302 MY SOMALI BOOK 



considered the "400 unduly powerful for the smaller 

 antelopes, etc., of rather too high trajectory for hill 

 and plains shooting, and too heavy (at least in the 

 double form) for continual use as an all round rifle. 



It is obvious that where the purse constrains some- 

 thing must be sacrificed. In a man of strong physique, 

 limited to a single weapon, a double '400 should not 

 be too heavy to become handy with constant use. 

 Otherwise the choice would lie between a magazine 

 rifle of largest bore (-404 or -425) and a powerful double 

 rifle of not less than 'SGO-bore * (except that the '318 

 might be admitted on account of its capped bullet). 

 In the one case that valuable second barrel at close 

 quarters has to be given up, along with the quickness 

 of aim that goes with a double barrel to which one is 

 accustomed, but an effective bullet is retained. In 

 the second case you keep the advantages of a double- 

 barrel but lose in the important element of stopping 

 power. Physique may be the deciding factor. As to 

 trajectorj^ that of the new '425 is an improvement on 

 the •404. The man who depends upon a magazine 

 rifle alone I should advise to give some attention to 

 the practice of rapid magazine fire. 



But the sportsman who can afford to go on a 

 regular shooting expedition can usually afford more 

 than one weapon, and it would be folly to depend 

 on a single one with no provision for accidents. If 

 two is his limit, my advice is that wherever there is 

 a possibility of lion or tiger, the first should always be a 



* Since the above was written, Messrs. Holland and Holland have pro- 

 duced a new "375 Magnum with a velocity of 2900 f.s., which is decidedly the 

 most powerful weapon of its class. 



