Nights with the Grizzlies 



into a bear, elk, sheep, etc., will, after pass- 

 ing through the skin, break up, usually tear- 

 ing a hole through the ribs, even of a fat 

 animal, through which the unclenched hand 

 can be passed, the fragments scattering in a 

 cone shape, the larger fragments penetrating 

 to the opposite ribs. In this way the whole 

 momentum of the ball is expended on the 

 vitals, the heart and lungs. Hit further back 

 it breaks up into still smaller fragments, 

 making a terrible wound in the paunch and 

 entrails that none of those animals can long 

 survive. I have never known it to fail in 

 breaking the large bones of the largest bear 

 or elk when coming in contact with them. 



For deer and antelope my 4O-caliber is 

 found sufficient, using 100 grains of strong 

 powder and a particular express-ball of 270 

 grains. It makes about a 6 %- inch curve in 

 two hundred yards, and the ball flies very 

 true. I use also in the 45-caliber the 44- 

 caliber ball before alluded to, using three 

 thicknesses of patch paper. It flies remark- 

 ably true for its weight, and makes a 6.34- 

 inch curve per 200 yards, with no grains 

 C. & H. No. 6. I failed to say at the proper 



237 



