My opinion, FWIW, is that using lino for small game would be excellent, especially if you're talking about edibles. I can tell you a 32 or 36 cal. roundball cast of straight lead is hugely destructive on body shots and with head shots, 1/2 or more of the head gone is not uncommon. A harder bullet would still be just as deadly and hasn't been quite as destructive. I shoot about a #2 alloy in my Rook rifle that's been relined to 25-20. The bullet is a Lyman, 75 gr. sort of semi-wadcutter or RFN. I'm shooting it over 3 grs. of Trail Boss, the old Daw action isn't all that strong, and it still tears up a squirrels head. I've not chronoed the load but it seems quite mild. I don't know what it would do on a body shot but suspect it would tear up a lot of meat.....where there isn't much to begin with.