Beg Nner s Guide

7/27/2019 Beg Nner s Guide

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Shootingguidea beginner’s

NSIDESSAA history •SSAA contact information

SSAA discipline information •Firearm Safety

Accessories •What you will need to start

Basic range rules •Guide to what cartridge

to use when hunting •The Hunter's code

Glossary of shooting terms



2 Beginner’s guide

MembershipInformationIf you are not already a SSAA member but

you would like to be, please contact theSSAA Membership Office:

PO Box 906, St Marys, NSW 1790

Phone: (02) 9623 4900

Fax: (02) 9623 5900

E-mail: [email protected]

w e bsee us on the

www.ssaa.org.au

www.australianshooter.com.au

was clear that is was not just a ‘one stateorganisation’.

State branches came into being at differenttimes. Victoria formed in 1951, Queenslandin ’57, South Australia in ’64, NorthernTerritory in ’65-66, ACT in ’65, Western

Australia in ’67 and Tasmania in 1969.

In 1962, the National SSAA came to life as aresult of a meeting consisting of 12 people.The group agreed that there was a need fora federal body, whose purpose would be toassist and advise state bodies.

At that time, the Association had no officialmagazine but rather a quarterly newsletter,called the Report, which was first printedin 1959. The first Australian Shooters

Journal appeared in 1968 and has sincegone through a number of changes andimprovements.

For a more indepth look at the Association’shistory, see the February 1998 edition ofthe Australian Shooters Journal.

Welcome tothe SportingShooters

Association of Australia

If you are a new shooter or just a newmember to the Sporting Shooters’Association of Australia (SSAA),welcome to a very exciting and influentialorganisation. The information contained inthis insert will introduce you to the largestshooting organisation in Australia and helpyou become more familiar with the sport of

shooting.Before delving into the basics of huntingand shooting on the following pages, take aquick look at the SSAA and see what we areabout and what we have to offer.

SSAA History On April 15, 1948, about 100 shootersmet in the Railway Institute Building inElizabeth Street, Sydney to form the SSAA.

Since that time, many changes have takenplace.

One of the most notable changes is thenumber of members in the Association,which continues to increase each year.In 1959 it had a mere, but mighty, 250members - a drop in the bucket by today’snumbers. Membership fees, unfortunately,have also increased since the Associationwas first formed. Back in 1948, citymembers paid ten shillings and countrymembers paid 7/6.

The SSAA began in NSW because of the

government’s increasing involvementin firearm legislation. In 1950, NSW hadadopted the title of The Sporting Shooters’Association of Australia so everyone

The old and the new

SSAAContactInformationEach state/territory has a state office, withnumerous clubs and ranges to attend.

By calling one of the following state headoffices, you will be able to find the nearestSSAA range and just about any Associationinformation that you need:

ACT: (02) 6282 6027

NSW: (02) 9833 9444

NT: (08) 8927 1657

QLD: (07) 4695 4267

SA: 0419 849 452

TAS: (03) 6257 3679

VIC: (03) 8892 2777

WA: (08) 9452 8531



Beginner’s guide 3 SSAA DisciplineInformationShooting. If you have never done it, you may be thinking that it doesn’t

offer that much variety. There’s a firearm and a target; how differentcan that get? Actually, shooting offers a great deal of variety. Aside fromhunting, there are a number of disciplines to choose from - all of whichhave additional levels of diversity.

A number of SSAA disciplines have been briefly outlined to give youan idea of what type of shooting you might like to try. For additionalinformation on any SSAA discipline, contact your state office or visitwww.ssaa.org.au

Posters describing the major SSAA disciplines can also be found invarious copies of the Australian Shooter .

BenchrestBenchrest, shooting from a benchusing front and rear rests to holdthe rifle in a stable position, aims toencourage benchrest competition inorder to achieve extreme accuracyin firearms, ammunition, equipmentand shooting methods. Membersare encouraged to explore thedesign limits of firearms hardware.After beginning by shooting withstandard rifles and ammunition,

many shooters set forth on apersonal voyage in pursuit ofextreme accuracy. In doing so,they develop new hardware, adoptbetter shooting techniques and gainpersonal satisfaction.

Benchrest tests the accuracy of the rifle and ammunition and theshooter’s skills, particularly with regard to position, technique andreading of conditions.

There are a number of different sections in benchrest - each designedto cater for different rifles with varying weight and sight restrictions:

Light varmint

Heavy varmint Rimfire

Experimental

Hunter class

Hunting and Conservation

Hunting and Conservation allows shooters to use their skills to assist inthe conservation of native animals and the management or eradicationof feral species. It is currently operating in South Australia, New SouthWales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.

In order to participate in this activity,certain skills must be demonstrated,such as shot accuracy, and anaccreditation program consistingof map reading, navigation, firearmsafety, wildlife appreciation and living-in-the-field courses must be passed.

Opportunities to hunt within thisgroup are plentiful. Organised cullson feral cats, donkeys, foxes, goats,rabbits and pigs have taken placein the Simpson Desert in SA, theFlinders and Gammon Ranges in SA,Gregory National Park in NT andPilliga, Wagga, Hillston and Ivanhoe,NSW.

As a member of the H&C group, in some states you will:

• Play a role in protecting Australia’s biodiversity;

• Have numerous opportunities to hunt;

• Travel to new and exciting places;

• Improve hunting and bush craft skills;

• Establish friendships;

• Acquire in-depth knowledge of native and introduced species.

This activity combines the challenge of hunting with the accuracy oftarget shooting and throws in bush craft, travel and camaraderie. Whatelse could you ask for?

Field Rifle/Scoped 3-Positional

Field Rifle and 3-Positional matchesare run by SSAA clubs across thecountry and have a large followingof dedicated and enthusiasticcompetitors. The matches wereintroduced around 1970 and haveenjoyed great popularity ever since.

If you are a hunter and want to honeyour skills (or if you simply want theskills to ensure humane hunting), noother match simulates field conditionsas well as Field Rifle. This is mainlybecause it is designed around the most

commonly used hunting positions,which are then simulated in a matchenvironment. Because it is so popular

with shooters at all levels, a grading system is used so you only have tocompete with people at your own skill level. Medallions, awarded forscores at set grades, provide an incentive for constant improvement.

Field Rifle has the following sections to a match, each of whichsimulates a position that may be adopted in actual field shooting: RapidFire Standing Offhand, Timed Fire Standing Offhand, Standing PostRest position and Sitting Post Rest position. Ranges vary throughoutthe match, from 25 metres to 50 metres for .22LR and 25 metres to200 yards for centrefire.

The 3-Positional match has less of an emphasis on field shooting and

more of an emphasis on deliberate, aimed fire. The match incorporates

SSAA

DISCIPLINES

WindflagsCompetitorsarefree tomaketheir own,and experimentation of anykind in thisareaisencouraged. Alternatively, theymay bepurchased fromseveral sourcesin theUSA.

The target

Theofficial targetfor benchrestgroupcompetition shall contain fiveconcen- tricrings, an aimingmarkand a bordersurroundingtheringsand aimingmark.Sighter targetsshall havetheadditionoftwoconcentricringsin eachlower corner, and theletter ‘S’ in oneothercorner.BenchrestHunter Classtargetsshallhavesix ‘bulls’ per target, oneofwhichshall bea sighter, whichconsistoffiveconcentricscoringrings. Thereisan X ringin thecentreoftheten ring.

The range

Benchrestisshotfromsolid benches,usuallymadeofconcrete. Arangehold-ingbenchrestcompetitionsisrequired toprovidea covered firingline, and anumber ofwind indicatorsatsetdis- tances. Targetframesmustbesetat50metres, 100yards, 200yardsand 300 yards, dependingupon whichcompeti- tion istobecontested. Full require-mentsaresetoutin thecurrentrulebook.

The rulesItisstronglyrecommended thata rulebookbeobtained either fromtherangeor fromtheSSAAMerchandiseSectionasadvertised in the AS. Thiswill clarify anyqueries. Someoftherulesare:• Afull matchshall consistoffive targetsateachyardage, withaggregatescalculated for eachyardageand a

grand aggregateofboth. Thesmallestaggregatein eachisthewinner ofthematch.• Thetimeallowed in whichtoshootafive-shotgroup shall beseven minutes, withan extra threeminutesfor thefirst targetoftheday, or yardage.• Competitorsmayplacetheir own wind indicatorson therange, aslongastheseindicatorsdonotinterfere withanyofthe range’sequipment, anddonotobscureanyothercompetitor’s targets.• Competitorsmaytakehometheir targetsafter a match, unlessthetargetsarethesubjectofa disputeor appeal,ormayconstitutea newgroup oraggregaterecord.

Thesearestronglyrecom-mended for thoseclasses wherethereisa scopepowerrestriction.

