Australian Shooter Letters

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September 2010

Good customer service
I recently received a package from Lee Precision in the USA. I had ordered and been billed for two update kits for my Lee reloading presses. When the package arrived, there was only one kit in the package. Upon phoning them directly, they requested the order number and looked it up. The lady said, “No problems, we are sorry about that and we will despatch another one for you today.” No questions asked; they just accepted it purely on my say-so. It is indeed a pleasure to deal with people like this and I can highly recommend Lee Precision USA.
Alan Kenny, Vic

My big goat
I’m a subscriber to your magazine and I look forward to receiving it at the beginning of every month.
Four others and I recently went on a week-long shooting trip in Western Australia. On the third day of our trip, I spotted a goat across the river. It was early morning and I had just finished my coffee. In my excitement, I picked up my Ruger .243 and took off after it. It was a good five minutes running before I realised I was wearing my thongs! I tossed the thongs, stalked the goat and dropped him with the trusty Ruger. We came back and measured the horns and it was 41" tip to tip! That is by far the biggest goat I’ve shot and the biggest anyone has seen on the station we shoot on.
Well, that’s my story and it was too good not to share with you guys. Keep up the great work - love the magazine.
Ben Raguseo, via email

The .297-230 Morris Short
I just picked up the June Australian Shooter magazine and saw the letter and photos about identifying cartridges. The right-hand cartridge in the lower photo looks like a .577-450 Martini with a rolled brass case and the second from the right looks like a .297-230 Morris Short. Dimensions would help to confirm, but dimensions of the Morris are: rim diameter 0.347"; neck diameter 0.24"; projectile diameter 0.225"; case length 0.58"; overall length 0.83". I hope this helps your reader.
Peter Howe, via email

Cylinder and barrel leakage
I write about the Basic Ballistics column by Ian Thompson in the July issue concerning his discussion about cylinder and barrel leakage in revolvers.
I have a photo of my then .44 Magnum taken in 1982 in Central New South Wales. I think that, even if it is a bit out of focus, it really illustrates just what a significant leakage occurs at the point in question.
Not being a trained expert, I feel that the projectile has not even left the barrel at this point in time, as there is no sign of anything coming out of the muzzle yet, despite the shot having been fired.
Bob McLeod, via email

Poetic justice?
I find poetic justice in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) recent rejection of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s bid for the ICC vice-presidency in light of his uncompromising stance on banning and destroying firearms of law-abiding citizens.
Mr Howard is indignant about his ‘loss’ of something associated with a recreational pursuit he feels passionate about. Remind anyone else of how responsible and licensed firearm owners felt after Mr Howard’s Government declared us ‘untrustworthy’ and forced us, under penalty of law, to accept monetary compensation in exchange for the destruction of prized firearms of great sentimental, historical or collector value.
Ian Patterson, Qld

A happy first-time hunter
I have just become a SSAA member after getting my firearms licence. After reading my Australian Shooter magazine, I was inspired to go for a night hunting expedition with my partner in Brunswick, Western Australia. We had just installed a Lightforce roof-mounted spotlight to his Ford Courier, which was lucky, as the night was miserable, freezing cold and raining.
I was on the spotlight and holding my .22-calibre CZ Super Brno, when we saw a rabbit bolting towards the scrub. My partner took the spotlight as I aimed. I slowed down my breathing and fired at the rabbit while it was on the move. I was absolutely stoked when I successfully completed a beautiful, clean and humane kill - it was the first time I had shot something while it was moving. I will never forget my first moving target animal.
If it wasn’t for the Australian Shooter magazine and all the awesome stories, I don’t think I would have got the courage up to go out for the hunting expedition. Thanks Australian Shooter.
Kirby Clarke, WA

A happy SSAA SHOT Expo winner
I would just like to thank Winchester Australia and everybody else involved in bringing the SSAA SHOT Expo together. A very big ‘thanks heaps’ to Winchester Australia for donating a major prize that my wife won in a guessing competition. We were recently married and a better wedding present I wouldn’t wish for. The Winchester 20-gun gun safe went to a great home. Thanks again.
Paul Sutcliffe

