September 2023 - Australian Shooter

In November 2021, the Woodleigh Bullets company suffered a devastating blow when a fire destroyed through their production facility in Victoria. Sam Garro charts the recovery and rebirth of an Aussie icon and what it took to put one of the country’s premier ammunition manufactures back on the map.

The new Howa Super Lite rifle really lives up to its name, tipping the scales at a fraction over 2kg, being based around a newly-designed reduced scale short action. We put the rifle to the test with reviewer Con Kapralos reporting: “This is a superb option for the stalking hunter looking for an affordable ultra-lightweight rifle.”

The Springfield Armory XD-M Elite in 9mm Luger is a polymer-framed, striker-fired self-loading pistol which comes with three stainless steel double-stack magazines. The gun has been carefully and impressively designed both in terms of safety and functionality and, as reviewer Geoff Smith assessed, is: “Well balanced, looks attractive and points well.”

View the digital Australian Shooter magazine