Fig. 9
Fig. 10
A double .500 rifle to carry the lighter bullet may be made to weigh about 9 lbs., while to carry the longer and heavier bullet the weight should be nearer 9½ lbs. But when the increased power and penetration obtained are taken into consideration, probably few sportsmen will object to this slight extra weight. A crushing blow that may be depended upon is what is required, and reliance cannot be placed (except, perhaps, for deer stalking) upon the short, light bullets so much used. No doubt a good deal of game is killed with the light bullets, even up to and including tigers, &c.; but much has been lost, and many accidents have taken place, in consequence of the bullet breaking up too soon, causing only a flesh wound, and not having sufficient penetration to reach a vital part of the animal shot. The above remarks apply both to .450 and .577 rifles, but especially to the latter, so without going into further details illustrations are here given of the light .450 and .577 bullets generally used (see fig. 11), and the longer ones now recommended (see fig. 12).
Fig. 11
.450
270 grains
.577
455 grains
Fig. 12