Shoot benchrestMostSSAA rangeshavean activebenchrestsection. Personsinterested in

takingup benchrestshooting should contactthebenchrestcaptain for further guidance.Majorbenchrestshoots in Australia are:National Championships- held everyEaster on a roster systemaround

Australia, whererangesare available. All classesare contested overfivedays. Australia DayMatches- held in Canberra atthe end ofJanuary, usuallyfor lightand heavyvarmint.NSW StateChampionships- held overtwoweekends, usuallyin Julyand

August.HarryMadden Memorial Shoot- held atBelmontRange, Brisbane, usuallyinNovember, for lightand heavyvarmint. Spotting scope

AmmunitionCentrefirebenchrestshootersload their own ammunition between targets. Thisallowsfor anyminor adjust-mentstobemade. Mostcompetitorsusethe6mmPPC, whichisa targetround developed fromthe220Rus-sian case. Bulletweightsofanywherebetween 62and 70grainsarepopular,and ADI powdersareused almostexclusivelybyAustralian benchresters.Rimfirecompetitorsusematchgraderimfireammunition, usuallydeter-mined bytestingvariousmakesandbatchestofind onethattherifleshootswell. Rimfiresarefussyaboutammunition and considerabletestingissometimesnecessary.

CompetitionsExperimental Class Anyriflethathasa safefiringmechanismand a barrel ofnotlessthan18inches, measured fromtheboltface tothemuzzle. Scopesofany powerarepermissible, restsareunrestrictedand maybeclamped tothebenchif necessary. Ten-shotgroupsarerequiredin thisclass.

Heavy VarmintClass Anyriflethathasa barrel ofnot less than 18inchesmeasured fromtheboltfacetothe muzzle, and a safemanuallyoperated firingmechanism thatdoesnotincorporatetheuseofhydraulics, gasor remotecontrol.Electrictriggersarepermitted, butallaccessoriesincludingbatteriesmustbeincorporated within therifleand the weightlimit. Thewidthofthestock

shall notexceed threeinchesatany point. Scopepower isunrestricted.Thetotal weightoftheriflemustnotexceed 13lb 8oz. Theriflemustbefired fromrestricted rests, thatis, afrontrestand sand bagwithnoguidingmeans.

LightVarmintClass Anyriflewitha total weightof10lb 8oz, butotherwisemeetstherequirementsoftheheavy varmintclass.

Sporter Class AuniquelyAustralian class, for anyrifle thatdoesnotexceed 8lb 13oz andhasa restriction ofscopepower of 12magnifications, butotherwisemeets therequirementsoftheheavyvarmintclass.

.22LR RimfireBenchrestClass Anyriflechambered for the.22LR rimfireonly, whichdoesnotexceed7lb 12oz in weightand hasarestriction ofscopepower tosixmagnifications. Thestockmaynotexceed 2¼"atanypoint, buttheriflein all other respectsmeetstherequirementsoftheheavy varmintrifle.

Custom .22LR RimfireBenchrestRifle Anyriflechambered for the.22LR rimfireonly, whichdoesnotexceed14lb in weight, butotherwisemeetstherequirementsoftheheavy varmintrifle.

Centrefire Hunter Class Anyriflewitha weightnotexceeding10lb, and a scopepower ofnotmorethan sixmagnifications, witha functioningmagazinethatwill hold, feed,chamber and extracttwoormorecartridges, butotherwisemeetingtherequirementsoftheheavyvarmintclass.

Rimfire Hunter Class Asfor therimfirebenchrestclass, butmusthavea magazineasdescribed for thecentrefirehunter rifle.

Custom RimfireHunter Class Asfor thecustomrimfirebenchrestclass.

The rifleRiflesarecustombuiltfromthefinestcomponents. Currentlyin Australia thereareseveral custombenchrestgunsmithswhocan build a winningrifle. Askthebenchrestcaptain, or someofthecompetitorsfor details.Somecomponents, suchashighpower scopes, havetobeimported, butothersareobtainablelocally.

StocksUsuallymadefromcarbon fibre, forstrengthand lightweight. Awoodenstockwould bea rarityin modernbenchrest.

ActionsMostofthetop competitorshavecustomactionsimported fromtheUSA. Stolleactionsareby far themostpopular astheseareavailableinmanyconfigurations. Theyarelight, strong and very‘fast’ touse. Other actionsused in limitednumbersareFarley, Nesika Bayand Shilen.

BarrelsImported barrelsbyShilen, Hart, Turboand Lilja areused bymany, buttheAustralian barrelsproduced by Maddcoand Tobler haveproven tobetheequal of theimports. Selectmatchstainlessbarrelsaretheonly onesused, usuallyin 6mmwitha 1in 14twistrate.

Trigger Themostpopular triggersavailablearemadebyArnold Jewell in theUSA. Sincethey becameavailablea fewyearsago, leadingcompetitorswillusenothingelse.

A briefdescriptionBenchrestshootingis a riflesport, wheretheshooter attemptstoplacefive or ten shotsinto

thesmallestpossiblegroup atdistances of50, 100, 200and 300yards. Rifles arefired fromrestswhichcomprisea frontrest tosupportthe fore-end oftherifle, and a rear sandbagtosupportthebutt. Thereare six classesofriflefor group shootingcomprised offour centrefireand tworimfire.

BenchrestHunter Classis shotfor score, and hascategoriesfor bothcentrefireand rimfire.

ScoringGroupsizeswillbedeterminedbymeasuringfromthecentretocentreofthetwowidestshotsinthe group.Thisisnormallydonewithareticulerulespeciallydesignedformeasuringgroupstothreedecimalplaces.Theultimate groupof.000incheshasneverbeenachieved,althoughthesporthasonlybeenaroundsince1948.For BenchrestHunter Class, oneshotshall befired oneachofthescoringbulls. ‘Bestedge’ scoringisused, in thatifa shottouchesor coversany partofa scoringring, then thatscoreshall begiven. Themaximumscorepossibleisa yardageof250, and a grand of500points.

Shooter AUSTRALIAN

THE MAGAZINE FOR SPORTING SHOOTERS

2 Field rifle & 3-Positional

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See the range of discipline posters at www.australianshooter.com.au




pistol matches such as practical handgun, NRA action match, tenpin andsteel challenge. This list is by no means exhaustive.

The type of matches offered by your local club will depend on the club’shistory, its facilities and the interests of its members. Almost everyconceivable type of handgun and interest is catered for in one or otherof the matches available.

Experimentation and development of both equipment and rulesfor matches is encouraged. Whatever your interest, experience orequipment, the SSAA has a pistol match that will suit you.

IPSC

IPSC Australia, which is affiliated with the SSAA, is the organizationthat promotes the sport of International Practical ShootingConfederation (IPSC) in Australia.

IPSC pistol matches are based on the principles of accuracy, power andspeed. Participation in these matches will develop a high degree of

proficiency in the safe use of firearms as well as providing a greatmeans of sporting recreation. Similar benefits are to be expected byparticipants in IPSC rifle and shotgun.

The sport of practical shooting is exciting and challenging as well asbeing one of the highest controlled shooting disciplines. Courses of fireutilise many aspects not found in other disciplines, such as movementby the competitor, drawing from a holster, moving paper targets,multiple paper targets and the freedom for the competitor to solve thestage presented by the match design.

To obtain further information check the IPSC web site onwww.ipsc.org.au

Rifle Metallic Silhouette

Rifle Metallic Silhouette is a discipline in which rifles are used to knockdown metal targets in the shape of chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams ata variety of ranges using a variety of rifles. All rifle metallic silhouetteshooting is done offhand, which means no support.

There are a number of different classes of rifles allowed and the targetsize is scaled to correspond with the ranges over which the shooting isdone and the types of rifles used.

Metallic silhouette matches consist of 40 shots, ten at each of the fourtypes of targets.

Most shooters start out shooting metallic rifle silhouette with theirhunting rifles and if they get hooked, as many do, they upgrade as theirfortunes allow.

International

Handgun Metallic Silhouette

Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition is a unique shooting sport ina number of ways. Targets are life-sized steel silhouettes of chickens,pigs, turkeys and rams. To score a hit, the targets, which are set at

varying distances down the range, must be knocked from the standsthey sit on. Considering that the ram target in the Centrefire or Big

three different positions: Prone, Offhand Standing and Sitting.This is a match that is physically more demanding of the shooter’sendurance, stamina and skill. In recognition of these greater demands,the use of shooting jackets and mats to aid the shooter’s comfort andperformance is allowed. The three positions are shot at 50 metres for.22LR and 100 yards for centrefire.

Just about any type of commonly available rifle and scope can be usedfor these matches, although bolt action repeaters are by far the mostpopular. Scopes vary from fixed power hunting scopes to high-powervariables with target turrets. The only proviso is that rifles must meetweight limitations: four kilograms for rimfire, including scope and fivekilograms for centrefire, again including scope.

Experimentation is actively encouraged under the rules to providean environment for developing a field or hunting rifle towards theultimate. In both disciplines in centrefire, the calibre is of personalchoice.

If you are a hunter looking for the edge out in the field, Field Rifleor 3-Positional is the match for you. Check us out on the web site(www.ssaa.org.au) under the discipline section or have a look through

the rule book in the same area. Whichever you choose, follow it up bygetting down to your local club and having a look in person. You willenjoy yourself.

