Innehållsförteckning för Jan/Feb 2026 från Man Magnum

I WAS on a farm with my grandson, Jimmy, letting him have a few shots with a .22, when we stopped at a shady pond for a rest. He sat gazing at the water’s still surface, then asked, “Grandpa, how come that insect can walk on water without sinking?” “It’s because water forms a sort of skin on top, and the insect is light enough not to break through it.” “But, Grandpa, it’s all the same water; there’s no skin on top.” “Well, it’s complicated. Have you learned at school what atoms are?” “Yes, everything is made of atoms – they’re the tiniest parts of anything.” “And molecules?” “Uhm… they’re also tiny parts of stuff.” “Okay, when atoms bond together they form molecules, creating different substances. When two hydrogen atoms…

I LOVE hunting and camping on my own; there is something special about being alone in the bush. You can do your own thing in your own time. And I always hunt on foot because I simply love stalking game. My solitary wanderings are the happiest times I spend in the veld. However, hunting solo is strong medicine (perhaps too strong) for many people because most humans prefer the company of others and the fun and joy that good company brings. If you are not happy with your own company, solo hunting is probably not for you. When you are on your own, there is no one to blame but yourself when you blow a stalk, the food is bad, or firewood is not collected. There is no one out…

NEW PRODUCTS ALPHA MUNITIONS BRASS When precision matters – whether for long-range competition, benchrest accuracy, or serious reloading – ammunition brass can make all the difference. Among today’s top-tier manufacturers is Alpha Munitions. Founded with the mission of delivering “the highest quality, most consistent brass on the planet,” the company has earned a reputation among shooters and reloaders who demand absolute uniformity and performance. At the heart of Alpha Munitions’ offering is their proprietary Optimized Case Design (OCD). According to the company, OCD brass is, “the strongest, most durable rifle brass ever produced,” offering a wider performance envelope and greater consistency across varied loads and environmental conditions. What sets OCD brass apart is meticulous attention to critical details. Alpha’s production process ensures extremely consistent internal volume across every case –…

Oom Martiens It has been a very long time since I last contacted Magnum. Unfortunately for me, my age (I turn 80 early next year), and where I live does not make it easy to regularly attend shoots. The nearest range where I can rub shoulders with my SAWAVV firearm fraternity is way out at Altlantis. I’m slowly getting rid of my collection, as my family are not interested in them. The hassle of applying for licences serving to dampen any sentiment they might have felt. With my enthusiasm unrelenting, I find every firearm going out like a death in the family. But that’s life. I am writing to tell you how immensely I enjoyed reading the article “Oom Martiens Koop ’n Skoup” by Koos Barnard in the November/December 2025…

STOEGER ARMS are well known for their shotguns, air rifles and the STR-9 9mmP pistol. Their latest handgun is the STR-9 ThinLine+, a striker-fired pistol chambered in 9mmP with a safe action trigger system, similar to a Glock. The ThinLine+ is marketed as a concealed carry pistol. It’s basically a micro compact, think Stoeger STR-9 MC (see the Test Report in our November/December 2024 edition), but scaled up with a longer slide and longer frame. Some of the obvious advantages are a longer sight radius and more capacity – all in a light weight and thinner package when compared to traditional compact pistols. Stoeger refers to this specific frame as a ‘crossover’. The ThinLine+ pistol weighs only 569 grams unloaded (without a magazine inserted) while their compact STR-9 (see Magnum,…

THE snub-nosed revolver is the best self-defence gun for civilians. There, I’ve said it and I have no doubt that statement has already set off howls of protest. After all everyone knows that a snubbie, with its limited ammunition capacity of only five or six shots will get you killed. We all know revolvers are limited in their capacity, and that auto-loaders carry as much as two or three times the amount of ammunition. No argument there. But do you actually need to have all that ammunition? Studies all over the world show most civilian criminal attacks are ended in three shots or less – and after spending considerable time searching the internet I could not find a single report of a civilian killed because he or she ran out…

I AM NOT a big fan of Hogue stocks that ship with Howa rifles. While their stocks are not bad for the price, some that I’ve used are not stiff enough and flex, and the surface is just a bit too sticky for my liking, always attracting dust and dirt. Most important for me, these stocks do not fit my large frame. So, I’ve been looking for an adjustable lightweight stock that is comfortable in the hunting field. The Hera Arms H7 stock seems to fit the bill. Hera GmbH Germany was founded in 2008 and has grown into a fairly wellknown sport and hunting firearms/accessories manufacturer. Two of their better known products are the H22 and H7 stocks; the first is made for the Ruger 10/22 and the latter…

