CHAPTER XVII 



Rifles for dangerous game : importance of the subject — Brief summary of 

 conclusions — A detailed examination of the question — Classes of game : 

 and of rifles — Requirements in a rifle : to hit : to kill — Characteristics 

 of the Felidae and conditions under which they are usually shot — ^Neces- 

 sity of handiness and stopping-power — The rifle — Single, magazine, and 

 double rifles : pros and cons : superiority of the double-barrel — The 

 bullet — How affected by increased velocity — Changes in form and 

 material— Penetration : expansion : stability — The perfect buUet — 

 Effect on a bullet of variations in form, weight, and velocity — Size of 

 bore a prime factor in efficiency — Shock effect of slow velocity bullets — 

 Mr. Hicks' views — Three kinds of shock ? — Velocity and resistance as 

 affecting expansion — Form of bullet and liability to deflection — Summmg 

 up : the best type of buUet — Detailed list of modern rifles — -Class I. : 

 Express rifles — Class 11. : smaU-bore H.V. rifles — Quotations : Glas- 

 furd : Sharp : Stigand and Lyell : criticisms — First-class shots and 

 small-bores — The average shot — Groups of small-bores : Group (a): (6): (c): 

 the -318— The -280 Ross— Class III.: medium-bore H.V. rifles: the 

 •400 — The soft-nosed bullet : Sk A. Pease's theory — The capped bullet 

 — Bores larger than "400 — Class IV. : shot-and-baU guns— The Paradox : 

 its characteristics — ^The Explora — The 12-bore spherical bullet : com- 

 pared with the Paradox bullet and the medium H.V. bullet — The charge 

 with spherical baU— Final choice of a weapon — Other factors in making 

 a decision : expense : physique : the work the rifle has to do — The best 

 all-round rifle ? — For leopard — Bear — Pachyderms — Buffalo — " Sports- 

 manship " — Opinion of Sir A. Pease on the general question — Of Major 

 Glasfurd — Conclusion. 



The question as to which types of rifle and ammunition 

 are most suitable for use against dangerous game is 

 one about which much has been written by men of 

 far greater experience than I can claim. Some of 

 my readers may consider it has been discussed ad 

 nausearn. But in spite of the great advance that 

 recent years have seen in the power and accuracy of 



