In Bell's day, elephant still roamed open grass lands, in huge numbers, unafraid
of distant hunters. Bell portered with him, a collapsible, elevated, shooting
stand. High enough so that he could see over the tall elephant grass, he could
take carefully aimed shots from far enough away not to spook the herd..somewhat
like the old buffalo hunters did in N America.
He was probably one of the finest rifle shots that EVER lived..with an intimate
knowledge of elephant anatomy that enabled him to hit the brain from whatever
angle he shot.
Those conditions are NOT found now!! Elephant are much warier and have taken to
thick cover. The ones left are generally of a larger type than the plains
elephant he hunted then.
It is on record that, quite literally, SCORES of intrepid (Stupid) hunters have
been killed by elephant, while trying to emulate Bell's feats. It STILL happens
on an almost annual basis.
The 7mm, 303 British, 30-06..even the 375 H&H Magnum are NOT gun enough to go
into bush after elephant, rhino, hippo or Cape Buffalo. Too many men have been
killed trying to prove otherwise!
Some Professional Hunters and Game Control Officers feel that the .577 Nitro
Express is barely adequate for today's conditions.