A merry Christmas to all our members and readers December 2019 AUSTRALIAN $8.95 incl. GST ShooterTHE MAGAZINE FOR SPORTING SHOOTERS TAHR TREK Chasing the big one in Kiwi high country Talbot on Target: Long Range Precision The official publication of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Now 196,000+ members strong! Proudly printed in Australia ssaa.org.au SSAAssaagunsales.com GUN SALES Australia’s most comprehensive firearms and accessories trading website Rifles Shotguns Handguns Reloading Scopes Accessories BUY AND SELL NEW AND USED • Firearms, parts and optics • Ammunition and reloading components • Knives and hunting products • Camping gear, vehicles, boats and property Take a look now! ssaagunsales.com Easy and safe Registration is free and only takes a minute or two and the SSAA Gun Sales website is easy to use. Importantly, you can be confident that ssaagunsales. com is a secure environment for online sales. Cheap and convenient Listings cost just $10 for SSAA members, which is a $10 discount off the non-member price. Choose up to six photos. The SSAA gun sales website works on tablets and smartphones, which means you can browse, sell and buy wherever you are. Try it now! Australia-wide If you have something to sell or need to look for an item to purchase, ssaagunsales.com is an Australia- wide marketplace. It means your buying and selling experience is effective and almost immediate. Enjoyable If you’re a firearms enthusiast, ssaagunsales.com is a great place to browse and see what’s available. Not only are there products that are almost new, but of course you will find stuff that is hard to find and historically interesting - it’s just good fun! This Issue December 2019 FIREARMS AND MORE REGULARS 26 L‘Atelier Verney-Carron 22 SSAA SHOT Expo 6 President’s Message bespoke double rifles 24 Shooting group unites our pollies 7,8 Letters 34 Talbot on target! 42 Knifemaking insights at 7 Insurance Q&A Long Range Precision Mother Mountain Forge 10 Open Season 50 Tikka and Steiner - a 66 The unforgiving beast - Help 12 Reloading winning combination our drought-stricken farmers 14 Bushcraft & Survival 60 Premium product - CZ’s new 80 Make your own trophy mounts 457 a welcome addition 16 Clay Target Q&A 83 The many faces of a 18 Top Shots 68 The new 686CL Sports from ATA German pioneer 96 Gun & Knife Show List 86 The voice of reason 98 Youth in Focus - 88 The ethical dilemma of hunting Portia Eden HUNTING 91 For the record...archiving 101 Competition News 77 Tahr man - High hopes Australia’s military history 102 SSAA Shop in thin air of NZ 100 Hunter Class nationals mark golden milestone 105 Members-only Competitions PRODUCTS 101 Make your own shooting targets 106 Jumbunna 56 Top brass - Jagemann are on the case 73 Warne scope mounts and rings 93 Styrka riflescopes new in Australia for the shooting sportsman Our December cover Tahr trek. The legendary .308 Winchester range of bullet weights make them a calibre along with the .223 natural choice for the hunter buying NEXT Remington are arguably the two most that first centrefire hunting rifle. But popular calibres for hunting pest with so many choices it’s hard to ISSUE and game species in Australia. Their decide what make and model best availability in a wide range of makes suits your needs. In our February and models and easily accessible edition, Con Kapralos takes a look at factory ammunition covering a broad four contenders. 4 Australian Shooter MEET THE ADLER 12 GAUGE STRAIGHT-PULL SHOTGUN FAMILY ADLER B220 ALL-WEATHER 20” Barrel with Fibre Optic Sight Synthetic Stock | Screw in Chokes x 3 5rd Tube Magazine | Ambidextrous Cocking Lever ADLER B220 PISTOL GRIP 20” Vent-Rib Barrel with Bead Sight Synthetic Pistol Grip Stock | Screw in Chokes x 3 5rd Tube Magazine | Ambidextrous Cocking Lever ADLER B230 TACTICAL 20” Barrel with Ghost-Ring Sights | Synthetic Pistol Grip Stock Screw in Chokes x 3 | 2 x 5rd Box Magazines Ambidextrous Cocking Lever adlerarms.com | nioa.com.au NMD345 President’s Message WITH GEOFF JONES AUSTRALIAN Where did the year go? ere we are at the end of another lievably energetic Senator Bridget McKen- year frantically looking back zie was there for the whole weekend inter- ShooterTHE MAGAZINE FOR SPORTING SHOOTERS wondering where the time acting and offering her unparalleled support MEMBERSHIP AND MAGAZINE INQUIRIES went, attempting to catalogue as always. The various SSAA websites and Phone: 02 8805 3900 H Facebook pages have reports, interviews what has happened throughout that period Fax: 02 9832 9377 and at the same instance trying to plan and and updates for an array of interests. PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 Email: [email protected] peer forward to the year ahead. Following straight on from the Melbourne EDITORIAL POLICY The tragedy of the Christchurch murders Expo was the launch of the Parliamentary To create a better environment and community understanding of all forms of hunting and shooting has weighed heavily on us all and we are Friends of Shooting group of Federal Par- sports. still working closely with our New Zealand liamentarians. An