The Stevens round was considered the best small game round of all in the black powder era. Originally intended by the designer to use a 70 grain bullet for small game, but the ammo companies pushed 86 grains as better for target shooting. Either way, a MV of about 1200 fps works and doesn't blow the game to smithereens. What it is not, is a 100+ yard varmint round. The relatively high trajectory sees to that, given that game is shot at "surprise" distances. At known distances it is pretty good up to 200 yards, in light air. Not a wind-bucker.