It was a long time coming but, after a Covid-enforced hiatus, the SSAA Shot Expo returned in late October and attracted around 16,000 to the Melbourne Showground. John McDougall was there for Australian Shooter and has put together an overview of the event and how well it was received by exhibitors and visitors alike. Firearms under review this month include the 505 Synchro XT Black rifle from Sauer who say it’s designed to be ‘the most beautiful bolt-action rifle in the world’. A bold claim indeed and we left it to Mark van den Boogaart to assess that claim and deliver his verdict. Also in the spotlight is the new MK10 Premier Sporter over-and-over shotgun from Miroku which, according to reviewer Paul Miller, “represents excellent value for a well-designed and beautifully finished shotgun”. But firearms aren’t much use without ammunition, so we sent Con Kapralos out and about with three new offerings in .223 Remington from Italian manufacturer Fiocchi, which passed the range test with flying colours. Elsewhere this month we also run the numbers on an all-round affordable hunting knife by Cold Steel, AI-enhanced shooting glasses from RE Ranger, while Matthew Godson launches his reloading career with the Breech Lock Challenger Kit from industry veteran Lee.

Joseph Nugent, like many hunters, went in search of a deer for the freezer during the 2024 ‘Roar’ and while that ultimately didn’t happen, he did account for a few wild dogs which were causing havoc on his hunting property. Read his account of how a chance encounter with a breeding pack turned a deer-free outing into one which would prove beneficial to the local koala population. As the SSAA continues its march towards 220,000 members, it was pleasing to hear of a new multi-purpose shooting range opening its doors last month, this one at Ettrick in South Australia. The SA branch of the Association extended an invite to Australian Shooter editor Allan Blane who was more than happy to visit the sprawling 1500-acre Allambi Shooting Complex, which is already preparing to host the 2024 Long Range Precision National Championships. Also this month we take a look at the latest shotgun from Miroku, the MK10 Black Sporter, and among other products in the spotlight are ammunition, binoculars, ear protectors and knife sharpeners.

As a youngster I was fascinated by the lever-action rifle, John Wayne striding down Main Street in all his glory, picking off the bad guy on the roof of the livery store. So for this month’s cover story I was more than a bit eager to see what rifle aficionado Chris Redlich made of the latest Rossi Puma lever-action, this one with a 20^ barrel and chambered for the small .357 Magnum/.38 Special calibre. As it turns out he put it to very good use on some feral pigs and, so impressed was he, the review rifle now has pride of place in his own gun safe. And sticking with rifles for now, Daniel O’Dea has been busy with the Winchester SXR2 pump-action which, for general shooting, he found “came to point easy and was fast to operate” and should find favour with sambar hunters or those chasing pigs in the lignum. And if that’s your mission then a decent spotlight would probably come in handy so, to that end, Nick Rositano has put three from Pro-Tactical to the test, covering all options from beginners right through to professional shooters. And when the hunt’s over you may need to process that carcass, so Derek Nugent has assessed an impressive trio of cleavers from Aussie Outback Supplies which will cover every eventuality should the need arise. Add to that some handy hints to extend the life of your double shotgun along with our usual columns, Top Shots and letters and there’s plenty to be going on with in another feature-packed edition.

Riflescopes are becoming more complex and more feature-packed with each passing year and the Burris brand is no exception. For our cover story this month, Nick Rositano has ventured afield with their latest Eliminator 6, a rangefinder scope which completely eliminates guesswork for the modern-day hunter. Featuring a reticle which offers no fewer than 177 aiming points, simply place the crosshairs on your target, press the range button and it calculates the exact distance so all you need do is squeeze the trigger. Yildiz shotguns out of Turkey have built a reputation as being value-for-money firearms and John McDougall has taken their SPZ ME Special Sporter to the traps where he says it equipped itself admirably using a mixture of light and heavy loads. Reliable binoculars are now an essential part of the outdoors person’s kit and to that end, Matthew Godson has run the rule on the latest from the Hikmicro Habrok range, these ones handily equipped with an inbuilt laser rangefinder and enhanced night-vision capabilities. And as springtime beckons across Australia, Con Kapralos has tips on hunting hares, a sustainable and delicious alternative to rabbits. Elsewhere, we salute a young gun and a new inductee to the Hall of Fame following the SSAA Fly Shoot National Championships.

