The 53-year-old marksman started his remarkable sequence of representing New Zealand at Commonwealth level at Edinburgh in 1986, and he already has his sights fixed on Scotland's next host city -- Glasgow in 2014.
His relationship with the gun metal Walther Gebrauches Sport Pistole - a virtual 11.6 inch extension of his right arm for the last 24 years -- is as intimate as ever, even if he pondered holstering the weapon responsible for producing eight of his 11 Commonwealth medals after the Melbourne Games in 2006.
"I did consider that a little bit, I thought it was important to put a bit more balance into my life," Yelavich confessed before the 12-stong shooting team headed for the Indian capital.
So he placed a greater emphasis on coaching -- hardly the ideal solution for someone trying to limit their time on the range.
"I got involved with coaching, but with coaching you fire a few shots and perhaps they don't go quite as well as you'd like.
"So you pick up the gun in between to show the people you coach you do know how to shoot ... suddenly you're shooting every night again."
Yelavich will not attempt to quantify the number of rounds he has discharged during an international career that also includes the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics, although a recent tidy-up gives some indication.
"Where I shoot I have to pick up the brass and the bucket was starting to overflow," he explained.
"I took it to the scrap metal dealer and there was 34kg of shells."
Fifteen months worth of practice: $2000 to fill the bucket, a $70 refund after emptying it.
Financially it's a costly exercise for Yelavich, who has amassed 72 national titles since he started shooting competitively in 1978.
"I guess it's just my life to be honest," he said when asked what had driven him to persevere.
Monotony, it seems, has never been an issue.
"I have one big advantage, I actually like it. And I still strive to better myself, better my scores and results.
"As soon as you fire your first shot, even if it's a 10 you can still try and get a better one. I guess that's what keeps me pulling back the trigger."
A perfectionist who even has a laser-guided scoring system rigged up in his lounge north of Auckland, does Yelavich find it onerous to mentor the next generation? Those kids at Wentworth College who don't share his dedication?
"I totally enjoy the coaching, seniors and juniors," he said, after admitting he had to lower his sights.
"I find the thing that's frustrating is it's hard to find people that put as much time as me.
"I always have to keep reminding myself I'm fortunate these guys want to shoot and that they're prepared to put the two or three hours in a week."
That timeframe is miniscule compared to what Yelavich logs. It varies but he can be shooting six days a week.
"I'm a wave type of person. I go a lot with how I feel," he said.
"I might shoot four or five days in a row and then do nothing for three days.
"Peaking whenever you pull the gun out is the tricky part."
Yelavich opened his Commonwealth Games medal haul with two golds and a bronze in Edinburgh, and since then he collected another four bronzes and a quartet of silvers.
At the Dr Karni Singh shooting range, Yelavich competes in the 10m air pistol and 25m centre fire pistol disciplines.
Once the individual medals are distributed he pairs up with Allan Earle, the combination that secured silver at Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
Yelavich felt his preparations went well.
He has new prescription lenses after the standard post-selection check-up by his optometrist while the Walther's aim seems as true as ever.
He spoke almost reverentially of the German-made weapon, a replacement for the pistol stolen from a team van during post-Games celebrations down Edinburgh's Royal Mile.
"I got it 10 days later and I'm still using that same gun," he said.
"I won a silver medal in Melbourne with it and I'm kind of thinking that little baby is going to get me a medal in another couple of weeks as well."
Pistol shooter Greg Yelavich's Commonwealth Games medal-winning record:-
Silver, 25m centre fire pistol: Melbourne, 2006
Bronze, 10m air pistol: Kuala Lumpur, 1998
Bronze, 10m air pistol: Victoria, 1994
Bronze, 25m centre fire pistol: Victoria, 1994
Silver, free pistol (pairs): Victoria, 1994
Bronze, 10m air pistol (pairs): Auckland, 1990
Silver, free pistol (pairs): Auckland, 1990
Silver, 25m centre fire pistol (pairs): Auckland, 1990
Gold, 10m air pistol: Edinburgh, 1986
Gold, free pistol: Edinburgh, 1986
Bronze, 10m air pistol (pairs): Edinburgh, 1986