A close encounter
I am a local photographer and was recently in the dining area of our house, eating and chatting with my mum and dad. My pup was in our backyard and came up to have her breakfast when I suddenly saw a fox behind her. It was only 2" behind her and had both front feet perched on the doorstep. Mum was quick to send it on its way, but I was lucky enough to get a few photos about half an hour later. We are in a fairly heavily populated area and it is semi-industrial, so to see a fox in our house is very unusual.
Jason Day, via email

Unknown cartridge is a .577-450
I am currently reading your great magazine Australian Shooter. I noticed a cartridge on page 7 of the June edition, which looked very familiar. After I read the letter titled, ‘Help with identifying cartridges’, I thought I may be of help in regards to the larger brass cartridge on the right. It looks to me as if it is a .577-450. I have one myself handed down and looked into its origin just recently and to my surprise, after buying a copy of the American magazine Rifle Shooter, it also had an informative article regarding the very same cartridge in the Martini-Henry.
Apparently, 140 Brits held off 4000 Zulu warriors (outnumbered 30:1) over 24 hours in a place called Rorke’s Drift in South Africa. More than 20,000 rounds of .577-450 were fired through their Martini-Henry single-shot rifles, losing only 15 men and wounding 12. The original military round fired a 480-grain solid lead projectile at around 1300fps. Bet a few shoulders needed reconstruction after that ordeal!
Anyway, I hope this helps answer one of Chris Mark’s questions and I’ll have a look into the other cartridges, as they have got me intrigued also. Keep up the great work at Australian Shooter guys and girls!
Steven White, Vic

August 2010

WA firearms licence application difficulties
I am writing to tell you of the experience of getting my firearms licence. I live in Western Australia and as a lot of people would be aware, this state has changed its process of applying for your licence. It is all done now down at local post offices. The problem with this process is that no-one seems to be able to give the right information on where to start. The post office and police licensing gave me some rough ideas where to start, but even then, there were a lot of conflicting stories about what to do.
I have been a member of the SSAA since October last year and having never owned my own firearm, I had to start from scratch. I went to more gunshops than you could poke a stick at and no-one really wanted to give me any advice. Also, I knew I had to purchase a rifle to be able to submit my application and again, the people who worked in these shops acted as if they were allergic to money. Asking to have a look at a rifle was like asking to have their last five bucks.
After about six different places, I listened to the bloke who got me interested in hunting and the sport of shooting, Keith, and visited the shop he has been going to for years. Why I didn’t do this months earlier is beyond me. The information they gave me and the time they spent showing me different rifles was fantastic. They also let me put the rifles on lay-by and when I wasn’t able to complete the lay-by by the end of the three months, it was no big deal at all. Bob, the manager, told me in detail everything I would need to do to have my licence processed. He also gave me the right information I needed to arrange for my father-in-law to send me his old school shottie from Tasmania.
I have since received my licence in the mail and now have my three rifles at home and am very much looking forward to the first trip hunting with them. So, I would like to say a big thank you to Bob, Malcolm and Josh at Claremont Firearms for their help in getting my licence and the friendly service that makes their gunshop, in my opinion, the best in Western Australia. Their knowledge in this process, their firearms and the friendly and helpful service they provide is second to none and I really look forward to purchasing my next rifle from them. Good on ya, boys. I would also like to say a big thanks to Gerry from the Jarrahdale Pistol Club too for taking the time to help me with the firearms awareness test and cheers to Australian Shooter for an awesome read every month.
Andrew Jackson, WA
Editor’s note: SSAA National is aware of the ongoing issues with the Western Australia Police new licence processes and SSAA WA has been constantly lobbying to rectify the ongoing issues and faults with the new process. The owner of Claremont Firearms has also been active in getting the WA Dealers Association up and running again, so dealers can have a common voice. It may be some time before all of the bugs are ironed out with the application process and WA Police have put on 16 extra staff to handle the current backlog.

