326 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



Although it is possible utterly to neglect and mishandle 

 a black - powder rifle without actually courting disaster 

 thereby, the cordite rifle cannot be so treated with im- 

 punity. Its care may be entrusted to no native servant ; 

 its owner must be prepared to repay its excellence by his 

 personal unremitting attention ; and it is necessary for 

 him to have some knowledge of its peculiarities. 



The following may be useful to some of those who 

 possess or think of owning cordite rifles : 



Purchase (direct if possible) from a reliable firm avoid 

 light rifles carefully inquire whether the rifle has been 

 tested with ammunition under conditions of temperature 

 up to maximum solar heat of India get ammunition 

 from the makers direct, or through their special agents 

 familiarise yourself with every detail of your rifle make 

 its condition your personal care. Rust or heavy-settled 

 fouling will send up pressures rapidly before loading, be 

 particularly careful to remove all oil from (i.) the cartridge; 

 (ii.) the bore ; and (iii.) the chamber, all of which, if left 

 oily, might give increased pressure do not unnecessarily 

 expose your ammunition to great heat, although it is a fact 

 that cordite resumes its normal condition when recooled. 



To sum up the matter of the Indian sportsman's battery 

 is a matter of difficulty, as among men of differing views 

 different ideas naturally prevail, and even when these are 

 sifted it is difficult to particularise. 



The result of fifteen years' experience, however, which 

 the writer has had with various rifles, has been examined 

 and an average struck. The weapons coming under notice 

 have been as follows : 



8-bore rifle, lO-bore and 12-bore Paradox, 12-bore rifle, 

 557 magnum (Sam. Baker pattern) rifle, "500 magnum rifle 

 (440 grain bullet), "500 express, "450 cordite (Rigby's) rifle, 

 400 cordite (Jeffery's) rifle, '303, Mauser '275, and Mann- 

 licher -256. 



From the above it seems that no satisfactory truly all- 



