I've read before where this cartridge has been used for small antelope or other small game for camp meat. I wondered if anyone here has any experience using this cartridge in a like manner. Can you share your experiences.
Thanks,
jfm

In RSA, September 2002, shot an impala ewe with a 22 long rifle in the brain at around 20 yards from a blind. Animal was intended for outdoor education center who wanted a clean carcass for dissection in front of students. No problem when up close from a steady rest. Don't think I would try shooting a 22 WMR at an animal over 50 yards away however, mostly because shot placement becomes paramount and I don't think I would be confident about penetration to vitals at greater distances. Probably overgunned on my part but I shot my Impala trophy ram with a .375 H&H. Now for the tiny ten it might be a different story but I don't think you'll get an up-close shot on a klipspringer, but maybe so on a dik-dik or a duiker.

Have brained some duiker for leopard bait with a 22 LR. It works but if you wound you would probably get into the gray areas of wounded game, what trophy fee applies, feeding the leopard with free meat, all sorts of stuff that would be avoided with a .375 H&H.

You will want to check on legal caliber minimums which apply to a tourist big game hunter. And remember that what applies to a resident game farm owner may not apply to a tourist.

It will work very well. Also, based upon personal experience, so will a .22 LR. The issue of course is shot placement and having the time to be patient and not shoot until/unless everything is just right. Most folks on a limited time hunting trip can't or won't wait for the perfect set-up.

I would love to be able to take my Anschutz .17 HMR for some "little guy" hunting, but I don't think they would like that.

I used a M-92 in .25-20.....a 60 grain bullet @ 2,200'/sec. As it turned out it was the almost perfect round for the Duiker and steenbok as I wasn't shooting them for bait. I'm having them full body mounted. There was very little damage to the hide.

Based on this experience I'd say that the best round for the small antelope might be the 22 Hornet and I believe that the 22 WMR would also be a good choice......assuming it's legal where you are going.

If you want a shoulder mount then the plains game rifle won't matter as you can blow quite a hole and still salvage the cape for the shoulder mount.

My taxidermist returned with a duiker he took with his .30-06 and it was badly damaged.

We had a client years ago show up with a Kimber .22 Hornet. It was perfect for the small guys. He even stretched it a bit and took Bushbuck and Gerenuk with neck shots. I'd think the .22WMR would be fine too. I applaud vapodog's choice of .25-20. Who'd a thunk it!

In 2000 I had a client show up with the newest Barnes 180 grain whatevers in a .300 Win. Mag. They were just zipping through all of the medium weight critters so he elected to try it like a solid on a Salts Dik-dik. Boy, did it pick a tterrible time to open up! We had a client who tried using solids in his 7 MM Rem.Mag for dik-dik. First time I can remember a dik-dik being wounded and lost.
Rich Elliott

The only klippie that I ever shot .. I was using my wonderful old wildcat 8 Mag. The PH told me to take the broadside ram - in the stomach !!! Otherwise, he said, the brittle cape would be wrecked. So, thinking that the very experienced PH knew what he was talking about .. I did just that. Killed the klippie on the spot .. and I have a beautiful shoulder mount. Never done such a thing before or since .. but if I was going to have to shoot one of those tiny dik diks with that gun .. I'd do that again. (Just an observation)

scruffy,

I've done that very same thing several times with an 06 and 180 gr. Noslers. Mostly because that's what I had in my hands at the time. Then too, I have used a .375 w/300 grain solids which works much better.
Rich Elliott