Sporting Shooter

safety first

THERE are many people I know in the hunting community who shy away from wearing blaze orange routinely when hunting. If you hunt in NSW State Forests the DPI mandates the wearing of at least one item of blaze orange apparel, much akin to hunting laws in many US states. I wear a blaze-orange broad-brimmed hat for two reasons, first is safety and second is sun protection. A few of my hunting rifles also sport a blaze-orange neoprene sling and my hunting packs all have blaze-orange synthetic fabric panels packed in their bases. Many old-school hunters have an irrational dislike of blaze orange and I find that difficult to understand. There is one obvious reason for that upon which I will not expand, as I know I am reaching lawful hunters…

sporting shooter

Editor: Marcus O’Dean Email: marcusodean@yaffa.com.au Technical Editor: Nick Harvey Contributors: Nick Harvey, Marcus O’Dean, Tony Pizzata, Col Allison, Goran Pehar, Paul O’Connor, Pete Briedahl, Leon Wright, Dylan Smith. ADVERTISING National Sales Manager: Tony Pizzata Tel: (02) 9213 8263 Mobile: 0411 592 389 Fax: (02) 9281 2750 Email: tonypizzata@yaffa.com.au Advertising Production: Michelle Carneiro Tel: (02) 9213 8219 Email: michellecarneiro@yaffa.com.au Marketing Manager: Lucy Yaffa Tel: (02) 9213 8245 Marketing Specialist: Simon Ancone Tel: (02) 9213 8242 Customer Service Manager: Martin Phillpott Publisher: Chris Yu Production Director: Matthew Gunn Art Director: Ana Heraud Studio Manager: Lauren Esdaile Designer: Ruby Ren…

species profile – sambar deer

THE sambar deer is Australia’s premier game animal, hands down. Anyone who disagrees simply hasn’t spent enough time hunting this magnificent species in a fair chase situation. Not only that, their population in south east Australia is greater than ever before and they are widely available for hunting on vast areas of public land. LIBERATIONS. According to the first volume of Errol Mason’s excellent series Secrets of the Sambar, the sambar that have now colonised eastern Victoria and south western New South Wales were originally imported from Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) rather than India as is commonly believed. The first liberation was made by the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria in 1863, when three stags and three hinds were released at Kinglake in Victoria. Another important release was made in near Tooradin,…

browning feather trigger a good un

Q When you tested the Browning X-Bolt Hell Canyon rifles you mentioned they were equipped with the innovative Feather trigger system, but didn’t bother to describe the design or how it works. Can you tell me more about it, please? – Jim Morrison A The fire control system of the Browning X-Bolt is the Feather trigger, a three-lever design that inherently reduces perceived pull weight. As the trigger is pulled from rest, it pushes the trigger sear forward until the bolt sear is released and the action fires. It offers a short, crisp, clean pull with no take- up or creep and minimal overtravel. The trigger is screw adjustable from 1.36kgs to 2.27kgs (3 to 5lbs) and is factory pre-set at about 1.59kgs (3-1/2lbs). The Feather trigger is an impressive bit of engineering…

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. Rebarrel An Argentine Mauser Q I have an Argentine Model 1909 Mauser action that I'd like to use as the basis for a custom rifle. Would it be strong enough to have a barrel fitted for the .25-06 or the .25-284? I realise the action needs a lot work done on it to make it presentable, but I think it's worthwhile. Or, would you prefer to have it chambered for the .257 Roberts? – Gus Greenhill A I consider the Argentine 1909 to be one of the best as far as '98 actions go, and I wouldn't hesitate to have one with a barrel in…

browning x-bolt hell’s canyon 26 nosler

"HELL'S Canyon", now there's a name to conjure with! But this is a serious hunting rifle designed to be easy to carry in the roughest, steepest terrain. The name befits the rifle's intended purpose. It was named after a 10 milewide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and western Idaho, that's part of the Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area. With steep walls rising vertically above the Snake River, it is North America's deepest river gorge where hunting is done the hard way by Shanks' pony, carrying the rifle slung on your shoulder. The X-Bolt Speed is one of the coolest mountain rifles I've laid eyes on in recent years. It was designed to fill a growing demand for precision high-country mountain rifles in flat shooting magnum calibres…