Help with identifying cartridges response
In response to your request to identify cartridges (June Australian Shooter), I offer the following information. In the top photo is a centrefire cartridge, .410 shotshell and other unknown cartridge. In the bottom photo, the left-hand cartridge is a .455 Webley revolver 265-grain bullet at 600fps; the middle cartridge is a .297-230 black powder cartridge 37-grain lead bullet at 875fps; and the right-hand cartridge is a .577-450 Martini-Henry black powder cartridge - the military cartridge of Great Britain until 1888 when the .303 cartridge was introduced. I hope this information may be of value to you.
Len Chapman, NSW

July 2010

You’re never too old
I recently had the privilege to be taken on a rabbit and fox hunting expedition up on the Dorrigo Plateau by two experienced shooters, Paul and Harold. Having never been hunting before, I was a bit apprehensive as to how I would find the whole experience, but I was pleasantly surprised.
We arrived at the property after driving through some of the famous Dorrigo mist to emerge to a clear afternoon with a cool breeze blowing and a cattle property in fabulous condition. The air was about 10C cooler than the coast and luckily, I brought some cooler weather gear.
The bunnies were out already, so we were all excited about our prospects for the afternoon and early evening. At 79, Harold decided to stick close to the vehicle and concentrate on the bunny population there, while Paul and I climbed a rocky, tree-lined spur until we reached the top and found rabbits everywhere! I used a Winchester 320 .22 and Paul used a combination .222/12-gauge, as we were also hopeful of whistling some foxes in. We each bagged enough bunnies for the pot and assisted the farmer in eradicating a few more, with Paul showing me the humane way of despatching a rabbit with head shots.
As we neared the end of the spur, Paul decided that it looked like a good place to whistle a fox. We positioned ourselves apart, with Paul the whistler and me the shooter. After only five or 10 minutes of whistling, we were rewarded with a good-sized fox making its way in. My excitement got the better of me though and my shot went straight over its head into the backdrop, but Paul quickly followed up with the combination gun to stop the fox in its tracks. I was surprised how quickly the fox went down.
We headed back to camp to be greeted by Harold, who had bagged a number of nice bunnies for the pot also. The boys showed me how to skin my catch correctly to prepare it for cooking. We cleaned up, sat back for a cuppa and agreed that a great afternoon’s hunting had been enjoyed by all. As darkness fell and the Dorrigo mist started rolling in again, we decided to make for home, after calling back on the farmer and thanking him for allowing us to use his property. He in turn thanked us and finished by saying, “I hope to see you back again soon.”
David McDonald, via email

A new hunting convert
As a reasonably new convert to pursuing a more healthy lifestyle through home-grown food, I decided to get my longarms licence last year and joined the SSAA. I have had the intention of using my firearms licence to harvest my own meat. I am in my mid-30s and have now had my licence and membership for nearly 12 months, but have not yet got out and involved in a hunt. However, I have booked in to the SSAA Springvale Range to get some lessons and practice before going out to try to get a few rabbits. I also look to try deer hunting once I get a bit of practice.
One of the drivers for me to get out and try to harvest my own meat is the opportunity in Australia to pursue more of the outdoor lifestyle and the availability of organic meat. Over the past 12 months, I have been receiving the Australian Shooter magazine and have found the articles interesting and informative and they have given me some inspiration to get out start using my licence. Initially, I was unsure of the content and what sort of bias the information may contain, but I have found I have a different view after finding the articles have reinforced some of my values and also given me some positive insight into the shooter’s world. I may not yet be the type of shooter who would take trophies, but I now have seen this is something that a respectful hunter may do. I may not win a target shooting competition, but I see the value of honing your skill and utilising the facilities that the SSAA offers. I am also seeing the damage that feral animals can do and realise that we can’t just sit idly by and expect that our environment is not affected by introduced species. The initiative to keep fox numbers down makes sense to me.
Interestingly, my wife-to-be picked up the first Australian Shooter magazine and scoffed at what may be contained between the covers. She now quietly sneaks a read at all the other copies I have received. I don’t think she will come out shooting just yet, but she certainly has not got the same objections she originally had.
I would like to thank you for the information compiled in the Australian Shooter and hope to give my licence a good workout for the coming 12 months. I also hope to not be an idle member for the sake of just using my membership to get a licence and will give something back to the SSAA.
Scott Cumming, Vic

SSAA website feedback
It has been a while since I visited the SSAA website, so I had not seen the recent version until this morning. I wanted to let you and your team know what a great job you have done. The site looks brilliant and the content that I looked at was well-presented, informative and very useful. I have worked in IT in the past and I know that you generally only get negative feedback, so I thought that I should take the time to give some positive words.
Mike Garoni, via email

