Sporting Shooter

covid 19 outcomes and feral feedback

DIFFERENT states have taken different approaches to overall and specific restrictions implemented as risk control measures in response to a World-wide pandemic, which has had varied genuine effects on public health. As far as the hunting and shooting communities in Australia are concerned, we have noted the following: • Severe extended lockdowns in Victoria and restrictions on entry to public land have severely decreased hunting participation. As we get closer to print deadline, Victoria’s border restrictions have eased and interstate hunters have been making up for lost time. Interstate travel, eg into Queensland, had been widely curtailed, limiting outfitter opportunities conducting guided hunts, an example being Cape York. The Northern Territory, however, has continued with hunting generally being unabated, admitting interstate hunters earlier. • Gun shops in most states were closed for a…

the good side of 2020

The Year 2020 was historic with many travel restrictions meaning a lot of hunters missing out on many opportunities, myself included. Unable to pursue fallow during the rut or head to the NT for buffalo, I found myself with more time to spend on my local deer, rusa. Over the last few years I have been working on two main goals: shoot a 30-inch stag, and get some high quality photographs of a 30-inch stag. This year I managed both. Everything started out normally enough. At the end of April I was seeing hinds and small stags at the end stage of velvet, with larger stags still needing a little more time to finish growing. Heading into mid May I still hadn’t seen any stag sign that seemed to indicate a mature…

ask the gun editor

Letters containing questions for answering by Nick Harvey must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Mail your letters to: The Technical Editor, 3 Reef Street, Hill End, NSW 2850. LETTER OF THE MONTH Deer Hunting With The 7mm-08 Q For deer hunting I am using a 7mm-08 loaded with the Barnes 140gn TSX over 47gn of W-760 sparked off with CCI primers. I don’t have a chronograph but using your handloading manual I’d estimate velocity to be around 2800fps. I wish to go down to a 120gn bullet like the Barnes TTSX for deer hunting, but for general hunting of pigs, can you recommend a good all-round 120gn projectile? I have ordered a Sako Classic 7mm-08 for my son as he has commandeered my Remington 700CDL and thought of putting a Leupold…

new country – new perspective

WHEN we get used to being in our comfort zone, there can be an element of going through the motions that is hard to shake. I wouldn’t describe any of my hunting as stale, but balancing the many situations I find myself in outdoors, as well as working a regular job, sometimes begins to wear me out mentally. When this happens, I make an effort to shake things up and try something new, and often a change in scenery is just the ticket. It’s no secret that hunters enjoy the bush. Sound, smell, feel; we crave the seemingly endless space and stimulation that the outdoors provides. With each new sunrise or sunset, the monotonous regularity of a familiar scene can provide a new outlook, perspective, or opportunity. We still find ourselves…

the “itch-scratch cycle”

The older bull continued down the hill towards us as we hurriedly moved into a clearer position to get a better look at him and get ready for a shot. He stopped on the edge of some scrub and looked directly at us with more than a hint of suspicion at our presence. Twenty minutes can seem like an eternity when you are lying face down in the snow, gloves off, trying to get set for a shot. “He is a good size old bull, but he is busted off on one side if that makes any difference too you” whispered Jim as he kept evaluating the bull through the spotter. It did make a difference to me as it ticked the character box on the trophy checklist. A cat…

ruger american .22 lr long range target

THE world of precision rimfire is booming right now in America with two different national circuits including the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL), offering a number of .22 LR competitions. These matches involve a lot of shooting from improvised and field positions that require quick repetition and almost make the use of a bipod or tripod essential. The American Rimfire Long Range Target is Ruger's competitive entry in the field. The gun is businesslike and a tackholer. The foundation of this unique rifle is a speckled black/brown laminated stock which delivers a true custom fit for each individual shooter. The comb is not only adjustable for height but can be moved back and forth to suit the shooters cheek and neck conformation. Length of pull can be…