398 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



Central Africa, also used '577 rifles against elephants, buffaloes 

 and rhinoceros with great effect, although he preferred his 8-bore 

 (shooting 10 drs., and a short conical bullet) for big game, find- 

 ing that at close quarters a knockdown blow was absolutely 

 necessary. The question of the rival bores for such game as 

 tiger, bear, &c., will probably never be settled, as so much 

 depends upon the capabilities of the shooter, the class of 

 country he is in, and the style of shooting, whether in a how- 

 dah or on foot, &c. : but it may be taken generally that for 

 dangerous game it is always as well to be on the safe side and 

 to use as powerful a weapon (in moderation) as you can con- 

 veniently handle. 



Figs. 13 and 14. Blocks of soft '577 bullets cut out of tigers 

 by Sir Samuel Baker 



In Africa, where animals of the same species as are met 

 with in India appear to require much more killing than they 

 do in -the latter country, the -577 firing a solid hardened 

 bullet and 6 drs. of powder must always be a most useful 

 weapon. For lion, the largest kind of deer, &c., it is all that is 

 wanted, and even for elephants it is a fairly effective rifle. 



For sport in India, when the sportsman is limited to one rifle, 

 a -500 Express, shooting a charge of 5 drs. of powder and a long 

 bullet, and capable of also firing, when required, the. shorter 

 bullet and A\ drs. for the lighter kinds of game, will probably 

 be found the most useful all-round weapon. 



If, in the first instance, the barrels of a -50.0 Express are 

 properly constructed for shooting the two kinds of cartridges, 



