that I generally take the rifle from my shoulder between
each shot. Even aimed rapid fire is of no great value as compared with
better aimed slower fire. The first bullet delivers to an animal's
nervous system about all the shock it can absorb. If the beast is not
thereby knocked down and held down, subsequent shots can accomplish that
desirable result only by reaching a vital spot or by tearing tissue.
As an example of this I might instance a waterbuck into which I saw
my companion empty five heavy 465 and double 500 bullets from cordite
rifles before it fell! Thus if the game gets to its feet after the first
shock, it is true that the hunter will often empty into it six or seven
more bullets without apparent result, unless he aims carefully for a
centrally vital point. It follows that therefore a second shot aimed
with enough care to land it in that point is worth a lot more than a
half dozen delivered in three or four seconds with only the accuracy
necessary to group decently at very short range, even if all of them
hit the beast. I am perfectly aware that this view will probably
be disputed; but it is the result of considerable experience, close
observation and real interest in the game. The whole record of the
Winchester was 56 hits out of 70 cartridges fired; representing 27 head
of game.

The 465 Holland & Holland double cordite rifle. This beautiful weapon,
built and balanced like a fine hammerless shotgun, was fitted with open
sights. It was of course essentially a close range emergency gun, but
was capable of accurate work at a distance. I killed one buffalo dead
with it, across a wide canyon, with the 300-yard leaf up on the
back sight. Its game list however was limited to rhinoceroses,
hippopotamuses, buffaloes and crocodiles. The recoil in spite of its
weight of twelve and one half pounds, was tremendous; but unnoticeable
when I was shooting at any of these brutes. Its total record was 31
cartridges fired with 29 hits representing 13 head of game.

The conditions militating against marksmanship are often severe. Hard
work in the tropics is not the most steadying regime in the world, and
outside a man's nerves, he is often bothered by queer lights, and the
effects of the mirage that swirls from the sun-heated plain. The ranges,
too, are rather long. I took the trouble to pace out about every kill,
and find that antelope in the plains averaged 245 yards; with a maximum
of 638 yards, while antelope in covere