Big Game Rifle

Big Game Rifle was founded inVictoria in 1983 by a small group ofenthusiasts in Melbourne. The firstshoot, held on the 100th anniversaryof the Field Rifle Trials in London,attracted a good turnout of collectorsand shooters and the club was offand running. The Victorian branchwas soon followed by an avid groupfrom New South Wales. Queenslandwas not far behind and now boasts anumber of branches across the state.

The discipline fosters the collection,preservation and use of classic big-game rifles. Modern bolt action,single shot and double rifles are also

used. Courses of fire employed attempt to simulate various huntingconditions. Accuracy and rifle handing skills are put to the test. Safetyis paramount, with emphasis on offhand shooting, rapid fire, rapid

reloading and the use of open sights.

The Big Game Rifle discipline allows shooters to enjoy a day out withtheir classic firearms as well as partake in precision shooting events.

Pistol

A wide variety of pistol matches are conducted within SSAA clubsthroughout Australia. These include air pistol and other Olympic-type precision matches; the long range precision matches of handgunmetallic silhouette; use of muzzleloading and cap and ball pistols withblack powder clubs; military pistols with military rifle clubs; single

action revolvers with single action shooting; action clubs and action

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Beginner’s guide 5 safe handling and the proper care ofmilitary firearms.

The Military/Service Disciplinecaters for either original or faithfulreproduction military firearms.

In Military/Service Rifle, the

classes are Standard, Modified/ Accurised and Sniper, which isbroken into three divisions: F1 isMilitary Sniper Rifle and faithfulreproductions as before January 1,1946; F2 is Military Sniper Riflesand faithful reproductions as after

January 2, 1946 and Tactical is aspecialised rifle equipped withtelescopic sights.

Military/Service Pistol is also broken into classes, which are Class 1- Military, Class 2 - Para-Military Special Forces/Police and Class 3Accurised/Modified/Target Military.

Matches are shot in standing, sitting and prone shooting positions anduse a different target for rifle and pistol.

The Military/Service Discipline is specifically designed for militaryfirearm enthusiasts.

Running Target Running Target competition for air rifles and rimfires is a challengingsport and is SSAA’s only Olympic discipline. The air rifle competition,shot indoors at ten metres, is the event staged at the Olympics,while the rimfire match, shot at 50 metres, is strongly contested at

international events to world championship level.The competition consists of a shooter shooting at a ‘target’ runningacross an opening at two speeds: fast and slow. In Air Rifle Slow Runsthe shooter shoots 30 competition shots at a target running across atwo-metre gap in five seconds. Only one shot is fired at each target,

Bore competition weighs in at 23 kilograms and is set at a distanceof 200 metres from the firing line, powerful handguns are required toachieve the accuracy and terminal energy needed to effectively score.Competition rules used are the International Handgun MetallicSilhouette Association Official RulesCompetitors are graded by ability and only compete against others ofthe same ability. Championship events are conducted annually at both

state and national levels.There are several categories in each match separated according to thetype of handgun used. They are as follows:

• Revolver category: only revolvers as produced by themanufacturer may be used.

• Production category: any semi-automatic, revolver or single-shot handgun weighing not more than 1.8kg and with a barrellength not exceeding 266mm may be used.

• Standing category: any handgun from the previous twocategories may be used but the competitor must adopt astanding position only.

• Unlimited category: any handgun weighing not more than2.04kg and with a barrel length not exceeding 355mm maybe used. A separate category also exists, allowing telescopicsights to be used.

There are three official handgun silhouette competitions:• .22: In this competition targets are set at 25, 50, 75 and 100

metres and the .22 Long Rifle cartridge is the only calibrepermitted. Competitors may adopt any safe shooting position.

• Field Pistol: In this competition, targets slightly larger thanthose used in the .22 match are set at the same distances asthe .22 targets but, due to their increased size and weight,heavier calibre centrefire handguns need to be used to achieveknockdown. Standing is the only shooting position allowed inthis competition.

• Big Bore: In this competition, full-sized targets are used.

Chickens at 50 metres, pigs at 100 metres, turkeys at 150 andrams at 200 metres. Powerful centrefire handguns only areused in this competition. These include .357 and .44 Magnumrevolvers, specialised single-shot pistols chambered in riflecalibres including a variety of 7mm and .30 calibre wildcatcartridges. Competitors may adopt any safe shooting position.

Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition offers a wide range ofcategories and skill levels to cater for any interested shooter. Theshooting of a handgun over long distances with immediate visual results

makes this sport both interesting and challenging.

Military/Service DisciplineThe discipline had its genesis primarily in two states. ‘Military Rifle’, asit is known in Victoria, and ‘Service Rifle’, as it was colloquially knownin Queensland, evolved around the same time.

Military/Service Pistol is a relatively new discipline that has grownrapidly in popularity. In general terms, the pistol rules are similar inmake-up to rifle rules.

The two disciplines have now evolved into the Military/ServiceDiscipline. The name change was warranted simply because at nationaland state competitions both types of firearms are shot in the course ofthe competition.

The aims and objectives of the discipline are to encourage organisedcompetitive shooting with a view towards a better knowledge of the

RecoilRecoil occurs because the forward momentum of the bullet isequally matched by the rearwards momentum of the firearm.Where calibres having heavy projectiles or high velocitiesare used, recoil will be highest. The effects of recoil can bereduced by ensuring that the firearm is held firmly with both

hands and that the body is free to move backwards in such away that the momentum of the firearm is absorbed as slowlyas possible.

Firing high recoil firearms from rested positions while seatedor from the prone position causes maximum recoil problems.Beginners should avoid the purchase of large calibre firearmsuntil shooting skills are learnt. Very powerful large calibrefirearms should only be used where there is a real need to doso.

Apart from inflicting varying degrees of unpleasantness, recoilimpedes accuracy.

Taken from the Firearms Safety Course Work Book from the Regency Institute of TAFE, South Australia.

3 Military Rifle

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with the first target shot comingfrom the right side, the next targetfrom the left. This is repeatedfor the 30 shots series. Thecompetition is repeated for the fastruns of 2.5 seconds across the two

metre-openingThe rimfire match is the sameexcept the opening or targetexposure length is ten metres,with slow runs still at five secondsand fast runs at 2.5 seconds.A variation on this competition isthe Mixed Runs event, when theruns are mixed up and the shooterdoes not know what his next targetwill be - slow or fast. Hence thename Mixed Runs.Running target shooters at the high

or elite levels use specialist rifles and scopes and kit-up in shooting

jackets when competing or training.For beginners or the novice shooter, all that is required is a wish tohave some fun in a challenging sport and, for air event, a reasonablyaccurate .177 air rifle with scope (maximum of 4 power) and, for therimfire, any reasonably accurate .22LR with a scope (no restrictions).

Shotgun

SSAA Shotgun caters for five shooting disciplines. All evolve aroundshooting clay targets. Sporting Clays, Fivestand, Tower, AmericanSkeet and Trap are shotgun disciplines available through the SSAA.

Sporting Clays was originally introduced to improve the shooting skillsof the English nobles. Practicing on ‘simulated objects’ improved theskills of the marksman for preparation to game shooting. It is currentlyone of the fastest growing shooting disciplines worldwide, with worldchampionships conducted annually.

The object is to throw clay targets similar to the flight of pheasant,duck, rabbit, quail and grouse. Each competitor shoots at a course of25 targets with the release of the target activated by a button underthe control of a referee. The layout of this discipline is often situated intree surroundings with the clay targets thrown at any angle and out todistances of 60 metres.

Fivestand is similar to Sporting Clays; however, the shooter competesin a shooting frame that limits the movement or swing of the shotgun.National titles are conducted annually and club competition is growingat a healthy rate.

Tower is a discipline requiring a high platform to place the automatictrap. The shooting stand comprises five concrete pads placed in frontof the tower frame. The shooters face away from the tower. TrapShooting utilises one automatic trap concealed in a ‘bunker’. The trapis capable of operating at various angles and can throw targets in a 90-degree arc. The shooters shoot off pads that are either level with thetop of the bunker or one metre below the bunker.

American Skeet is set over eight shooting stands positioned in asemi-circle between two automatic traps facing each other. Onetrap is located about three metres above the ground and the other ispositioned at ground level. As the shooter moves from stand to stand,the angle of the target flight varies.

While there are a number of very expensive shotguns used for clayshooting, expensive shotguns are not necessary. World championshipshave been won with the cheapest shotgun available for clay shooters.Gun fit is essential and although the shotgun is manufactured with thebest intention of satisfying the customer, finer adjustments are alwayshandy to improve the shooting skill of the gun owner.

Single Action Shooting

Single Action Shooting (SAS) is amulti-faceted shooting disciplinesometimes referred to as a conceptshooting discipline because of themix of re-enactment through dressand the use of antique or historicalfirearms commonly in use in thepioneering and settlement period ofthe ‘Old West’ in the USA.

The discipline allows use of singleaction revolvers, lever action riflesand double barrel, lever action orpump shotguns common to theperiod ending 1896. The skillsassociated with using these antiqueor reproduction firearms present achallenge to both pistol and long arm shooters.

The single action revolvers, whether they be Colt, Smith & Wesson,Remington or other less--known makes that existed during theperiod, fortunately have been reproduced by modern manufacturerssuch as Ruger, Uberti and Western Arms. The use of modern metaltechnology and machining processes allows the reproduction revolversto withstand the rigors of competition; however, there are purists whowill only use the original firearms.

