178 12- BORES UNNECESSARY WEAPONS. 



at liis brain. But suppose the elephant to be rushing through a tangled 

 break or long grass, when only a hurried and indistinct shot can be had at 

 him, the smaller gun would be useless unless its ball reached his brain, 

 whilst the heavy projectile would floor or stun, even if it did not kill him. 

 A rifle for heavy game should be capable of meeting these contingencies — 

 not be adapted only for picked shots and bright moments. 



A few years ago 12 -bore rifles (l|-oz. ball) were more generally used 

 perhaps than any others for general shooting, but the introduction of the 

 express has led to their very general supersession for sport with the lighter 

 class of game. I think all experienced sportsmen are agreed that 12 -bores 

 are too insignificant for use upon the heavy class, and that they form a 

 half-and-half weapon, neither one thing nor the other — wanting the accuracy, 

 handiness, and killing power of the express, and the smashing effect of a 

 large bore — and are weapons which we may weU dispense with in the present 

 day. Some sportsmen — not very keen ones — like a 12 -bore on the ground 

 that it gives them, within the compass of one weapon, a better chance with 

 both classes of game than a large-bore or an express ; that is, they seek to 

 adapt one piece to widely different uses. As well might a man hope to 

 find combined in the same horse the speed of a Derby winner and the 

 power of a Suffolk Punch ! The only description of shooting for which a 

 12 -bore is still useful is at beasts of the lighter class which may happen to 

 be seen but indistinctly through masses of twigs or other obstructions. The 

 express bullet is not always to be depended upon for covert-shooting. Its 

 conical form leads to its being easily deflected from its course. I have 

 frequently found no further traces of an express bullet after a shot fired 

 through thick cover, where a spherical ball would certainly have reached 

 its mark. But shooting through thick places, even in an Indian jungle, 

 is decidedly exceptional. 



Sir Samuel Baker recommends the use of a four-ounce (No. 4) ball for 

 very heavy game. That even this ball, projected by 12 drams of powder, 

 will frequently fail to floor an elephant, or to put a bison or buffalo liors de 

 conibat at once, I have proved ; yet men who have never used them will 

 argue against such heavy weapons as unnecessary. 



I at first killed several elephants with a No. 1 2 spherical-ball rifle, with 

 hard bullets and 6 drams of powder, but I found it insufficient for many 

 occasions. I then had a single-barrelled C. F. No. 4-bore rifle, weighing 1 6 1 

 lb., and firing 10 drams, made to order by Lang & Sons, Cockspur Street. 

 A cartridge of this single-barrel, however, missed fire on one occasion and 

 nearly brought me to grief, so I gave it up and had a No. 4 double smooth- 

 bore, C. r., weighing 19| lb., built by W. W. Greener. This I have used 