initiative driven again EDITORIAL INQUIRIES cousins in trying to bring some sense to by Senator McKenzie, this event was held Phone: 08 8272 7100 Fax: 08 8272 2945 the debate. We can see much of the same in Parliament House in Canberra and is PO Box 2520, Unley, SA 5061 political, self-serving rhetoric and ineffec- co-chaired by Senator McKenzie and the Email: [email protected] Web: www.ssaa.org.au ABN 95 050 209 688 tive firearms legislation strategies we have Hon Rob Mitchell MP. Of course, the SSAA experienced over the past 20-odd years PR and lobbying teams attended and it members strong here in Australia, only serving to unfairly was a great opportunity to catch up again 195,862 as of October 2019 restrict and alienate legitimate firearms with World Cup shotgun shooters Penny This magazine is owned and published by the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Inc. Opinions expressed owners who should be respected as being Smith and James Willett who were guests herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily of honour, again presenting the shooting reflect the policy of this Association. among the most upstanding community members in the country. sports in the best possible light. EDITORIAL Just these few highlights do not really MANAGING EDITOR .................................... Allan Blane We have expanded our international ASSOCIATE EDITOR ................................Thomas Cook relationships with an agreement between do justice to the breadth of issues cov- ASSISTANT EDITOR ......................................Dave Rose ered over the past year and looking for- CHIEF OF STAFF .................................. Jennifer Martens SSAA, COLFO (Council of Licenced Fire- ART DIRECTOR ..............................................Mike Barr arms Owners, New Zealand) and SAGHCA ward there are several initiatives already PRODUCTION COORDINATOR being considered for implementation and & GRAPHIC DESIGN ...................................... Judy Ward (South African Game Hunters and Conser- GRAPHIC DESIGNER ......................... Natalie Kuhlmann vation Association) to have a Memorandum improvement in the New Year, so watch this MEDIA & POLITICAL LIAISON OFFICER ....... Nadia Isa space. WEBMASTER ........................................ Mark Fieldhouse of Understanding to work together in coop- ADVERTISING REP ................................ Karoline Wasiak eration wherever possible. To build on our SSAA’s lobbying efforts never cease COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER ...................Sam Talbot and our integrity and strength of numbers ADMINISTRATION ....................................Debbie Wing common interests and explore new oppor- SSAA NATIONAL SHOOTING tunities we are looking forward to a face-to- ensure we gain the ear of authorities and SPORTS MANAGER ...................................... Rod Spinks legislators and are taken seriously when we SENIOR CORRESPONDENT .........................John Dunn face meeting in the New Year that will be an SENIOR CORRESPONDENT ....................... Rod Pascoe exciting time for the three Associations. do speak. To maintain our collective influ- CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE More recently, the SSAA SHOT Expo in ence we need you to help us to help you so Barry Wilmot, Peter Bindon, Russell Mark, John Maxwell, Melbourne was another outstanding suc- renew your membership promptly, encour- Sam Garro, Ivo Dimitrov, Geoff Smith, Dave Burgess, Con Kapralos, Leon Wright, Joe Norris, Stephen Schutze, Chris cess. Thanks must go to host SSAA Victo- age a mate to join and look to see if you can Redlich, Sam Garro, Pete Kincade, John McDougall, Daniel O’Dea. ria staff and volunteers, SSAA National staff sponsor a junior. There is no better value and volunteers, our major partners Win- for money membership on offer. STATE CONTACT INFORMATION chester Australia, Swarovski Optik, Polaris I trust everyone has a great Christmas or For SSAA inquiries please contact your state SSAA office: NSW 02 8889 0400 WA 08 9497 7919 and Outdoor Sporting Agencies and our end of year break however you see it and Qld 07 3281 3447 SA 0419 849 452 Expo organiser Michael Allendorf and his enjoy a prosperous New Year in 2020. Enjoy Vic 03 8892 2777 ACT 0423 043 663 Ta s 0418 734 008 NT 0402 013 918 team from Level Up Events. For those who your shooting. NATIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION missed the Expo this year, you will have a SSAA National Chief Executive Officer and Chief Editor Tim Bannister chance to share the excitement in Sydney Wildlife Programs Matthew Godson in June 2020. PO Box 2520, Unley, SA 5061 Phone: 08 8272 7100 It was pleasing to welcome a number of SSAA National Accounts Office President visiting politicians who took the time and PO Box 282, Plumpton, NSW 2761 Geoff Jones showed a genuine interest to come and chat Phone: 02 8805 3900 Senior Vice President Email: [email protected] Lance Miller and find out first-hand what a great fun, Geoff Jones Junior Vice President SSAA General Insurance Brokers family sport we enjoy.