es at 300 yards;
and 11-1/2 inches at 500 yards.*

* It shot one five-shot 1-2/3 inch group at 200 yds., and
several others at all distances less than the figures given,
but I am convinced these must have been largely accidental.

These groups were not made from a machine rest, however; as none was
available. The complete record with this arm for my whole stay in Africa
was 307 hits out of 395 cartridges fired, representing 185 head of game
killed. Most of this shooting was for meat and represented also all
sorts of "varmints" as well.

The 405 Winchester. This weapon was sighted like the Springfield, and
was constantly in the field as my second gun. For lions it could not be
beaten; as it was very accurate, delivered a hard blow, and held
five cartridges. Beyond 125 to 150 yards one had to begin to guess at
distance, so for ordinary shooting I preferred the Springfield. In
thick brush country, however, where one was likely to come suddenly
on rhinoceroes, but where one wanted to be ready always for desirable
smaller game, the Winchester was just the thing. It was short, handy,
and reliable. One experience with a zebra 300-350 yards has made me
question whether at long (hunting) ranges the remaining velocity of the
big blunt nosed bullet is not seriously reduced; but as to that I have
not enough data for a final conclusion. I have no doubt, however, that
at such ranges, and beyond, the little Springfield has more shocking
power. Of course at closer ranges the Winchester is by far the more
powerful. I killed one rhinoceros with the 405, one buffalo and one
hippo; but should consider it too light for an emergency gun against
the larger dangerous animals, such as buffalo and rhinoceros. If one has
time for extreme accuracy, and can pick the shot, it is plenty big; but
I refer now to close quarters in a hurry. I had no trouble whatever with
the mechanism of this arm; nor have I ever had trouble with any of the
lever actions, although I have used them for many years. As regards
speed of fire the controversy between the lever and bolt action
advocates seems to me foolish in the extreme. Either action can be fired
faster than it should be fired in the presence of game. It is my belief
that any man, no matter how practised or how cool, can stampede himself
beyond his best accuracy by pumping out his shots too rapidly. This is
especially true in the face of charging dangerous game. So firmly do I
believe this