The Skout Epoch air rifle was developed over a five-year period and looks nothing like a conventional timber-stocked rifle, rather a wholly futuristic firearm with its carbon fibre components and matt black chassis more in keeping with the tactical look we’ve become familiar with. For our cover story this month, we take an in-depth look at this revolutionary air-gun that features rechargeable electrical computer controls which allow tuning and a hammerless valve system. As reviewer Paul Miller points out: “Serious air rifle geeks will undoubtedly be thrilled by the technology.” Sticking with firearms, Daniel O’Dea has gone bush with a Bushpig shotgun from Turkish firm Axor Arms and while it may not win any prizes in the beauty stakes, it does have several new, innovative and redeemable features. Also under review this month is a double-whammy from ZeroTech, as we unbox their ADV 4-24×50 riflescope and 20-60×80 spotting scope and put them to the test, and also run the numbers on an iconic and all-purpose hunting knife from Ka-Bar. The passing of firearms writer Nick Harvey has left a hole in the Australian shooting landscape that will probably never be filled and, in a tribute of his own to the great man, Chris Redlich has penned a touching piece on his connection to a true Aussie gun legend

Our cover story this month offers you a triple treat as Kyle Andrews has been out and about with a trio which might just be the hunter’s dream kit. He run the numbers on the Savage Impulse Predator rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, topped it off with the iAiming Gamechanger thermal scope and, just to make sure he was giving it his best shot, also attached a Spartan Javelin Lite bipod. Don’t miss his in-depth assessment and find out if this thrilling threesome might just be what you’re looking for. And speaking of hunting, Daniel O’Dea has been afield with the latest Asteroid-V2 Hunting Kit by Powa Beam which he says is “designed specifically with the shooter in mind, as it’s not just the intensity of the beam but how it’s focused”. Of course, before you can hunt game you have to spot it and that’s where binoculars come in handy. Matthew Godson has road-tested one of the new Habrok models from Hikmicro which he reckons will give you the edge in the ongoing hunt for feral pests. And with all our regular columns and features, there’s plenty to keep you entertained as midwinter bites

The story of Dean Tabone isn’t just remarkable . . . it’s utterly inspiring. Dealt the cruellest of blows aged just 13, Dean suffered life-threatening injuries during an accidental fall from a suspension bridge and was paralysed from the neck down. For most people that would have spelled the end of their passion for hunting – but not Dean. This month, Sam Garro charts the astonishing determination and will to succeed which saw Dean eventually travel to Africa and hunt some of the most sought-after game on earth. Elsewhere, we turn the review spotlight on the latest shotgun from Webley & Scott, a nifty little 20-gauge which had Paul Miller singing its praises. And as advances in firearm optics continue unabated, Matthew Godson takes a close look at the new iAiming laser range-finding thermal scope and its mind-boggling First Shot Auto Zero system. We’ve also run the numbers on a handy pocket-sized Garmin chronograph, a revolutionary rifle torch mount from Olight and three exceptional hunting knives by Kershaw. Thomas Tabor weighs in with plenty of tips to increase your chances of hunting success and Douglas Riach offers some sound advice on how to avoid biting and stinging critters which can ruin your day afield in an instant.

The cover story this month wraps up our Beretta BRX-1 Minecrafter custom build, which sees Mark van den Boogaart account for a ‘Black hog down’ as he takes the rifle afield and discovers its light weight, fast-cycling and quick handling make it the ideal companion for feral pest control. And swapping one barrel for two, Paul Miller was absolutely delighted with the latest side-by-side shotgun from Webley & Scott, the impressive 12-gauge Kilworth, which he says “felt alive in the hands yet perfectly controllable”. Returning to rifles, Con Kapralos went walkabout with the Remington 783 Synthetic Combo which he says is “an excellent rifle with a host of features unique to the model”. For something a bit different this month, Daniel O’Dea concludes his look at US SHOT Show 2024 and turns the spotlight on some uniquely American offerings. some of which will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. Other items under review this time include Leica Geovid rangefinder binoculars, a ZeroTech red dot sight and the latest Springbok bipod from Spartan.