It still has a place. There are small varmint situations where I wouldnt have wanted to use either of your suggested calibers due to underpowered or too much energy and concern for what is downrange.Don't have much in this caliber, 1 rifle & a few handguns.
I never shoot this caliber, I am thinking that there is not a use that .22lr & .223 can't cover.
What say ye INGO?
WMR is good for people who need to deal with varmints coon-size or larger, who do not want them running away, and do not want to use a center fire rifle for it. It is considerably less boom than a .223. And in a rifle-length barrel, it will break both shoulders of a coyote-sized animal within 50 yards and leave an exit wound. Another way of looking at it, the .22WMR in a rifle length barrel delivers .22LR _muzzle_ ballistics at 100 yards. If you wish your .22LR had the same power left at 100 yards as it did at the muzzle, .22WMR is for you. It simply extends your .22LR ballistics 100 yards down range.Before I was old enough to buy my own guns I trappped fox coons and muskrat. Was walking the trap line and I saw a fox. Then I saw my trap on his leg. I fired the 22 LR SINGLE SHOT 5 times hitting the poor fox 3 times. Still had to finish him off with a stick. Knew then the 22 was not the round for fox. 2 of those shot were well placed. Fox not much bigger than a cat when the fur is off.
At 18 my very first purchase was a 22 mag Winchester 9244M xlr at bradis when it sold lawn equipment and the gun store was what was the revolver case last time i was in their establishment.
22 mag perfect for fox, raccoon, large squirrel (overkill) and groundhog.
the 9422M is a perfect lever action. In some circles the 22 mag and a powerful flashlight is the choice for “night deer harvesting“.
do not underestimate that round or do so. people Have been saying it is obsolete round. Yet it still outsells the 17 hmr which other seem to think is better,
I was thinking about getting a 22mag rifle years ago.Don't have much in this caliber, 1 rifle & a few handguns.
I never shoot this caliber, I am thinking that there is not a use that .22lr & .223 can't cover.
What say ye INGO?
It still has a place. There are small varmint situations where I wouldnt have wanted to use either of your suggested calibers due to underpowered or too much energy and concern for what is downrange.
But hey, you do you. If you dont foresee needing it, dump it. (just make me a good deal on your ammo)