MY SOMALI BOOK 291 



ought to be good enough under most circumstances, 

 but their bullets are all on the light side, and somewhat 

 deficient in area of striking surface. Take the -318. 

 Its capped bullet makes in proportion to its diameter a 

 comparatively large entrance hole ; but if it were fired 

 at a tiger broadside on, but too far back, and passed 

 between two ribs (a likely enough supposition), without 

 injuring a vital part, it would meet with comparatively 

 little resistance, would expand but slightly, and would 

 not improbably go clean through the animal without 

 producing any great shock-effect. In meeting a 

 charge again, this bullet, though less so than many 

 small-bore projectiles, would still be more liable to 

 deflection than a heavier and stouter bullet, while in 

 shock-effect it would occasionally fail. In short, while 

 rifles of this class may be used with a considerable 

 measure of confidence, I do not consider they are to 

 be recommended for dangerous game at close quarters. 

 The last rifle on the small-bore list, the '280 Ross, 

 represents the latest development, shooting as it does 

 a very light slender pointed bullet with a velocity 

 much in excess of anything previously attained. It 

 has a marvellously low trajectory and has undoubtedly 

 proved effective on a variety of game from elephant 

 downwards. So had its predecessor the original '256, 

 but we have had to discard it as unsafe. And, for the 

 present, I have no hesitation in treating the '280 

 likewise. To obtam expansive power the bullet is of 

 necessity made decidedly fragile. The great velocity 

 is supposed to give immense smashing power. Surely 

 this will of necessity — though doubtless not always — 

 recoil upon such a slight projectile, with the result 



