NOTES ON RIFLES AND AMMUNITION 401 



system for large bores, such as 10 and 8, and in 1891 one of 

 the latter weapons when tested before the editor of ' The Field,' 

 with the full charge of 10 drs. of powder, and a hardened 

 conical solid bullet at 50 yards range, made the extraordinary 

 diagram in six consecutive shots into a space i in. by 2\ ins. 

 (shown in fig. 16), beating all the records of big rifles at the 

 ' Field ' trials. 



It should be only a matter of time for weapons made 

 upon this principle to supersede large-bore rifles for big game 

 shooting. Everything is in their favour. An 

 8-bore ' Paradox ' weighs some 2 to 3 Ibs. 

 less than an 8-bore rifle, and mounts to 

 the shoulder with the handiness of a gun. 

 The accuracy of the ' Paradox ' is greater 

 than that of an 8-bore rifle, the recoil less 

 (as the bullet passes freely up the barrel, 

 instead of having to cut its way through 

 severe rifling, the ' Paradox ' being rifled Fig . I7 ._ Diagram of 



at the muzzle only), and the velocity or 8-bore Paradox ' 



., . , bullet 



striking force is superior. 



Several of these weapons (8- and lo-bores) have already 

 been tried upon elephant, buffalo, &c., in Africa and India, 

 with the most satisfactory results. 



Small Bores for Elephant Shooting. No doubt some sports- 

 men have been successful in bagging elephants and other big 

 game with ^o-bore rifles, firing a moderate charge of about 

 Z\ drs. of powder and a long solid bullet, such rifles giving 

 great penetration, but no shock to the animal unless a vital part 

 is reached. If the game be found in fairly open country, so 

 that accurate shooting can be made, this weapon may answer 

 in the hands of a good shot ; but in most parts, and in grass 

 country, particularly where an animal has frequently to be 

 shot at very close quarters, and where the chances of being 

 able to make a run for it are very much restricted, one would 

 much prefer to rely upon the paralysing blow given by an 

 8- or lo-bore loaded with a heavy charge of powder and a 



" DD 



