Australian Shooter

Australian Shooter is not only the flagship publication of the SSAA, it is also Australia’s most popular sports shooting magazine.

Australian Shooter is not only the flagship publication of the SSAA, it is also Australia’s most popular sports shooting magazine. Published monthly, it aims to create a better environment and community understanding of all forms of hunting and the shooting sports. It caters to SSAA members and the general public who may be recreational hunters, competitive or casual target shooters, those who use their firearms professionally or those who enjoy collecting firearms.

Australian Shooter discusses political, legislative and current event news, while our regular and freelance contributor offer hunting opinions and philosophies, outdoor and survival tips, and technical and practical ballistics information to represent the varied experiences of Australia’s recreational shooters and hunters.

The main point of interest for our readers is no doubt our product reviews and feature articles. Each month, our technical writers road-test and review a selection of new firearms, shooting accessories, knives, clothing and much more to help you choose the right product for your chosen activities. The magazine also features several members-only competitions!

Australian Shooter is not only the flagship publication of the SSAA, it is also Australia’s most popular sports shooting magazine. Published monthly, it aims to create a better environment and community understanding of all forms of hunting and the shooting sports. It caters to SSAA members and the general public who may be recreational hunters, competitive or casual target shooters, those who use their firearms professionally or those who enjoy collecting firearms.

Australian Shooter discusses political, legislative and current event news, while our regular and freelance contributor offer hunting opinions and philosophies, outdoor and survival tips, and technical and practical ballistics information to represent the varied experiences of Australia’s recreational shooters and hunters.

The main point of interest for our readers is no doubt our product reviews and feature articles. Each month, our technical writers road-test and review a selection of new firearms, shooting accessories, knives, clothing and much more to help you choose the right product for your chosen activities. The magazine also features several members-only competitions!

August 2017

Thomas Tabor reviews the Savage B22 F sporter rifle chambered in the very popular .22LR calibre and Neil Wheatley tests the Impact Black PCP .22-calibre air rifle from Swedish manufacturer, FX. John McDougall puts Miroku’s Mk 10 Trap shotgun through its paces, while it’s bad news for Ruger which has issued a recall on its Mark IV pistols. SSAA members give their feedback on our interview with the RSPCA, and SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel points out the lack of NFA-related ideas in the Sydney Siege findings and how the SSAA secured a successful national firearms amnesty model. Brad Allen gets a mixed bag while hunting with his boys, while Con Kapralos looks at Burris’s Droptine riflescopes and Benjamin Unten is impressed by the SmartRest Quad Rest. Communications Officer Sam Talbot reports on all the action from the Melbourne SSAA SHOT Expo and speaks to junior shooter Blake Papworth.

July 2017

Con Kapralos inspects the feature-rich Thompson/Center Compass rifle, while Don Caswell reviews Howa’s 1500 Mini Action Sporter rifle and Daniel O’Dea tests the H-S Precision Sporter Lightweight hunting rifle. In an exclusive interview, the SSAA asks the RSPCA some tough questions about hunting and animal welfare policies. Senior correspondent Rod Pascoe examines the Vortex Golden Eagle 15-60×52 scope and Brad Allen puts Ledlenser’s MT18 torch under the spotlight. Darren Marks takes to the field with his sons and father to find some grunters on their annual family hunting trip, while Lionel Swift tells the story of second-generation gunsmith Peter Schwarz. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel explains where a New Zealand firearms inquiry went wrong, while Communications Officer Sam Talbot covers what happened at our second range day for the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting group, and speaks with Olympian and junior shooter Aislin Jones.

June 2017

Peter Kincade reviews Tikka’s T3x TAC A1 rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and senior correspondent John Dunn gets his hands on the Chiappa LA322 Kodiak Cub and Deluxe rimfire lever-action carbines. Paul Miller is impressed by Blaser’s F16 Sporter shotgun, while Don Caswell explains how you can put the spring back into your spring-powered air rifle. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel calls out exaggerated claims on the number of seized illegally imported firearms and reminds us about the SSAA’s A Journalist’s Guide to Firearms and the Shooting Sports. Chris Redlich hunts wild dogs that are causing a farmer serious problems and Ben Smith takes his young family in search for fallow deer. John McDougall tries out Baschieri & Pellagri Sporting & Compak shotshells, while Con Kapralos looks at Hawke’s Vantage IR Rimfire riflescopes. John Hill explains why an optical boresighter can be a huge asset for a shooter.

