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Thanks Grenadier - I couldn't get the google link to work, but I found it at www.archive.org I posted the discussion below (not in copyright). Interesting letter from F.C.Selous, who just happens to be a hero of mine! Bullet and Shot in Indian Forest, Plain and Hill by C.E.M.Russell, 1900, pp 459-462 THE .303 SPORTING RIFLE The author has had no opportunity of trying the 303 at game, but he was delighted with a double rifle of this bore by Messrs. Holland and Holland, Limited, which he used at the running deer in the N.R.A. meeting of 1898. Many other sportsmen have, however, used this charming little weapon on many kinds of game, and they appear to be unable to say too much in its praise. The following letter from that mighty hunter, Mr. F. C. Selous, shows his opinion of the rifle, and of Messrs. Holland's peg bullet used therein. ...... BULUWAYO, August 17th, 1895. DEAR MR. HOLLAND, I have now shot with the little .303 rifle you made for me the following animals: 3 Sable antelope bulls. 1 Sable antelope cow. 3 Black wildebeest. 4 Bontebocks. 3 Blesbucks. 3 Springbucks. 2 Vaal rhebucks. 1 Roan antelope bull. 1 Leopard. 2 Koodoo bulls. 1 Great crested bustard. 2 Sassaby antelopes. 1 Leichtenstein hartebeest bull. 3 Reedbucks. 3 Steinbucks. 2 Duikers. 1 Crocodile. 1 Jackal. I Rock rabbit. Briefly, I have found it a most deadly little weapon, and am more than satisfied with it. I killed every animal I hit, with one exception a wart hog, whose hind leg I broke with a running shot This animal I should also have got, but I had first (after wounding it) to go some distance after my horse, and then lost the pig's spoor. The hollow bullets are excellent, but I like your patent Peg Bullets even better. I killed the roan antelope bull with a shot in the chest at 300 yards. The bullet did not hit any bones (but the chest bones) but it dropped him on the spot and he died almost immediately, as the bullet had passed through his heart. The crocodile I also killed dead with a Peg Bullet behind the shoulder. These bullets not only expand and make a very severe wound in large heavy animals, but they also expand very well in small beasts, such as jackals and rock rabbits. Please send me 500 more. Believe me, Yours very truly, (Signed) F. C. SELOUS. P.S. You can make any use you like of this letter, as it is a simple statement of facts, which speak for themselves. I have no trouble in cleaning the rifle. ...... Major David Bruce, A.M.S., in the Field of May 8th, 1897, gives his experiences in Africa with a Holland .303, which are extremely favourable. Although, as he most reasonably and justly remarks, he would not take the same liberties with dangerous game when armed only with so small a rifle as when he had in hand a .577, the Major on one occasion killed a buffalo cow with a single Holland's special bullet from the .303. Many other sportsmen have testified to the admirable work done by this most powerful, accurate, and handy little weapon, whose flat trajectory, moreover, renders it extremely valuable for long shots. Although I should consider no battery, for use in India or Africa, complete which did not include a double .303, I would counsel the tyro not to allow his admiration for the weapon to induce him to use it upon large or dangerous animals which are ordinarily killed by much larger rifles. It is true that many big beasts have been killed with the .303, but experiments in this direction are better avoided, both on the score of cruelty to the animals, and upon that of danger to the sportsman. The .303 in its proper and legitimate use will be found all that can be desired, but it is unreasonable to expect it to do the proper work of a bone-crusher of large bore. With the object of meeting the views of some sportsmen who desire a weapon of the same type, but more powerful than the .303, Messrs. Holland and Holland have lately built a rifle of .375 bore, the velocity of which is the same as that of the former. |