We put two new firearms in the spotlight in our October edition, starting with the latest rimfire rifle from the Czech Republic – the CZ 457 Beech Wood – a beautiful-looking firearm with entry level options starting at just north of $1000. We’ve also been out and about with the Beretta 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon over-and under boxlock sporting shotgun which our reviewer reckons is “a well-designed, well-tuned and spectacular gun to look at”. Elsewhere in the review category this month we run the numbers on the latest Zeiss thermal monocular, a nifty new binocular harness from Ridgeline and the Do-All Clay Cannon which is a hand-held and portable clay target launcher. Regular contributor John Hill warns against being slugged in the pocket when it comes to checking the bore of your rifles and has some handy hints on how to successfully assess the condition of your barrels without breaking the bank, while Geoff Smith has penned an entertaining article celebrating 30 years of firearms safety training at TAFE in South Australia which started as a casual suggestion that took off and just kept growing. Enjoy the magazine.

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Spring has arrived and not a day too soon and our September edition marks the passing of winter with a whole variety of articles to enjoy. Firearms in the spotlight this month include the Mauser M18 Feldjagd which our reviewer reckons is ‘one serious hunting, stalking and long-range rifle in a wide array of calibres to cater to all hunting requirements’ while we also take a look at the Webley & Scott 900XS 12-gauge shotgun which is a value-for-money clay gun with adjustable comb and a clever balancing system. For those starting out in this great sport or shooters looking to add an extra firearm to their gun safe, let the experienced John Hill guide you on the pros and cons of buying second-hand, what to look for and how to avoid the pitfalls. The US military is adopting a new service cartridge and Australia will likely follow as we did twice before when the US moved to 7.62 then 5.56 and John Maxwell has taken an in-depth look at what to expect. And on the subject of what to expect, Sam Garro has penned an interesting article on the very unexpected and how to deal with snakes if you encounter one on your next outdoors excursion. Welcome to springtime!

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While the bulk of our membership enjoy the shooting sports in all their various guises, we can’t lose sight of the excellent and often unspoken work the SSAA does on behalf of the environment and this month we celebrate 30 glorious years of our Conservation and Wildlife Management program. Launched in South Australia in 1992, the CWM initiative has since spread its wings to include Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory and in this issue we salute that dedicated band of SSAA volunteers and the vital work they do on behalf of Australia’s unique flora and fauna. Elsewhere we look at some interesting firearms including the Mauser M18 Stainless rifle, the Ultralegerro 12-gauge shotgun from Beretta and the Dreamline Classic air rifle while regular contributor Chris Redlich has penned a fascinating insight on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Milne Bay, written from the personal diary kept by his grandfather who fought in what is widely regarded as the first major battle of the war in the Pacific and the first defeat in 400 years for Japanese forces on land. And with more product reviews, letters and our regular columns, there’s plenty to entertain as we head for springtime.

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This month sees the conclusion of our three-part article on building a custom rifle in partnership with Beretta Australia. Mark van den Boogaart has headed for deer country with our left-handed Tikka T3x CTR in .308 Win and was suitably impressed by a true one-off firearm which more than lived up to expectations. Under review this month is the Franchi Varmint Horizon rifle as well as the Beretta Silver Pigeon 1 commemorative shotgun along with the Bushnell RSX-250 red-dot reflex sight and a dual-use thermal device from German Precision Optics. For all you shotgun enthusiasts out there, David Croft has penned a highly informative article on how to make sense of choke while for rifle aficionados John Hill tackles the issue of whether or not to reload your ammunition. Our cover story features Sam Garro who has taken a hunting trip down memory lane and conjured up fond recollections of days spent in search of game in the Great Cumbung Swamp.

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The second part of our custom rifle build partnership with Beretta Australia sees Mark van den Boogaart head to the firing range to put the Tikka T3x Compact in .308 Win through its initial paces and the gun certainly caught the eye of his fellow shooters. Find out how it performed and, more importantly, if it’s ready for a deer hunt in the Brisbane Valley. Shooters new to the sport usually have a decision to make – shotgun or rifle – and for those grappling with that dilemma, let John Hill’s wealth of experience point you in the right direction as he takes us through the key points to consider on both sides. Under review this month is the latest shotgun from Turkish manufacturer Yildiz, the Pro Sporter in 20-gauge, a dynamic duo for handgunners in the shape of the Glock 34 MOS fitted with a Leupold DeltaPoint optic, the latest Aguila rimfire ammunition out of Mexico and the superb new Sidewinder scope from Hawke Optics. Also this month, it is with much sadness we bid farewell to Peter Bindon whose popular Bushcraft & Survival column graced the pages of this magazine for more than two decades.

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Air rifles were an entry-level firearm for many of us and with progression we tend to overlook them as we grow. So when Con Kapralos was offered the chance to revisit his youth courtesy of the Remington Express Hunter, he grabbed it with both hands and was reminded of how much fun air rifles can be – and on a budget. Also this month we diverse further as senior correspondent Rod Pascoe runs the numbers on an interesting combo in the superb new Walther PDP full-sized pistol fitted with a Holosun HE507C open reflex sight with solar cell. Staying with things optical, Chris Redlich has taken to the hills with the latest compact T3 monocular by Sector Optics which he reports is “a quality product backed by a five-year warranty”. If recoil is an issue for you, Brad Allen may have encountered the solution when he road-tested some of the new products on offer from Grizzly Eliminator Muzzle Brakes which he says “could be just what the doctor ordered”. And don’t miss the first instalment in a three-part special in which we’ve teamed-up with Beretta Australia and experienced rifleman Mark van den Boogaart to put together a unique custom-built hunting rifle which will be like no other.

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This month we’ve laid our hands on Schultz & Larsen’s Hunter Traveller Composite switch-barrel rifle featuring cut-rifled barrels which, as the name implies, is the oldest method for rifling barrels now using state-of-the-art machinery to ensure utmost precision. Our reviewer tested the gun with two barrels, both of which shot a variety of ammunition with superb accuracy. Also under review this issue is the new Canik Rival pistol, Javelin bipods and accessories, the Steiner Predator 4 riflescope and an interesting rangefinder-scope combo from Sig Sauer. Elsewhere, Rod Pascoe takes an in-depth look at the many reasons for that irritating ammunition failure, John Hill explains how general rifle maintenance is well within the capabilities of almost every shooter and David Hughes wraps up his three-part series on the philosophy of hunting and views of its detractors.

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Variety is the name of the game in our March magazine as we turn the spotlight on firearms of all shapes and sizes including pistols, shotguns and vintage rifles. Rod Pascoe has put the nice-price Stoeger STR-9FA through its paces and reckons the Turkish-made pistol would be an ideal introduction to handguns and an economical club option for come-and-try shooters. Caesar Guerini are based in Brescia, the shotgunning capital of Italy and John McDougall laid his hands on their Invictus 1 Sporter which he says is a superb gun capable of firing one million shots in its lifetime. And while he’s at it, John has also road-tested the latest shot shells from Bronze Wing, offering four options for a variety of applications. For the history-minded among you, John Dunn has penned an informative article on the Remington Beals rifle, the first single-shot breechloader to bear the famous name, while Steve Hurt will tell you all you need to know about long-range bullet stability. Along with all our usual columns, letters and competitions, this one will keep you entertained as we bid farewell to another summer.

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