BEST BULLETS FOR BIG GAME 



opinion, are the best suited for big or dangerous game. 

 The late Sir Samuel Baker, in his most interesting book, 

 " Wild Beasts and their Ways," states : " The duty of the 

 bullet is to preserve its direct course ; it should possess a 

 power of great penetration, should not be easily deflected, 

 and together with penetrating power, it should produce 

 a stunning effect by an overpowering and striking energy." 



I have experimented with all kinds of bullets on Indian 

 and African game, and have come to the conclusion that for 

 elephants, buffaloes, rhino, and bison, the solid hardened 

 or steel core conical bullet, 150 grains, is the best. This 

 bullet has an enormous penetrating power and is capable 

 of crashing through every opposing obstacle such as 

 massive bone and muscle, a matter of great importance 

 should the beast be charging, or rushing through high 

 grass or bush, when only a hurried and indistinct shot can 

 be had at him. For tigers, lions, panthers, bears and the 

 larger Indian or African deer or antelope respectively, I 

 think the long Rigby or Holland bullet, 570 grains of pure 

 lead, with a small hollow and a heavy, solid base to ensure 

 necessary penetration and expansion is the best. 



A bullet of this description on striking an animal will 

 not splinter up, but assume a mushroom shape, also it is 

 not easily deflected. The small, light bullet invariably 

 used with Express rifles, though admirable for small 

 antelopes such as black buck, chinkara, etc., is, in my 

 opinion, too hollow, consequently too light for dangerous 

 game. It smashes up into minute fragments immediately 

 on impact, merely inflicting a surface wound, and is, more- 

 over, easily deflected on striking a twig or any other 

 obstruction. 



I have invariably used 10 or 8-bore rifles against ele- 

 phants, buffaloes, rhino, and bison, and a '500 Rigby Express 

 for tigers, lions, leopards, etc., each with the projectile 

 already described, though, at a pinch I have never hesi- 

 tated to use my *500 Express against heavier game 

 elephants and buffalo using, of course, a solid bullet. This 

 rifle was originally built by Rigby for a well-known sports- 

 man in Madras, and has been my companion for over twenty- 

 six years. With it I have shot all kinds of game both 

 large and small. 



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