The majority of calibres are either obsolete or nearly obsolete, havingexisted for more than 130 years; however, there is still a strongattraction to the .44-40, .45 Long Colt, .45 Schofield and similarcartridges. In fact, in certain categories of competition only theseoriginal calibres may be used.

The .357 and .38 Special calibres are popular with many shooters andin fact the early forms of these calibres were in use in the time period,although to a lesser extent.

The early cap and ball revolvers in calibres .36 Navy and .44 calibre arepopular in the Frontiersman category, where only black powder may

be used.The competition itself is conducted using the international rules, aspromulgated by the world governing body - Single Action ShootingSociety.

Matches comprise a number of ‘Courses of Fire’ or ‘Stages’, eachbeing a separate competition within itself. Scoring is generally therank scoring system based on elapsed time plus penalties for missedtargets. The aggregate rank points over the match determines thewinners in each category.

Matches are conducted at club, state, national and international leveland are generally set between four and 12 stages in main competition,with side events inclusive of long range rifle, team and individualchallenge events.

If you have an interest in antique firearms and the skills associated

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9 Single Action

SSAA

DISCIPLINES

Shooter AUSTRALIAN


A briefdescriptionSingleAction Shooting(SAS)issometimesreferred toasa conceptshootingdis-cipline. Havingevolved morethan 25yearsagoin theUSA, SAS hasgrown intooneof, ifnotthe, fastestgrowingshootingcompetitionsin theworld today.SSAASingleAction Shooting- Australia isaffiliated withtheworld governingbodySASS - SingleAction ShootingSociety.Matchesareconducted usingtheInternational RulesofSingleAction Shootingaspromulgated bySASS.

Shooting - Australia

ParticipantsParticipantsfromall walksoflife, maleand female, youngand old, areattracted tothisdisciplineand theyall haveonethingin common - an interestin thepioneeringdaysoftheOld West. This common interestmanifestsitself notonlyin themasteringofskillsassociated withtheuseofantiquefirearmsor reproductionsofthesefirearms,butin keen competition underpinned witha sportsman-ship sometimeslostin today’ssportingactivities.

TargetsTargetsused in SAS matchesaregenerallyreactiveplatesspecificallydesigned for thistypeofcompetition. Theycanbesquare, round or card-suitshapesand areoften based ona 400mmx 400mmsize. Multipletargetsareused on eachmatchstage. Additionally, claytargetsmaybeused in somematches.Targetsaresetin accordancewithstagedescription and mustbeengaged in exactlythesamesequencefromstaticposi- tions, regardlessofwhichcategorya participantcompetesin.Sequencesareclearlydescribed in theshooter’sprogram.

ScoringCompetitorscompetein variouscategoriesthatdictatethetypeof firearmand styleofshooting. Thescoringsystemmostcommonly in usetodayisthe‘rankscoring’system, whereeachcompetitor isranked againstotherscompetingin thesamecategoryand for a placeover thenumber ofstagesthatcomprisethematch.

MatchesMatchesmaybeasfewas four stages; however, mostmajor matchesaboveclub level areten to12stagesor ‘coursesoffire’, eachbeingan individual matchinitself.

ContactsThoseinterested in joiningthe Australian branchoftheworld- widefraternityofSingleActionShooterscan sourcefurther infor-mation fromtheweb siteathttp: //sasa.qir.com/au or byphoningDamion Faith, national disciplinechairman, on (07)40939056.

Re-EnactmentGenerally, asinterpretivelivinghistori-ans, or re-enactors, competitorsaimtopreservethe‘spiritofthegame’ byfully participatingin whatthecompetitionasks. Theyendeavor todressthepart,usetheappropriatecompetition toolsand respectthetraditionsoftheOld West. Some100to150yearslater, ‘thespiritofthegame’ ismorecommonly referred toasgood sportsmanship.

FirearmsThefirearmsused aresingleaction revolvers, lever actionriflesand side-by-sideshotgunswithoutautomaticejectors.Essentially, thefirearmsand calibresused in competition are thosecommonlyin usein the19thcenturyup until 1896.




Beginner’s guide 7 with their use and are prepared to step back in time by dressing inperiod clothing and re-enacting what life would have been like some150 years ago, then Single Action Shooting might be your competition.

After all, there is a level of difficulty when wearing period apparel andusing old and elementary designed firearms that cannot be replicatedin most other shooting disciplines.

For more information visit the web site at http://sasa.qir.com.au

Working Gundog

Association of Australia

If you enjoy shooting over a well-trained dog, you would probablyenjoy being a part of the nationalgundog discipline of the SSAA,the Working Gundog Association

of Australia (WGAA). Most stateshave an active section where youcan meet up with people withsimilar interests and train your dogto work in the field.

Members have the opportunityto work with various WGAAinstructors, who teach basicobedience, water retrieves or landretrieves. You can also take part invarious forms of trials. Whatever

your interest and whatever breed you prefer, you are likely to find aplace within this group.

Muzzleloading

SSAA muzzleloaders use alltypes of replica muzzleloadingpistols and cap and ballpercussion revolvers. Most ofthe excellent replicas availableare made in Italy, with otherscoming from the USA, Spain,

Japan, England and otherEuropean countries.

Muzzleloading handguns aredivided into four classes, withseparate events for each class.The classes are as follows:

• CLASS 1: Original andexact replicas of cap and ballpercussion revolvers. Sightsand grips must be as issued and

the only types of projectiles permitted are round lead ballsor picket (conical) bullets. Colt, Remingtons, Rogers andSpencer revolvers fit into this class.

• CLASS 2: Original and exact replicas of single shotpercussion pistols. Once again, sights and grips have to

be as on originals and the barrels can be rifled or smooth

bore. The only projectile permitted is round ball. Militarystyle holster pistols, Kentucky and duelling pistols all fit asspecialised target pistols.

• CLASS 3: Other percussion revolvers and pistols withany type of non-optical sight, any type of grips and usingany type of bullets. This is an open class into which the

excellent Ruger percussion revolvers fit, as they haveadjustable rear sights. Other revolvers that fit into thisclass include Remingtons, Rogers and Spencers withadjustable rear sights.

• FLINTLOCK: This class covers all types of firelockignition, matchlock, wheel lock and flintlocks. Flintlockpistols are by far the most common, although more andmore smooth bore Japanese matchlocks are being used.There are separate events for smooth bore and rifledpistols and the only bullets permitted in both are roundlead balls.

All competitions are fired standing with the handgun held inone unsupported hand. There is no pre-match practice allowed

on the day of an event and 13 shots are fired in 30 minutes withthe top ten shots counting as the score. Bullet holes cuttinga line must be at least half way through the line to score thehigher value, a rule that is necessary as widely different calibrescompete against each other - such as .31 cal to .58 cal.

Competitors shoot 30-minute precision events with both pistolsand revolvers at 25m and 50m and also have a 25m timed eventfor both Class 1 and Class 2 handguns, with a four-secondtarget exposure. Pistols, of course, fire one shot at a timewhile revolvers fire strings of 5.5 and three shots, four-secondexposures with ten-second pauses between shots.

The only powder used in muzzleloading pistols is commerciallymade blackpowder and for safety reasons shooters do not load

directly from powder flasks but use individual powder containersthat each hold a single charge.

In the right hands muzzleloading pistols and revolvers perform just as well as modern handguns, the main difference being the‘after shooting performance’. Muzzleloading handguns have tobe carefully cleaned after use with water or some water-basedcleaning fluid. Blackpowder residues are hygroscopic and willcause rusting if not attended to, so careful cleaning is essentialevery time the pistols or revolvers are fired.

6

SSAA

DISCIPL

INES

Shooter AUSTRALIAN


WGAA Training

WGAAiscommitted toprovidingtrainingfor itsmembersand regularlyconductstrainingdaystoimprovedogsfor huntingand retrievingin thefield.Thedog’sskillsarealsohoned for trials.Theclub hasestablished a number ofsitesaround Australia on whichitisabletoconductitstrials. Themain trainingdayin Victoria isthethird Sundayin themonth, generallyin theMelton area. Victoria isfortunatetohavenegotiated theuseofa parkwheredogscan beworked offlead in an environmentthatissimilar tofield conditions. Victoria WGAAhasused thisarea for a number ofyearsand manynational trials winnershavebeen trained here. WGAAisstructured tofacilitateall levelsofdogs,fromyoungbeginnerstomaturechampionsand isfortunatetohavesomeofAustralia’sleadingtrainersand handlersactingasinstructors.

Gundogs working

of Australia

WGAA Disciplines

Retrieving DisciplineHandlers are encouraged to work closely with their dogs to ensure the dog will retrieve any itemof game on command. The dogs are trained tobe steady to the fall of game and to shot. All of the popular retrieving dogs are showcased in thisdiscipline, but don’t be surprised to see a well- trained utility dog or even a spaniel do very well in this field.

