BATTERY 



upon the side of too much, rather than too little 

 power. He will soon feel his own way, and as 

 his ability to place his bullet where he wishes 

 increases, he may, if he chooses to do so, use 

 lighter weapons. 



Amongst all humane men who deprecate every 

 moment's unnecessary pain inflicted upon the 

 game which they may wish to secure, there can 

 be but one opinion, viz., that the novice, at any 

 rate, should use more powerful weapons than the 

 past master, to compensate for his own deficiencies 

 in the matter of " buck-ague," or over anxiety to 

 bag. This last impediment to good shooting is, 

 however, by no means confined to beginners. The 

 keener a man may be, and the more enjoyment 

 he may therefore derive from shooting, this element, 

 though it ordinarily becomes tempered by fruition, 

 may, if he be of an excitable and nervous dis- 

 position, affect him in a greater or less degree 

 whether he is personally conscious of its existence 

 or no throughout the whole of his sporting 

 career. 



Beyond certain limits, it is impossible for any 

 one weapon to be really effective. Much may be 

 done with it, however, which would be infinitely 

 better accomplished with another rifle, and it then 

 becomes, when used upon game rather too large or 

 rather too small for it, a more or less unsatisfactory 

 makeshift. For instance, bison have been killed 

 with a '500 express, whereas both a powerful '577 

 and an 8-bore are infinitely superior weapons in 

 bison shooting. On the other hand, antelope may 



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