June 2010

Importing toy gun no game
I would like to share with you and your readers the ridiculousness of the Customs policies relating to toy guns. I recently purchased a vintage 1940s boxed cast iron cap gun made by a company called Kilgore from overseas. Upon its arrival, it was seized by Customs as a ‘replica firearm’ even though the box states ‘Toy paper cap pistol’. I was then instructed to contact Victoria Police for the necessary permit to release the toy from Customs. I was told that in order for it to be acceptable in the eyes of Victoria Police and for it to be regarded as a toy, it had to have a permanently affixed red barrel plug on it that cannot be removed without damaging the gun.
My next step was to call back Customs and let them know that I would come down to collect it and in front of them, affix a red barrel of the required 2cm length. Well, guess what their reply was? Unless it came into Australia with the plug attached, I had to obtain a B709A permit, which is some sort of permit that would allow me to also bring in handguns, as well as a whole host of firearm-related goodies. This would require obtaining a handgun licence and being a member of a pistol club for a year. Then, that would lead me on to a collector’s licence, which would enable me to collect my toy gun, which, by then, would have long been destroyed.
I have an A and B longarm firearms licence and am an upstanding, law-abiding citizen. I have paid taxes all my life, which pays the wages of these government people who decide what’s deemed as a ‘replica’ and what’s not, so I’m in the hands of someone at Customs who decided, ‘No, I don’t feel in a good mood today, so I’ll make this person’s life miserable for today and not let this one through.’
I thought we were the land of the free? Like hell! If you’re a criminal or a druggie, you get more rights than a manager of a Melbourne city business.
Andrew Teleki, Vic

Thanks to Horsley Park Gun Shop
In this day and age, where bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better in regards to customer service, David Abela and the team at Horsley Park Gun Shop must be commended for a job very well done. Recently, I purchased several items using their great website and was very surprised by the assistance shown by the staff, especially Scott. David, your staff’s demeanour and phone manners are always impeccable and they are a credit to you. I am sure your father would be proud of them and you also for taking HPGS to the next level. Well done!
Con Kapralos, SA

Help with identifying cartridges
I was just wondering if anyone can help me identify these cartridges, which belonged to my great-grandfather. I have included some photos with the cartridges next to a 12-gauge round, which is 60mm in length. If anyone can provide any information, please don’t hesitate to contact me, c/o Australian Shooter.
Chris Mark, Vic

May 2010

Supermarket meat response
The letter ‘No animals harmed in supermarket meat?’ from the February Australian Shooter caught my attention. From the tender age of four years, I was well aware that meat came from dead animals, but, alas, many of us were not.
I lived in the bush north-west of Kalgoorlie, where my father had a butcher shop and meat round. It was during the Great Depression. The meat for my father’s shop came by train to Broad Arrow for him to collect. He delivered orders to lonely prospectors scattered throughout the bush. I travelled with him on these delivery trips. My father always carried a shotgun or rifle in the truck, so any kangaroo or feral goat that came within range of his sights was destined for our table. The shop meat was far too expensive for us to eat.
At the end of the Depression, our family returned to South Australia just before WWII began. My father was a builder, so was sent off to several places to build military camps and I became the man around the house. I tended the vegetable garden, milked the cows before and after school and fed the chooks. I also killed and dressed the odd chicken for the table, as well as keeping firewood up to the kitchen stove.
At one stage, my city cousin came to visit with his parents. When he saw a bucket of milk brought in, he asked his mother, “Do they keep milk in a tank here?”
Ramon Ware, NSW

A happy winner
I would like to say thank you to Australian Shooter. I am now the happy and proud owner of a Kizlyar Egersky knife, recently delivered to my front door by Australia Post, after I won one of your competitions. It is truly a quality knife and is set to become a bragging point from here on in.
The only other thing I’ve won in recent times was a tray of prawns and oysters at the Batemans Bay Bowlo. They too were good, but methinks the Kizlyar will definitely last longer. Thanks again SSAA! It’s good to belong. All seven of our family are members - four seniors, three shooting juniors.
Trevor B Rogers, NSW

