The National tribune., 1899-12-14


OF a fnely-drawn, heavy Wesley Richard
riied barrel with Martini-Henry lock
The Martini was used in the British army
before the adoption of the Lee Metford
rifle. II is similar to the Peabody breach
loader of this country. with the exception
that it has not the Independent outside
lock. but in place thereof spiral spring
firing-balt inclosal in the spring block
1t is provided with foriled extractor for
extracting the empty shell iwhen the lock
is pulled downward. The weight of this
rife, which was in length between a rife
AMI carbine. was about 10 pounds
The cartridge is provided with a central
fire PERCUSSION cap. AMI the bullet is wrap
ped in metal. after the fashion of what is
known in England as the Boxer system
The weight of the bullet is 4S0 grains. and
the charge of powder is about 80 grains
These Martini rifles. when specially and
carefully built are splendid hunting pieces;
they have only one fault, that they are
likely to recol or kick" when they get hot.
which is attributable to the great charge
of powder. and the empty shells often
stick at such times and might put the
hunter in an awkward position when
charged by a rhinoceros or other large
game, where everything depends on quick
and accurate shooting.
a PREcAUTIoN AGAINST ACCIDENT.
/ therefore had always another hunting
rifle carried after me by soldier Pref
erably, this was d so-calied model So"
express hunting gun, with magazine for
five cartridges. This gun was much
lighter than the other, and proved fully as
good as the Martini-Henry. nor did ii kick"
when il bocane hot.
The cartridges Were smaller, and put up
in metal frames Five in each framel They
coI!d. of course. be used singly if desired.
The system of this gun is similar TO the
Aa15ar, except that the parts are all more
carefully and finely made. The bullets
are also somewhat smaller, but the charge
of powder is best Smokeless hunting powder
The sight was arranged for !, 900 meters.
the bore Of the gun being II millimeters
(.433 inchl, properly rified, with a depth of
groove Of about .01 inch. with twist from
right to left. The length of barrel was
about 80 inches, and the weight of the
whole gun only about eight pounds
The initial velocity of these guns is over
], 400 feet. The bullet only weighed about
3375 grains, with powder charge of about
20 grains.
For large game, such as rhnoceros,
elephant, and hppotamus. and the thick
skinned crocodile. steel jacket bullets were
used. which have great power of pene-
fration. and inwardly smash the bones
they come in contact with. but as they
are rather expensive and wear out the gun
sooner than the ordinary soft-pointed Dead
bullet. the latter is used in all shooting,
except when hunting large game.
Besides these two guns | also had a
double-barreled breech-loader (expressl
with the right-hand barrel rified for ball
cartridge and the left hand for shotgun
service; also, lighter double-barreled
breech-loading shotgun for small birds,
in which | only used No. and No. shot
This / used for wild pigeons partrdges,
snipe. wild fowl, etc.
In the larger shotgun / used in the left
barrel No. 3 for wild geese, ducks, hares.
guinea fowls, etc, and No. for small aute-
lopes, jackals, gazelles, etc. AS bullets in
the right-hand barrel Of the larger double.
barreled brecchloader | used a composition
of zinc and hard lead. This gun was only
used when | went out in the morning or
evening for a short stroll from camp, wher
/ wanted TO shoot some birds, or 20 along
the river fishing. OF course, the right
barrel was always charged with a bail
cartridge, for in the interior of Africa one is
never safe from meeting some lion or leop-
ard, or a rhineceros within few minutes
walk from camp. Of course, / always
had some well-armed soldiers with me
who carried their Mauser guns loaded
One of my servants carried my revolver
and large hunting-knife and a hatchet
The Somali soldiers being Mahometans
would not partake OF the meat of any ami
NAL that had been shot dead outright
] always had to shoot some animals fol
them without killing them outright The,
would then follow up the animal and Gu
its throat with the hunting-knife befor,
it had fully expired. / never liked thi.
practice, but when you are in Rome you
must do as the Romans do.
NICKEL-JACKETED BULLETS.
! have tried some of the nickel jacketet
bullets, with full nickel jacket, such a.
they are used in the German army, but ha We
found that they did not prove so effective a,
bullet only half-covered with a nicke
Jacket. The latter class Of bullets tea,