Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Sporting Shooter

MARCUS O’Dean edited 191 issues of Sporting Shooter and related specials and I’m told he never missed a deadline. That’s a brilliant effort on both counts. Having been a reader of and contributor to Sporting Shooter through most of his time here, I know I have a high bar to reach if I’m going to follow him successfully. He’s done a brilliant job. Part of his success has been gathering a huge cast of good contributors. Editors have only a limited influence on a magazine’s flavour, most of which comes from the people who write and photograph the articles. My task here will be so much easier because of the talented and enthusiastic people Marcus has welcomed into the magazine’s fold. And that’s without mentioning Nick Harvey, a legend if…

STARTING with the Blaser, straight-pull rifles have become a popular gun for hunting and precision shooting. Heym, Merkel and Browning all offer different versions of the linear action and this year even Savage succumbed to the lure and added the Impulse straight-pull bolt-action rifle to its line-up. Straight-pull bolt-action shotguns, despite being a relatively new concept, have taken off like a house on fire. The Pointer is a relatively new addition to the large range of straight-pull guns. The Pointer’s instant popularity may be due to the fact that pig hunters have become aware of the speed of the linear loading system — with the gun held against the shooter’s shoulder, a pull on the handle unlocks the rotary bolt head, retracts the bolt, and extracts and ejects the fired shell…

PROPELLANT powder is a mixture of chemicals containing stored energy. Smokeless powders are safer to handle and use than older propellant types. Progressive burning characteristics adapt them to modern firearms. High pressures and high velocity are obtainable within certain parameters. The energy source is either nitro-cellulose or both nitro-glycerin and nitrocellulose. If made of nitrocellulose alone, the powder is known as single-base. If made of both energy sources, it is known as double-base. Burning rates are controlled by granule (or kernel) size and a deterrent coating. A final coating of graphite is applied to facilitate flow in measuring, and reduce static electricity. Three basic types are made for sporting ammunition: flake, extruded and ball. Flake and extruded granules are extruded, perforated, and cut to exact length. The majority of extruded powders…

SHERIDAN’S junior’s permit finally turned up and we were able to get out for a hunt with the .243 Weatherby Vanguard that we’d won in Sporting Shooter’s Weatherby/Fiocchi Photo Competition. While waiting for the permit I’d taken her to the range a couple of times on a P650 form to practice with a .22 as well as the new .243 so she could build confidence. But she had been unable to carry the rifle in a state forest until now. We headed out on a long weekend with the mission of getting her first animal, along with a goat for meat. I managed to tick off the meat animal early in the day and so it was time for Sheridan’s chance at her first animal. We walked and glassed along…

Letters containing questions for answering by Nick Harvey must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Mail your letters to: The Technical Editor, 3 Reef Street, Hill End, NSW 2850. Q I am in the market for a bolt-action rifle in .270 Winchester and have just about settled on a Howa 1500 with a Hogue Multi-Cam stock. This rifle is well priced, but my local gunshop has been trying to talk me into a more expensive European rifle. What’s your opinion of the Howa? Should I stick to my first choice? Hugh Stevens A The Howa 1500 has a good reputation and comes with a sub-MOA guarantee for three shots. I like the Howa, which is a straightforward design with flat-bottomed receiver, a hinged floorplate and a broad choice of stocks. The one-piece…

SINCE getting into traditional archery I haven’t shown interest in compound bows. Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t an ongoing feud between compound hunters and trad hunters, although there is some good banter at times. At the end of the day, shoot what you enjoy. One of my mates is an accomplished compound shooter who has picked up a trad bow recently but still prefers to hunt with a compound for the moment as that’s what he’s confident with. When you compare a trad bow with a compound bow it’s hard to believe they’re fundamentally the same thing. Having fun while walking with a traditional bow is more about your mindset than anything else. You must be comfortable with the fact that the only good chance you’ll have is if…

GOOD timing and accurate shooting are necessary attributes for taking game on the run, but a running deer can be a comparatively easy target for the hunter who has mastered the technique and necessary skill. Over the years I have seen more missed shots fired at running animals than I have at standing ones. Most shots are missed by the bullet landing behind the target. No shooter is born with the infallible instinct which allows him to hit running game consistently. It is a skill that is acquired through constant practice. It must be executed in a cool, deliberate manner, otherwise it should not be attempted at all. In one way it resembles shotgun shooting, because aim is taken at a moving target and the gun must compensate for that movement…

Crimson Trace Scopes Crimson Trace has been producing aiming solutions for more than 25 years. Through user innovation and patented products, CT has pushed the envelope to create best-inclass gear for shooters. Although relatively new to the Australian market, they are rapidly gaining recognition for a quality product at affordable prices. Crimson Trace stand behind their scopes which are backed with an unbreakable lifetime warranty. I’m told that CT will replace a damaged product at no charge to you, whether you are the original owner or not. No proof of ownership. No warranty cards. No time limits. It’s that simple. There are two product lines in the Crimson Trace range: Brushline and Hardline. The Crimson Trace Brushline dedicated hunting optics have been purpose-built from the ground up. The line features…

MENTORS come in all ages and professionals. They could be your teacher, colleague, neighbour or coach. Within the hunting community, mentors could be experienced hunters, shop owners or assistants, range officers, hunting guides or hunting magazine editors. I have been lucky; over the years I have met some pretty amazing men who have mentored me as I hunt and navigate life through the firearms industry. You’ve already heard about Old Pop, Brad and Clark McGhie but I haven’t yet mentioned my fourth. My fourth mentor has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, supporting me over the past two and a half years. He has encouraged me, corrected me and has not been afraid of my feelings when he has told me some of my articles might have a little too much…