Bush survival in Malaysia
I recently finished a brief jungle survival course run by the Malaysian Army for our benefit. It made me realise how much we depend on technology in order to survive.
We were placed in a jungle camp and shown by the Malaysian Army survival experts how to make a fire, how to get water from vines, how to make snares and traps and how to hunt and butcher - all with a machete. Without this singular item, we would have been completely and utterly stuffed.
The second thing I noticed was that without a regular intake of food, we became tired more easily from performing the tasks we had to do, such as cutting or carrying wood. The rough living and humidity didn’t help either.
The third thing I noticed was the different types of machetes issued. All did the same thing, except some handled better than others. All seemed sharp enough, but the difference in handling could have been from the length of blade (giving it more momentum) or the shape of the blade (cutting deeper perhaps). Peter Bindon should look at this in an article.
Our jungle experts, when gathering food in the creek, could kill a small fish in water with a single blow from the blade of their machete. I never saw them miss once, which shows their skill and ability. As I have said: without a machete to survive with, we would have been hard-pressed to survive.
Private Terry Nixon, currently based in Malaysia
Editor’s note: Thanks for the story idea, Terry. We’ve got Peter on the job and a story about jungle knives will be published in the next edition of Australian Hunter magazine.

Getting kids into shooting and hunting reply
I read Warren McKay’s column about kids and hunting (November 2009 Australian Shooter) and I couldn’t agree more. I have often taken my two sons, aged 11 and 14, with me to a safe property for them to learn firearm safety and do some shooting. More recently, I have taken my elder son and his friends out to the same property and the local SSAA range for some plinking.
There is nothing like the look of sheer delight and pride on the face of a kid when they have plinked their first target. My son’s friends at this stage don’t have any means to pursue the hobby through their own families, but the enjoyment, the challenge of self-improvement and safety awareness they have experienced will stay with them for a long time. Hopefully, down the track, they will become valued SSAA members and perhaps even Olympic champions in the sport.
Richard, via email

April 2010

A most generous gift
In August 2009, we were fortunate to have Australian Shooter publish an article on our Inaugural Anzac Day Charity Shoot at SSAA Wagga Wagga Branch. A few days after receiving my copy in the mail, I had a phone call out of the blue from Tasmania; a John Brownrigg was so taken by the article, he felt compelled to phone and congratulate me on the story. He was also very interested in doing something similar at his local club. In writing the article, I had hoped to create some interest at our club level and within the surrounding districts, so interest from across Bass Strait really blew me away! Needless to say, I sent John all the information I’d put together on our shoot with my blessings and have stayed in contact via email and phone.
Next was a phone call from Lionel Bull from Kurri Kurri in New South Wales with an offer of some ex-military ammunition free to a good home if it was of any use. Lionel was persistent if nothing else in searching for all his leftover .303 rounds. It went from around 100 rounds to 3kg to a total of 8.8kg - I’ve yet to count it all! Negotiations are in place to take delivery via Graham James, a good mate of Lionel’s, who I met on the Hume Highway on Boxing Day while he was on his way to Geelong for the Christmas break.
Now, you’ve got to remember that I’d never met these two men and didn’t know them from Adam prior to the story being published, but they were moved enough to go out of their way to help make all of this happen. With the addition of Lionel’s ammo, we now have enough for this year’s Anzac Day Shoot largely due to the generosity of these two men. Monies raised from this gift will again be donated to Legacy Wagga Wagga.
This kind of generosity from two men I’d never met, especially at that time of year, reaffirms my faith in human nature and of the great blokes within our sport. As with any legitimate sport, there are some great people out there brought together by a common interest with information to share, help to give and knowledge to pass on. You just may not have met them yet. Thanks once again.
Greg Hannon, NSW

Old revolver identified!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those readers who found the time to write to me care of the Australian Shooter regarding the old revolver found buried under a rock and evidently placed there more than 100 years ago. Thanks to the research done by a number of your readers, I have been able to positively identify it as the remains of a Hills Self Extracting Revolver, manufactured by a small gun manufacturer, WJ Hill in Birmingham, England, prior to 1886.
The firearm differed from those produced earlier, in that, it had an unusual loading operation. This particular revolver used metallic cartridges - a new innovation at the time - and was apparently a .32-calibre centrefire using black powder ammunition.
I am still investigating the history of this particular revolver and how it came to be buried where it was. The most common assumption, of course, is that it was possibly stolen by persons unknown to be reclaimed at a later date, but there is currently no evidence to suggest that that was actually the case. I may uncover further details in the fullness of time!
Rick Tomkies, Qld

