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!

November 2018

It’s now 100 years since the guns fell silent to herald the end of the First World War and the Armistice that followed, and in the pages of our November magazine we turn the clock back to that historic day. And coming right up to date, senior correspondent John Dunn takes to the field with the Winchester XPR Hunter Highlander rifle. Still on rifles, and this month we put air rifles in focus with a feature on what was an introduction to the shooting sports for many, Don Caswell and Christian Monahan giving us their take on what makes a great air rifle. Sam Garro turns the spotlight on custom gun stock-maker extraordinaire Ross Waghorn and shows just exactly what goes into creating a unique stock. In his Talbot on Target! series, Communications Officer Sam Talbot turns his attention to Rimfire Rifle Metallic Silhouette, while Graham Park puts the famous Barnes X Bullet under the microscope and unearths a fascinating Aussie connection. And with our usual mix of columns and readers’ letters, the pages of our November issue are bulging with something for every firearm enthusiast.

October 2018

We’re busier than ever in the pages of October’s issue of Australian Shooter with four of the latest firearms under review. John McDougall features on our cover as he gets to grips with the new Webley & Scott Series 1000 shotgun, a genuine slice of Italian flair. Senior correspondent John Dunn runs the rule on the CZ 455 Stainless Synthetic and realises that “when you’re on a good thing, stick to it”. The Ruger American Ranch rifle is placed under the microscope by Con Kapralos and proves to be a fine all-round utility option, while Daniel O’Dea gives us the lowdown on the latest high-power offering from GC Precision Developments. Rounding out our firearms section, Communications Officer Sam Talbot continues his mission to shoot the SSAA disciplines, and this month turns his attention to Handgun Metallic Silhouette. Products under review this month include Hawke Optics’ latest laser range finder, we turn the spotlight on Grizzly muzzle brakes, run the numbers on Buffalo River’s .243 Winchester hunting ammunition and step out in the new Kosci boots by Spika. With all our regular columns, a bumper letters section and prizes to be won, there’s something for everyone in this month’s Australian Shooter.

September 2018

As we leave winter behind and step into spring, there is much to keep you busy in the September edition of Australian Shooter. Our firearms reviews kick off with Con Kapralos testing the Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Long-Range in 6.5 Creedmoor which he rates ‘up there with the best of them’. Still on firearms and John Gillis remembers fondly the Model 55 Winchester .22 while Neil Wheatley find the Streamline air rifle an excellent PCP option for the rabbit hunter. Sam Talbot our Communications Officer continues his quest to shoot multiple SSAA disciplines and this month turns his attention to Field Shotgun and what it takes to be competitive. This edition features a trail camera special with Steve Bain comparing the low-glow and no-glow options while Derek Nugent explains the best way to get the most out of your camera. Among the latest products under review are muzzle brakes and the new powders from ADI, while DVD presenter Shaun Whale features on our cover as he goes in search of his first trophy boar. It’s all happening in September’s Australian Shooter.

August 2018

Iconic bushman Lu Cervi looms large in the August edition of Australian Shooter as our correspondent Mick Chapman joins him to track deer in the revered hunter’s home state of Victoria. And Scott Mitchell also has deer as his target after painstaking work to revamp his rifle with Swan barrels.
On a historical note, Ivo Dimitrov outlines the evolution of Germany’s MP40 wartime firepower, while Rod Pascoe is another writer stepping back in time to document the role SSAA members played in helping the Mulwala Explosives Factory produce commercial powders for sporting shooters. Another fascinating tale comes with Sam Garro unravelling the 140-year journey of an 1879 Alexander Henry 12-bore double rifle.
Under review this month are GC Precision Developments’ CWS rifle, the Grand Power handgun by Roxor, the Australian Tactical Precision cheekrest wins Steve Hurt’s seal of approval while Ben Unten checks out the HyperPod II bipod.
An update on items in the SSAA online shop and some enticing prizes on our competition page round things off nicely.

July 2018

The cover of our July Australian Shooter features Senior Correspondent John Dunn, who appraises the Ruger No.1 rifle on the inside pages. The esteemed firearm is enjoying its 50th anniversary and made a suitable impression. Also on assessment duty is Con Kapralos, checking out the Howa HCR rifle combo. Amid mounting unease from expert onlookers, SSAA President Geoff Jones and Olympic shooting great Russell Mark deliver withering rebukes concerning Australian sport’s Winning Edge strategy. Geoff is also part of the National Executive team involved in an encouraging report from the SSAA’s 56th AGM. A hunting excursion sees Dick Eussen on his quad tracking pigs along the Cape York Peninsula. Two new variations of state-of-the-art shooting glasses light up the SSAA online shop while our competition offerings round off another wide-ranging edition.

June 2018

As winter arrives we turn up the heat in the June edition of Australian Shooter. Our cover story celebrates the gold medal success of three Aussie hot-shots at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Australia finished second in the shooting medal table behind big-spending India and gave us plenty to talk about.

Con Kapralos gets his hands on Kimber’s Open Country rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, which he finds to be a “divine option for someone looking for a rifle that carries well in the hand and can also take that longer shot if required”.

And in the first of a new series, our Communications Officer Sam Talbot is a man on a mission – to shoot the SSAA disciplines one at a time, learning as he goes. In the first instalment he takes us through the process of buying your first firearm and setting it up.

Elsewhere, senior correspondent John Dunn continues his love affair with the single-shot rifle and extols the virtues of the Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Special Sporting rifle in .22WCF.

Thomas Tabor discusses the importance of correct ammunition storage carrying and we look at the Racken Rest Lone Shooter, the latest ear protection and have your questions answered by our resident Top Shots experts.

May 2018

Variety is uppermost in the May edition of Australian Shooter. Our cover story sees Don Caswell road test the Weatherby Vanguard HSP Varmint rifle, calling it “the most consistently accurate rifle I have ever used”, while Mark van den Boogaart takes us through his journey in search of a collectable sporting rifle.

Still on firearms, senior correspondent John Dunn takes an in-depth look at some unusual single-barrel shotguns, and Chris Redlich shares the tale of his .284 Winchester which he purpose built for hunting. On a lighter note, Dick Eussen enthuses over the fun to be had when plinking and Royce Wilson takes a step back in time with a visit to the Musee de l’Armee in Paris.

Out in the field, Ben Smith enjoys a busy weekend hunting deer, pigs and goat, while Leon Wright takes us on a journey recalling his days from a young hunter to the present. And on the subject of young hunters, our May edition includes the latest Junior Shooter special edition, with Joseph Nugent stalking and trophy-mounting stags.

Elsewhere, Con Kapralos sets his sights on Meopta’s Meostar R2 and ZD riflescopes, Rod Pascoe finds the new Chargemaster Lite a handy device for the serious reloader and Sam Garro puts the new Gaerne Canyon Boots through their paces.

April 2018

A celebration of the 70th anniversary of the formation of the SSAA takes pride of place in our April edition of Australian Shooter. We look back at how the body came into being in 1948, at some of the events of that year, and the many achievements of the organisation in the interim decades. Elsewhere, the magazine is as busy as ever with Daniel O’Dea taking us on a journey around the annual US SHOT Show in Las Vegas. On the home front, there is a message from Federal Sports Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie, ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Royce Wilson steps back in time to assess the Sten Machine Carbine while Henri Lach also gives a nod to the past by detailing restoration efforts on a vintage shotgun. Items reviewed include three riflescopes from Hawke Optics and the X-51 v3 Range Camera System. And don’t forget to check out what’s up for grabs on our competition page.