244 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



I am a believer in best quality hammer weapons as their 

 construction is simpler than hammerless actions, and the 

 pull-off of the locks is much sweeter and sharper than in 

 any hammerless type of action I have seen or tried. 



Further on I shall give my ideas as to the best type of 

 shotgun for abroad, and it is wise to choose a hammer 

 weapon, for if anything goes wrong it is much more easily 

 remedied with the simple tools that one has. It would be 

 useful to carry spare strikers and a spare top lever spring 

 in case of breakage. 



Not having done much shotgun shooting for some years 

 I do not know what is the best powder for shotguns at the 

 present day, but a very experienced gunmaker tells me 

 that nothing can beat " Smokeless Diamond J) for good 

 killing and for its non-corrosive qualities to the barrels. 



In Central Africa common black powder i2-bore cart- 

 ridges cost over i per 100, so if the sportsman intends 

 using a shotgun much, he had better bring out plenty of 

 ammunition. 



As I shall mention further on in a chapter on rifles and 

 equipment, I consider that nothing is better than the 

 Mauser action for a sporting rifle ; but this is purely a 

 matter of personal choice. If a hammerless weapon is 

 chosen, get the weapon fitted with a non-automatic safety 

 bolt. Probably beginners would be safer with a good 

 quality hammerless gun or rifle, but my objection to them- 

 is that when loaded the mainsprings of the locks always 

 stand at full-cock, and with a hammer weapon the weapon 

 is only cocked when ready to be used. 



When inspecting a weapon, especially a rifle, carefully 

 examine the rifling for wear and the breech for corrosion 

 and pit marks, and see that the striker, or strikers, if 

 double, is in good order and strikes the cap a good blow. 



In a double gun or rifle see that the breech locks close, 

 and hold it up sideways to the light to see if light can be 

 seen between the barrels and breech block. 



Do not buy a shotgun that has had the barrels shortened, 

 or one in which the barrels have been rebored. If fitted 