Hunting success for a new member
I have been a SSAA member now for one year and really look forward to getting your magazine. I thought I would send in a photo of my first fox taken on a property in Bungendore, New South Wales. It was taken with a .223 Howa 1500 at about 8.40pm on November 25 while we were after rabbits. The property owner said she had a rabbit infestation, but we later found out there were five different foxes there too.
To say it was exciting would be an understatement. It was like jumping in a cold river and trying to breathe while remaining calm. Seeing the fox in the spotlight around 200m away was the biggest thrill. Settling the bipod on the roof of the ute, I calmed my breathing, aimed just above his eyes and fired. The rest is history.
I would just like to add for all those first-time or new hunters not to give up; keep trying and be patient.
Jason Vella, via email

Thanks to volunteers
I would like to thank all of the volunteers from the various branches of the SSAA who donate their time and effort to keep their respective ranges in a safe and respectable state of repair. On a recent work day at the SSAA Kempsey Branch (252 members), we had a roll-up of five volunteers, which is normal, to ensure the range was presentable for the upcoming presentation and Christmas party. I got to thinking that this is probably the norm for most branches. So to all you volunteers, give yourself a pat on the back. You can be proud of yourselves, as you are the true shooters of your clubs. Without your effort, our clubs would not exist and the sport of shooting would be in grave doubt. Thank you.
Wayne Turner, Treasurer SSAA Kempsey Branch Inc, NSW

March 2010

Vegan support groups
Matthew Godson wrote a wonderful column about the essay from Dr Flannery titled ‘Now or Never: A Sustainable Future for Australia’ (November 2009 Australian Shooter). I remember an email I received from a friend who lives in the US. Unfortunately, I do not have it to show here. It showed a flyer on a noticeboard at Berkley University in California. It was for vegans and vegetarians, providing them with a non-confrontational and non-judgemental support group, where they would be safe from oppression and ridicule and could be comfortable in the embrace of like-minded people. Below this advertisement was a photo of a bear with the caption, ‘Carnivores don’t need support groups!’ This says it all.
John Bow, NSW
Editor’s note: Thanks for the letter, John. I don’t think the accompanying image is the exact one you are referring to, but we found it circulating the internet and thought it makes an interesting addition to your letter.

Columns a highlight of magazine
I have been a member of the SSAA for a year now and have thoroughly enjoyed getting, reading and rereading the Australian Shooter magazine, along with the Australian Hunter magazine.
It’s interesting to see the positive effect the stories have on my two sons, particularly with the Bushcraft & Survival column with Peter Bindon. My eldest son, 14, has now assembled his own survival/emergency kit, with a few additions of his own. We as a family do a bit of bushwalking and it’s always the first item in the car.
As an offshoot, it’s also begun a thought process in their eager developing minds - a game called ‘What if?’ It basically consists of one of us thinking of a scenario and the rest of us working out how we would go about surviving using only what we have, such as if the car has a blow-out, no spare tyre, on a 42C day, eight hours from the nearest person. This instils in all of us that there is consequence for actions and with knowledge, innovation and inventiveness, there can be a way through.
We hope that these stories will continue, as it is a highlight of the magazine. We feel that these hints are invaluable and a great educational value for anyone who reads the articles. So many potentially lifesaving tips are included. We are amazed at the simple things that can help you to survive that you would never think to use on a normal day-to-day basis. Maybe you could run survival courses in the future, showing how and what to use?
My wife, who’s not a hunter or shooter in the least, also really enjoys Peter’s articles, as well as John Dunn’s Jumbunna column. You definitely have an audience in this household.
Richard and family, via email

Enjoyable reading, even if we can’t own them
This weekend’s inclement weather required me to look for more indoor-oriented entertainment. I picked up a well-known motoring magazine and read several articles about rare and expensive super-cars. Then I happened to flick on to a television show about an expedition to the summit of K2. Later, I picked up the November issue of my favorite shooting magazine, Australian Shooter of course, and read a very good article about a .50-calibre rifle. At no point did I think that a given subject was less enjoyable simply because I am very unlikely to experience any of them in my lifetime. Please ignore those naysayers who think that a particular firearm is not worth an article in Australian Shooter simply because it is not available to them. Keep up the excellent work.
Daniel Gardner, Vic