Dogs seen in this discipline:

• Labrador • Golden retriever • German shorthaired pointer • Weimaraner • Large munsterlander • Wirehaired pointer • Breton• English springer spaniel

Hunt Point and Retrieve Discipline (HPR)This is the discipline that caters for utility gundogs.Handlers are required to quarter their dogs acrosspaddocks and dogs are expected to find andpoint game, back and honour another dog thathas pointed game, and generally work through apaddock in a thorough manner. Some of the dogs that perform creditably in HPR will often bob upand do well in retrieving.


• German shorthaired pointer • Breton• Large munsterlander • Wirehaired pointer • Weimaraner

Spaniel DisciplineThis discipline is dominated by English springerspaniels. The dogs are trained to work closely to their handlers and to flush game from very thickcover. The dogs are trained to be steady to shotand game and are required to retrieve shot gameon command. These little dogs are generally full ofenthusiasm and a pleasure to watch.

Pointer and Setter DisciplinePointers and setters have been bred for the taskof working with speed and style in the quest for game birds. In Australia they excel in the pointingof our great game bird, the stubble quail. Thedogs are expected to work under their handler’sinstructions, to be steady to wing and shot, to backanother dog on point and to retrieve or point sho game.


• Pointer • Irish setter • English setter • Gordon setter • Irish red and white setter

Working Gundogs Association of

Australia

Owningan efficientgundog

doesn’tjusthappen by chance. An intensive

trainingprogramisnormally

undertaken frompuppystage,often withthehelp ofa club.Thenational gundog

disciplineoftheSSAAis the

WorkingGundogAssociationofAustralia (WGAA). It

isgenerallymadeup of memberswithsimilar interests, in sofar asthey enjoyshootingover a well-

trained gundog.

Participation

Participation isopen toanyone. Toobtain moreinformation, contactoneofthe followingorring

yourstateoffice: Victoria: GrahamHayes- 0397437402NSW: Rod Ayres- 0268571178SA L an ceBa iley-Hill - 0 8 8 3 91 2 2 4 9

WGAA Dog

Registrations

All dogsregistered withWGAAhavebeen issued witha WGAAregistration/pedigreecertificate. WGAAisalsoabletomaintain a record of eachdog’strial wins, together withthewinsaccumulated bythatdog’sprogeny.

Labrador

GermanShorthairedPointer

Pointer

EnglishSetter

Weimaraner

Golden Retriever

Competition/TrialsRetrievingtrialsrun bytheWGAAaregenerally runatfourdifferentlevels:beginners,intermediate,advancedandopen.Theyareopentoallbreedsofretrievinggundogaswellas‘associate’or‘true totype’gundogs,whicharedogsthatareinallprobabilitypure-bred,buttheownermaynothavepurchasedthepedigreepapers.Aretrievingtrialusuallyconsistsofthreeseparatelyjudged‘runs’,but thismayvaryfromtimetotime.Beginnersandintermediatetrialsareconductedovertwoorthree‘runs’,usuallyoneinwater,oneoverwaterandoneonland.Theseareall‘sighted’retrieves,meaningthatthedoggetstoseetheitem toberetrievedbeingthrownandoccasionallytoseeitland.Atadvancedlevels,thedogwillbeasked toretrieve‘doublesighted’itemsaswellasstarting toretrieve‘blind’birds.‘Blinds’areitemsofgame thathavebeenplacedoutbyagamestewardandfiredatbythehandler,butareunseentothedog.Theseretrievesrequirethehandlertodirectthedogontothegame.Atopenlevelthedogmaybeasked toretrieveanyofseveralcombinationsofmultiplesightedandblindbirds,allatdistancesranginguptoabout200m.Beforeandafterfiringatthegameandsending thedogtoretrieve,thedogandhandlermustalsodemonstrateseveralobedienceskills,suchassitting,heeling,staying,droppingandbeingsteadytothecastofgameandfiringofthegun.Thedogmustalsocorrectly‘deliver’thegametothehandler.Theitems toberetrievedgenerallyconsistofsimulatedformsofbothfeatheredandfurredgame.

Judging

Whenjudgingatrialrun,ajudgemayawardupto55pointsperrun:tenpointsforobedience,tenfor ‘marking’(useofeyes)and35fortheretrieveitself.Upto55pointscanbedeductedforinfractions, whichcanincludesuchthingsas‘hardmouth’(crunchingofthegamebythedog),thehandlernotfiringfromtheshoulderorthedogdroppingthe game. Whenajudgeselectshis‘runs’hewilllookfor varyingqualitiesinthedogandhandlerteam.Qualitiessuchascouragefacingcover,willingnesstoenterwater,style,eagernessandactioninmakinghisretrievesallscorewell.Judgestakefulladvantageofthenatural‘layoftheland’tofullytesttheco-operationbetweendogandhandler.

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Other Disciplines

The disciplines listed are just a few on offer through the SSAA.Choose from those listed or one of the following:

• Junior Sporting Shooters

• Lever Action

• Muzzleloading

• NRA Action Match

Don’t forget to check out www.ssaa.org.au for additionalinformation or contact your state office.

• Standard Pistol

• Centrefire

• Rapid Fire

http://sasa.qir.com.au/

http://sasa.qir.com.au/




Firearm Safety No matter what situation you are in,safety is of utmost importance and the

only way to ensure safety is to follow therules. Shooting is one of the safest sportsto participate in. Studies have shown thatit is even safer than horse riding, football,basketball and even ping-pong.

Observe the following firearm safetyrules and insist that others do the same:

Basic Range Rules

9. You may not touch any firearmuntil the RO issues the appropriatecommand.

10. On the command ‘cease fire’ all

shooters must immediately openthe action, put their firearm down -muzzle pointed down range - and standimmediately behind the firing line toawait the RO who will issue furtherinstructions or clear each firearm inturn.

11. No-one is permitted to go downrange until the RO has cleared allfirearms and issued the command ‘therange is now clear to go forward!’ Oncethe range is clear, the RO’s duty is toensure no-one approaches the firing

line.12. Firing may not commence until theappropriate warning flags have beenerected in accordance with the club’srulings.

13. Shooting may only be at the propertargets. All fauna is protected on therange and persons who deliberatelyshoot at non-standard targets will beexpelled from the range.

14. Hearing and eye protection is tobe worn by all personnel, at all times,when firing is taking place. (Refer to

local range rules.)

While out at the shooting range, certain rules must be

obeyed if you want to enjoy a day of shooting. The following

rules are general; range rules may vary according to the

discipline being shot:

1. The range officer (RO) is in chargeof everybody and must be obeyedimmediately.

2. Under no circumstances mayfirearms be loaded except when on thefiring line and by command of the RO.

3. Firearms that are not in bags orcases must be carried with the muzzlespointed safely and the actions open.

4. Firearms that are not in bags orcases must have the bolts and magazinesremoved, where possible.

5. Self-loading firearms with actionsthat do not remain open must be heldopen either with a breech safety plugor with an object (such as an ice-cream

stick or piece of cardboard) so that it isclearly visible that they are not loaded.

6. All persons have an obligationto report any potentially dangeroussituation to the RO immediately.

7. Firearms may not be handled behindthe firing line. Persons wishing toexamine, adjust, clean or otherwise handlefirearms must only do so in a designatedsafe area or on the actual firing line.

8. No-one is permitted to approachthe firing line until the RO issues thecommand (eg, ‘shooters to the line’).

ALWAYS REMEMBER

1. Treat every firearm with respect.Ensure that the muzzle is always pointedin a safe direction.

2. Treat every firearm as if it is LOADED

until you have personally provenotherwise.

3. Clear your firearm before handing it tosomeone else.

4. Clear the firearm after receiving if fromsomeone else.

5. When a firearm is unattended, it mustbe left in a safe and stable position.

6. Never throw a firearm to someoneelse; this is stupid and dangerous. Do notattempt to catch a firearm thrown to you.

7. Never shoot at a hard flat surface, or

at the surface of water, as there is thepossibility of ricochet.

8. Always carry the firearm with a definitepurpose, always having complete controlof the firearm.

9. Never POINT ANY firearm, LOADEDor EMPTY, at anyone.

10. Do not cock the firearm or place yourfinger inside the trigger until you areready to fire.

11. Be sure of your target. Always identifyyour target before you fire.

12. Never fire whilst running. Always stopand take aim before firing.

13. Every time a firearm is handled forany purpose other than firing, unload andvisually check to ensure the firearm issafe.

14. Check your ammunition. Oldammunition is not reliable.

15. Store your firearm in a dry, secureplace.

16. Maintain your firearm in A1 condition.

17. Remember, guns and alcohol don’tmix.

AccessoriesShooting, while a fun sport, is notnecessarily an inexpensive sport. Youwill need more than a basic firearm, butfor those willing to do a little work, thereare plenty of bargains to be had. Theshooting fraternity has a large secondhandmarket and the notice board in just aboutevery shooting clubroom in the countryholds details of bargains. Often otherclub members can loan or sell good usedequipment to the newcomer. Most clubshave firearms that can be used to try outa match.

What you will need1. Ammunition.

Ammunition should be kept in its originalpackage in a cool, dry place. It should besecured from theft or interference and outof the reach of children. It is importantto keep ammunition away from sourcesof heat, oil and moisture and you shouldnever store it in the same cupboard asoxidising agents.



