46 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



the double is made by a really first-class maker, are more accurate, for there Is great 

 difficulty in making a double rifle shoot the same with both barrels. We would 

 certainly advise the sportsman to use magazine or single loaders, for, as we have 

 said, they are handier and cost much less, for the best magazine or single loader can 

 be purchased for less than £2^, whereas a really good double would cost from 

 £^0 to £60. Cordite rifles can be made in all bores from 256 to "600. 

 The ^oo's, ■577's, 'Soo's, and ■450's are made solely for ponderous game such 

 as elephant, rhino, and buffalo. The ■400's, ■375's, ■360's, and 'SSo's are intended 

 for use against all game, but most makers would never think of recommending a man 

 to start away on a trip with only a "303, '275 Mauser, or '256 Mannlicher, but it is a 

 fact that not only buck and lion, but animals such as elephant, rhino, and buffalo, can 

 easily be killed with them, provided a suitable projectile is used, and they are struck 

 In a vital part. The larger bores are certainly safer, especially to a nervous man or a 

 bad shot, but it does not make much difference to the elephant whether his brain has 

 been punctured by a 577 or '256 bullet. When a man has a weapon like a "500 

 bore cordite in his hand he Is apt to think that he has only got to hit the beast to 

 bring It to bag; but this Is not always the case, though there would certainly be more 

 likelihood of his finding It, if only wounded. There Is undoubtedly one advantage 

 which the larger bores possess, and that Is, the quantity of the blood spoor; but in our 

 opinion this is a minor advantage when the handiness and other benefits of the 

 smaller bores are taken Into account. Of course, we are aware It is possible for a 

 person to change his opinion on a subject after a given circumstance, and if a man 

 went through the experience of a bad mauHng while using a small bore he might be 

 so shaken that afterwards he would only use the strongest weapon procurable ; but 

 this hardly affects the argument, for men have also been mauled while using the 

 heaviest bores. It certainly seems more sportsmanlike to use a small bore, for then 

 one takes more pains to obtain a deadly shot, and if an animal should only be 

 wounded there is much more chance of its recovery. The ammunition for the 

 larger bores Is much more costly and more bulky to carry. At present the "303 

 cannot be taken into India without special permission, though an officer can pass It 

 as part of his kit ; but this rule does not apply to Africa, and "303 cartridges can be 

 bought In a number of stores In that country. There are a great number of fanciful 

 bullets (expanding type) made by gunmakers for the '303 ; In fact, every prominent 

 maker has his own bullet, but we do not think more than two types need be taken, 

 viz., expanding and solid. 



The best '303 expanding bullet we know Is the Mark V., with a hollow fin. deep In 

 the nose, the hole having a slight taper and left open. 



