330 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



quantity of powder to increase the killing effect of a 

 solid ball has been disappointed, especially if the ball 

 be very hard or sharp-pointed. And many a one has 

 yet to learn that a hundred grains of powder behind 

 a long, tapering, hardened ball is no better than 

 seventy or sixty unless for raking shots on bears or 

 buffalo. And already many a man who has laid aside 

 the Winchester '73 model (forty grains of powder and 

 two hundred of lead to .44 caliber) and bought 

 a new " Centennial " model or the model of '79 (both 

 with longer ball and more powder) has discovered 

 that, except for raking shots or where the ball strikes 

 bones and turns or flattens, he has gained little by the 

 change; the hundredth part of an increase of caliber 

 amounting to about nothing. And if he should buy 

 a .44 rifle, shooting a rod of lead a foot long with half 

 a pound of powder behind it, he would still find no 

 difference upon all the soft parts of an animal, espe- 

 cially just behind the shoulder. It is often said that 

 a small ball penetrates better than a big one, "cuts 

 sharper," etc. This seems unworthy of notice. It 

 overlooks entirely the question of momentum or 

 crushing force. But, like the idea that "fine shot has 

 better penetration," it is believed by many. 



Essential as is penetration, something more is need- 

 ed. And that is striking surface. 



Striking surface is given of course by diameter of 

 the bullet. And this diameter may be given in two 

 ways. 



ist. Normal diameter given by the molds. 



2d. Abnormal diameter given by the ball expanding 

 upon striking. 



Either of these is sufficient. But the first requires 

 a rifle of very large caliber. The second gives the 