Camo confusion response
After reading Gerard Clink’s August Australian Shooter letter, I was pleased to see you may do a story on camo gear. After being in the RAAF for 20 years, then owning an embroidery business where I supplied Defence nametags and badges and having been involved with review after review of ‘new’ apparel in Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) and other styles, it will be interesting to read the result.
I have used DPCU and other clothing myself and I have found, as others would have, that a neutral colors, such as olive drab in most dry Australian areas and dark, old-style ‘greens’ (as they were called) in wetlands, blend in with the surrounding area you are in and are most effective when coupled with no or slow movements.
Jungle cams in some sparse areas just invite those goannas to try and run up you! Yes, that was a funny day.
Matt Rossiter, via email

February 2010

A blue-boxed Browning
I have been trying to find out why this Browning Medalist pistol is in a blue box, as all the others are in red boxes. I have asked Browning, but they don’t know.
I have a theory that the pistol may have been one of several used in Australian competitions in the 1970s. I note that the barrel has been shortened, maybe to comply with a competition rule.
Any help readers can give would be appreciated.
Alex McCallum, Qld

SSAA E-alert reply
I participated in your SSAA E-alert poll about tougher gun laws in South Australia and was pleased to read that a correction story was made in the Adelaide Advertiser. Although I do not require SSAA membership for my occupational firearms licence, I am a member so as to protect and promote our sport. Furthermore, I would like to encourage others to participate in these surveys, as for just a little effort, you will hopefully gain a large reward in educating the uninformed.
Lyle, via email

A unique knife response
In response to the question posed by Warwick Greenham in his ‘A unique knife’ letter (October Australian Shooter), I would offer a solution based on personal experience and observation, but not based on special knowledge. I believe the knife to be probably of Bedouin origin of a kind that used to be common (and perhaps still is) in Arab countries, especially the Yemen, Hejaz and out-of-the-way parts of the Gulf States.
In my copy of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Colonel TE Lawrence (of Arabia), there is a photo of Lawrence in the dress of an Arab prince and he has a much larger and more ornate knife thrust through the waistband of his garment. While in Bahrain in the 1960s, I observed that many Arabs carried similar knives, although slightly larger, thrust into the front of the waistband. Many of these knives were ornate, with silver scabbards and ivory handles, and usually varied according to social standing in the local hierarchy. A knife of the size in the photo would be used in the way jack-knives were; that is, as a general utensil.
I was given a knife very similar to the one shown in the photograph. My knife had a scabbard fashioned from wood and the handle was made from buffalo horn. My knife was handmade and I believe that all of these knives were fashioned by Arab smiths and armourers. The knife I had went with me for a year or two, but was unfortunately taken with other mementos when we were burgled in Singapore.
The knife shown appears to be missing the handle. I would say that this would detract from any monetary value, but as a souvenir of this out-of-the-way part of the world, it should certainly interest a collector.
John Harper, Qld

A refreshing article
I enclose a page from the Ballarat Courier (‘Gun amnesty bit of a misfire’), Friday, October 9, 2009, for your interest. It is quite unusual and refreshing to find someone writing the truth. I am 76 years of age, an ex-farmer and I have been a shooter all my life. Over the past few years, the onslaught against shooters has made me feel like an unconvicted criminal. I thank you for your magazine and the assurance that you are prepared to defend my rights.
K Linton Mills, Vic
Editor’s note: Thank you for bringing this article to our attention. It is refreshing to read that the author, Gavin McGrath, argues that firearm amnesties and previous firearm buy-backs have been “public relations exercises” and that the only real way to reduce crime is to “reduce the number of criminals on the street”.

