450 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



been killed dead, by the dead shot, with the smaller 

 o;auge, using solid hardened projectiles ; and the larger 

 rifle, with a short hollow, has been eflfectively used 

 ao-ainst tio-ers and bears. Much of the shock to the 

 system, caused by the spreading of the hollow bullet, is 

 of course lost if a solid ball be employed. 



The next advantage of the Express system, where 

 it is suitable as regards killing power, is the very flat 

 trajectory at sporting ranges obtained by the use of 

 a light l3all and heavy charge of powder. Two sizes 

 of the small Express are now made, the smaller, '450 

 of an inch, having a charge of nearly four drachms, 

 and the larger, '500, shooting five drachms of powder. 

 The first gives a perfectly point-blank range of a 

 hundred and sixty yards, with an extreme effective 

 range of two hundred and fifty ; the latter a point- 

 blank of rather more than two hundred, and an ex- 

 treme of four hundred. They both shoot with extreme 

 accuracy at these ranges. The smaller weighs seven 

 and a half pounds, and the larger eight and a quarter 

 as a minimum ; though the addition of half a pound 

 to the weight of each gives more steadiness and regular 

 shootius^. 



The very great improvement thus effected in the 

 shooting of any one who uses an Express rifle, goes 

 a long way towards compensating for any loss of smash- 

 ing power in comparison with the old wide-bored rifles. 

 I unhesitatingly therefore recommend the adoption of 

 the '450 or '500 Express for all ordinari/ purposes. If 

 its greater weight be not objected to, the larger is 

 certainly preferable in every other respect ; but very 

 good work can be done with the smaller bore, and the 

 .saving of weight is a great advantage for work in the 

 hills. 



