Politicians unite to launch the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting group, and Media Office Kate Fantinel reports on the expensive witch-hunt that has been the Greens-led Senate Inquiry into gun-related violence and how the majority report is a positive outcome for Australian shooters. We look at the history of the pioneering Bounceback conservation program in South Australia and the vilification of hunters in the public land hunting debate in Western Australia. Thomas Tabor reviews the Henry H010 .45-70 lever-action rifle, John McDougall field-tests the Fabarm Axis RS12 Trap shotgun and John Pond looks at the BSA GRT Supersport SE air rifle. Ted Mitchell hunts red deer for pies, while Brett Morris takes a family trip in search of goats. We also encourage SSAA members to roll up their sleeves and become blood donors.

The SSAA and the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA) meet with politicians in Canberra to discuss and promote the shooting sports, and the SSAA and New Zealand’s Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) sign a Memorandum of Understanding to protect firearm owners in the Pacific. Our reviewers field-test the Savage Mark II BRJ .22LR and CZ 557 Sporter .30-06 Springfield rifles, the Optisan Viper 8-32×60 scope, GlowShot reactive targets and the Max-Clean Maintenance Range Box. Bob Whinnen reflects on the SSAA National Quail Research Project and the current state of quail hunting in South Australia. Ron Fredericks analyses what pinpoint shooting accuracy means, Royce Wilson takes a look at Pattern 1914 and M1917 Enfield rifles, and SSAA clubs around the country prepare for Anzac Day events.

Media Officer Kate Fantinel reports on Channel 10 program The Project’s biased reporting on firearm statistics and the Senate Inquiry into gun-related violence, and we reveal the increasingly animal liberationist ideologies of the RSPCA. Bryon Pace reviews the Rigby Big Game Double Square Bridge .416 Rigby rifle, Hugh Nicholas tests the FX Bobcat .30-calibre PCP air rifle and Jeremiah examines the Uberti 1873 Competition Rifle in .357 Magnum. Assistant Editor Dave Rose speaks with target shooter optometrist Neil Murray, Steve Hurt considers the factors and personal commitment required for long-range hunting, and Dylan Smith has some big fun hunting small game. We also bring you the action from the inaugural SSAA SHOT Expo in Perth, and offer social media tips for shooters and hunters wishing to post about their chosen recreations.

Assistant Editor Dave Rose and Media Officer Kate Fantinel report on all the action from the 2014 Pacific Regional Shooting Championships, and we look into Australia’s handgun regulations and why some of our handgunners are failing to make it onto the world stage. Enthusiastic new hunter Christine Naus shares her experience in tracking and hunting forest pigs, while Peter MacFarlane takes a quick trip with some mates and secures a nice trophy buck. Con Kapralos reviews the Sako Finnfire II .22 rifle, Geoff Smith tests the Walther PPQ M2 9mm pistol, John McDougall shoots the Webley & Scott 2500 Sporter Sideplate shotgun, and John Hodson looks at the Sportsmatch GC2 air rifle. The SSAA has its say at the final Senate Inquiry public hearing in Canberra, and we reveal the SSAA’s new Gold Membership option for insuring firearms and fixed accessories.

We report on the Senate Inquiry’s Melbourne and Sydney public hearings, and profile the Firearms Intelligence and Targeting Team and its effect on the flow of illegal firearms in Australia. Senior correspondent John Dunn tests the Sabatti Rover Inox SS bolt-action rifle, Paul Miller breaks clays with the Beretta 486 Parallelo side-by-side shotgun and Ray Dennis restores a Hollis & Sons percussion side-by-side shotgun. We also review Trijicon AccuPoint scopes, Max-Guard gun bags, Pro Ears Ultra earmuffs, Marine Optics glasses and the STS Pocket Sized MOA Ruler. Mick Chapman returns home from hunting sika in New Zealand only to be sent out for more venison, and Tony Sharley assists chef Matt Moran on a duck hunt for his Paddock to Plate television show.

Senior correspondent John Dunn reviews the Lithgow Arms LA101 CrossOver production rimfire rifle, Will Godward tests the BSA R-10 Mk2 PCP air rifle and Royce Wilson looks at the Lewis Automatic Machine-Gun. Media Officer Kate Fantinel examines a recent media furore over eating kangaroo and the reality of how kangaroo moves from the field to the supermarket shelf, while junior hunter Franzie Ranacher recounts a pig hunting adventure in his home town of Bullo River in the Northern Territory. Rod Pascoe takes us back to the days of Lionel Hartley Bibby and his fast and fancy trick shooting, and we speak with six-time Olympian, SSAA life member and Australian Shooter columnist Russell Mark about his decision to step down from competitive shooting.

Media Officer Kate Fantinel takes a look at Landline’s television coverage of the SSAA Farmer Assist program and the on-the-ground efforts by one Farmer Assist member in managing wild dogs on a Queensland cattle farm. James Cheung examines the trend in tactical firearms and what makes a firearm ‘tactical’, while Leon Wright shares his success in hunting teal with the 20-gauge and Lionel Swift talks about the importance of location in securing deer. We review the Nosler Model 48 Patriot in .270 Winchester, the Montana American Standard in .30-06 Springfield, the Leupold VX-6 3-18×44 Custom Dial System scope and the Lightforce PRED3x rifle-mounted light, and we announce the first four recipients of the SSAA National Academic Bursary program.

We wrap up all the action from this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where the Australian Shooting Team finished on top of the shooting medals table, and we check out the SSAA rifle and pistol shooters who took on the world’s best in France and the United States and came up gold. Paul Miller reviews the new Walther Terrus .177-calibre air rifle, and John McDougall field-tests the Miroku Mk 11 Sporter shotgun. John Dunn reflects on the Savage Model 340 .22 Hornet rifle, and John Hill resurrects a Super Simplex reloading press. We report on recent findings about the effectiveness of baiting as a coordinated animal control method, and the Senate continues its Inquiry into civilian firearms ownership.