Sealhunter,
in the 1960's and earlier in Canadas Arctic Islands the .22 Hornet was quite popular with the Inuit up here for seal, caribou..................and the occasional polarbear popped into the head from close range. The small shells were a real bonus on long trips, because a couple of hands full easily fit into your pocket and last the whole trip. Nothing was shot at real long range. Like you said caribou at about 150 or less.
Seals are easily killed with a shot into the head, neither are the Peary Caribou here very large. In short the Hornet did the job. .....................................However, as soon as more powerfull, accurate and flatter shooting alternatives became available the Hornet was replaced by the .222 Rem., then the 22/250 the .223. the .243 and the 6mm Rem. became quite popular do it alls from seal to polar bear. If a specific polarbear hunt was planned, the .308/30-06 or .270 were tied onto the komatik.
Nowadays it is very unusual to see a sealhunter with a .22Hornet. The seals also get educated to rifle range. It gets tough to sneak up onto an old one even with the white screen. If you sell your hides, more are better. Accurate flatter shooting rifles and everything else being equal bring more seals home. That is why the Hornet died out there.