Beginner’s guide 9 When considering ammunition, askyour dealer for advice, collect any freeinformation available and read theinformation provided on the ammunitionpackage.

2. Secure storage container.

In all states and territories, firearms mustbe securely stored in a compartment thatmeets your state’s legal requirements. Youwill also need a carry bag or case in whichto transport your firearm, as carryinguncovered firearms around in public isusually an offence.

3. Cleaning equipment.

Ask any shooter about the importanceof cleaning and you will quickly findthat cleaning is the one thing that mostshooters agree on (the method of cleaningis a different story). All shooters know

that a clean firearm shoots far better thana dirty one.

The following are the basic cleaning toolsthat every shooter should have:

• Plenty of clean rags or towels

• A cleaning rod suitable for your firearm

• Cleaning solvent and/or cleaning paste

• A bronze and a bristle brush suitable for

your particular calibre

• Gun oil

• Basic tools. ie, screwdrivers,allen keys, etc

4. Ear protection.

On many ranges, ear protection iscompulsory. There are many options:disposable soft plugs, silicon ear moulds,earmuffs and electronic earmuffs. (Rulesmay vary on each range)

5. Eye protection.

Eye protection is essential. There is awide variety of safety glasses available toprotect your eyesight.

6. Targets. Targets are available from SSAA clubs forpurchase.

7. A firearm case or firearm bag.

Travelling with an exposed firearm in moststates is illegal. (There are exceptions onprivate property.) Cases or bags protectyour expensive firearm from scratchesand nicks that are inevitable whentransporting.

8. A firearm safe.

According to the law, firearms must be

stored in a lockable container. Laws vary

in each state.

9. Rulebook.

It is a good idea to purchase a rulebookfor the match you are shooting so you canfully understand the rules and regulations.

What youmight want1. A telescopic sight (scope).

Sights bring the target into focus and letyou know where the barrel is pointed -therefore improving accuracy.

2. A bench rest, a sandbag or a tripod. These pieces of equipment help makeshooting accurately a little easier.

3. A spotting scope.

If you plan to target shoot a fair bit - at fardistances - you might want to invest in agood spotting scope or a pair of binoculars.Aside from being very tiring, running backand forth to the target after each shot isusually not an option.

4. Reloading equipment.

Many shooters prefer to reload their ownammunition. Not only is this a good wayto save money, it is also an enjoyablepastime. Get yourself a good reloadingbook so you understand the process ofreloading and the safe limits for reloadingyour firearm.

5. Camouflage gear.

This can be very helpful when hunting,but is not very practical while at therange. In fact, camouflage gear is notallowed at many ranges.

6. A collimator.

Collimators are used to align telescopicsights.

7. A chronograph.

A chronograph measures projectilevelocity, which can be useful informationfor testing reloaded ammunition.

8. Shooting apparel.

Each discipline has its own style ofclothing. From gloves, jackets, shirts,pads, leather blast patches to shoe covers,the list of clothing accessories is endless.

9. A range bag/toolbox.

Save yourself numerous trips to the bootof your car by organising everything youwill need in a proper range bag. Many

shooters have a shooting ‘toolbox’.

Ear and eyeprotectionare essentialin all formsof shooting.

Always be prepared forthe worst when away fromimmediate help.

Triggercontrol forrifles andhandgunsThe trigger should be squeezedusing a gradually increasing pressureso that the exact instant of firingis not predictable to the shooter.

There needs to be a kind of feedbackbetween the sight picture and thetrigger finger so that the perfectsight picture coincides with theinstant of firing. This only happenswith continuing practice. Hairtriggers, those that have a very lightpull weight, are very dangerous inthe field and should not be used. Ifyour rifle has an adjustable trigger,do not lighten it for field use.

Taken from the Firearms SafetyCourse Work Book from the Regency

Institute of TAFE, South Australia.




If you are shooting for meat,the placement of the shot isimportant.

As an ethical hunter, you want to be sure that thecartridge you are using ispowerful enough to producea clean and quick kill.

Shot Sizes

Lead Shot Sizes 12 9 8½ 8 7½ 6 5 4 2 BB

Pellet Diameter (In) .05 .080 .085 .090 .095 .110 .120 .130. .150 .180

Pellet Diameter (mm) 1.27 2.30 2.16 2.29 2.41 2.79 3.05 3.30 3.81 4.57

Buckshot Sizes No 4 No 3 No 2 No 1 No 0 No 00 No 000

Pellet Diameter (In) .24 .25 .27 .30 .32 .33 .36

Pellet Diameter (mm) 6.10 6.35. 6.86 7.62 8.13 8.38 9.14

Steel Shot Sizes 6 5 4 3 2 1 Air Rifle BB BBB T F

Pellet Diameter (In) .11 .12 .13 .14 .15 .16 .177 .18 .19 .20 .22

Pellet Diameter (mm) 2.79 3.05 3.30 3.56 3.81 4.06 4.49 4.57 4.83 5.08 5.59

Note: The size of shot, whether lead or steel, is based on American Standard shot size.

Thus, a steel No 4 pellet and a lead No 4 pellet are both .13 inches (3.3mm) in diameter.

Information taken from the NRA Fact Book.

to give you a clean kill at moderate rangeswithout too much damage to the meat.

• Suggested placement of shot:

If you are shooting for meat, the placementof the shot is important. Head shots are the

best but chest shots are also acceptable forproviding clean kills.

Shooting foxes and feral cats

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game:

Foxes and feral cats can be shot using the.22 RF or .22 Magnum Rimfire at ranges outto about 100 metres. Note: Most shootersagree that using a centrefire rifle providesthe advantages of a flatter trajectory and ahigher projectile energy. The .17 Remington,the .22 Hornet and the .222, .230 and the .22-250 Remington are all ideal cartridges whereclean kills are required along with minimalpelt damage. Shotguns are also useful fortaking foxes and cats at closer ranges. The12 gauge is the most popular size, with 1¼ozloads of between BB and No. 2 size shot,at ranges probably no further than about 40metres.

Shooting dingoes

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: Dingoes, which are heavier than foxes,should not be shot with anything smaller thanthe .222 Remington - expect perhaps at veryclose range. The .22-250 Remington andthe .243 Winchester are widely consideredideal cartridges for dingoes. If shooting atclose ranges, about 30 metres, the 12-gaugeshotgun loaded with BB or SG shot will alsobe sufficient.

Shooting feral goats or small deer

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: Goats and deer weighing about 55kg (about

This list is certainly not complete. As youlearn more about shooting and increaseyour skills, there will no doubt be a numberof other items that you might wish topurchase.

Going hunting: what cartridgeto use

Whether you are going to shoot clay targets,hunt rabbits or take up target shooting,using the right firearm and cartridge is vital.The following details what type of firearm/ cartridge to use in a variety of situations/

disciplines. Of course, these are just generalsuggestions. With experience you maydevelop your own preference.

When just starting out as a shooter, tryingto figure out all the nuances of the differentcartridges can be very confusing - especiallyif you are thinking about hunting differenttypes of animals.

As an ethical hunter, you want to be surethat the cartridge you are using is powerfulenough to produce a clean and quick kill.There are certain rules governing the size ofcartridge used when hunting certain species

so this information should be used only as ageneral guide.

Shooting rabbits and hares

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: The suggested minimum cartridge forshooting rabbits and hares is the .22RF atranges out to 100 metres. If using a shotgun,the range is about 50 metres. Shot sizesbetween No. 4 and No. 6 are heavy enough



Beginner’s guide 11 the load should be as high as practicable togive as much energy as possible for shotsat maximum range. Guns typically requireat least one barrel with a full choke to takeducks adequately at maximum range. Somestates require the use of lead alternative shot.Be sure to check your state’s requirements.

Before going bird hunting, it is recommendedthat you get as much practice as possiblewith clay targets to ensure clean kills.

Shooting quail, pigeons, pheasant, etc

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: These birds can be taken with smaller shotsized in shotguns of all gauges. The mostcommonly used cartridge is a 12 gauge gunloaded with 1-1/8 ounce of No 6 to No. 9 shot(depending on the game bird). Remember,that the smaller the shot size, the less energy

is retained by each pellet in flight, decreasingthe effective range. Choke level is just asimportant in hunting these birds as is shotcharge and size. The level of choke should bedetermined with the assistance of a gunsmithor an expert hunter.

The table below summarises theaforementioned information; however,remember that there are a number of otherfactors to consider when choosing a firearm.To ensure that you are using the appropriatefirearm, consider what other shooters are

using and give yourself a wide range ofoptions if possible.

One important thing to remember is thatthere is no substitute for shot placement.The table is intended as a guide. Itsapplicability will be greatly influenced byprevailing conditions, precise species and soforth. The shooter should always rememberthat on humanitarian grounds, it is betterto be ‘over-gunned’ than to hunt with aninadequate calibre.

This information was taken from the A Guide to

Hunting & Shooting in Australia by Geoff Smith.

