I’m happy to be able to introduce a new writer to The Arms Guide: AussieWombat.
Aussie has been shooting since joining the Army cadets in high school when he was 15, somewhat over 40 years ago. In those days of non-political correctness, there were plenty of WWII surplus giuns and ammo to use, so I cut my teeth on Lee Enfield .303s and Bren guns—very cool for a fifteen-year-old.
Out of school, he joined the Australian Air Force, living as a cadet with a 7.62 L1A1 SLR at the end of his bed for four years. After graduation, Aussie served as aircrew and an aircrew instructor, with his only shooting being the yearly qualification with the Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol. Following 20 years of full time military service, he went into civilian R&D flying and flying instruction. Realizing he missed tax payer funded shooting, he took up competitive pistol shooting, which is pretty much the only way to own a handgun in Australia. He is now a firearms instructor and regularly shoots both revolvers and semi-autos in club and state level competitions.
For Aussie, reloading started out of the necessity to have access to reasonable quantities of cheap ammunition that met competition standards; not to mention, also providing ammo to his wife, who is also a club pistol shooter. As an instructor, he finds himself increasingly being asked to get new shooters started in reloading, as well as providing advice on loads and equipment.
We on The Arms Guide crew are looking forward to the perspective and experience that AussieWombat will be bringing to our growing team of writers.
Welcome to the TAG crew, Aussie!