WHETHER walking the moors with a shotgun over your shoulder, or waiting in a Free State field for your pigeon quarry, the old scattergun is a handy friend. But we’ve often read that it’s not really suitable for the modern battlefield. Or is it? The old saying goes: The more things change, the more they stay the same. The earliest ‘firearms’ were fire lances; spears with a bamboo tube attached and filled with a pyrotechnic compound. Used by the Chinese before a true understanding of gunpowder was developed, the fire lance was initially more useful at frightening and disorienting horse and rider before the spear point was driven home. However, the Chinese and their Mongol conquerors, who also used the fire lance, soon discovered that if they put stones or…

Have you got local hunting on offer in 2026? Advertise for FREE in the March/April 2026 edition of MAGNUM Adverts will also be placed on the MAGNUM website at www.manmagnum.com Email your advert to huntopps@manmagnum.co.za by 18 February 2026 Adverts must > be a maximum of 30 words> include the name of the district and province> give the species available> contain full contact details - Name /Numbers /Email /Website (as appropriate) Adverts cannot be booked by telephone. LAST CHANCE TO ADVERTISE IN HUNTING OPPS 2026…

Calling all readers.… Do you hunt, sport shoot, wingshoot, own a firearm for self-defence, collect firearms or ammunition, reload, and/or have some related technical know-how? Perhaps you have a story that would be of interest to Magnum’s readers? We are looking for new articles to publish in Magnum and encourage you to consider writing something for us of your experiences. We like our articles to have something different; a special or funny experience, odd animal behavior, an important milestone, a lesson learned, an element of intrigue… whatever applies. We aim to be as informative as possible while at the same time providing an entertaining read. This is evident in our mix of articles in each edition. Before you start writing, please contact us to receive a free copy of Magnum’s…

“I WOULD bring only one rifle, I told him firmly. And that would be a falling block single shot .375H&H Magnum with a 2.5X scope on it.” These words, recounting a conversation between legendary hunters Brian Marsh and Jack O’Connor, appeared in Man Magnum’s January 1990 edition. The article, titled “Make Mine a Single” by Brian Marsh, made a deep impression on my 11-year-old mind at the time. I had recently been introduced to the shooting sports by a friend of my parents, and I awaited the arrival of every new edition of Man Magnum with huge excitement. Towards the end of every month, I would walk along the dusty red footpath to the local café, hoping against hope that a new edition would be on the shelf. Suffering from…

ERNEST Hemingway is best known as the author who irrevocably changed the prose style of American literature, setting the pattern for most who followed. He was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature, and I think it’s safe to say that more has been written about his life and work than that of any other American writer. Hemingway was a paradox: a highly sensitive literary artist while also the standard setter for the contemporary American macho man – brave in war, big game hunter, big game fisherman, boxer and lover of bull-fighting. He actively sought danger and always felt compelled to prove himself in all fields of endeavour. Hemingway had a colossal ego and was fiercely competitive. Four times married, he was known as a ‘larger…

WHEELS and weapons must be handled with constant awareness of the damage they can potentially cause. Whether it’s a Harley Davidson, quad bike, tractor, sports car, or a handgun, shotgun or knife, never forget that all of them have the capacity to maim and kill, especially when carelessly used. Sometimes it’s a question of common sense, sometimes it’s a question of etiquette, but knowing how to behave when you’re near to, or handling, a firearm is the first and primary lesson that every novice shooter should master. Handling a firearm irresponsibly could have a significant impact on your life and the lives of others, possibly with serious legal implications: criminal or civil action, or both. Firearm safety should never be embraced half-heartedly. Some may consider it old hat, but…

DURING the nineteen fifties and early sixties cowboys with blazing guns galloped endlessly across the screens of our cinemas. Countless western films played a big part in developing an interest in guns among young boys. Most lads, like me, soon owned a pellet gun. My choice was a Daisy Red Rider because it looked just like the lever-action Winchester rifles seen in the ‘cowboy bioscopes’ I watched every week. However, it wasn’t long before I realised I needed something more powerful than a smooth-bore gun firing round BB pellets. I had my sights set on an air rifle taking the .177 lead pellet. So, saving up my pocket and birthday money, I bought a small break barrel Diana air rifle that gave me more power to bring down the doves…

One of the most-asked questions the Magnum team gets is about which scope to select for precision rifle shooting (centre-fire and .22LR). There is no easy answer as there are many excellent brands available with very good optics. To point out what to look for when making such a scope selection, I have used one of my favourite scopes, the Lynx LX3 4–25x50 ELR FFP MRAD. The LX3 is a first focal plane (FFP) scope with a 34mm main tube, designed from the ground up for extreme long-range shooting. For starters, the 34mm tube allows for 44MRAD (158MOA) of elevation – most other scopes don’t come close to this. It means that on my .22lr rifles I do not need a canted Picatinny rail as the scope has enough internal…