Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Sporting Shooter

HOW can hunters and shooters pass their time for the foreseeable future? We can suggest some ways for us to eat up those interminable hours of enforced down time we are enduring. SEND IN HUNTING STORIES. With Covid currently rampant, many of us have time on our hands at home. Here at my editor’s desk, I can predict that the flow of hunting stories coming in will slow somewhat, due to hunters not having been able to get out for extended periods. You may have wished to write features and already have material, so why not put pen to paper and round up some accompanying photos to send in. If your article is good, we can work with you and you may become a paid, published writer. Also, don't forget our…

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. LETTER OF THE MONTH Rimfire Windfall Q Recently, my aunt gave me a Weatherby rifle owned by her late husband who passed away last month. It is a rimfire Model XXII which he owned for over 15 years and is like new. It is mounted with a Tasco World Class 3-9x scope. The guy at my local gunshop told me it was made in Japan, but I think he is talking through his hat. I’ll bet is was made in the good ole U.S of A. What can you tell me about this rifle? Rodney Simpson A Congratulations! You’ve just…

With a phone call to the greatest station owner in the “Cape” we were underway. But the deal was my son Tom and I kept it simple, nothing fancy, just swags, snags and a rifle each. “No problem Dad”. Well, we ended with a bit more gear but essentially it was a basic camp and these are often the best as it’s all about the experience and companionship. Late on the first evening we rolled the swags out and were twice disturbed by boars coming into drink; Tom managed to dispatch them by torchlight. A promising start. Next morning we arrived at camp. Swags unrolled, day packs stocked with water, safety gear and essentials and were off along the creek towards a far billabong. The stalk along the creek netted…

IT HAD BEEN a tough year living in Victoria. I hadn’t had as much time in the bush as I normally would have. With Coronavirus limiting day-to-day life, work was still full-steam ahead too. I hadn’t had much time for a break, but one thing was for sure, I wasn’t missing another roar on the red deer. One of my mates had invited me up to his red deer property three years in a row. The first year I tripped and split my knee open on the first morning, requiring a dozen stitches and it completely ruined my hunt. The following year I had work commitments and then 2020 Coronavirus knocked us for six. It was going to take a lot to keep me out of those damn hills. The start…

THE modern Macnab Challenge has its roots in Scotland where it is thought of by many as the ultimate sporting challenge. To achieve the challenge, one must take a red stag, a brace of grouse and a salmon, all within the daylight hours of a single day. I don’t know why I find it so compelling, but as a keen hunter and fisher I guess I liked the idea of combining rifle hunting, shotgunning and fishing into one awesome day. I have often spoken of my Macnab interest to my three sons. I’m sure they’re amongst only a handful of Australian teenagers and young adults to have ever even heard of it! Nevertheless, over the years, the boys also started to become intrigued, if not obsessed like their Old Man.…

The common or ringnecked pheasant is native to Asia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe, where it is naturalised, it is simply known as the “pheasant”. It is a well-known gamebird, among those of more than regional importance perhaps the most widespread and ancient one in the whole world. The common pheasant is one of the world’s most hunted birds; it has been introduced for that purpose to many regions, and is also common on game farms where it is commercially bred. Ring-necked pheasants in particular are commonly bred and were introduced to many parts of the world, where they are raised on game farms. (Wikipedia)…

LIFE CHANGES 2.0. I have moved again, chasing my dream job and feral game across northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland. July saw me step back from my role managing the gun shop in Bowral, to once again following Dad’s footsteps and becoming a sales representative. Lucky for me I have joined some of the best in the industry, Ridgeline and OSA. This new role now has me talking to even more people in the industry as I travel around selling hunting accessories and clothing to store owners and managers. With most of the state going in and out of seven-day lockdowns and the Queensland border closed its been hard to get around and properly meet everyone. Cold calls have been hard, dialling someone’s number and trying to get to…

