[TML] 20mm cannons and bulky aliens

[Tod Glenn]

>
> I read somewhere that the Cape Buffalo is the most dangerous of the  
> big game
> to hunt. What do people hunt those with?
>
> IIRC in "Footfall", one of the President's guards has to escort him  
> into the
> presence of the elephant-aliens, and refuses to do it unless he can  
> carry at
> least a .30-06.


In many African countries, the minimum caliber for dangerous game is  
0.40.  Popular bolt action guns include the 416s like the Rigby, the  
458 Win Mag and 458 Lott and a number of older British nitro rounds.   
Double rifles are usually fed rimmed cartridges like the 470 (probably  
the most popular flanged DG cartridge).  Again, there is a plethora of  
of proprietary British rounds.

In general, you wouldn't want to use anything less than the 375 H&H -  
the most common African 'small bore'.  Solids are the rule when it  
comes to bullets, as Mbogo is notorious for his ability to absorb  
punishment, and his horns form a natural helmet that can turn a  
conventional expanding bullet.

while the 30-06 might stop a buff, or elephant, it would be a risky  
proposition.  While Bell dropped at least 1,000 elephants during his  
career as an ivory hunter with nothing more than a 275 Rigby (7x57  
Mauser), many who attempted top emulate him found their graves in  
Africa.