Game Animal Minimum Recommended Cartridge Maximum Range

Rabbits and Hares .22 RF 100M

Foxes and Feral Cats .22 RF 100M

Dingoes .222 Remington 200M

Small Kangaroos .22 Hornet 150M

Large Kangaroos .222 Remington 150M

Goats, Small Deer .222 Remington 100M

Pigs .243 Winchester 150M

Large Deer, Buffalo 270 Winchester 200M

TheHunter’s

CodeI will consider myself aninvited guest of the land

holder, seeking his orher permission and soconducting myself that I

may be welcome in the future.

I will obey the rules ofsafe gun handling and will

courteously but firmly insistthat others who hunt with

me do the same.

I will obey all game laws and

regulations and will insistthat my companions do

likewise.

I will do my best to acquirethose marksmanship andhunting skills that assure

clean, sportsmanlike kills.

I will support conservation

efforts that can assuregood hunting for future

generations of Australians.

I will pass along to younger

hunters the attitudes andskills essential to a true

outdoor sportsman.

1

2

3

45

6

Minimum recommended rifle cartridges for hunting game animals.

120lb) can be taken with a .22RF, however,it is recommended that something havingsimilar muzzle velocity and energy tothe .243 Winchester be used. The .243Winchester has a sufficiently flat trajectory,which allows for accuracy at reasonably fardistances. ‘Brush’ cartridges such as the .30-

30 are sufficient for shooting these species atclose ranges.

Shooting feral pigs

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: Pigs are dangerous and shooters should use a12 gauge loaded with rifled slugs or buckshot.Lever action cartridges of .30-30, .44-40 andthe .44 Magnum from Ruger’s carbine areeffective on these species at close ranges. Ifa shot is to be taken at a long range, the .243Winchester, the .25-06 Remington and other

similar cartridges are good for killing feralpigs in a humane manner.

Shooting buffalo, larger species of deer,

feral donkeys, horses and camels

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game:Some of these species can weigh up to atonne and require cartridges significantlylarger than those previously mentioned.Cartridges such as the .270 Winchester,7mm Remington Magnum and the .30-06Springfield are commonly used for theselarge animals. A .300 Win Mag and a .375H&H Mag is common for big game use.

Shooting waterfowl

• Suggested minimum cartridges for game: Hunting species of duck and geese, whichare permitted as game, is done solely withshotguns. The loads used vary dependingon the species being shot and the rangefrom which it is shot. Typically, 11 / 8 to 1¼ounce loads of No. 4 are used for huntingblack duck. No. 6 shot is recommended forsmaller species like teal. The velocity of




Terms As a new shooter, you may find yourself out at the range and thinking

that you are the only one speaking English. The sport of shooting has a

language all its own. In order to help you understand what’s being said,here are some of the most commonly used terms and their definitions.

interior dimension of the barrel forward of thechamber (not including the choke on shotgunbarrels).

Breech Loader A firearm that is loaded from the breech end.

BuckshotLarge lead pellets ranging in size from .20" to.36" diameter normally loaded in shotshellsused for deer hunting.

Bullet

A non-spherical projectile for used in a rifledbarrel.

Bullet, Hollow Point

A bullet with a cavity in the nose, exposing thelead core, to facilitate expansion upon impact.Hollow point cartridges are used for hunting,police use and other situations to avoid over-penetration.

Bullet, Wadcutter A generally cylindrical bullet design having asharp shouldered nose intended to cut paper

targets cleanly to facilitate easy and accuratescoring.

Butt

On handguns, it is the bottom part of the grip.On longarms, it is the rear or shoulder end of

the stock.

Calibre

A term used to designate the specific cartridgesfor which a firearm is chambered. It is theapproximate diameter of the circle formedby the tops of the lands of a rifled barrel. It is

the numerical term included in the cartridgename to indicate a rough approximation of thebullet diameter (ie, .30 calibre - .308" diameterbullet).

Calipers

Instruments used for measuring, either directlyor by transferral, units of length (such ascalibres, case lengths, etc.).

Carbine

A rifle of short length and light weight originallydesigned for horse-mounted troops.

Cartridge

A single round of ammunition consisting of thecase, primer, propellant, powder and one ormore projectiles.

Cartridge Case

The container of brass, plastic or othermaterials, which houses the primer at therear, contains the propellant and holds theprojectiles at the front and also functions as a

gas seal during firing.

Cartridge, Centrefire

Any cartridge intended for use in rifle, pistolsand revolvers that has its primer central

to the axis at the head of the case. Note:Most cartridges, including shotshells, are

centrefire with the exception of 22-calibre

can be ‘interior’ (inside the gun), ‘exterior’(in the air) or ‘terminal’ (at the point ofimpact). Toolmark investigation is the attempt

to microscopically match a bullet or firedcartridge case to a particular firearm.

Ballistic Coefficient

A relative measure of how well a projectilemay be expected to perform in flight, inovercoming air resistance and thus retaining itsinitial velocity. Mathematically it is calculatedas the ratio of sectional density to coefficientof form, (known alternatively as ‘form factor’)or alternatively, the ratio of bullet weight, todiameter squared times form factor I.

Barrel

That part of the firearm through which aprojectile travels. The barrel may be rifled(ie, with spiral grooves on the interior of thebarrel) or smooth bore (a smooth interiorbarrel with no grooves).

BB

Spherical shot having a diameter of .180" usedin shotshell loads. The term is also used to

designate steel or lead air rifle shot of .175"diameter.

Bench rest

A table specifically designed to eliminate asmuch human error as possible by supportinga rifle for competitive shooting or sighting-inpurposes.

Birdshot

Small lead or steel pellets used in shotshellsranging in size from No 12 (less than thediameter of a pencil point) to No 4 (about .10"in diameter) used for short-range bird andsmall game hunting.

Black Powder The original propellant, made from charcoal,saltpetre and sulphur and used up until justprior to the turn of the 20th century in allfirearms.

Boattail

A projectile type which has a tapered heel orbase to improve ballistic efficiency.

Bore

The interior barrel forward of the chamber.

Bore Diameter

On rifled barrels, the interior diameter of thebarrel from the tops of the lands (the highest

point of the grooves). On a smooth barrel, the

Action

The combined parts of a firearm thatdetermine how a firearm is loaded, dischargedand unloaded. Most handguns are referred toas ‘single-action’ or ‘double-action’. A single-action firearm requires the user to manuallypull back the hammer before the firearm canbe discharged (like the old western revolvers).

A double-action firearm allows the user toeither manually cock the hammer or simply

pull the trigger and allow the firearm to cockand release the hammer on its own.

Action, Self-loading

A firearm that loads, fires, and ejects cartridgesas long as the trigger is depressed and thereare cartridges available in the feeding system(ie, magazine or other such mechanism).

Action, Bolt

A firearm, typically a rifle, that is manuallyloaded, cocked and unloaded by pulling abolt mechanism up and back to eject a spentcartridge and load another. Bolt action firearmsare popular for hunting, target shooting andbiathlon events. A bolt action rifle allows

the shooter maximum accuracy but may be too slow or cumbersome for some shootingsports.

Action, Lever

A firearm, typically a rifle, that is loaded,cocked and unloaded by an external leverusually located below the receiver.

Action, Pump

A firearm that features a movable forearm thatis manually actuated to chamber a round, eject

the casing and put another round in position to fire.

Action, Semi-automatic

A firearm in which each pull of the triggerresults in a complete firing cycle, fromdischarge through to reloading. It is necessary

that the trigger be released and pulled foreach cycle. These firearms are also called‘autoloaders’ or self-loaders’. The dischargeand chambering of a round is either recoiloperated or gas operated.

Arms, Small

Any firearm capable of being carried by aperson and fired without additional mechanicalsupport.

Ballistics

The science of studying projectiles. Ballistics



Beginner’s guide 13 rimfire ammunition. If you were to look at thebottom of a centrefire cartridge, you wouldsee a small circle in the middle of the base,hence, ‘centrefire’. There are a few rimfireammunition calibres besides the 22 but theyare rare and not widely available.

Cartridge, Magnum Any cartridge or shotshell that is larger,contains more shot or produces a highervelocity than standard cartridges or shotshellsof a given calibre or gauge.

Cartridge, Rimfire A cartridge containing the priming mixture inthe rim of the base, usually a 22.

Cartridge, Small Bore A general term that refers to rimfire cartridges.Normally 22-calibre ammunition used fortarget shooting, plinking and small gamehunting.

Chamber In a rifle, pistol or shotgun, it is the part of thebarrel that accepts the ammunition. A revolverhas multiple chambers in the cylinder.

Choke The degree to which a shotgun barrelconstricts the shot column, thus affecting thespread of the shot or ‘pattern’ produced. Forexample: modified choke, cylinder bored,improved cylinder, full-choke, etc.

Chronograph An instrument used to measure the velocity ofa projectile.

Cock To place the hammer or striker in position forfiring by pulling it back fully.

Collimator An optical device used for alignment oftelescopic sights prior to test firing.

Cylinder The round, rotatable part of a revolver thatcontains the chambers.

Deringer A generic term referring to many variations ofpocket-sized pistols. The name comes fromthe pistol’s original designer, Henry Deringer.

Discharge To cause a firearm to fire.

