282 MY SOMALI BOOK 



comparative deficiency of momentum-shock 

 due to moderate velocity is more than com- 

 pensated for by greater impact- and displace- 

 ment-shock in a large bore bullet, 

 (ii.) Shape. — The less elongated a bullet, the less is 

 it liable to deflection and the more reliable in 

 its course. The greater the diameter and 

 consequent striking-surface the greater the 

 wound-channel and displacement-shock, 

 (iii.) Weight. — Increase in weight means increase 

 in shock effect generally and greater stabilit}^, 

 with again less liability to deflection, 

 (iv.) Com^oosition should be of sufficient stability 

 to enable the bullet, with a given velocity, 

 to reach the far side of the animal, smashing 

 through bone, if necessar}-, without breaking 

 up or losing too much of its mass. It should 

 also be such as to expand to the greatest 

 degree possible, laterally, in reaching its 

 resting-place ; while its surface must be 

 hard enough to take the rifling with which 

 it is used without stripping. 

 Seeing that, so far as the bullet is concerned, high 

 velocity is only to be obtained by elongating it and by 

 decreasing its weight and diameter, as well as by 

 hardening its surface, and (to obtain expansion) in 

 composition weakening its point, our final practical 

 conclusion can only be that — 



Superiority in every respect rests with the large bore 

 bullet. Given a bullet suitable to the work in hand, 

 increase of velocity may increase its effectiveness, but if 

 the higher velocity is only attainable by a considerable 



