Exchange...... 51,57 envelope, as shown in the example. Alternatively, you can enter online. Claremont Firearms...... 91 Cleaver Firearms...... 16,17 Competitions close March 31, 2020. CR Kennedy...... 13,41 Custom Engraving...... 58 Earmold Australia...... 12 Enter online at Gold Coast Shooters Supplies...... 75 (Name of competition) Great Australian Outdoors magazine...... 65 SSAA National ssaa.org.au/win Grycol...... 63,73 PO Box 2520 Unley SA 5061 Hartmann & Associates...... 91 Hermann’s Sporting Guns...... 31 Horsley Park Gun Shop...... 45 JJ Hunting Supplies...... 53 Lynx Optics...... 10 Magnum Sports...... 21,49 Nioa...... 5,27,39 SSAA green shooting vest Nyati...... 43 (size small only) Outdoor Sporting Agencies...... 55 Paul Brush...... 91 Valued at $74.95 Pro-Tactical...... 23 Kindly donated by SSAA online shop Qld Gun Exchange...... 29 onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Raytrade...... IBC Spika...... 33 SSAA Comprehensive Guide...... 91 SSAA Farmer Assist...... 8 SSAA General Insurance...... 59 SSAA Gun Sales...... IFC,3 SSAA Hunter magazine...... 67 SSAA Cobb Oven SSAA Members Firearms Insurance...... OBC and Cooks Companion SSAA Membership Form...... 96 cookbook SSAA SHOT Expo...... 61 SSAA Sponsor a Junior...... 70 Valued at $229.95 TSA Outdoors...... 37 Kindly donated by SSAA online shop The Barn...... 47 onlineshop.ssaa.org.au Winchester Australia...... 11,19

AUSTRALIAN SHOOTER is published monthly and is printed by IVE, 81 Derby St, Silverwater, NSW 2128. The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Inc (SSAA Inc) is subject to the provisions of the National Privacy Act. We collect personal information from members of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia in the various states and territories. Should you want a copy of the SSAA Inc Privacy Statement or seek further information please SSAA blue earmuffs write to PO Box 2520, Unley, SA 5061. Freelance contributions are welcome. We do, however, Valued at $59.95 recommend that potential authors contact the office Kindly donated by SSAA Online Shop prior to story drafting. Manuscripts and digital files may onlineshop.ssaa.org.au be sent to the address shown above. No responsibility is taken for the loss or damage of manuscripts or photographic material. While the publishers exercise due care with regard to handloading data, no responsibility can be accepted for errors and/or omissions, or any damage suffered as a Competition winners consequence. Australian Shooter December 2019 Please note that certain firearm types and accessories advertised in the Australian Shooter may not be legally EZESharp Blade Sharpener Dec Junior – SSAA Outdoors Bag available in all states and territories. Please check with Glenn Dean, Qld Jasmin Krah, Vic your local authorities before ordering. Neither the AS nor any of its advertisers accept responsibility in this Dec AWS – Women’s Browning MOA or MIL Sight-in Targets matter. No text or photographs within the magazine may Ian Cilia, VIC Clothing Pack be republished, either electronically or in print, without Jessica Taylor, NSW the express written permission of the Editor. Copyright 2020. Best Shots Mug Tristan Howell, SA Australian Shooter 97 Jumbunna WITH JOHN DUNN

All good things . . .