THE frustrating, “gets everywhere”, shoulder-high spear grass had certainly slowed our progress as the Honda Pioneer 700 cut a narrow track to a well-frequented hog haunt. The weekend before the dogs (Dash, Rocky ‘the little Gladiator’ and Ace) had bailed a couple and the coach gun’s 12-gauge solids had sent them packing for hog Unfortunately, 20 minutes later, I managed to get myself that geographically embarrassed I almost walked to another postcode before locating the side by side. (I was that relieved I almost hugged it.) Today I was hoping for more of the same; that’s the getting a few good pigs, not the getting totally lost bit. Having Matt beside me was a real confidence booster as he’s an absolute guru on the GPS. After flattening more spear grass…

An article about picking up the traditional bow? That’s a little different. Any readers who have followed my column over the last couple of years would be well aware that I’ve been making life difficult by trying to hunt animals with a stick and string, but the flavour of my ramblings has always been about new interests, new challenges and nostalgia. I, like many others primarily hunt because I enjoy it, but the line between enjoyment and frustration has become a bit blurry of late. At the end of the day it’s been an interesting and rewarding experience and I thought I’d put some words together to talk about my journey thus far, in an attempt to inspire some of you to give it a go. As a kid growing…

THE Lupo is Benelli’s first venture into the bolt-action centrefire field. It is a new breed of rifle that’s not only different and innovative, but just as performance oriented as the company’s legendary shotguns. The Lupo’s ergonomics are reinforced by the stock’s unusual contours, shaped to create finger rests and handholds in strategic locations. The angled trigger guard alone would make it stand out, but the Lupo wasn't designed simply for any aesthetic appeal; it is a high-tech boltgun designed purely for functionality and performance in the field. You name it; the Lupo’s got it! Currently rifles have been transitioning from classical to tactical, switching from classic-style timber stocks to synthetic and laminate, then to machined aluminium chassis rifles with skeletonised stocks. Long range fanaticism sees the introduction of many…

Clearview Towing Mirrors Whether you’re towing a boat, camper or trailer load of camping gear including the quad bike, it’s important you can see what’s going on behind you, particularly if changing lanes, cornering or reversing. ARB offers the next generation of towing mirrors featuring the same strength characteristics as the original mirror but with smaller profile. What’s different you may ask, well, the Next Gen Mirror’s compact design sits close to your vehicle while the double telescopic steel arm is extendable to three positions for greater visibility, depending on your driving or towing situation. Set it to the ‘normal’ position so it remains unobtrusive during your daily commute, or extend the full 180mm for complete vision and confidence when you’ve got your boat, trailer or caravan in tow. Available…

The Macnab Challenge has its roots in the 1925 novel John Macnab by John Buchan. The story follows three protagonists: Sir Edward Leithen, John Palliser-Yeates and Lord Lamancha, all desperate to relieve the ennui that has engulfed them. The solution can only be something devilish, with a dash of daring. Under the mantle of John Macnab, they issue a warning to three Highland estates: within 48 hours they will remove a salmon or stag, undetected, and present it at the door of the house. On this, they stake their reputations and the danger proves innervating.…

IF you're wise, you'll match the length to the kind of hunting you do. If you hunt deer in wooded terrain, or pigs in lignum, a carbine is a decided advantage. Short and handy, the gun comes to the shoulder quicker, points faster is less likely to get hung up on brush and low branches. A short barrel is lighter, not only because of less weight from its shortened length but from having a slimmer contour. When a barrel is made longer, it has increased diameter along the full length in order to increase its accuracy. So obviously, the longer a barrel is, the heavier it is. Most stalkers and foot hunters prefer to carry a light rifle with a barrel of moderate length rather than a long one. But a…

