Sporting Shooter

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, Peter Hughes, Dylan Smith, Jeremy Bates, Ben Kleinig, Peter Birchall. 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: Sabarinah Elijah Tel: (02) 9213 8245 Senior Marketing Executive: Simon Ancone Tel: (02) 9213 8242 Customer Service Manager: Martin Phillpott Subscriber Enquiries: Ellie Cavanagh Publisher: Chris Yu Production Director: Matthew Gunn Art Director: Ana Heraud Studio Manager: Lauren Esdaile Designer: Ruby Ren…

i think i’m in love

I AM not made of money and dealers don't throw free rifles and optics at me to play with, contrary to what some may think. So when I took the step buying the new Howa KRG Bravo in the now more ubiquitous 6.5 Creedmoor, it was one of testing the water, seeing what the fuss was about. But I was quietly confident that my choice would be a satisfying one, purely due to the stirling reputation of Howas – I have not seen bad words written about them - ever. That is extraordinary for such an economical rifle, in any of their formats. It is taking time to get used to the shape of the stock and how I hold onto the “durned thing”, how to rest it on bags and…

stupendous sus scrofa

GAME animals in Australia seem to be placed on a hierarchical continuum, with perhaps deer placed at the very top of the order. Over the years, I have had the fortune and pleasure to stalk that royal beauty, graduating several from field to plate. But, if you were to ask me what animal I prefer to dispatch, which one delivers the most excitement and satisfaction, I would have to answer, “Give me a smelly pig any day!” The feral pig, Sus scrofa - there is just something about that familiar silhouette that fills this aging frame with schoolboy anticipation. About 40 years ago, I remember reading an article by Nick Harvey where he advised, “Pigs are where you find them”. I have found that to be particularly true. I have observed…

fast facts

• Pigs are classed as opportunistic omnivores, which means they will eat almost anything including carrion, tubers, earthworms, insects, small reptiles and the newborn young of mammals. • The species has an excellent sense of smell and their hearing is superb. Pay attention to wind direction. • Pigs seem to have poor vision directly to the front – a hunter can take advantage of this when moving slowly. • The best time of the day to walk pigs up is early morning and late afternoon. • Calibres used by the writer’s circle include 30.30, 308, 270 and 30.06. • Blaze orange clothing is invaluable for personal safety. • Pigs are where you find them!…

letter of the month

A Smoothbore Barrel Beats A Rifled One Q I want to buy a shotgun to use on pigs and as well as waterfowl and other winged game. My gun shop recommends I get a gun with a rifled barrel which they say is more accurate for shooting rifled slugs and which can do double duty for birds with shotshells. But I was not convinced so they told me to ask you. Will this kind of gun perform equally as well with both types of loads, or would I be better off with a smoothbore? I am doubtfull if shotshells will pattern well in a rifled shotgun barrel. –Jeff Bennett A For hunting pigs as well as birds with one shotgun barrel, you will be much better off with a smoothbore, and best of…

learn and apply lessons

I ACCOMPANIED my partner on an afternoon hunt recently. We have hunted together many times before, but this hunt had a different vibe due to my partner carrying her brand-new rifle; her first ever. We got to the paddock later than we wanted. My fault. I was determined to go up a different hill first to check a trail camera I put out about three weeks prior. Without realising it, Kirra convinced herself that being very late in the day meant that we needed to rush things. The deer are in huge numbers at the moment on this property and you can barely walk a few hundred metres without bumping into some. Despite this, we wanted to get to ‘the spot’ that we knew would be productive. In Kirra’s haste, careless…