GUNS Magazine January 1960 - Jeffersonian

LOOKING
LONG
FOR
NGE
EFFICIENCY
in aSporter?
~~e'1
III/ Model! .
I
One
Caliber!
O~e L.... OW
PrIce!
I·~,
---,
,I
NORMA 7 x 61 SHARPE &
HART CARTRIDGES loaded to
our specifications are sold exclusively
throuqh Sharpe & Hart Associates
dealers in the U. S.. Canada and Alaska.
Primers are of the American type and are
non~corrosiveand non·mercuric. 160-qrain,
pointed soft-point boallall bullet at a
muzzle velocity of 3100 f.s. and averaqe
pressure of 51.730 pounds.
See your Dealer or order direct.
THE SHARPE &HART ASSOCIATES, INC.
EMMITSBURC 3. MD.
NOTES ON KILLING POWER
AT LEAST SINCE 1912, when the Savage
.t\. Arms Corp. came out with Charles
Newton's revolutionary .22 High Power,
there has been a more or less continuous
argument regarding the relative merits of
high-velocity, small bore bullets and comparatively
slow bullets of greater weight and
calibre. Men of unquestioned integrity and
experience have advocated projectiles of both
types; and many a camp fire has been kept
burning far into the night by sportsmen who
have felt violently on the subject, one way
or the other. Having killed my share of
game in the United States, Canada, Mexico,
and Africa, I am of the sincere opinion that
both factions are right-and that both factions
can be wrong, depending upon conditions.
It might be well to consider just what it is
that kills an animal. Insofar as firearms are
concerned, the thing which kills game is a
bullet which destroys certain vital organs
upon which the life of the animal depends.
Placement of the shot is by far the most
important factor involved. This factor is controlled
entirely by the ability of the hunter,
and there is no substitute for it. There can
be no great argument about this among
thinking sportsmen. The arguments arise in
connection with the best equipment with
which to achieve this objective; and this is
governed by many varying conditions.
In my experience, I have always found
that a high-velocity bullet which actually
reaches a vital area kills far more rapidly
than a slow one regardless of calibre or
weight. I am, therefore, a high-velocity advocate
under conditions where it is reasonable
to assume that such a bullet can and
will reach such an area. Unfortunately, there
are many circumstances wherein such an assumption
would be a monumental error leading
to total misses, wounded game and, quite
conceivably, to actual danger to the hunter.
It seems to me that, among other things
which must be considered, there are the
questions of the size of the animal, the probable
range at which the average shot will be
Laken, the characteristics of the terrain, and
the potential ability of the animal to inflict
damage on the hunter. If, for example, the
desired trophy is a soft-skinned animal
weighing 500 pounds or less, found customarily
in open country where long range
shots are the rule, then a man is justified in
choosing a very accurate, 'scope sighted rifle
of very high velocity. Such a rifle, because
of its accuracy, flatness of trajectory, and
efficiency of sighting arrangements will materially
contribute to a hunter's ability to
pIace his bullet in a vital area.
If, on the other hand, your game is something
on the order of elk as to size, and if
you will be hunting in thick timber, such a
choice would hardly be a happy one. In the
first place, it is probable that you will have
By R. F. CHATFIELD-TAYLOR
to shoot through some brush. In the second
place, it is most likely that your only target
will be the south end of a northbound beast_
Under these conditions, a high-velocity,
spitzer bullet is just about the worst medicine
imaginable, since of all types its performance
is the most unpredictable in heavy
brush. The only guaranteed prediction is that
you cannot predict. Both velocity and spitzer
points mitigate against reliable bullet performance
in brush and, therefore, one would
be wise to choose a relatively large-bore rifle
throwing a round-nosed bullet at not over
2400 ft. secs. and preferably a bit less.
In Africa, one finds just about every condition
conceivable, as well as every size of
game from dik-dik to elephant. The more
experienced white hunters are quite willing,
even anxious, to see you use a flat shooting,
high-velocity weapon on much of the plains
game, since well placed shots on that type
of game are almost always instantly fatal and
since it is easier to make well placed shots
with that kind of rifle over long and unknown
ranges. When, however, the shooting
is done in heavy bush, when the bigger species
such as eland, roan, sable, greater kudu
and zebra are involved or, m(}st particularly,
if the game is of the dangerous variety,
then the white hunters deplore the use of
small-bore, high-velocity rifles and have
been largely responsible for the current laws
in British East Africa prohibiting their use
on dangerous game. There is far too great an
element of chance. A light, fast bullet may
not get through the brush; if it does, it may
be deflected to a non-vital area; and it may
not penetrate through heavy bone and muscle
even if it does strike the proper region. This
is altogether too many "ifs" even for nondangerous
game. For elephant, rhino, buffalo,
and lion, such a rifle is, in my opinion,
unthinkable.
Two extremely experienced hunters have
developed tables of killing power. They may
not give all the answers, but they are very
good yardsticks. Elmer Keith uses a system
based upon what he calls "pounds-feet."
John Taylor, if I am not mistaken, calls his
"K-O Values." Both systems are based upon
bullet weight and velocity, with the accent on
bullet weight. Both of these men are experts,
with lifetimes of experience in the
field, and their comments should not be
taken lightly_ These tables may be found in
Keith's excellent "Rifles for Large Game"
and in Taylor's "African Rifles and Cartridges."
For some time I have been concerned with
another factor which neither Keith nor
Taylor include in their tables, although both
authors make abundant mention of it elsewhere
in their books. This is the question of
sectional density, the formula for which is
W/d 2 wbere W is the weight of the bullet in
(Continued on page 59)
12 GUNS JANUARY 1960