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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Our February cover story turns the spotlight on the first bolt-action rifle out of Turkey – the Turqua Walnut by ATA Arms – which our reviewer reckons will make an excellent stalking rifle and, priced around the $1000 mark, will be within the reach of many Australian hunters. Other items under review this month include thermal imagers, red dot optics and the latest Aguila ammunition from Mexico. Elsewhere, Sam Garro examines the psychology of field-dressing your harvested game, David Hughes tackles the sometimes divisive subject of hunting rites and animal rights, while Brad Allen and Peter Schade share their experiences in our continuing series of ‘My Most Challenging Hunt’. And of course we have all our regular columns and expert analysis.

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With travel restrictions easing and many shooting ranges now open for business, our December cover story looks at what you need to know to get back in the swing and return to active shooting. Aguila ammunition has been manufactured in Mexico since the 1960s and has now made its way Down Under and we have the first review of what looks likely to be popular ammo with Aussie hunters and sports shooters. Also under the spotlight is the latest bolt-action rifle from Sauer, the S100 Stainless XTA, which our reviewer reckons will only strengthen the model’s presence in the local market. We also run the numbers on a new hand-held thermal monocular from Burris, hearing protectors by Epicshot and, for all you handloaders, an impressive new annealer developed by two forward-thinking Aussies who lost their jobs in the pandemic.

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November arrives with the promise of summer just around the corner . . . and we can promise a smorgasbord of goodies in our latest edition. We start with a question: Just how much scope does a shooter need? Well, Samuel B. Mann has addressed that very proposition and you might be surprised at the outcome. For the hunters challenged by hitting a moving target, Chas Harding has built an intriguing contraption which allows you to practice that very skill. Among the firearms under review this month are the Howa M1100 and Chiappa 1886 TD Wildlands rifles along with the Remington V3 Field Sport 12-gauge shotgun and, with Christmas on the horizon, you may want to consider gifting the latest book from our popular columnist John Dunn with The Jumbunna Collection Volume Two available to order now and our review will confirm what we’ve known all along – John’s tales from the bush never fail to satisfy and entertain.

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Believe it or not summer will be upon us before we know it and, to that end, our October cover story contains some sound advice from seasoned hunter Sam Garro on how to hunt smart under the summer sun, staying safe while achieving your desired outcomes. ‘Don’t fear the recoil’ is the message from Samuel B. Mann who takes us through ways to overcome the bane of many a shooter’s life. Among items under review this month is the latest Tikka T3x Varmint Hunter rifle, the new 1500 Carbon Fibre Stock from Howa, the Rangetracker 1800 monocular Laser Rangefinder from German Precision Optics and the very latest line of camo clothing from Ridgeline. And have you checked the roof-mounted spotlights used for hunting and spotlighting are legal in the state you go hunting in? Douglas Riach has the lowdown on what you can and can’t do to stay within the law.

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Winter is finally behind us and to mark the onset of spring, our September magazine has all manner of articles to brighten up your days. The Tokyo Olympics may be no more than a memory now, but the failure of Australia’s shooters to register a single medal has been a major talking among lovers of the sport in this country. To that end, Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark has tackled the situation head-on and offered more than a few salient points to ponder on the way ahead for elite shooting in Australia. Under review this month are the Mossberg MVP Precision bolt-action rifle, the latest Miroku MK60 Sport shotgun, the G1T2 thermal optic by Sector Optics and a new night-vision scope from PARD. Also kicking-off this month is a new series – My Most Challenging Hunt – in which a few of our regular contributors outline what they consider their ultimate test in pursuit of trophy game. So along with Top Shots, Letters and our regular columns, September’s Australian Shooter should keep you entertained as the days begin to lengthen.

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