May 2017

John McDougall reviews the innovative Benelli 828U shotgun and Daniel O’Dea gets to know the MSP rifle from GC Precision Developments. Communications Officer Sam Talbot takes a close look at the SSAA-sponsored Hunting the Menu television series, while host and producer of the show Corey Wilson reveals how it all came together and the impact it has had so far. Jonathon Hoiles secures his first red deer and Justin Pallett takes his two boys on their first shooting trip. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel examines the fallout from the NFA review and says our next battles will be in each state and territory. Senior correspondent John Dunn evaluates Leupold’s VX-3i scope, while DG Crofts saves his shoulder with the Recoil Systems Xpad. John Broxburn goes back in time to investigate a James Lang & Co .450 Express rifle and John Pond measures up Hornady’s Lock-N-Load Auto Charge powder dispenser.

April 2017

Rick Huckstepp examines Remington’s 700 VTR SS rifle and Con Kapralos tests out Ruger’s American Stainless rifle in .308 Winchester. North American correspondent Thomas Tabor attends the massive US SHOT Show, while Assistant Editor Dave Rose covers all the action from the 6th Pacific Regional Shooting Championships in Canberra. John McDougall puts the Radikal GK-01C Camo Field shotgun through its paces on the Sporting Clays range, and Ian Ferrier explains the story behind a sweet little rook rifle. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel unmasks the extreme views behind the Australian Greens Party and explains how members can support our NFA lobbying efforts. Don Caswell reviews Bushnell’s Rimfire 3-12×40 scope before he puts the Pig Saddle Shooting Rest through its paces. Communications Officer Sam Talbot speaks with junior shooter Siridon ‘Donny’ Parsons and senior correspondent Rod Pascoe investigates the disappearance of the .357 Remington Maximum.

March 2017

Daniel O’Dea reviews the Mossberg 464 lever-action rifle and Neil Wheatley tests the Diana 340 N-TEC Classic rifle. Ben Smith uses his Christmas break to track down fallow deer, while a new report reveals the true number of feral cats in Australia. Don Caswell explains the benefits of using bore guides and John Harrison describes how to set up a reloading bench. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel tackles security flaws in centralised storage and debunks accusations that the SSAA is a ‘poised militia group’. Con Kapralos examines Burris Veracity riflescopes and Rick Huckstepp takes a look at the Bullseye AmmoCam target camera. Communications Officer Sam Talbot covers Victoria’s new hunting plan and speaks to junior shooter Jordan Maxwell who features on the cover of this issue. Lionel Swift travels to the Liege firearms museum in Belgium, while Henri Lach shows off some peculiar knives.

February 2017

Senior correspondent John Dunn reviews the Lithgow Arms LA102 CrossOver centrefire and Kimber 84M Hunter rifles, while John McDougall puts Miroku’s Mk 10 Sporter shotgun through its paces. SSAA-LA’s Kate Fantinel tells us what happened when we hosted a pistol shooting range day for politicians and their staffers. John Hill explains neck annealing your cases for reloading, while senior correspondent Rod Pascoe analyses the Load Right load development kit. Leon Wright goes hunting in floodwaters for foxes and Henri Lach investigates the new biological weapon against rabbits. Royce Wilson gives a lesson on the Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine and Brad Allen suggests that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to riflescopes. Assistant Editor Dave Rose details why Perth was the perfect setting for the SSAA SHOT Expo and Communications Officer Sam Talbot reviews Grahame Webb’s book, Wildlife Conservation: In the Belly of the Beast.

December 2016

Assistant Editor Dave Rose celebrates Victoria reaching 50,000 licensed hunters, while Chris Redlich takes on a fighting fallow. Media Officer Kate Fantinel outlines the reality of firearm deaths and how common or uncommon they really are, and Russell Mark explains why policy might be holding back our Olympic shooters’ real potential. Dick Eussen looks at Ruger’s American Rifle Ranch in .300 ACC Blackout calibre, John McDougall tests the Franchi Affinity shotgun and Don Caswell takes a look down Swarovski’s Z6i 2.5-15×56 P scope. Ian Thompson explains the mysteries of yaw in spinning projectiles and Rick Huckstepp gets his hands on the exquisite Rigby Big Game Deluxe .416 Rigby rifle. Ben Unten takes us on a spring hunt, Peter Assfalg travels to the German Hunting and Fishing Museum, and Communications Officer Sam Talbot talks with Single Action junior shooter Tumbleweed Wagon.