Posted on 09/02/2017 1:10:51 PM PDT by marktwain
Queensland Cattle Station Shooter
While attending the SSAA Shot Show in Brisbane, Australia, I met a shooter who related his experiences on a cattle station in northern Queensland.
He did not wish to be identified, but his story was convincing. There was some documentation and corroboration. I will call him Jeff.
About a decade ago, Jeff was involved in the development of a cattle station of over a hundred thousand acres, with thousands of cattle. In addition to the cattle, they grew crops. The station was remote.
It was described as having considerable area where no European had ever been known to have set foot. Attempting to make a living on the station was a constant battle with nature and the elements.
Wild pigs were numerous and did extensive damage. Crop losses were estimated at 20 percent, about $300,000 a year. Birds did enormous damage to the sorghum crop.
To control the bird damage, Jeff used a pair of Stirling .22 bolt action rifles, buying ammunition by the case (5,000) regularly. He said that he became quite a good shot with that sort of practice.
He used a surplus .303 Lee-Enfield for pig control. The bolt gun was too slow, with too small of a magazine capacity, especially for shooting from a vehicle. It took Jeff two years to obtain a permit to acquire a semi-automatic centerfire rifle.
Then it took him three months to find one for sale. He bought the first one that was available. It was a Chinese version of the SKS carbine, that uses the AK-47 type magazines, in 7.62X39. It proved to be a good choice. Jeff said that you purchased the ammunition that was in the store, and there was not a wide variety available.
Jeff described riding
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Feral pigs are a pestilence here in E. Texas, they can and will eat or destroy any food crop or pasture. They are definitely a “shoot on sight” varmint.
Fascinating. I wonder what the Aussies will do when the Chinese decide to land a million men, after destroying thousands of old FALs that might have formed the backbone of a citizen militia, or reserve force. Shoot them with the occasional .22 rifle or .38?
Probably a million across the southeast need to be eradicated. Some say they are good eating.
Probably quickly send us posters like this, with Australia the destination:
They are DELICIOUS! Pork like it was before industrial farming, dark, rich, and fatty with a rich flavor.
Yeah, good luck getting any US weapons next time...
He needs to invite people to his property to camp out and shoot pigs and birds.
Turns my tummy to think that
Australia has become a Totalitarian
Nation. It arose from being a
Penal Colony to something like
The U.S. in it’s Old West heyday.
The prison Doors clang shut once again.
Yeah, it’s sad.
No way. Slice n dice and you will see the parasites. Ok for feeding the dogs though.
Well, I am an aussie and attended a local range shoot for big bore and black powder. Fun stuff.
There are lots of reloaders in the local club. I have been out of the club stuff since 2003. I have recently returned in order to obtain a licence and do some target shooting.
I take your point about FAL, and the Steyr f88 is pretty worthless in my experience.
Probably a million across the southeast need to be eradicated. Some say they are good eating.
It tends to be quite a bit leaner than domestic pork.
Instead of stockpiling them in dispersed armories for a rainy day, (China), the Aussies destroyed tens of thousands of perfectly good FALs.
I hope they never regret it.
“He needs to invite people to his property to camp out and shoot pigs and birds.”
He could actually make a business of that, if he wanted to. Lots of people from the US would love that experience - not to mention all they’d learn from it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.