The shotgun debate response
I was reading with some interest Damien Edwards’ article ‘Over-and-under or side-by-side? The shotgun debate’ (Australian Shooter, October 2009). While Damien has some valid points in the article, I would suggest he obtain a copy of Best Guns by Michael Macintosh and Spanish Best by Terry Weiland. Both books are excellent resources for the shotgun fan.
In the USA and in Europe, there is a huge demand for top-quality side-by-side shotguns, not only for premium quality English guns, but for guns made by the trade in Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany and other European nations. Names such as AyA, Peter Nelson, Hartmann & Weiss, Bertuzzi, Bosis, Pedro Arrizabalaga - the list is endless. These guns, as well as highly regarded British makes such as Purdey, Boss, John Wilkes, WW Greener, Holland & Holland and others, are much sought-after on both sides of the Pacific and all over the world.
However, there is a new breed of side-by-sides being manufactured in the USA. Shotgun aficionados such as Tony Galazan and Stephen Lamboy have resurrected two great names of yesteryear. Galazan’s Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company has been turning out the new Ansley H Fox shotguns, while Lamboy’s venture has resulted in the Ithaca shotguns being reborn, called New Ithaca Doubles. Both makers produce superb examples of the classic side-by-side shotgun and the price dictates this. The new AH Fox and Ithaca guns are available in various grades and are highly sought-after by collectors and shotgun enthusiasts. Tony Galazan is even producing the Winchester Model 21 Custom Grade SxS shotgun and for around $US50,000 to start with, you can have one built to order.
Oh yes, the side-by-side shotgun is still alive and kicking.
Con Kapralos, SA

An old revolver
A friend of mine, when recently refurbishing an old house, was digging a hole for an extra stump underneath the house and on removal of a large rock, discovered what appeared to be the remains on an old firearm. When cleaned and the metal parts soaked for a couple of weeks in a molasses and water mixture, the result produced the remains of a six-shot revolver, the butt of which had long since rotted away of course.
On closer inspection, it was obvious that the revolver had not been loaded, as the chamber was empty. The firearm must have been hidden beneath the rock prior to the house being shifted and placed there around 1908.
I would be interested to know if anyone can identify the calibre, make and year of manufacture of this firearm. Obviously, the fore-sight has rusted away and it seems the barrel is hexagonal. Any information on this revolver would be greatly appreciated.
Rick Tomkies, Qld

No animals harmed in supermarket meat?
South Australian reader Warwick Greenham recently sent us an email containing the accompanying scan of a letter from a San Francisco newspaper. It would be humorous if it wasn’t already so disturbing to think that people are really this naïve about where their food comes from!

Unique knife item of Sikh faith
In regards to the ‘A unique knife’ inquiry in the October edition in the Australian Shooter, I can shed some light on the subject. The knife is known as a ‘Kirpan’ and it is one of the five items of faith worn by all baptised Sikhs who are from the northern part of India in the state of Punjab.
The Sikhs have a long and proud history in this part of the world and for some 50 years or so before being annexed by the British in 1747, had an empire that stretched from New Delhi in the east to as far as Iran in the west and down to the eastern coast of India near the states of Gujarat. Before being taken over by the British, mainly through treachery and deceit, the Sikhs had a large army of brave, fearless and noble warriors.
As part of the religion, there are five articles of faith:
Kesh: A long uncut hair, which is kept neat and tidy by the wearing of a turban (99 per cent of people in the world today who wear a turban are Sikh, not Muslims. There is distinct difference between the religions.)
Kanga: A small wooden comb, which is kept to keep the long hair clean.
Kara: A steel bangle to signify a link with God and the unending nature of God of a circle of no beginning or end.
Kachera: Long underpants to signify modesty.
Kirpan: A long, curved sword usually 4 to 5ft in length. A sword of mercy or a defensive weapon, it was carried and its use was mastered by all men and women who followed the religion, as it was part of the Sikh identity and their obligation to defend the innocent and weak from repression.
When the Sikh raj (empire) was annexed by the British, only eight or so years after the death of the then ruling king Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British went about dismantling the whole system of military and armed forces that existed under the Sikh raj. One of the things they did was disarm the population. This was done by outlawing all weapons and also restricting Sikhs with the size of the Kirpan they were allowed to wear by insisting that it be no greater than 6" in length. These restriction are now gone.
The Kirpan shown in the magazine is a mass-produced item worth about $10 to $50 that can still be purchased near most Sikh gurdwaras (places of worship) by anyone. There are better hand-produced Kirpans available, which can range in price from $300 to the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I have one of the Kirpans that is pictured in the magazine, as I am a baptised and practising Sikh.
For more information, see www.khalsakirpans.com/artisankirpan1 and www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirpan
Dr Harminder Singh, Qld