Rifles and Equipment. 263 



IX. A FEW REMARKS ON RIFLES AND EQUIPMENT. 



Most of the books on sport published at the present day 

 have a chapter on the subject of battery and outfit, and 

 there is no doubt that it is a most vital matter that the 

 sportsman should have at least one reliable rifle with him. 



I may say that my remarks here are intended as a help 

 to the tyro who has not had any practical experience in 

 the field, and who has to take a gunmaker's advice on the 

 selection of a suitable weapon, or weapons/ for a hunting 

 trip. This advice is not always disinterested, unless, 

 perhaps, the budding big-game shooter goes to one of the 

 leading rifle makers. I would never pretend to give advice 

 to a good rifle maker on technical matters as to rifle 

 building, but the practical hunter is more likely to know 

 what is the best killing weapon for big game than the rifle 

 maker, who probably never saw a wild animal outside the 

 bars of a cage in his life. 



In choosing a weapon, there are several points which 

 have to be kept in view, and these might be summed up 

 as follows : 



1. Lightness and handiness. 



2. Efficient killing power. 



3. Soundness and reliability of mechanism. 



4. Possibility of getting ammunition in the country shot in. 



I here refer to what is called an all-round weapon, and I 

 may say that I am a believer in such a rifle for the simple 

 reason that if a large bore is taken it is seldom at hand 

 when most needed. Therefore, let the small bore be 

 sufficiently powerful to deal with any game from elephant 

 down to duiker. 



Having tried the following high-velocity rifles on game, 

 450, -400, -375, -360, -350, -318, ygmm. ('311), '303, "275, 

 and '256, I think nothing heavier than the -318 is needed, 

 and I have done my best work with a 7-9111111. Mauser 

 made by a well known London firm. This rifle is stronger 

 than the '303, and although its velocity and striking energy 

 are not so great as the '318, I found that the latter did not 



