NOTES ON RIFLES AND AMMUNITION 395 



sequently the short range at which such game is usually killed 

 tells still more against this type of bullet for such sport. 



The short Express bullet may be considerably improved, and 

 greater penetration obtained, by having the hollow shorter and 

 tapered (see fig. 2). 



Fig. I.— 340 grains 



Rifles constructed for these short bullets are decidedly 

 inferior to those arranged for the longer projectile. 



Fig. 3 shows the long -500 bullet with a. heavy fuse. 

 Fig. 4 shows the same bullet with a small taper hole. 



440 grains 



Fig. 4. — 460 grains 



It is certainly now for the most part acknowledged that rifles 

 firing this type of bullet are much more trustworthy, giving as 

 they undoubtedly do increased penetration and a more smashing 

 blow. The front portion of the projectile generally breaks up 

 in the animal shot, and the base part, having sufficient energy 

 remaining to pass through the body, will nearly always be 

 found under the elastic skin upon the other side. These rifles 

 have the further advantage of giving accurate shooting at 