I FIRST read about S.E.E back in 1965 when Nils Kvale warned against it in the Norma Gunbugs Guide No. 65. He broached the question: “Is there any danger of loading too low? Powder experts claim there is. If a load is reduced so much that the case is filled to, say, one third of its volume, there is a possibility that the primer flash will rush along the surface of the powder, igniting part of it, creating enough pressure to push the bullet into the forcing cone where it comes to a halt. Subsequently, when the ignition has spread to the entire powder charge a few thousandths of a second later, the lodged bullet cannot again accelerate fast enough to keep a dangerous pressure from arising. As matter of fact,…

Game like NT buff and scrub bulls can be most unpredictable. A few tips may help you stay unharmed. 1. Always approach with the wind coming towards you – do not alert buff if you don’t have to.2. When they look at you and lower their head, be ready to take one or more sure shots very soon as this is a sign of aggression.3. Practice double-tap snap shooting at 20 metres into a circle the size of a teacup saucer with the rifle you will use. Make it second nature to shoot.4. Use enough gun that you can reliably handle loaded with tough, heavy for calibre projectiles.…

LONGBOWS as used by English Archers in the Middle Ages at such battles as Crecy and Agincourt were straight limb bows. Usually made of yew, these bows were used to great effect by many archers shooting together in massed volleys. The arrows were long and heavy ('clothyard shafts') with armour piercing 'bodkin' heads. Recurve bows have tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is unstrung. By definition, the difference between recurve and other bows is that the string touches a section of the limb when the bow is strung. A recurve bow stores more energy and delivers energy more efficiently than an equivalent straight-limbed bow, giving a greater amount of energy and speed to the arrow.…

Benelli Lupo Manufacturer: Benelli, Italy. Type: bolt-action centrefire Calibre: .270 Win. .30-06 (tested), .300 Win. Mag. Barrel: 22”, Crio-treated, muzzle threaded 5/8x24 TPI Stock: two-piece polymer; adjustable for comb height and LOP Overall length: 44.63” Weight: 7lb. Magazine: polymer, detachable, 5-round capacity in .30-06 Finish: metalwork, highly-polished, blued Trigger: adjustable, 2.2 to 4.4 lb. Sights: none drilled and tapped with six 8x40 holes Price: $2450.00 – quote from Safari Firearms, Sydney. Trade enquiries: Beretta Aust. PH: (03) 9799 5200 EMAIL: info@berettaauistralia.com…

IT gives more of a purpose to being out in the bush beyond just wanting to escape people and the pressures of life, while attempting to put some meat in my freezer. The desire to always want to look over the next hill is impossible to suppress, and this leads into wanting to travel further to more exotic and remote places to hunt. The romance of hiking into a secluded spot with everything on your back for the sake of enjoying the wilderness is a wonderful concept and for many people all over Australia it goes hand in hand with sambar deer on public land in Victoria. This doesn’t always have to be the case. On many of the properties I hunt the best spots for stalking are far away from…

SO FAR, it has been a pretty miserable year for us bird hunters and shotgunners in particular. The 2021 Victorian Duck season, which was looked forward to by thousands of shotgunners, has been nothing but farcical. With good rainfall the previous year and an estimated 2.5 million ducks in Victoria, we all had reason to be optimistic. But not according to those in power and, after examining all the relevant information, which should have meant a full season with a full bag, they dutifully slapped us across the face by declaring a 20-day season with a daily bag limit of 2 ducks. This was later modified to 5 birds a day in an attempt to pacify growing discontent. If you were from the city and couldn’t get to the Wednesday…

MY LAST 10 bolt action rifles were all made by long established US gunmakers, Remington, Ruger and Winchester. They all served me well with each used for a specific purpose. targeting a variety of game from rabbits to buffalo. However, I recently developed a hankering for something different to fill a niche in my gun safe and I had one particular rifle in mind – a big bore lever action. Make no mistake, I'm not new to lever action rifles, having owned a Marlin model 444s chambered in .444 Marlin for more than 10 years. That hard-hitting cartridge was deadly on game and I liked it, but this time I was after something a little different, although in many respects somewhat similar. A new Marlin Model 1895 in .45/70 Government…