Double Barrel Two barrels on a firearm mounted to oneframe. The barrels can be vertically (over-under) or horizontally (side-by-side) aligned.

Firearm The legal definition of a firearm in your state/territory will be one that you need to know.Contact your firearms registry.

Firing Pin The part of a firearm that strikes the primer of

a cartridge to start the ignition of the primer.

Flash Suppressor An attachment to the muzzle designed toreduce muzzle flash. Note: A flash suppressoris not a silencer.

Flintlock

An early type of action in which ignition occursby sparks, caused through a piece of flint beingstruck against a frizzen, falling into a pan whichcontains a small amount of fine black powder.The rapid burning of this priming powdercauses a flash through a fine bore flash-holeinto the main charge in the breech.

Frizzen The serrated iron plate against which theflint of a flintlock action is struck in order to

generate the sparks that ignite the primingpowder.

Full Cock

The position of the hammer when the firearmis ready to fire.

Gauge A term used to identify most shotgun bores, with the exception of the .410 shotgun. Itrelates to the number of bore diameter leadballs weighing one pound. Note: The .410shotgun is a calibre. The .410 refers to thediameter of the barrel.

Grain The unit of weight used for specifyingpropellant charges and projectile weights,abbreviated gr. The grain was derived from the

weight of a grain of wheat and is now taken as

1/7000 of one pound.

Grooves Twisted depressions which are cut or swagedinto a rifle or pistol barrel to form the rifling(opposite of lands).

Group A series of shots fired at the target used toadjust the sights or determine the accuracy ofa firearm.

Half Cock The position of the hammer about halfretracted and intended to prevent release of

the hammer by a normal pull of the trigger.

Hammer The part of the firing mechanism that strikes

the firing pin, which, in turn, strikes theprimer.

Hammerless A firearm having an internal hammer orstriker.

Jacket The envelope enclosing the lead core of abullet.

Jam A malfuntion that prevents the actionfrom operating. Jams may be caused by

faulty or altered parts, ammunition, poormaintenance of the firearm or improper useof the firearm.

Lands The uncut surface of the bore of a rifledbarrel.

Load The combination of components used toassemble a cartridge or shotshell. The termalso refers to the act of putting ammunitioninto a firearm.

Magazine A receptacle on a firearm that holds severalcartridges or shells for feeding into thechamber. Magazines take many forms, suchas box, drum, rotary or tubular and may befixed or removable.

Misfeed

Any malfunction during the feeding cycleof a repeating firearm that results in thefailure of a cartridge to enter the chambercompletely.

Misfire A failure of the cartridge to fire after the primerhas been struck by the firing pin. A hangfire,

which is when the cartridge is delayed fromfiring, is a type of misfire. If the cartridge fails tofire, you should keep the firearm aimed at the

target for at least one minute.

Muzzle The front end of a firearm barrel from which

the bullet or shot emerges.

Muzzle Flash The illumination (flash) resulting from theexpanding gases from the burning propellantparticles emerging from the barrel behind theprojectile and uniting with oxygen in the air.

Muzzleloader Any firearm loaded through the muzzle. Alsocalled ‘black powder’ firearms. They may beantique, replica or of modified design.

Nose The point or tip of a bullet.

Pattern The distribution of shot fired from a shotgun.

Pistol A term for a one-hand held firearm with asingle chamber. (A revolver has at least fivechambers.)

Pistol, Automatic The common but improperly used term todescribe semi-automatic pistols. See Action,Semi-automatic for a description of how

these pistols operate.

Pistol, Double Action A pistol mechanism in which a single pullof the trigger cocks and releases the firingmechanism.




Plinking

The informal shooting at inanimate objectsat indefinite points. Note: Plinking typicallyrefers to casual shooting at pine cones,

tin cans or other such objects for fun andpractice.

Powder Commonly used term for the propellant in acartridge or shotshell.

Powder, Black The earliest type of propellant, allegedlymade by the Chinese or Hindus. First usedfor firearms in the 13th century, it is amechanical mixture of potassium or sodium

nitrate, charcoal and sulphur. It makes a largecloud of smoke when fired.

Powder Smokeless A modern propellant containing mainlynitrocellulose or both nitrocellulose andnitroglycerine. Relatively little smoke iscreated when fired.

Pressure The force exerted over the surface of

the chamber developed by the expanding gases generated by the combustion of thepropellant.

Primer

An ignition component consisting of brass or

gilding metal cup, priming mixture, anvil and

foiling disc. It creates an explosion when hitby a firing pin, igniting the propellant powder.It is the most dangerous component of thecartridge.

Propellant The chemical composition which, whenignited by a primer, generates gas. The gaspropels the projectile.

Receiver The basic unit of a firearm which houses thefiring mechanism and to which the barrel andstock are assembled. In revolvers, pistols andbreak-open firearms, it is called the frame.

Recoil The rearward movement of a firearmresulting from firing a cartridge or shotshell.

Recoil Pad A butt plate, usually made of rubber, toreduce the recoil or ‘kick’ from shoulderedfirearms.

Reload A round of ammunition that has beenassembled using fired cases.

Revolver A firearm with a cylinder having severalchambers so arranged as to rotate around

an axis and be discharged successively by the

same firing mechanism. A semi-automatic

pistol is not a revolver because it does nothave a revolving cylinder.

Rifle A firearm having spiral grooves in the boreand designed to be fired from the shoulder.

Rifling Grooves formed in the bore of a firearmbarrel to impart rotary motion to a projectile.

Round One complete small arms cartridge.

Safety Catch A device on a firearm designed to provideprotection against accidental or unintentional

discharge under normal usage when properlyengaged.

Semi-automatic Firearm which fires, extracts, ejects andreloads only once for each pull and release of

the trigger.

Shotgun A smooth bore shoulder firearm designed tofire shells containing numerous pellets or asingle slug.

Shotshell A round of ammunition containing multiplepellets for use in a shotgun. The multiple

pellets in a shotshell are called ‘shot’.

BUTT PLATE

COMB

GRIP TRIGGER

MAGAZINE

SAFETY

BOLT RECEIVER

TRIGGER GUARD

REAR SIGHT FRONT SIGHT MUZZL

FORE-END

BOLT HANDLE

STOCK ACTION

BARREL

FRONT SIGHTREAR SIGH

REAR SIGHT

TRIGGER

TRIGGER GUARD

GRIP

HAMMER

CYLINDER

MAGAZINE

SLIDE

FRAME

EJECTOR ROD

EJECTOR

Know yourfirearm Familiarise yourself with the various partsof a firearm.

PISTOL

RIFLE



Beginner’s guide 15

are a combination of pitch and limestone.

Dimensions and weights are regulated by trap and skeet shooting associations. Theyare often called ‘clay pigeons’.

Trajectory The path of a bullet through the air.

Trap A clay target throwing device, either power-or hand-operated.

Trap Shooting A clay target shooting sport with a shotgun.Shooters fire at clay targets flying away from

them. Shooters stand behind the trap at adistance of 15-25 metres.

Trigger, Hair A slang term for a tr igger requiring very lowforce to actuate.

Trigger Lock An accessory for blocking a firearm fromunauthorised use. Most trigger lockmanufacturers advise against the use of a

trigger lock on a loaded firearm, as shifting the lock against the trigger could fire the gun.

Trigger Pull The average force which must be applied to

the trigger to cause the firearm to fire.

Under and Over

A firearm with two barrels, one above theother.

Unload The complete removal of all unfiredammunition from a firearm.

Velocity The speed of a projectile at any point along its

trajectory, usually listed in ‘feet per second’.

Wad A space device in a shotshell, usually a cup-form plastic or paper discs, that separates thepropellant powder from the shot.

Weapon An instrument used in combat. The term isnever used in referring to sporting firearms.

This information was taken from A Guideto Hunting & Shooting in Australia by GeoffSmith and Non-Fiction Writer’s Guide: Awriter’s resource to firearms and ammunition by the Sporting Arms and AmmunitionManufacturers’ Institute.

SHOTGUN

BARREL SELECTOR

RELEASE HANDLE

CASE

HINGE

SAFETY

CHAMBER

EXTRACTOR

Cross section of acentrefire cartridge

Cross section of a

shotshell

BULLET

POWDER

PRIMER

PRIMER

WAD

CASE

SHOT

POWDER

Silencer

A device used as an expansion chamber aboutthe muzzle of a firearm, to contain the gasesdischarged during firing and thus reduce someof the noise produced. NOTE: Silencers areillegal or restricted in all states and territorieswithin Australia.

Skeet A clay target shooting sport with a shotgun.Shooters fire at clay targets crossing in frontof them.

Skeet Gun A shotgun with an open choke specificallydesigned for clay target skeet shooting or

close range hunting.Sporting Clays Often called ‘gold with a shotgun’, it is a sportin which shooters, using shotguns, fire at claytargets from different stations on a course laidout over varying terrain.

Stock The wood, fibreglass, wood laminate or plasticcomponent to which the barrel and receiverare attached.

Target, Clay A circular, domed frangible disc used as anaerial target for shotgun shooting games.

Originally formed out of clay, modern targets




A Guide to Hunting

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An essential for every shooterand hunter - beginner orexperienced.

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