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As regards rifles, I will simply state that I have tried the following : -416, -450/-400, 360, 350, -318, 275 and -256. At the time I possessed the double -400 I also had a 275. Sometimes I used one and sometimes the other, and it began to dawn on me that when an elephant was hit in the right place with the 275 it died just as quickly as when hit with the -400, and, vice versa, when the bullet from either rifle was wrongly placed death did not ensue. In pursuance of this train of thought I wired both triggers of the double •450/-400 together, so that when I pulled the rear one both barrels went off simultaneously. By doing this I obtained the equivalent of 800 grs. of lead propelled by 120 grs. of cordite. The net result was still the same. If wrongly placed, the 800 grs. from the -400 had no more effect than the 200 grs. from the 275. For years after that I continued to use the -275 and the -256 in all kinds of country and for all kinds of game. Each hunter should use the weapon he has most confidence .
The stampede or rush straight towards the shot was a fairly frequent occurrence in my experience; and if one were convinced that the animals were charging, one would have to write down the buffalo as an extremely dangerous animal were it not for the ease with which they are killed with end-on delivered solid bullets. Of course, flesh wounds are no good. The vitals must be raked. But in thick stuff the target is so close and so big that no one should miss it, as for all game of this nature a reliable magazine rifle is streets ahead of a double. In a mix-up with buffalo in bush it is sometimes necessary to fire four or even five shots in rapid succession, and for this the double is mere handicap.



WANDERINGS OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER

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The masters words, WDM Bell.

Larcher, interesting to read his comments on buffalo, eh? About the raking FMJ shot. But I think going even against our water buffalo with a 6.5mm or 7mm is good, but only when the shots are all placed perfectly. And not for a charge !!!

Bell is famous for the 7x57 or .275 Rigby but actually used a .318 for much of his career. The .330/.06 sized round with 250 gr porojectiles some regard as the perfect buffalo rifle, even if it is usually not legal today.

Bell also preferred the FMJ bullet.