RIFLES AND GUNS 39 



moment, the moving of the beast, bad calculation 

 of distance, and many other unforeseen circumstances, 

 cause him often to place the bullet too far back or 

 too low down, thus merely inflicting a wound which, 

 if caused by a small ball on a large beast, may mean 

 it getting right away and later, possibly, being a prey 

 to flies, gangrene, or carnivorous animals. 



Too often the question is settled by taking into 

 consideration only whether the game to be pursued 

 is dangerous or not ; but this is a very selfish con- 

 sideration, based entirely on one's own safety (which 

 of course has always to be thought of, and rightly so), 

 and does not bear in mind any humane feelings for 

 the game. This should never be lost sight of. 



Again, have not men said that they cannot be 

 bothered to carry a great heavy rifle, and buy the 

 small ones just because they are light and because 

 they have been told that with a certain type of bullet 

 they are equal to the larger bores ? 



But when all is said and all arguments exhausted, 

 the truth remains that a small bore with any type 

 of bullet will not stop big game unless it is actually 

 hit in the right place. 



The writer well remembers many years ago being 

 firmly convinced that a -303 with soft-nosed or split 

 bullet would stop anything, and how an old hand 

 said to him : " My boy, you don't know, because you 

 have never done it ; your rifle is all right for the 

 kind of game you have been shooting — duiker. 



