Our February cover story highlights the latest shotgun from Turkish manufacturer Yildiz which, at less than $1500, is one of the more affordable options on the market and one which our reviewer reckons will challenge many of the established brands out there. And in a review-packed edition we also turn the spotlight on the revolutionary new Monobloc rifle from Steyr Arms, Steiner Predator 4 riflescope, the Do-All Fowl Play portable clay target thrower, StrikeHold gun cleaner, Spartan binocular adaptor and Terra combat boots. Elsewhere, Mark van den Boogaart launches a two-part special aimed at demystifying the rifle stock and we embark on a new series entitled The Hunter’s Mancave, where some of our regular contributors look back fondly at their treasured mementoes and what it took to secure them. And with tales of hunting, the usual columns and letters page, there’s plenty to keep you busy as we prepare to farewell another summer.

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We see out another year with a variety of articles to keep you entertained through the festive break. Among a host of products under review are the latest S100 Stainless XT rifle from Sauer which is available in seven calibres, the Victory RT25 Sporting shotgun from Turkey, the new Thrive HD 10x42mm binoculars by ZeroTech, Precision Rifle ammunition from Sellier & Bellot and the remarkable new BackTrack Mini GPS by Bushnell. Elsewhere John Maxwell, our man in Canberra, takes a look at the new firearms of choice by the Australian Defence Force, Matthew Godson wraps up his two-part look at starting out with thermal optics and senior correspondent Rod Pascoe pays tribute to Aussie shooting pioneer Mike Papps who has died at the age of 90. And on another sad note, John Dunn has decided to call time on his hugely popular Jumbunna column after 34 years. And with that we says thanks for joining us in 2022, merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our members, readers and advertisers.

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We’ve all seen the movies and TV shows where the top cop picks up a crime scene spent case and yells “Get this to the lab!” Well this month, senior correspondent Rod Pascoe has answered that call and taken an in-depth look at firearm forensic “fingerprints”. Under review this time around is the ATA Pro 12 Shotgun, a 22LR rifle comparison for those after their first rimfire rifle or looking to add one to their gun safe, Meopta binoculars, KRG’s Bravo rifle stock and the latest Spectra scope from GPO. Elsewhere our own Matthew Godson launches the first in a two-part series on getting started with thermal optics, hunter Sam Garro unveils the secret of how best to squeeze off that all-important shot and with the regular columns, letters page and our Top Shots answering your questions there’s plenty to enjoy in this one.

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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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