hen we came to live here 26 years ago we reckoned we’d found our W own little slice of New South Wales heaven - no near neighbours just paddocks and trees all around us and a level of solitude unimaginable within the streets of suburbia. The permanent creek at the back of the block had runs and deep holes where kids and grandkids could swim and fish, skip stones, throw sticks for the dog, build stone walls to divert summer flows or pan for gold in what amounted to a big private playground. There was room to move and we all made the most of it. We watched the seasons come and go - freezing in sub-zero winter temperatures, broiling in the heat of summer - we gardened and gathered and revelled in the life we were able to make for ourselves. The landscape and birds and animals that called it home with us were an endless source of inspiration for someone like me who sees, feels and writes about the simple pleasures of country life. To say we’ve enjoyed ourselves here is something of an understatement but, for all that, our time is coming to an end. It’s late January as I write and this part of the world has just experienced one of the worst fire seasons in decades. We were lucky - the fires missed us. We had to leave twice but came through unscathed yet we have friends who didn’t fare so well and getting back to where they were is going to take some time. Years ago, when A smoky summer morning on the creek - precursor to a bad fire season. Photo: Jennifer Dunn fire-fighting was a seasonal part of my job description, I saw it as a challenge if not past 12 months or so we’ve been talking pear-shaped, which it did a week later. something of an adventure. These days I’m about just that, mostly in dribs and drabs as When we came home the first time we’d more inclined to be overly wary, the main home truths here and there began to cryst- already decided it was time to move and reason our fire plan for this past summer allise. Neither of us is getting any younger. the second leaving and subsequent return was to leave before it got too bad. We’re making more trips to town than we merely confirmed it. Solitude is one thing, It sounds so easy. You collect the few used to and as much as I hate to admit it, isolation another. Acknowledging vulner- things you’ve already packed plus whatever even the simple maintenance tasks around ability has a way of bringing reality sharply else is important on the day and put them in the place are becoming more difficult, into focus. the car along with the lady of the house, the mostly because I can’t physically work as Within a week we’d found a house in dog and the cats. Then you fill the gutters hard as I used to. town that meets our needs. We won’t be with water and drive away, hoping all the Preparing for the fire season wore me moving any time soon but even if it takes cleaning up and preparation work you’ve out. The cloak of smoke from fires up and a month or three to sort it out, the timing done will be enough to stave off whatever down the east coast made breathing difficult is undoubtedly right. Neither of us needs might be coming. Fortunately they weren’t for days at a time. The over-grassed and the stresses of another bad tested and for that I’m truly thankful, but understocked paddocks were ringing alarm summer. For us, moving on is a lot of things have changed around here bells like never before and for months I the only sensible option - but since then. was a long way short of feeling at ease. I doubt that taking the dog for From the moment we arrived we knew We had a quiet Christmas at home, just a morning walk will ever be the time would come when we’d have to the two of us away from the family, not the same again. . leave again. It took a long time but for the game to go anywhere lest everything went

98 Australian Shooter DARK SERIES MODEL 336 / 1895 Chambered in 30-30 Win and .45/70 Govt

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Your firearms and fixed accessories will be covered against loss, theft and damage at home, at the range, while hunting and overseas for up to 28 days. Claims are settled for replacement value (up to 5 years), assessed by an approved firearms dealer and settled promptly. Compare it to your Home and Contents Policy, which may have an excess greater than $100 and may only cover your firearms at home. Don’t risk another year without cover - Trust SSAA to safeguard your firearms and fixed accessories.

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Here’s what SSAA Members Firearms Insurance covers:

FIREARMS AND COVERAGE. NOT COVERED. ACCESSORIES. • Accidental loss and damage of • Collision or overturning Theft where the equipment was not stored in an approved gun safe as required All privately owned the equipment (including whilst of the vehicle. by State or Territory authority, other than when the equipment is in use or away firearms registered to in use, excluding chipping and • Fire & extraneous perils. from the Insured’s premises. Where the Insured or any person or entity to whom the member and fixed scratching of stock). • Flood the equipment has been entrusted to fails to comply with any law relating to either

SMFi-MM03.20 accessories. • Malicious damage. • Theft. storage, use or handling of the equipment.

SSAA Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd | CAR 315403 | ABN 86 077 822 970 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of PSC Connect Pty Ltd | ABN 23 141 574 914 / AFSL 344648 This information is general advice only and may not be suitable for your specific needs. Please review our FSG and the Firearms Insurance PDS, underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyds, at http://www.ssaaib.com.au/forms.aspx and contact us directly should you require further information or advice. You should consider the PDS (together with other important information) available on www.ssaaib.com.au before making a decision about the product.