6 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE-MECUM 



delayed, and so too late for the " big head " the men saw 

 on the other side of the range from camp, half an hour before 

 your return, and while a little daylight was left to go after it. 

 To-morrow that head may be miles away, in another part of the 

 range, and you may not be lucky enough to find out his exact 

 whereabouts again. Sometimes, a couple of bears having been 

 met with, a considerable number of cartridges may have been 

 expended, the stock in hand considerably reduced, and, perhaps, 

 a balance of three left, with which no one would care to start after 

 a good head. The first may kill him at once, but, on the contrary, 

 may miss, and, even if it does bag him, you may subsequently see 

 a better one, miss with the two rounds you had left, and have to 

 let him go, having nothing to fall back upon until you have loaded 

 some more a work of time if properly carried out. Therefore, 

 it is advisable to have plenty of loaded cartridges. 



Number of Cartridges. The gun so materially aids the larder, it 

 is worth while to have 400 to 500 cartridges, loaded as follows. 

 (The actual charges must be to suit the gun ; the size of shot 

 only can be recommended here.) 



100 cartridges, No. 2 shot. Left barrel for pheasants, &c. 



150 4 Eight barrel for pheasants, left barrel for 



chikor. 



150 ,, 6 ,, Eight barrel for chikor, and generally 



for black partridge, a stray wood- 

 Total 400 cock, &c. 



If your gun can fire ball, twenty ball cartridges will be handy, 

 as you may meet a bear on your pheasant or chikor ground, with 

 your rifle-carrier some way off, or you may want a second gun 

 when driving small nullahs for bears, &c. 



The rifle being the weapon for " trophies," be sure you have the 

 right sized and shaped cartridges, and the best. Solid (or drawn) 

 brass are better than any coiled, and when cleansed and reloaded, 

 do well for buck, or any other shooting in the plains against timid 

 animals. Against dangerous game a new cartridge is most 

 essential, as a misfire may cost you or your men dearly. 



For a six months trip 100 cartridges should suffice ; but if fifty 

 more can be carried conveniently, they will form a second reserve. 

 If you carry a larger number, you are liable to be less careful, 

 and blaze away recklessly, doing little in the way of sport, but 

 wounding or frightening many a head. A good sportsman picks 



