54 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



force is then much more preferable. The double 

 .8-bore was, until quite recently, an ideal weapon 

 for this kind of work, as at close quarters and 

 for stopping a headlong charge the smashing blow 

 delivered by its heavy bullet might always be relied 

 upon. The very powerful .400 and .450 rifles intro- 

 duced during the last two or three years, however, 

 using cordite powder, will be found much more 

 handy, and in conjunction with solid bullets will 

 suffice to deliver as deadly an impact as the old .577 

 or large-bore weapons of the Paradox type. A 

 sportsman following elephant in dense bush, if armed 

 with a .450 double rifle of the above type and followed 

 by a reliable gun-bearer carrying another such rifle, 

 or a double . 8 - bore Paradox, should be almost 

 perfectly equipped. If the wind is carefully studied, 

 as it'must be, the hunter will find it not a difficult 

 matter to approach to within twenty or thirty yards, 

 or even less, of his quarry. With elephants, if the 

 sportsman wishes to bring down his game quickly, 

 close quarters are far preferable to attempting shots 

 at more than fifty yards. If the elephant charges 

 straight at the hunter, the head is often held at such 

 an angle that to attempt the brain shot is worse than 

 useless. It is better in such a case to aim for the 

 chest, the bullet, piercing the trunk, which is 

 usually held down with the point curled up on such 

 an occasion, will then penetrate the heart. Such, 

 at all events, is the experience of Mr. Selous, one of 

 the most successful of all elephant-hunters, who has 

 killed several charging monsters in this way. 



