Hi JamesB,

You forgot to mention that before Bell went to the "big" .275 Rigby, (aka. 7X57 Mauser), he used the smaller still .256 Mannlicher with fairly regular success. I guess after a few instances of "close calls" he called it quits with the "little" .256 and jumped to the 7mm's bigger 175 grain bullet. Which penetrated even better than the .256's had. (That ought to stir a few pots!)

Okay........now before a bunch of you guys jump all over me. I'd like an opportunity to say a few other things. One.....this forum is for the expressed purpose of "fellow hunters" getting together to share information and ideas. (Which we do.) Two.....as was already pointed out numerous times.....in numerous threads, posts, etc. we don't always have to reach the same conclusions. (But I do believe it is very important that we "add footnotes"......so to speak.......to clarify issues for some of the newer hunters that visit this site.) Three......I think most of us agree that many different weapons can work when they are in the right hands. And therein lies the crux of the problem! They don't always end up in the right hands! And because of that....we see bad results in the field because of misuse, poor judgement, and inexperience!

Sometimes we should add qualifiers simply because we don't "know the audience" we are addressing. But sometimes I think, generally speaking, as a group we tend to be quick to "jump on" each other about some of these things.....without asking for a clarification either! (The only good thing to come of most of those incidents is that we generally recognize it after the fact......and resolve those differences.)

I guess in the end.....human nature being what it is......that isn't likely to change much! So let me add one other note....if I may. When, (notice I didn't say if, because I know I have, will, and do), I do this to one of you guys......in addition to the apology I offer then. Be aware that I am not always conscious that I've done it........frequently.......until after the fact....when I'm going back again to reread the entire thread again. And it then becomes blatantly apparent!

Oh heck......what did I just say? Now I'm starting to sound like one of them psychooloologists......psiychologysts....psyscholl lloogoolg.....oh s**t. You know what I mean! Just go ahead and jump on me......and get it over with!

Dave