Bell was also an excellent shot.....something that the vast majority of today's shooters are not. He had enough experience
in using those smaller calibers, and could put that bullet in a spot that resulted in a kill.
For those people that cannot consistently put any size bullet in the required spot to result in a kill,
which calibre can save them? But If excessive recoil is whats effecting a novices marksmanship,
a smaller more manageable calibre may well assist in yielding better results.
WDM Bell despite his experience, never recommended any one particular gun or calibre that anyone else should use,
"THE question of which rifles to use for big-game hunting is for
each individual to settle for himself. If the novice starts off with, say,
three rifles : one heavy, say a double -577 ; one medium, say a -318
or a -350 ; and one light, say a 256 or a -240 or a -276, then he cannot
fail to develop a preference for one or other of them.
For the style of killing which appeals to me most the light calibres
are undoubtedly superior to the heavy. In this style you keep per-
fectly cool and are never in a hurry. You never fire unless you can
clearly see your way to place the bullet in a vital spot. That done
the calibre of the bullet makes no difference. But to some men of
different temperament this style is not suited. They cannot or will
not control the desire to shoot almost on sight if close to the game.
For these the largest bores are none too big. If I belonged to this
school I would have had built a much more powerful weapon than
the -600 bores.
Speaking personally, my greatest successes have been obtained
with the 7 mm. Rigby-Mauser"- Bell
Jerry Fisher said good hunting technique largely involves retraint--having the self discipline to know when not to shoot.
echoing Bells words of wisdom...can anyone honestly say it isn't true?
